Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Game of Thrones Season II



My DVR broke recently, and I was pretty ticked when I thought we'd lost all our recordings from season one, but that was silly, because they're all available on demand. I've been slowly rewatching them, trying to get acclimated to Westeros and Essos again, as we prepare for the exciting second season of the HBO series that probably should have been called A Song of Ice and Fire.

I mean sure, Game of Thrones is a cool title, and the theme of political power is a strong one in the story, and has dominated the first five books, but I get the feeling that the deeper theme, the one of darkness versus light, and "good" versus "evil" will come full circle in the final two volumes.

I certainly hope HBO will air the entire story, assuming Martin finishes the books before Maisie Williams turns 30. Anyway, here are the things I'm looking forward to most in season two:

Characters:

Melisandre: The Red Priestess of R'hllor, who hails from Asshai in the far east, is not a very sympathetic character in the books, because we all assume her prophecies are false, or at least that she is wrong about Stannis, Azor Ahai, and the Prince that was Promised, but she's a fascinating character nonetheless, and I'm looking forward to her being portrayed by the lovely Carice Van Houten:


Davos Seaworth: The Onion Knight, former smuggler, and eventual Hand of the King (in exile), Davos is a character whose arc is pretty interesting. Arguments can probably be made that he gets too many chapters in the books, and his story is of course still unresolved, but I'm fascinated to see what they do with him on the show. Especially at Storm's End for Melisandre's shadowy climax.


Brienne of Tarth: I would have said Stannis, but I'm not sure I like the look of Stephen Dillane, so I'm going with Gwendoline Christie, as the Maid of the Sapphire Isle. Brienne is a fascinating character in the books, and although her story is much more compelling in the third and fourth volumes than in the second, I get the feeling that HBO will not be sticking directly to the plot as separated in the novels.


Settings:

The Fist of the First Men: The most memorable setting north of the wall, some momentous things occur here in the story, but I'm especially interested to see how HBO's production design team portray this landscape.

Dragonstone: Stannis' seat, this volcanic island at the mouth of Blackwater Bay used to be the seat of House Targaryen, and then passed to House Baratheon after Robert's rebellion, but I'm especially curious to see how it will look in the new season.

Vaes Tolorro: City of Bones, in Dothraki, this ruins, in the midst of the red waste, ends up saving Daenerys and her Khalasar from starvation and ruination. While the walls are cracked and crumbling, they find solace within the city center.

40 comments:

Laura Pauling said...

We saw the opening of season one but we don't get HBO. The first one looked great. :) My daughter wanted to read the first book at 13, and we said, no. That is after my husband listened to them on tape or might've said yes.

Laurita said...

I just finished the third book. I'm very interested to see how Melisandre is portrayed in season 2. I can see the argument about Davos having too many chapters, but I do find his story interesting, moreso than Bran. Those chapters, while builing to something big I'm sure, are quite slow. So I am looking forward to the Onion Knight as well.

Emily White said...

I refuse to ever pay for tv, so I haven't actually seen Game of Thrones. But I plan to read the books very soon!

Ted Cross said...

My kids (11 and 13) have read all the books and loved them. I sure hope they keep doing this series right. I wish they would do two seasons for each book. That would help Martin get more time to finish!

Cursed Armada said...

I totally agree with all your points;) Arya has one of the best arc's in this book IMHO... Have you seen Black Death? It's a medieval period piece with Sean Bean and Carice van Houten. She plays a "witch" and she kills it. I have complete faith that she is gonna nail Melisandre. Personally the Onion Knight is one of my favorites. VALAR MORGHULIS!

Slamdunk said...

We are bargain basement cable folks and don't get HBO. Sounds like a good show that I missing though.

farawayeyes said...

Read the books. Trying to justify buying the first season. It is cheaper than one month of cable. The trailers look awesome. Might be, I should do it soon, but then I'll have to wait about a year for the second season to be on DVD.

Sarah Ahiers said...

i just glanced over this post, since i haven't read the second book yet and am trying to avoid spoilers.
And yeah, Game of Thrones sounds way cooler than A Song of Ice and Fire, but i always feel weird when i refer to it as a Game of Thrones because i know it's not quite right

Deana said...

This is the second post I've seen on this show. I guess I'm going to need to check it out:)

Kelly Polark said...

I always like to read the books first so I probably won't be watching this series for a while (as I haven't read any of the books yet!). One day. One day.

Anonymous said...

I guess I should watch the first season on the DVR, but since I don't have HBO anymore, not sure if I should hold off. Been waiting for a sick day to stay at home and watch the whole season at once.

Jess said...

I haven't read the books or seen the show, but they sound great! Someone just compared the protagonist in my WIP to Arya Stark, and I had to look it up on Wikipedia to see what they meant :)

storyqueen said...

Yay! April is not that far away!

Shelley

Carolyn Abiad said...

I just tossed season one into my Netflix queue, so you're ahead of me. I need more time in the day, or GRRM needs to write shorter books. Something tells me those requests are falling on deaf ears. ;)

Misha Gerrick said...

Sounds awesome! But I still have to read the books before I start the series. :-)

vic caswell said...

wha-huh???
that brienne is so... so... so... pretty! i thought she was supposed to be, well, not.
do i have my characters mixed up!?!?

Marta Szemik said...

I've been wanting to see this for awhile now. There are so many good shows, books, (then of course life responsibilities) that it all comes down to time.
I may put the books on my TBR pile:)

Nicole Zoltack said...

I have got to get the books and read them! We don't get HBO but after I read the books, I definitely want to watch this.

Unknown said...

Love this series and so looking forward to its return!

Bryan Russell said...

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. Who's going to play the Mountain that Rides now?

Johanna Garth said...

I am Game of Thrones obsessed!

Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos} said...

Ican'twait. Ican'twait. Ican'twait. Ican'twait. Ican'twait. Ican'twait. Ican'twait. Ican'twait. Ican'twait. Ican'twait. Ican'twait.

Seriously. Can't wait. And I loved this refresher for season 2. GAH. I wish it was starting TODAY. :)

Nancy Thompson said...

I've never read Martin's books but last year, after months of poor service from Comcast, I received 3 free months of HBO. Before it expired in December, I watched all the episodes of GoT on On Demand. I was addicted after the first episode. Sadly, I no longer have HBO so I can't watch it until SideReel carries it. Can't tell you how bummed I am at having to miss it.

Tracy said...

So stinking excited. These are going to be two very long months!

Having just recently finished reading Clash of Kings, I feel a little more prepared for the stingers than I was last year. (Ned *sob*, Drogo *double sob*)

Strangely, I'm most interested in watching the way they handle Theon's storyline this season. (I'm also planning to feverishly get to reading A Storm of Swords so I can catch any crossover with this season)

Sub Radar (Mike) said...

HODOR!

I was lucky enough to see some of the filming on-set for this series. The amount of work that goes into it is staggering.

M.J. Fifield said...

See, I'm looking forward to next month when the first season of GoT finally arrives on DVD so I can watch it. I really, really have to get HBO before season two.

Dawn Ius said...

I loved the book series but we moved out to the country, and though we get satellite TV, I lost my PVR in the transition (not supported in rural area) and I never seemed to be home at the right time to watch. Definitely a reminder to get caught up "on demand."

Natalie Aguirre said...

I've only read book 1. I'd love to read them all but they are so long and I have too many books to read. But I can't wait for season 2. My husband was thinking of cutting HBO to save money but I said NO WAY. I want to watch this series every week.

Natalie Aguirre said...

I've only read book 1. I'd love to read them all but they are so long and I have too many books to read. But I can't wait for season 2. My husband was thinking of cutting HBO to save money but I said NO WAY. I want to watch this series every week.

Marsha Sigman said...

I cannot wait!!!! Love this story. I will forever be in awe of the skill it takes to create this many distinct characters and make each story arc so incredible.

Phoenix said...

I'm really getting hooked on Game of Thrones, although I do think the subtitle should be: "Don't Get Attached." :)

ShaunaKelleyWrites said...

HA! Yes... don't get attached. You learn that more in the books (I am ALMOST done book 5).

I am sort of pissed about casting someone so beautiful for Brienne. They butter ugly her up well, and not just make her sort of unattractive with everyone calling her hideous, even though it doesn't make sense.

Stina said...

My husband's dying to get his hands on the DVDs for the first season, ever since you blogged about the show last year.

Lydia Kang said...

I've got to read these! Crap, my TBR list is out of control.

Arlee Bird said...

There are so many shows and movies that I hear about that I never see. I am so hopelessly behind in watching things that I've come to accept I will never see them all. I've heard a lot about Game of Thrones but, alas, I may never see any of it.

Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out

Kristen Pelfrey said...

As this is one of two shows I watch--the other being The Walking Dead--I am thrilled beyond belief and jonesing for the entire experience to continue.
More dragons, oh yes. More Tyrion. I've told you many times I have a serious mad pash for Tyrion.
And you make a good point about GRRM finishing the series before Maisie turns thirty. Please, George, writewritewrite.
And if HBO pulls a Deadwood on this, I am going to go medieval with a spork.

Joe Lunievicz said...

Okay. I have the Apple TV and can download season 1 on March 6. I can't wait any longer. All that swordplay and knights cracking each other's skulls is just too much to pass up.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

If I had one modest wish, it would be that we could watch this together every new episode. Having two uber knowledgeable fans of the series, it'd be soo much fun with popcorn and a few beers.

Wine and Words said...

Dark vs Light. Good vs Evil. Is there any series not predicated on this division and desire for justice? I'm sure your prediction of the show will play out :) and no doubt good with triumph. Evil only appears in the first season.

fakesteph said...

I just started reading the first book. LOVE it so far. Then I'm going to watch the show. :)