Five kings. One throne.
Game of Thrones is a 2011-2019 fantasy television series created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, produced by HBO Entertainment, Television 360, Grok! Television, Generator Television, Startling Television, and Bighead Littlehead, and distributed by HBO. The second season is based off of George R.R. Martin's 1998 novel, A Clash of Kings. It stars Peter Dinklage and Kit Harington.
"Power is power." - Cersei Lannister
Plot
After the death of Ned Stark ignites a war between the Starks and the Lannisters, chaos erupts in Westeros. While the Lannisters deal with the growing threat of Robb Stark, the former King Robert Baratheon's brothers also march on King's Landing to declare the Iron Throne as rightfully their's. Meanwhile, Daenerys Targaryen continues her quest to regain the power of her family's dynasty and Jon Snow joins a group of wildings as he begins to understand the horrors that lie beyond the Wall.
The Sweet
The sophomore season of Game of Thrones delivers the highs that the first season had.
What made the first season so engaging was the incredible character work and the intriguing nature of all of the storylines and characters. Ned Stark and Jon Snow were my favorite characters of the first season, and season two has offered entirely new great characters. Obviously I can't say Ned was one of my favorites in season two because he's dead. Jon was still great in this season, but his whole storyline with the wildings was less engaging. The character that really gets a major boost in this season is Tyrion Lannister. Tyrion is often referred to as the show's best character, and I saw that start to take form in this season. I love how juxtaposed he is as a reasonable, good person inside of the cruelest of families. I actually thought all of the Lannisters really took a step up in this season. Cersei is still horrible, but we see a bit more nuance and complexity as she understands the monster that she put on the throne. Tywin was another great addition. We saw him a bit in season one, but he is much more present in season two. The duo of the season being Tywin and Arya was something I never would've expected, but alas, here we are.
This season also clearly had a bigger budget than the first, and it is used in epic fashion. Game of Thrones already had elite production design, but season two takes even that to another level. This show ups it with incredible sets and distinctive locations as well as some awesome new action sequences. The Battle of Blackwater Bay is some of the coolest action of the series thus far, and it really shows how Game of Thrones can nail all aspects; action, drama, suspense...you name it. This show has got it.
I also really appreciate how restrained the story is. Rather than building up a conflict over five episodes and then paying it off in the final few episodes of the season, Game takes its time. The White Walkers have been teased since the first scene of the show, and only in the final episode of this season do we truly see them for the first time. Because they have been built up for so long as these terrifying creatures, their introduction is incredibly effective. There are other plot lines, such as Daenerys's imminent return or the Lannister-Stark war, that are taking their time and are bound to have some sort of awesome payoff because the show is so good at being patient.
This season also showcases the fantasy side of Game of Thrones a bit more. One of the things I noticed about the first season, despite its awesomeness, was the strange lack of fantastical elements. It felt more like a medieval drama because they would talk about dragons and White Walkers and magic more than actually show us it. Now, in this season, we see that all. We finally get dragons and White Walkers. When Daenerys goes to Qarth, we see some very freaky magic on display there. Jaqen H'ghar, Arya's shapeshifting friend, also gives us a look at some new Game of Thrones magic. I just love fantasy elements because they are often so creative, so it was fun to see them finally put on display in the show.
I also think that the show does a very good job of balancing all of its various plot lines. There are eight major plot lines: Jon and the wildings, Theon taking over Winterfell, Robb's continued march on King's Landing, Stannis's march on King's Landing, Joffrey's cruelty and Tyrion's reign as Hand, Arya's adventures in Harrenhal, Catelyn's run-in with Renly, and Daenerys in Qarth. That's a lot of frickin' story to cover. But this season does it with ease. It balances each of these plot lines very well, choosing wisely which ones to develop in each episode. The writers know which ones to pay off by the end of the season and which ones to continue developing for future seasons so it leaves the audience wanting more but also feeling satisfied at the same time.
The Sour
I do think the second season of Game of Thrones suffers from a bit of an identity crisis.
While Ned Stark's death was an incredible and shocking moment to cap off a great first season, it left the show without a real main protagonist. So it now shifts from Ned Stark being our protagonist to a true ensemble show with multiple main protagonists. Jon, Daenerys, Tyrion, and Robb all seem to fit that role, but they are all at different places during this season, so it can just make for an overwhelming amount of story. As much as all the plot lines are balanced well, it does feel like this season is mostly setting up other seasons by developing all of these plot lines further. The big payoff of the season is Stannis's raid on King's Landing, but Stannis isn't even really a good guy, much less the main protagonist. So it's a weird adjustment to make.
I also felt like, despite it's many plot lines and goings on, this season meandered a bit at times. Again, I think this goes back to the adjustment they have to make by having lost a main protagonist. We are no longer watching this story from anyone's point of view. We are just seeing it unfold through multiple pairs of eyes. So, because we aren't with Tyrion or Jon in every episode, it feels like they have to force in some scenes of character development. This was mainly present, really, in Jon and Daenerys's storylines. Although both were good, they both felt lesser than everything else going on.
I also think that there are some new characters in here who I don't love. Obviously, that's going to happen as we go on through the show, but a lot of the new season two characters are a bit weaker than season one. I felt like Stannis never really got the development he should've. It feels like he wants the throne because he is entitled to it, but there's no real motivation beyond that and he just seems kind of mean for no reason. Along with Stannis is his manipulative fire priestess, Lady Melisandre. I really didn't like her. I am hoping to understand more about these characters in the next few seasons, but as of right now, I thought they were some of the weaker Game of Thrones additions. I also felt that way about Gwendoline Christie's character, Brienne. She was just strange and I never understood her character motivation or goals. But, again, I'm trying to withhold judgment on them until future seasons come along.
Final Thoughts and Score
Game of Thrones continues forward with a strong second outing that may not be as good as the first, but still presents a compelling story that leaves me excited for what the future holds.
I am going Savory here. Age range is 17+.
SWEET N' SOUR SCALE
Sweet (Great) Savory (Good) Sour (Bad) Moldy (Terrible)
"Game of Thrones"
Fun Factor: 8.5/10
Acting: 9/10
Story: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Quality: 8.5/10
Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
Rated TV-MA for strong bloody violence, sexual content and graphic nudity, frightening themes and images, language, thematic elements
Premiered on April 1, 2012
Episode runtime: 60 minutes
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
Kit Harington as Jon Snow
Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen
Richard Madden as Robb Stark
Stephen Dillane as Stannis Baratheon
Maisie Williams as Arya Stark
Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark
Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy
Aidan Gillen as Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister
Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont
Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth
Carice van Houten as Lady Melisandre
Sibel Kekilli as Shae
Conleth Hill as Lord Varys
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark
Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark
John Bradley as Samwell Tarly
Rory McCann as Sandor "The Hound" Clegane
James Cosmo as Jeor Mormont
Jerome Flynn as Bronn
Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell
Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister
Simon Armstrong as Qhorin Halfhand
Rose Leslie as Ygritte
Robert Pugh as Craster
Hannah Murray as Gilly
Donald Sumpter as Maester Luwin
Natalia Tena as Osha
Oona Chaplin as Talisa Maegyr
Joe Dempsie as Gendry
Ben Hawkey as Hot Pie
Tom Wlaschiha as Jaqen H'ghar
Gethin Anthony as Renly Baratheon
Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth
Finn Jones as Loras Tyrell
Patrick Malahide as Balon Greyjoy
Gemma Whalen as Yara Greyjoy
Nonso Anozie as Xaro Xhoan Daxos
Ian Hanmore as Pyat Pree
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