Game of Thrones
Season Two, Episode 3 – What Is Dead May Never Die
Directed by: Alik Sakharov
Written by: Bryan Cogman
Starring: Mark Addy, Alfie Allen, Emilia Clarke, Liam Cunningham, Charles Dance, Stephen Dillane, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Fairley, Aidan Gillen, Jack Gleeson, Iain Glen, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Conleth Hill, Carice van Houten, Harry Lloyd, Richard Madden, Patrick Malahide, Rory McCann, Sophie Turner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maisie Williams, and Issac Hempstead-Wright

Part of the episodic structure of Game of Thrones, for good or for bad, is that the show is a direct one-to-one adaptation of the book series. Having not read the books, I don’t know how faithful the adaptation is, but George R. R. Martin’s structure doesn’t often lend itself to having individual episode themes; instead, the show looks to playing out the larger themes of the series over the course of the season.

This isn’t a bad way of storytelling, in fact, it’s one that Game of Thrones has very well mastered.

Power and who wields this power has been a topic of much discussion for many of our characters this season and this week’s episode, “What Is Dead May Never Die,” continues this concept, but also plays with the assumption and illusion of who really, truly has power.

Game of Thrones
Season Two, Episode 2 – The Night Lands
Directed by: Alan Taylor
Written by: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
Starring: Mark Addy, Alfie Allen, Emilia Clarke, Liam Cunningham, Charles Dance, Stephen Dillane, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Fairley, Aidan Gillen, Jack Gleeson, Iain Glen, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Conleth Hill, Carice van Houten, Harry Lloyd, Richard Madden, Patrick Malahide, Rory McCann, Sophie Turner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maisie Williams, and Issac Hempstead-Wright.

Game of Thrones continues some world building in order to set the stage for what’s to come in the week’s ahead, but how does it compare to last week’s outstanding season two premiere? Found out after the break.

One of the things that Game of Thrones does so well is the ability to handle multiple plots without wasting a single character or moment in order to accomplish great storytelling that gets me engaged in each character introduced. I think a lesser show wouldn’t be able to handle the amount of juggling that’s needed for this series, and that’s why the show has been a master class in character development. Each character featured throughout the episode has at least one, if not more, important moment that not only reinforces, but advances their plot and their character.

Game of Thrones
Season Two, Episode 1 – The North Remembers
Directed by: Alan Taylor
Written by: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
Starring: Mark Addy, Alfie Allen, Emilia Clarke, Liam Cunningham, Charles Dance, Stephen Dillane, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Fairley, Aidan Gillen, Jack Gleeson, Iain Glen, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Conleth Hill, Carice van Houten, Harry Lloyd, Richard Madden, Rory McCann, Sophie Turner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maisie Williams, and Issac Hempstead-Wright

After an outstanding first season, Game of Thrones roared back to life last night with the Season Two premiere, “The North Remembers.” Below, we’ve got your full spoiler-free review.

Doom has come to Westeros.

Throughout the course of “The North Remembers,” there is a feeling of persistent fear and danger. Since the opening shots of the series premiere, this world has been on the brink of many things, but the season two premiere escalates these feelings even more. I think that few shows truly handle the concept of fear and what it can mean for characters in the show, but Game of Thrones proved that no character is safe from whatever uncertain danger lies ahead and the season two premiere looks to continue this trend. No one is safe and anything can happen and many of our characters are still dealing with the fallout from past episodes.

Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season
Blu-ray | DVD
CREATORS: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, George R. R. Martin (author)
DIRECTORS: Tim Van Patten, Brian Kirk, Daniel Minahan, Alan Taylor
WRITERS: David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, Bryan Cogman, Jane Espenson, George R. R. Martin
STARRING: Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage, Jason Momoa, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Mark Addy, Michelle Fairley, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Aidan Gillen, Kit Harington, Maisie Williams, Iain Glen, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Jack Gleeson, Sophie Turner, Richard Madden, Harry Lloyd, Alfie Allen, James Cosmo, Rory McCann, Julian Glover, Charles Dance, Donald Sumpter, Ron Donachie
HBO
RELEASE DATE: March 6, 2012

I’ve made it no secret how much of a fan of HBO’s original programming and similar shows I am…to the point of it being difficult for me personally to even watch regular network/cable TV shows not named The Walking Dead anymore. Two of my favorite current shows are on HBO, one being Boardwalk Empire and the other being, big surprise and SPOILER ALERT: Game of Thrones.

And while it’s silly of me to give away my feelings on the first season of the series so early in my review, allow me to tell you why I’m so googly-eyed over this wonderful, wonderful world.

Game of Thrones
Season One, Episode Ten – Fire & Blood
Directed by: Alan Taylor
Written by: David Beinoff and D.B. Weiss
Starring: Mark Addy, Alfie Allen, Sean Bean, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Fairley, Aidan Gillen, Jack Gleeson, Iain Glen, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Issac Hempstead-Wright, Harry Lloyd, Richard Madden, Rory McCann, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Conleth Hill, and Charles Dance

I hope everyone enjoyed the first episode of Season Two of Game of Thrones.

Confused? Let me explain.

“Fire and Blood” is in a unique position in that it feels more like the first episode of season two rather than the season one finale. The cliffhanger in “Baelor” felt more like a traditional finale, where the majority of this episode sets up our various players for the next round of the game.