Blu-ray Review: Game of Thrones The Complete Second Season

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: Game of Thrones The Complete Second Season on Blogcritics.

Season one of the HBO series Game of Thrones is a lot about setting up the world of the show, introducing us to the characters and their various positions and relations. Season two, though, which aired last spring, and is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Download, is about floundering for control in a major power vacuum, the world thrown into chaos, and enough uncertainty that anyone could come out ahead.

Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) sits on the Iron Throne, the traditional place of power for the Seven Kingdoms. He is young and arrogant, battling with manipulative mother Cersei (Lena Headey) and frustrated uncle Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) over what should be done for their land. Only Tyrion truly understands the costs of Joffrey's actions, with Dinklage delivering a stellar performance, and Cersei begins to question whether she has sway over her son any longer.

Joffrey's rule is disputed by many, both because of (true) rumors that he is not the actual son of the departed King Robert, but instead a product of incest between Cersei and her brother, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), and because he coldly executes the beloved leader of the North, Ned Stark, late in season one. Ned's eldest son, Robb (Richard Madden), is declared King of the North by his people, a title Joffrey is determined not to let stand, while Robert's brothers, Renley (Gethin Anthony) and Stannis (Stephen Dillane), the latter of whom is distracted by the lure of a wicked temptress (Carice van Houten), each hope to take back the entire Seven Kingdoms.

These are the main power players at this point, and they clash numerous times. It's interesting how Game of Thrones not only can balance so many personalities, but keep them all feeling distinct and authentic. The series is not about the war, even though that is a major focus, but instead is about the characters. Each have good and bad sides, struggling with their flaws, and occasionally getting to showcase their strengths. The bad guys are deliciously creepy, and the heroes are noble, but each also have other elements about them, and people in their camp who should be on the opposite side.

This trend can be seen continuing among the various other inhabitants of the realm, who are also featured, even though many are not directly involved in the battles. There are quite a few of these, but some of the most striking include: the Hound (Rory McCann), Joffrey's pitbull who doesn't always follow orders he disagrees with; Sansa (Sophie Turner), Joffrey's betrothed, who hates him for killing her father; Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright), Ned's young son, running their hold of Winterfell; Jon Snow (Kit Harington), serving in the Night's Watch in the frozen North, from which the next major threat will likely come; Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), once a resident of Winterfell, but who lets ambition move him; Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), whom is raising dragons and trying to keep her small group of subjects alive, all the while plotting to eventually re-conquer the Seven Kingdoms, which her father once ruled; and Arya (Maisie Williams), Ned's daughter, on the run, alone in the land.

Believe it or not, these are only some of the many characters that populate the world. Game of Thrones is a sweeping epic, with many, many peoples and lands. It's like Lord of the Rings on steroids, and with slightly less magic (literal magic, not a slam on the production). Yet, this is all expertly balanced, so many given their due, and a number of twists occur that will make season three a different beast entirely. For those who haven't yet watched these installments, I won't spoil any happenings.

Likely because of the lush, beautiful landscapes and startlingly good special effects, Game of Thrones looks stunning in high definition. The colors are deep and full, and the blacks are rich and layered. The soundtrack, with all of the background noises and the at-times sweeping score is also excellent and clear, free of hisses and pops. Game of Thrones has the benefit of a nice budget and being made in the modern day, with great technology, and it takes full advantage of all of this.

The release is a combo pack, featuring Blu-rays and DVDs, as well as codes to download digital copies of the episodes. It's a beautiful, well organized box set, with the priority going to the Blu version.

It is also loaded with bonus material. The booklet inside is slim, and gives only the briefest overview of the various houses. On the disc, though, there are character profiles, a guide to the "War of the Five Kings" that is more comprehensive, and nineteen animated histories of the various characters and mythologies. If you so choose (I recommend only doing this for repeat viewings), you can make use of an In-Episode Guide that has resources throughout the episodes to help you track the characters. Which is not to say you'll need help keeping score, if you've watched from the beginning, but it's nice to have the option. Game of Thrones is complex, but accessible.

There is also a 30 minute behind-the-scenes look at the huge sea confrontation from the penultimate episode, a talk with some of the main actors of the series, and a discussion by George R.R. Martin, the author of the book series, and others about the religions of the land. And twelve audio commentaries for the ten episodes mean fans will not be hurting for insight.

All in all, Game of Thrones really delivers, both as a show, and as a Blu-ray set. There is so much material here, one could spend weeks wading through the depths. And the story and characters are so rich, it practically begs for such study.

Game of Thrones The Complete Second Season is available now.

'The North Remembers' Game of Thrones; Do you?

HBO's Game of Thrones returns with "The North Remembers." Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) arrives at King's Landing, much to Cersei's (Lena Headey) dismay, and says he is there to get the reckless Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) in line. Elsewhere, the various others who claim to be King of the realm amass their own forces, and plot to take Joffrey down. And beyond the Wall, the Night's Watch learns of another gathering force, who may also be soon causing trouble.

To no one's surprise, Joffrey is a terrible king. Sansa (Sophie Turner) is walking on pins and needles, and Cersei has no control. After Cersei smacks Joffrey in "The North Remembers," he threatens her, too. It's clear that this boy is too arrogant and not nearly wise enough to serve as leader of the realm. So he probably won't be in that seat for long.

Joffrey's best hope is to listen to his uncle, Tyrion. Tyrion is unafraid of his nephew's power, but smart enough not to directly challenge him in ways Joffrey can justifiably strike back against. Tyrion is a master politician, and surprisingly honorable and honest. This makes it clear who should be in charge. But is Joffrey too far gone to listen to sound advice? Probably.

It's interesting to see Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) serving as Lord of Winterfell in "The North Remembers." He is a bit younger than Joffrey, and just as ignorant in the ways of leadership. However, Bran has an advantage because he listens to Maester Luwin (Donald Sumpter). Luwin served Bran's father faithfully for many years. Bran has had a lifetime of watching his dad, a great example of how person in charge should act. Knowing that his father relied on Luwin, Bran does, too. Which will keep him on the straight and narrow.

So does that mean Joffrey's problem is a lack of good role models? After all, King Robert was a philandering drunk. Joffrey's mother, Cersei, isn't much better, having an affair with her brother, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), who is the biological sire of Cersei's children. In fact, the only good role model Joffrey has has is Tyrion, is looked down upon by his entire family. No wonder Joffrey doesn't know how to behave!

But one can only blame bad parentage as an excuse for so long. Tyrion finds a way to overcome it, and so, too, can Joffrey, should he put his mind to it. Besides Tyrion, Joffrey could also listen to Sansa or the Hound (Rory McCann), and both would likely provide him with credible counsel. But in a viper's pit like the capital, the unearned self worth Joffrey has, combined with the slimy machinations by many around him who also hold power, will likely prove too much for this youth to overcome. Making his reign finite, indeed.

Plenty are ready to unseat Joffrey, when the times comes. Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane, The Hours, John Adams) has the most legitimate claim, being Robert's eldest surviving brother, and thus, the next in line by lineage. That is, unless one of Robert's bastards comes forward. But Stannis has a problem. Namely, that people don't like him. Little is seen of Stannis in "The North Remembers," but he does appear gruff and stern and not very personable. This hurts his cause, which is why the people of the Seven Kingdoms are not flocking to support him.

By contrast, Stannis's younger brother, Renly (Gethin Anthony), is extremely popular, and is already putting together a large force of supporters. Renly's homosexuality will likely weaken the hold he has over his followers should it ever be exposed. As long as that stays a secret, he looks to be a more likely monarch than Stannis.

But Stannis has a secret weapon, revealed in "The North Remembers." Melisandre (Carice van Houten, Black Book) is a priestess for the Lord of Light. She seems to have some kind of supernatural ability. She can drink poison without ill effect. She sways Stannis to abandon his gods in favor of hers. In exchange, she promises him victory. Does she really have enough force to single-handedly unseat Joffrey? And what price will she demand for such a thing? She does not seem the generous type.

Should Melisandra fail, Renly is still well positioned. Which is probably why Robb Stark (Richard Madden), hailed as King of the North, is sending his mother, Catelyn (Michelle Fairley), to meet with Renly. If the two of them combine their efforts, than the Lannisters do not stand much of a chance. Robb considers other allies, including the Greyjoys, whom own a fleet of two hundred ships, but thinks Renly is his best bet. Considering Robb is leading with wisdom, his faith in Renly does much to lend the younger brother credence in the eyes of viewers.

The lingering question in "The North Remembers," though, is if Renly might ask Robb to rescind his title as King of the North in exchange for an alliance. Robert's kingdom includes the Starks' realm. But as Robb rebels against the Lannisters, his people bow to him as their ruler, renouncing King's Landing's control over them. Will they be willing to swear allegiance to Renly if Robb does? Or will Renly agree that it's worth giving up part of the world to a trustworthy ally?

The other leader who would seek to control the Seven Kingdoms in "The North Remembers" is Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). Her claims may even be more legitimate than Stannis or Renly's because her father was king before Robert. Robert fought in an army that overthrew Daenerys's dad, thus removing her family from the line of succession. She would like to take the Iron Throne back.

Did they have the right to kick out Daenerys's father? That's unclear. Certainly, Robert and his ilk believed they were in the right. Then again, the king at the time probably saw them as troublemakers. Without being shown the full story, it's impossible to tell. This is made more complicated by the fact that Daenerys has proven herself wonderfully, and become a popular character. Just because viewers want the Lannisters taken out of power doesn't mean that one of Robert's brothers deserves to rule. Any chance of a future Robb / Daenerys alliance, since they are the two just leaders in the story, at this point?

Of course, any talk of Daenerys taking the crown is premature. She is leading a small band of followers through the desert, starving and thirsty. She is barely surviving, let alone mounting any sort of attack. Her horse dying, a wedding present from her husband, is not a good omen. Her dragons will make her formidable, but only if she lives long enough to see them grow. As of "The North Remembers," Daenerys's journey as a true Queen is only just beginning, and she is in no position to make a play for power. Nor will she be for some time.

North of the Wall, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and his fellows venture out. They want to know why the Wildings have disappeared, and what happened to Jon's uncle's party. Fans may assume that the strange, dead creatures the haunt the north may be to blame. But "The North Remembers" uncovers a new threat.

The Night's Watch stops to visit a disgusting man named Crestor (Robert Pugh) in "The North Remembers." Crestor tells Jeor Mormont (James Cosmo), Jon's boss, that the Wildings are organizing an invasion force. The question here is, why? They are seen as backwards people, not civilized enough to be a threat. The Wall is supposed to keep something more dangerous at bay, not defend against the Wildlings. So have they harnessed the supernatural? Or are the strange creatures leading them through fear? Those are the only real two possibilities that make sense for this development.

Remembers" sets the stage for a major battle to occur, with far more than two sides involved in the struggle. It's a masterful beginning to a second season, and does not give away its hand too much, so what's to come remains a mystery. Great start!

Watch Game of Thrones Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter. To buy the Game of Thrones books on which the show is based, and DVDs, please click here. Article first published as TV Review: Game of Thrones - "The North Remembers" on Blogcritics.