Tyrion and Bronn are ready for season 3
I recently watched season 2 of HBO's Game of Thrones again and it was fantastic. It may have even been better the 2nd time around as there is so much happening and so many characters, it's easier to appreciate it the 2nd time around. I recommend watching it again if you have the time. A lot happened during season 2 and I found that I only remembered pieces of it.
Season 3 premiers March 31, 2013.
Where the 2nd Season Left Off
Much happened in season 2, especially right at the end. Here's where things stand as season 3 is about to begin:
The Starks
- Robb Stark's army has continually beat Tywin Lannister's army on the field. Robb is headed to King's Landing to get his sisters but has no interest in sitting on the Iron Throne. And even though he had promised to marry into the House of Frey so that he could get across a bridge, Robb married his love Talisa Maegyr. This will certainly cause problems next season.
- With the help of the shapeshifting assassin Jaqen H'ghar, Arya Stark has escaped the Lannister encampment at Harenhall. She is traveling with the bastard son of the dead King Robert Bathareon, Gendry. She runs in to Jaqen again along her escape route and he gives her a coin to use if she can use to get in touch with him again.
- Catelyn Stark has sent her tall blond female Knight Brienne of Tarth with Jaime Lannister to King's Landing to trade The Kingslayer for her daughters. Jaime had tried to escape and many of Robb Stark's soldiers wanted him dead for that. Lady Stark had to get him out of camp if she wanted to see her daughters again. Robb is pissed at her.
- Adopted Stark family member Theon Greyjoy changed sides to fight for his father against the Starks and was captured by Robb Stark's allies after the conclusion of his terrible idea to capture Winterfell. In a show with some pathetic characters, Theon's exploits this season could earn him the honor as the most pathetic.
- Winterfell has been burned to the ground for reasons I do not know and the two young Stark Brothers Bran and Rickon are on the run. They are headed to the Wall being accompanied by Hodor and Osha. Hodor! They hope to get protection from Jon Snow when they get there.
King's Landing
- The Battle of King's Landing (King Joffrey vs. Stannis) ended with a victory for Joffrey and his family. Mostly thanks to Tyrion Lannister leading the defense (while Joffrey ran away to hide with his mother) and a last minute apperance by Tywin Lannister's army.
- King Joffrey has secured the thrown for the time being with his victory over Stannis. He has also dumped Sansa Stark for Margaery Tyrell (played by Natalie Dormer, AKA Anne Boleyn) in a move that could cause someone to lose their head. Joffrey is the most loathsome character I've seen in a long time.
- Stannis Lannister's army lost the battle and he is a prisoner in King's Landing along with the Red Priestess Melisandre. For some reason they are imprisoned together. She says that the God of Light is still showing her that this will be a long war and Stannis will end up King. She's a scary character as earlier in the season she gave birth to a spirit that killed Stannis's brother Renly.
- Tywin Lannister has been named the new Hand. I'm sure he will not abuse his power.
- Queen Regent Cersei (Lannister) Baratheon became a drunken fool during the battle and almost killed her son to protect him for atrocities if they lost the war. Her father's troops arrived just in time to stop her. Her relationship with Tryion is poisonous. Mostly because she is a terrible person and Tyrion is the only one of her brothers she does not have sex with.
- Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger) was seen as a great help to the King's cause and given Harnehall as a reward. I'm sure that even between seasons, he's up to no good.
- Tyrion Lannister was wounded during the battle and his faced is badly scarred. His girlfriend, the very tough Shea, will stick with him though, much to his suprise. She wants them to leave King's Landing because one of Cersei's henchmen already tried to kill him during the battle, but he likes the game of wits to be played and he is going to stay. He is by far the most interesting character on the show. The conundrum though is if you root for him, you are indirectly rooting for the Lannisters. I just don't feel good about that.
- During the battle The Hound disobeyed King Joffrey and left the field. He ended up in Sansa Stark's room (???) where he told her he would take her to Winterfell if she wanted and that he would never hurt her. Sansa did not agree to go…. yet (my guess).
- Varys is still at King's Landing and after helping Tyrion recover he is staking out new schemes. He and Tyrion seems to be friends. At least a little bit.
- Sansa Stark is now adrift in King's Landing with Joffrey agreeing to wed Margeary. Petyr Baelish warns her that she will now be just a toy of the King (to be raped and beaten) and he would help her get out because Sansa reminds him of his long lost love, her mother.
Khaleesi's Band of Wanderers
- Daenerys Targaryen (Khaleesi) had a nasty stop in Qarth, the self proclaimed best city in the world. The Warlocks there stole her dragons and tried to imprison her in the House of Death. But… she wasn't going to be taken in by their magic. While her and her dragon were in chains she called on the baby dragons to breath fire and they did for the first time. She was freed from the chains and escaped. Her clan is now plundering Qarth to get enough money to buy a boat so they can sail to Westeros. She expects the people of Westeros to rise up and declare her Queen when she gets there. She is fierce!!
- Khaleesi's sworn protector Jorah Mormont was helpless while she was in the House of Death, but will work to find her a boat to get her to Westeros. To the surprise of nobody, we heard lots of talk that he is in love with Khaleesi. She does not seem eager to return the affection at this point.
Beyond The Wall
- The Night's Watch has gone out beyond the wall to search for Benjen Stark, Jon Snow's uncle, who has not returned from his mission. For many of them, it is the first time they have been out there.
- Jon Snow and Qhorin Halfhand were captured by the Free Folk. Halfhand knew they were going to die so he hatched a plan to make Snow look like a traitor so that the Free Folk would start to trust Snow and he could become a spy for the Night's Watch. The plan was… for Snow to kill Halfhand which he did.
- Ygritte, the read headed woman with the Irish accent, seems to be falling for Snow a bit after he passed on his chance to kill her
- After wandering around for a while, the Free Folk and Jon Snow have come across their main village and Snow is about to meet the King Beyond The Wall.
- Right at the very end of the season, as the rest of the Night's Watch is roaming around beyond wall, a horn is sounded indicating that the White Walkers are approaching. We hadn't seen them since the very start of season 1. The overweight Samwell Tarley makes a feable attempt to run from them but doesn't get very far. The White Walkers see him but decide to pass him by on their way to the wall.
A White Walker
HBO has released a season 2 summary which is about 14 minutes long and includes comments from the directors, writers, and actors. It is pretty good. Here it is:
The Station Agent".
Jaqen H'ghar – The Mysterious Assassin
Arya: "What is it?" Jaqen: "A coin of great value."
One of my favorite characters from Season 2 was the lyrical Jaqen H'ghar. His scenes had a rhythm and a mystery that are not that common in the series. Here's a bit more background on this character from the Game of Thrones wiki:
Jaqen H'ghar is a mysterious man – introducing himself as a Lorathi criminal – who was arrested and put in the dungeons of King's Landing, before being recruited by Yoren to join the Night's Watch. He is in Yoren's party as the latter smuggles Arya Stark out of King's Landing. He travels with them to the lands south of Harrenhal, where they are captured by Lanister forces.
In reality, "Jaqen "H'ghar" is just an assumed identity of one of the Faceless Men of Braavos, a feared order of mysterious assassins with the ability to change their appearance at will. After the Jaqen persona is of no more use to him, the Faceless Man shapeshifts into a new appearance. It is unknown whether this new appearance is his true one or just another assumed identity.
I hope he shows up in season 3. The only other character who had a lyrical way about him was Arya's dance/sword instructor Syrio Forel who died helping Arya when Eddard Stark was taken prisoner by the King Joffrey. He was also from Braavos.
Here's a clip of Jaqen talking to Arya.
History of the Westeros Houses
HBOWatch has done a series that covers the background of the different Houses of Westeros. It is great backgound information for the series. Here's the houses:
Season 3 Preview
And here's a short season 3 preview: