The second season of Game of Thrones is comprised of 10 episodes at approximately 50 minutes long each. It is based on the second novel of the series A Song of Ice and Fire. The first episode starts right after the first season with the war in full swing and the various leaders strategizing. It is amusing to see even the characters state with mockery how there are now four so-called Kings. The various parties are now plotting and looking for alliances, as well as backstabbing whenever there is a chance. As alliances are formed, so too are treacheries unveiled. Characters who had betrayed others then forms a pact with another, and you don't know whether to trust them or not. Everyone has their own agenda.
At the end of the last season, Joffrey had become king and shown how cruel he can be. Here, we are shown more of his cruelty and pettiness, making him extremely unlikable. In particular, the way that he torments Sansa is horrible and is acting as a bully who can't stand to the strong, so attacks the weak. Even though Sansa was an annoying character before, you feel sorry for her. Joffrey stops at nothing and the things that he orders his subjects to do are horrifying. You know that anyone who interacts with Joffrey is not going to have a good fate. He knows no boundaries and feels entitled, even though he has achieved nothing and is only using his title as king to do whatever he wants. He does not deserve the power. He really comes into his own through the actions that he does, like a spoiled child. It's a miracle that no one revolts immediately and kills him as he is such an unworthy king. He is blind to the subjects he is supposed to be leading and protecting.
Tyrion, on the other hand, remains one of the most charming and likable characters in the show. He is crafty and clever, and people underestimate him just because of his short stature. The show makes it feel as if he is the underdog but he also does some horrifying acts of his own. However, one of the best scenes involving him is when he dares to put Joffrey in his right place, scolding him when no one else will. The season continues on with multiple viewpoints including Khaleesi (now known as the Mother of Dragons), Jon Snow, the Starks, and King's Landing. It's a lot to handle and it frequently shuffles around during an episode. Speaking of Khaleesi, while she has shown power at the end of the last season, she' struggling to keep her people alive and finding enough allies to launch a full scale attack to reclaim the Iron Throne.
Game of Thrones reinforces the cruel nature of its world. Death comes easily and unexpectedly, there is no glory in fighting. Death wounds look horrible and painful, as it should. There are shocking twists, as always, and characters you don't expect to die, will die, and die early too. It's pretty sad how so many characters do not have honor, like Ned Stark did. Yet the ones who show a sliver of honor are the ones who suffer and disadvantaged. It is at this point that the show starts to pull in more fantasy elements. Although the first season had some black magic and of course, the dragon eggs, it's more more to the forefront this season. There are certain scenes where it can be hard to watch due to the obvious mistakes being made by the characters. Naturally, the characters are then being taken advantaged of and left in a worse situation.
The season gets better as the episodes progresses. It feels faster paced and more epic in scope than the first season. This could be because all the viewpoints are compelling and you see how they all start to link together. Similarly to the first season, the penultimate episode is where it is brought to a crescendo while the final episode is more of a wind down with one hell of a cliffhanger to end it. There is a pretty epic battle towards the end of the season with some strategy coming into place. It rouses the viewers for some of the characters, as well as seeing the true cowardly nature of others. It was an excellent episode with multiple surprises. Overall, the second season of Game of Thrones is bigger and better, being faster paced and having more focused plot threads. Even if you weren't quite hooked in the last season, the second season is deeply engaging and will win you over.
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