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We go back to the seven kingdoms and catch up on where each and everyone of this huge cast is when the S2E1 starts. The Lannisters [including Joffrey, Tyrion and Cersei] are in King's Landing where they should be.
Robb Stark is with his mother Cat Stark are on a campaign Northwards. This is ofcourse a war set due to the public beheading of Robb's dad Eddard "Ned" Stark [Sean Bean]. The Stark's home in the North, Winterfell, is "protected" by Bran Stark while Danaerys Targaryen and her Khalassar are caught in a desert known as the "Red Waste".
Beyond the wall, fan-favorite Jon Snow is also having problems as they need to quell the Wildling activity while at the same time going on a rescue mission.
The new season introduces new characters who will start the so-called "War of Five Kings". We've met Renly Baratheon in the last season. Joffrey and Robb make this three. We also have Stannis Baratheon [Renly's older brother] and finally the 'king' of the Iron Islands, Balon Greyjoy.
Politicking
'Thrones continued to wow me with the adept story telling and the characterization for most of the characters. The politics and the secret talks between characters really kept me glued to my seat. Take one scene for example..
Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) wants to find out who among the council members are working behind the scenes with his sister Cersei. To flush out the rat, he talks to the three council members each with the basic dialogue. He's to ship off his niece Myrcella to be married to another family either for politics and power or for support in the ongoing war. The only difference is in the detail, each person gets a different family/ location. Later Tyrion meets with the distraught Queen who felt betrayed upon learning that Myrcella would be shipped to Dorn (thus proving to Tyrion that Pycelle is not to be trusted).
It's these types of gambits and plots that makes GOT such an additive series. You really can't just watch and believe that the character you were rooting for would be the same after an ordeal or two.
The Starks
The Starks are Tony Stark's relatives [twice removed... okay thrice if you include Ned Stark's beheading]. They're very noble and tight-knit. They know how to fight, wear armor and bands with other heroic characters and ultimately makes 'ultimate sacrifice' plays like crazy.
Season 2 focuses equally focuses on the Stark kids and their respective trials. Its good but for me it ain't that good. So lets see Robb's war with the Lannisters takes a backseat in exchange for a love story with a girl whom he can't even marry. Bran and Rickon's story throughout the season is their life during the last days leading up to the sack and fall of Winterfell.
Sansa's focused again on the damsel-in-distress trope wherein she is left to fend for herself in King Joffrey's court. Oh and she almost gets raped in a later episode.
By far Arya's story arc has got to be the most appealing for me. We meet Arya (now going by Arry) on her/his way to the Wall. She becomes friends with Gendry (who happens to be Robert's bastard and has more right to the Iron Throne compared to King Joffrey.)
Before their group was captured and sent to Harrenhaal, Arya managed to save three dangerous men who were supposed to be sent to Wall along with them. By saving the lives of these hardened criminals Arya also managed to save her own life as one of them happen to be part of a mysterious group of assassins called "The Faceless Men".
I guess its the "other" arcs that were relegated to the sidelines in the first season that gets more screen time here. But its presented in such a way that's enjoyable and moves the story forward.
NO ORDINARY HEROES
Tyrion Lannister plays hero in this season. He gets to chop off a man's leg during the siege at King's Landing and lead a squad to defend the Mud Gate. Unfortunately for him, he gets a surprise injury that makes him more stand out. Between this and the upcoming amputation of Jamie Lannister's hand we could say that Martin hates his leading POV characters.
Khaleesi Dani Targaryen also makes a rather lackluster appearance this season. No butt kicking or awesome moments. Just her being the "Mother of Dragons" and trying to find suitable comforts for her khalassar. While the story is just so-so for me. I got hand the producers for not showing dear Emilia Clarke's bod through this series. Seriously if they showed more skin on poor Emilia I would have made this review horrible. The girl's gone through enough nudity the first season.
Cate Stark also gets a new swornsword in the form of Lady Brienne who also shows some heroic tendencies as she delivers Jamie Lannister to King's Landing.
Special mention in this category is Jaqen H'ghar who was such a bad ass in this season. Especially that killer moment where he killed the leader of Tywin's soldiers with what appears to be a specialty dart. Plus the damn assassin can change his face at a whim. Good stuff. More layer to Arya's storyline.
VILE VILLAINS
GOT Season 2 features a venerable cast of characters who are mostly "grey". Nobody gets to be more grey than Theon Greyjoy who fucks the Stark badly by leading a contingency to attack Winterfell. Thanks to him, the rest of the world will now think that Bran and Rickon Stark (together with Osha and Hodor) are dead. Too bad for him though as he gets betrayed towards the season's end.
The White Walkers also make their presence felt in the series. While there's no real major fight that happens between the Brotherhood and these White Walkers, there's a certain tease towards the end that promises a big battle next season. Plus a quick look at these guys and you'll probably get your spine tingling...
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| Anong tinitingin tingin mo dyan? |
Speaking of major battles Joffrey Baratheon's fight in the episode entitled "Blackwater" also solidifies and strengthen the hatred fans harbor for the boy-king. Whether its pointing a crossbow at Sansa or watching and ordering a whore to beat another whore badly, this sadistic prick just became more vile. Bonus props to his mother Cersei who plans to put little Tomen to sleep when Baratheon's forces were at the gate.
The other notable addition for this season was the smoke/shadow monster that Stannis and Melissandre "concieve" in order to assassinate Renly Baratheon. It was a shock at that moment and ultimately turned the tide of war not just for the youngest Baratheon's men but indirectly for Robb Stark's fate as well. Whether we see this monster again is up in the air but it does remind us viewers that this is still a world where magic exist.
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| The Smoke Monster from LOST gets added to the GOT cast |
CRINGE WORTHY MOMENTS
There were a few cringe worthy moments in GOT S2 that made me uneasy. The one that stood out the most to me were the early scenes in Haarenhaal where we see people getting executed. To rub in the salt, we also get to see a head get hammered into a stake which is really unsettling for viewers with weak stomachs.
The discontinued sex scene between Loras Tyrell and Renly Baratheon wasn't cringe worthy but rather more uncomfortable to see. The awkwardness cranks up to 11 when Margaery Tyrell asks Renly if she would want Loras to come in and help them out during the more racy moments of the episode (yes, she was buck naked).
NUDITY and MORE NUDITY
It's not going to be Game of Thrones without the nudity. There's a solid number of nude scenes here which is fast becoming a trademark for GOT. The sad part about this though is the fact that the sex scenes were written in the episodes just to add sex. No meaty expositions or character developing moments within the scene. Remember in season 1 where Renly and Loras was having sex and Renly was telling Loras (and the viewers indirectly) what was happening, who were the players and what his plan is. Or that crucial scene where Littlefinger tells his story while watching Ros have sex with another new whore in the brothel.
In essence the nudity here was just added to make it sell more not tell additional stories while taking a break from all the commotion.
Also some where just damn unsettling such as the scene where Melissandre gave birth to the shadow monster with Davos the Onion Knight watching.
Overall I'm giving Game of Thrones Season 2 a good 8/10. If not for the limited number of episodes per season I would have given it a higher score. That and the nonsense nudity scenes including Robb Stark's racy segment which could have been cut short.
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