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Special Features
- Creating the Battle of Blackwater Bay
- GAME OF THRONES: Inner Circle
- 12 Audio Commentaries with Cast and Crew
- The Religions of Westeros
- Character Profiles
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The epic scope of the grand television fantasy series Game of Thrones is matched by the extraordinary wealth of extras found in its sophomore-season set. Based on A Clash of Kings, the second novel in George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, season two of Game of Thrones admirably encapsulates the sprawling War of the Five Kings, which pits the malevolent Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) against a host of contenders for the throne of the late King Robert (Mark Addy), including his brothers Stannis (Stephen Dillane) and Renly (Gethin Anthony). Further complicating matters is the appointment of Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) as Hand of the King to Joffrey, which sets off an intense behind-the-scenes power struggle with his siblings, Cersei (Lena Headey) and Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), who carry on an incestuous affair. Meanwhile, there's also the issue of Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and her three dragons; Daenerys spends much of season two making her way across the Red Waste in order to launch her own plan of conquest. These central conflicts are supported by a host of secondary storylines, including Alfie Allen's Theon Greyjoy, who is faced with dreadful choices in his own quest to prove his worth, and new cast member Carice van Houten as Melisandre, a priestess who uses a variety of wiles, including sex, to spur Stannis's assault against Joffrey's forces in the series' showstopping set piece, the Battle of Blackwater Bay. That Game of Thrones manages to not only weave together all of these myriad threads but also make them compelling and fully realized is among the keys to the show's astonishing popularity, as are the performances, which, along with the direction and writing, help to make the series the best costume fantasy drama ever produced on television. Its blend of historically inspired intrigue and supernatural elements keeps it far afield of camp territory, where most TV fantasy has bogged down in the past, while the cast, led by the extraordinary Peter Dinklage as the wily Tyrion, rivals any modern day/dress series. Of course, the show's copious violence and sexuality (the latter of which borders on excessive this season) are also key factors, but the visceral nature of these parts mesh well with the show's overall theme of a medieval land gripped by extraordinary bloodshed.
The five-disc DVD set of Game of Thrones' second season provides an exceptional amount of supplemental material on the show's production, primarily through 12 commentary tracks, including multiple tracks on single episodes. Among the participants are the main cast, including Dinklage, Headey, and Coster-Waldau, as well as series cocreators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss; director Neil Marshall (The Descent), who helmed "Blackwater"; and Martin himself, who explains many of the differences between his source novel and the program. The Battle of Blackwater Bay gets its own half-hour making-of featurette, while a quintet of the actors, including Headey and Clarke, participate in an informative roundtable discussion about their characters and the show's locations. Martin also returns for a brief conversation about the various religions of his fictional world along with Benioff and Weiss. Both die-hard fans and first-time viewers will appreciate the length and depth of the extra material included in the set, which expands greatly on the already massive world of Game of Thrones. --Paul Gaita
Product Description
In the second season of the epic HBO original series Game of Thrones, kings from across the fictional continent of Westeros vie for the Iron Throne. As winter approaches, the cruel young Joffrey sits upon the Throne in King's Landing, counseled by his conniving mother Cersei and his uncle Tyrion, who has been appointed the new Hand of the King. But the Lannister hold on power is under assault on many fronts, with two Baratheons donning crowns, and Robb Stark fighting as the King in the North. With tensions and treaties, animosity and alliances, Season Two is a thrilling journey through a riveting and unforgettable landscape.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
360 of 414 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am unthinkably lucky. My favorite book series of all time has been turned into one of the best television shows of all time.
And I'm not the only one who thinks so! Critics love it, award shows laud it, and record-breaking millions of viewers are tuning in.
The dialog is superb, flowing with hidden subtext, overt emotion, political posturing, unfortunate truths, naďve admissions, and much more. And each line is perfectly acted! I don't know how they managed to fill an ensemble cast of this scope with such talented actors, but even the children are impeccable. Joffrey conjures uncontrollable hatred, managing to be one of the most contemptible characters to grace the screen, and at such a young age! I feel bad for that kid. There's no way anyone will be able to look at him the same again.
Season 2 picks up after the shocking events of season 1, which I won't mention in case you haven't seen it. And if that's the case, what are you doing? Go watch it right now!
The death of a monarch has left the land of Westeros in political turmoil, rulers declaring themselves kings on every corner of the map. As the inevitable war ensues, we follow the various leaders, rooting for the most honorable, but simultaneously fearing for their lives, for this is a dark show, and the most just cause is often the most treacherous. Our heroes do not have the strength of numbers, but rather the strength of character, and that does not win wars.
The season launches us headfirst into this maelstrom of a power struggle, introducing us to even more characters than before. For people who haven't read the books, it may be a bit hard to follow, but the show does its best and usually manages to pull it off. The two newest additions to the battle for dominance are Stannis Baratheon, eldest brother to the late king, and Balon Greyjoy, father of Theon Greyjoy and perpetual enemy of house Stark.
From the moment you meet these characters, you'll be awestruck by just how high quality this show is. HBO spares no expense, and their money is put to good use. The new sets are stunning, from Stannis's table carved into a likeness of all of Westeros, to Balon's fireplace, crafted into a giant Kraken.
Back in King's Landing, we once again finds ourselves enjoying Peter Dinklage's Tyrion as he continues to cleverly maneuver the human chess pieces that make up the court. He's definitely this season's hero, and he strikes a perfect balance between likability, morality, and underhanded politicking. As the season goes on, even more people die, the stakes are raised, and a sense of impending doom settles across the land.
If you love the realism of the series, you may be shocked when things take a turn for the magical partway through the season. Still, the sorcery is artfully done, and while it's a bit hard to fathom, there isn't much of it to get used to. By the halfway point, situations have become truly dire. War is most certainly brewing, the lands north of the wall promise ever-increasing danger, and the clash of kings continues.
And what a clash it is! Episode 9 presents us with what is quite possibly the most incredible battle in television history. Only on HBO could a show achieve such heights. The tension of the women awaiting the outcome, the gruesome brutality of war, the chilling fact that no matter how much you prepare, in the end your fate is decided as much by random chance as by skill--it's all awe-inspiring. Whatever stalling the season might be guilty of is justified in this amazing episode.
And it definitely is guilty of some stalling. Daenerys doesn't accomplish much, but the resolution to her storyline is satisfying. And even if you didn't think that was enough of a season finalé, I have just one word for you: zombies. Or maybe two words: zombie horse.
This is a show of deceit and of honor, of love and betrayal and politics, of war and the base desires of man, of monsters and of loyalty, of sex and lies and conniving. It is made with the utmost sincerity, doing service to the source material, and expands upon that material with brilliant scenes we could not have witnessed in the novels.
There is plenty of violence and nudity, so bear that in mind, but that is not the heart of the show. Rather, those aspects serve to underscore the themes of the story. These characters live in a dark world, and they must make the best of it while they can. After all, Winter is Coming.
UPDATE: Packaging is gorgeous, although the DVD case is somewhat flimsy, but what can you do? Getting the digital copy was super easy. I followed the instructions and downloaded all the episodes off Amazon Unbox without any problems, and was able to watch them on my PS3 immediately. Admittedly, my TV is only 720p, but the picture quality of the discs was impeccable. Have only run through everything to make sure it works. Can't wait to watch the extra features and update again!
And I'm not the only one who thinks so! Critics love it, award shows laud it, and record-breaking millions of viewers are tuning in.
The dialog is superb, flowing with hidden subtext, overt emotion, political posturing, unfortunate truths, naďve admissions, and much more. And each line is perfectly acted! I don't know how they managed to fill an ensemble cast of this scope with such talented actors, but even the children are impeccable. Joffrey conjures uncontrollable hatred, managing to be one of the most contemptible characters to grace the screen, and at such a young age! I feel bad for that kid. There's no way anyone will be able to look at him the same again.
Season 2 picks up after the shocking events of season 1, which I won't mention in case you haven't seen it. And if that's the case, what are you doing? Go watch it right now!
The death of a monarch has left the land of Westeros in political turmoil, rulers declaring themselves kings on every corner of the map. As the inevitable war ensues, we follow the various leaders, rooting for the most honorable, but simultaneously fearing for their lives, for this is a dark show, and the most just cause is often the most treacherous. Our heroes do not have the strength of numbers, but rather the strength of character, and that does not win wars.
The season launches us headfirst into this maelstrom of a power struggle, introducing us to even more characters than before. For people who haven't read the books, it may be a bit hard to follow, but the show does its best and usually manages to pull it off. The two newest additions to the battle for dominance are Stannis Baratheon, eldest brother to the late king, and Balon Greyjoy, father of Theon Greyjoy and perpetual enemy of house Stark.
From the moment you meet these characters, you'll be awestruck by just how high quality this show is. HBO spares no expense, and their money is put to good use. The new sets are stunning, from Stannis's table carved into a likeness of all of Westeros, to Balon's fireplace, crafted into a giant Kraken.
Back in King's Landing, we once again finds ourselves enjoying Peter Dinklage's Tyrion as he continues to cleverly maneuver the human chess pieces that make up the court. He's definitely this season's hero, and he strikes a perfect balance between likability, morality, and underhanded politicking. As the season goes on, even more people die, the stakes are raised, and a sense of impending doom settles across the land.
If you love the realism of the series, you may be shocked when things take a turn for the magical partway through the season. Still, the sorcery is artfully done, and while it's a bit hard to fathom, there isn't much of it to get used to. By the halfway point, situations have become truly dire. War is most certainly brewing, the lands north of the wall promise ever-increasing danger, and the clash of kings continues.
And what a clash it is! Episode 9 presents us with what is quite possibly the most incredible battle in television history. Only on HBO could a show achieve such heights. The tension of the women awaiting the outcome, the gruesome brutality of war, the chilling fact that no matter how much you prepare, in the end your fate is decided as much by random chance as by skill--it's all awe-inspiring. Whatever stalling the season might be guilty of is justified in this amazing episode.
And it definitely is guilty of some stalling. Daenerys doesn't accomplish much, but the resolution to her storyline is satisfying. And even if you didn't think that was enough of a season finalé, I have just one word for you: zombies. Or maybe two words: zombie horse.
This is a show of deceit and of honor, of love and betrayal and politics, of war and the base desires of man, of monsters and of loyalty, of sex and lies and conniving. It is made with the utmost sincerity, doing service to the source material, and expands upon that material with brilliant scenes we could not have witnessed in the novels.
There is plenty of violence and nudity, so bear that in mind, but that is not the heart of the show. Rather, those aspects serve to underscore the themes of the story. These characters live in a dark world, and they must make the best of it while they can. After all, Winter is Coming.
UPDATE: Packaging is gorgeous, although the DVD case is somewhat flimsy, but what can you do? Getting the digital copy was super easy. I followed the instructions and downloaded all the episodes off Amazon Unbox without any problems, and was able to watch them on my PS3 immediately. Admittedly, my TV is only 720p, but the picture quality of the discs was impeccable. Have only run through everything to make sure it works. Can't wait to watch the extra features and update again!
50 of 55 people found the following review helpful
By Consumer1001
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
this is mainly a post for the digital Copy info...or lack thereof.
Besides the bluray disks & the double sided DVD's you get ONE code that works with itunes AND either Amazon Instant, Vudu, or Flixster (Ultraviolet).
Note: sign up/in at Flixster/UV and then LINK your VUDU account. This allows you to get the 1080p copy onto your PS3 and still keep it stored in the cloud that is UV/Flixster.
I do not keep anything in Amazon's cloud (yet) but the option is there for you.
summary: Season2 is on my apple tv [iCloud](1080p/720p), and its also in the Vudu cloud (1080p) so I can watch it on my PS3.
sadly, the box does not state this nice 2 way digital copy code, but its all in there, which is nice that HBO realizes that people might want to watch it on a computer, iOS device, or PS3 AND gives you this flexibility.
Hope this helps.
Besides the bluray disks & the double sided DVD's you get ONE code that works with itunes AND either Amazon Instant, Vudu, or Flixster (Ultraviolet).
Note: sign up/in at Flixster/UV and then LINK your VUDU account. This allows you to get the 1080p copy onto your PS3 and still keep it stored in the cloud that is UV/Flixster.
I do not keep anything in Amazon's cloud (yet) but the option is there for you.
summary: Season2 is on my apple tv [iCloud](1080p/720p), and its also in the Vudu cloud (1080p) so I can watch it on my PS3.
sadly, the box does not state this nice 2 way digital copy code, but its all in there, which is nice that HBO realizes that people might want to watch it on a computer, iOS device, or PS3 AND gives you this flexibility.
Hope this helps.
487 of 627 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I LOVE this show. Yes, I'm a hugeee book fan and don't appreciate all of the changes in the show, but overall I am a huge fan.
Rating guide:
Non-readers: 4-5 stars
General book readers: 3.5-4.5 stars
Book purists/fanatical: 0-2 stars
This is a great show, but in my eyes it's just not as good as season 1. It is definitely better compared to most of what is on television and the acting is superb and extremely well cast. However, my problems with this season revolve around two main issues:
#1) the severe deviations from the books that the D.B. Weiss and David Benioff have taken. In the first season deviations existed, but mostly to the point to help with time/budget constraints. The writers still generally stayed true to the characters.
Season 2 is a whole different story. GRRM has spoken many times of the Butterfly Effect. The more the writers change things, the more the story is going to change in the long run. With the huge amount of characters in the series, seemingly little changes can have huge implications. While season 1 generally stayed true to the novel (which I gave five stars to), season 2 took a life of its own. Many story lines were completely invented or so heavily modified that they barely were anything like the books.
I know that television/movies adaptations MUST be different from the books. However, I think it's crucial that the writers still accurately capture the essence of the characters. When the writers started to play with the characters and get cute, I decided that they weren't doing it due to budget/time constraints, but because they thought they were *better.* And they're not.
#2) It isn't as nearly as good overall this season compared to last, REGARDLESS book deviations. Storylines drag, some dialogue is so bad that it seems like it was taken out of a cheesy soap opera (cliches abound), there are really disjointed and awkward scenes, and they can't seem to do much else except have two people in a room talking to each other. The pacing to me was just off this season.
More in-depth look at my problems with season 2:
*Important scenes and character arcs are modified beyond recognition. While some changes must be made for the sake of adaptation, that's not true for everything. There was no reason to completely change The House of the Undying scene, which was one of the most interesting scenes in the entire series to something that was so irrelevant and had nothing to do with a "song of ice and fire." it wouldn't have hurt to use a little more caution with Jon's character as well, because his famous "kill" was confusing and its intentions unclear to many viewers. Arya's storyline was not a bad one in the show, but looked like a Disney version of what was in the books. I was looking forward to seeing the gritty brutality of it, and instead it just fell flat. Robb Stark....I don't even want to go there. It may be his storyline that infuriates me the most out of them all. In the books he was a fool that I could sympathize with; in the show he's not only a fool, but a jerk (to put it mildly). I won't go into details due to spoilers and you may not understand if you haven't read the books, but his character is butchered beyond redemption.
*Women are dramatically different in the show than the books. The writers feel the need to make the majority of the female cast "badass," ruthless, and/or bratty. An example is Tyrion's whore, Shae. In the books she is very obedient to Tyrion and very much acts like a prostitute (which she is). She shows signs of cleverness, but most of their interactions are based on sex and lust. In the show, Shae has a huge potty mouth, acts like a big "tough girl," and doesn't treat Tyrion like someone of high noble birth in the slightest. The writers think they are making a more complex and dynamic character by making Shae witty and rebellious, because that seems like Tyrion's type of gal. However, nothing's ever so simple. One of Tyrion's biggest weaknesses is his naivety in love and even though he *knows* Shae is at the root, just a whore in it for money, he can't stay away from her. It's a richly layered story that doesn't need assistance from the writers. They also changed Robb's love interest to someone completely different, and once again she was more of a "bratty rebel." Dany is another character that is also much more cruel in the show. The writers have no imagination when it comes to writing/modifying the women in the book. And Sansa, one of the main characters in the books, is hugely neglected for most of the season. I guess she just isn't "cool enough."
Not to mention, Dany's entire storyline in Qarth was different. Hardly any of it was from the books. I understood and expected that, considering she was rather inactive for most of book two and her chapters were admittedly pretty boring, but instead of changing it for the better, they somehow managed to turn it into a ridiculous soap opera that made little to no sense.
*Cheesiness. One of the things I love about GRRM is that he is never a cheesy romance writer. I DO enjoy scenes that show true emotion and express things I can empathize with, such as love for others. I DON'T enjoy super contrived, cheesy romance stories that are so cliche and boring that not even my most "hopeless romantic" friends can enjoy it. And there was just too much of that in this show, especially between Robb and a certain love interest. The dialogue was just atrocious. But David Benioff DID write Troy, so that explains quite a bit.
*Two characters talking to each other in a room. It seems like practically every scene is two people in a room talking to each other. The writers don't seem to excel particularly well at writing group scenes, and like the one-on-one talks. This is alright to an extent, but I think sometimes it makes it come off as a cheesy medieval soap opera. Not good.
An example of this is Arya Stark and Tywin Lannister in Harrenhal. Charles Dance and Maisie Williams have amazing on-screen chemistry together and are a joy to watch, but they had their little back-and-forth banter for what....4 episodes? It got a little old. Arya is supposed to be going through a living HELL while at Harrenhal, not hanging out with Daddy Warbucks all the time.
*All of the little mistakes. A few mistakes is normal and expected - a ton is not and a sign of lazy writing. These writers claim to making a somewhat faithful adaptation of ASOIAF, yet they continue to mess up religions, locations, and simple Westerosi facts the entire show. And these weren't things that had anything to do with budget constraints. Having northern men referencing to praying to the Seven for instance, is completely unfaithful to the books, and the only reason I can come up with them changing it is simple - lazy writing. The Old Gods were already mentioned several times in season 1, so there is no reason to have men of the North praying to gods of the South. A bunch of little things like that add up over time and seem like a disservice to book readers. Most of us highly appreciate the little things in the books being acknowledged and done correctly. Not to mention, these errors could be seen by even a non-reader, considering religions have already been established and explored to a degree in the first season.
If you are a book reader and can completely separate the books from the show in your head, you can still enjoy this. It's entertaining, suspenseful, and brutal. It moves at a rather uncomfortably slow pace, but gains some momentum toward the end. Also, the show is mostly very good at staying true to Theon's arc, which is one of the most interesting in the series. The Battle at Blackwater Bay Episode (8) was also phenomenal, and written by GRRM himself. It is possibly the greatest battle scene in television HISTORY. If only he could be a writer in every episode!
I would also like to add that GRRM does NOT have any sort of veto power or control over the script and final decision making. He can loosely be called a "consultant" and has one episode a season to write, but that's it. He has said himself that D&D can do whatever they want (turn the characters to zombies or getting abducted by aliens is all within their right - HIS WORDS) and he can't stop it. The show is D&D's baby, not his. He doesn't "approve" or "sign off" on anything. I know that D&D probably for the most part kind of want to stay true to the books, but they DO NOT HAVE TO. Proof is in my second comment - and that's in reference to the very faithful first season, not season 2.
Great things about this season?
-Amazing CGI and battle scenes, including the direwolves. Grey Wind is fierce and Ghost is just beautiful.
-Superb casting. Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Conleth Hill as Varys, Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister, Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy, and the list goes on and on. We also have the addition of Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth and many other new characters, and Christie as Brienne is just perfection. She IS Brienne.
-With a few exceptions, Theon Greyjoy's storyline was an excellent book to television translation. It's a shame how quickly the seasons have to move, because it's one of the most intriguing storylines in the entire series. Alfie Allen also gave a stellar performance as Theon.
-Brienne/Jaime scenes were classic and they have great on-screen chemistry.
-The behind the scenes look at the Loras/Renly/Margaery triangle was very well done.
And that's just a few. It's great in MANY ways and is beautifully done on so many levels. Read more ›
Rating guide:
Non-readers: 4-5 stars
General book readers: 3.5-4.5 stars
Book purists/fanatical: 0-2 stars
This is a great show, but in my eyes it's just not as good as season 1. It is definitely better compared to most of what is on television and the acting is superb and extremely well cast. However, my problems with this season revolve around two main issues:
#1) the severe deviations from the books that the D.B. Weiss and David Benioff have taken. In the first season deviations existed, but mostly to the point to help with time/budget constraints. The writers still generally stayed true to the characters.
Season 2 is a whole different story. GRRM has spoken many times of the Butterfly Effect. The more the writers change things, the more the story is going to change in the long run. With the huge amount of characters in the series, seemingly little changes can have huge implications. While season 1 generally stayed true to the novel (which I gave five stars to), season 2 took a life of its own. Many story lines were completely invented or so heavily modified that they barely were anything like the books.
I know that television/movies adaptations MUST be different from the books. However, I think it's crucial that the writers still accurately capture the essence of the characters. When the writers started to play with the characters and get cute, I decided that they weren't doing it due to budget/time constraints, but because they thought they were *better.* And they're not.
#2) It isn't as nearly as good overall this season compared to last, REGARDLESS book deviations. Storylines drag, some dialogue is so bad that it seems like it was taken out of a cheesy soap opera (cliches abound), there are really disjointed and awkward scenes, and they can't seem to do much else except have two people in a room talking to each other. The pacing to me was just off this season.
More in-depth look at my problems with season 2:
*Important scenes and character arcs are modified beyond recognition. While some changes must be made for the sake of adaptation, that's not true for everything. There was no reason to completely change The House of the Undying scene, which was one of the most interesting scenes in the entire series to something that was so irrelevant and had nothing to do with a "song of ice and fire." it wouldn't have hurt to use a little more caution with Jon's character as well, because his famous "kill" was confusing and its intentions unclear to many viewers. Arya's storyline was not a bad one in the show, but looked like a Disney version of what was in the books. I was looking forward to seeing the gritty brutality of it, and instead it just fell flat. Robb Stark....I don't even want to go there. It may be his storyline that infuriates me the most out of them all. In the books he was a fool that I could sympathize with; in the show he's not only a fool, but a jerk (to put it mildly). I won't go into details due to spoilers and you may not understand if you haven't read the books, but his character is butchered beyond redemption.
*Women are dramatically different in the show than the books. The writers feel the need to make the majority of the female cast "badass," ruthless, and/or bratty. An example is Tyrion's whore, Shae. In the books she is very obedient to Tyrion and very much acts like a prostitute (which she is). She shows signs of cleverness, but most of their interactions are based on sex and lust. In the show, Shae has a huge potty mouth, acts like a big "tough girl," and doesn't treat Tyrion like someone of high noble birth in the slightest. The writers think they are making a more complex and dynamic character by making Shae witty and rebellious, because that seems like Tyrion's type of gal. However, nothing's ever so simple. One of Tyrion's biggest weaknesses is his naivety in love and even though he *knows* Shae is at the root, just a whore in it for money, he can't stay away from her. It's a richly layered story that doesn't need assistance from the writers. They also changed Robb's love interest to someone completely different, and once again she was more of a "bratty rebel." Dany is another character that is also much more cruel in the show. The writers have no imagination when it comes to writing/modifying the women in the book. And Sansa, one of the main characters in the books, is hugely neglected for most of the season. I guess she just isn't "cool enough."
Not to mention, Dany's entire storyline in Qarth was different. Hardly any of it was from the books. I understood and expected that, considering she was rather inactive for most of book two and her chapters were admittedly pretty boring, but instead of changing it for the better, they somehow managed to turn it into a ridiculous soap opera that made little to no sense.
*Cheesiness. One of the things I love about GRRM is that he is never a cheesy romance writer. I DO enjoy scenes that show true emotion and express things I can empathize with, such as love for others. I DON'T enjoy super contrived, cheesy romance stories that are so cliche and boring that not even my most "hopeless romantic" friends can enjoy it. And there was just too much of that in this show, especially between Robb and a certain love interest. The dialogue was just atrocious. But David Benioff DID write Troy, so that explains quite a bit.
*Two characters talking to each other in a room. It seems like practically every scene is two people in a room talking to each other. The writers don't seem to excel particularly well at writing group scenes, and like the one-on-one talks. This is alright to an extent, but I think sometimes it makes it come off as a cheesy medieval soap opera. Not good.
An example of this is Arya Stark and Tywin Lannister in Harrenhal. Charles Dance and Maisie Williams have amazing on-screen chemistry together and are a joy to watch, but they had their little back-and-forth banter for what....4 episodes? It got a little old. Arya is supposed to be going through a living HELL while at Harrenhal, not hanging out with Daddy Warbucks all the time.
*All of the little mistakes. A few mistakes is normal and expected - a ton is not and a sign of lazy writing. These writers claim to making a somewhat faithful adaptation of ASOIAF, yet they continue to mess up religions, locations, and simple Westerosi facts the entire show. And these weren't things that had anything to do with budget constraints. Having northern men referencing to praying to the Seven for instance, is completely unfaithful to the books, and the only reason I can come up with them changing it is simple - lazy writing. The Old Gods were already mentioned several times in season 1, so there is no reason to have men of the North praying to gods of the South. A bunch of little things like that add up over time and seem like a disservice to book readers. Most of us highly appreciate the little things in the books being acknowledged and done correctly. Not to mention, these errors could be seen by even a non-reader, considering religions have already been established and explored to a degree in the first season.
If you are a book reader and can completely separate the books from the show in your head, you can still enjoy this. It's entertaining, suspenseful, and brutal. It moves at a rather uncomfortably slow pace, but gains some momentum toward the end. Also, the show is mostly very good at staying true to Theon's arc, which is one of the most interesting in the series. The Battle at Blackwater Bay Episode (8) was also phenomenal, and written by GRRM himself. It is possibly the greatest battle scene in television HISTORY. If only he could be a writer in every episode!
I would also like to add that GRRM does NOT have any sort of veto power or control over the script and final decision making. He can loosely be called a "consultant" and has one episode a season to write, but that's it. He has said himself that D&D can do whatever they want (turn the characters to zombies or getting abducted by aliens is all within their right - HIS WORDS) and he can't stop it. The show is D&D's baby, not his. He doesn't "approve" or "sign off" on anything. I know that D&D probably for the most part kind of want to stay true to the books, but they DO NOT HAVE TO. Proof is in my second comment - and that's in reference to the very faithful first season, not season 2.
Great things about this season?
-Amazing CGI and battle scenes, including the direwolves. Grey Wind is fierce and Ghost is just beautiful.
-Superb casting. Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Conleth Hill as Varys, Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister, Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy, and the list goes on and on. We also have the addition of Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth and many other new characters, and Christie as Brienne is just perfection. She IS Brienne.
-With a few exceptions, Theon Greyjoy's storyline was an excellent book to television translation. It's a shame how quickly the seasons have to move, because it's one of the most intriguing storylines in the entire series. Alfie Allen also gave a stellar performance as Theon.
-Brienne/Jaime scenes were classic and they have great on-screen chemistry.
-The behind the scenes look at the Loras/Renly/Margaery triangle was very well done.
And that's just a few. It's great in MANY ways and is beautifully done on so many levels. Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
get this, not the dvd.
i don't understanf why anyone would buy the dvd only version. this has three different formats, including dvd. on the media side of things, yet another great season of a great show
Published 3 hours ago by Dean
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome and awesome.
Love this series. Had read the books and find the film to be top-notch. Those who love fantasy, action and drama will be most pleased.
Published 4 hours ago by Phyllis Hook
5.0 out of 5 stars
Game of Thrones Fan
What can I say, Game of Thrones is great! The books are even better! Read the books and watch the seasons - awesome!
Published 5 hours ago by Nancy A. Siwik
5.0 out of 5 stars
Game of thrones is awesome
I love this series. I prefer to watch on netflix because the quality is better. But still have to give this 5 stars since I am a big GoT fan!
Published 23 hours ago by Aimee Roo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Game of Thrones
Excellent - highly entertaining! If you want action, suspense, romance and a lot of surprises this is a great pick -thorougly enjoyable.!
Published 1 day ago by Karen L Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome!
Came in quickly and untouched. Love it so much! I just wish the series wouldn't end... lol Also, I can't wait for the third season...
Published 1 day ago by Frank
5.0 out of 5 stars
Its just keeps getting better and better!
Top notch show. Its pulls you in and keeps surprising you. A+ actors, although I wish they would stop killing off the ones I like best!
Published 1 day ago by colleen m butcher
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Package
What's wonderful about this adaptation is that it stays true to the books and Martin's work. There are a few things different here and there, but that only makes it more... Read more
Published 1 day ago by V.Law
5.0 out of 5 stars
Uh yeah
This show rocks, do your self a service. Go watch all of season one, two and three. Then go read the books.
Published 1 day ago by Mr. Bond
5.0 out of 5 stars
A serious fantasy for a new generation
Lord of the Rings has ruled the fantasy roost for over 60 years, reinvigorated by the recent 3 part film version. Read more
Published 1 day ago by B. Marold
