The second season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered in the United States on HBO on April 1, 2012, and concluded on June 3, 2012. It consists of 10 episodes, each running approximately 50–60 minutes. The season mostly covers the events of A Clash of Kings, the second novel of the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. HBO ordered the second season on April 19, 2011, and filming began in July 2011, primarily in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Croatia, and Iceland.
The story takes place in a fantasy world, primarily on a fictional continent called Westeros, with one storyline occurring on another continent to the east, Essos. Like the novel, the season follows the aftermath of Eddard "Ned" Stark's dramatic death and the political turmoil that comes with it. The season mainly centers on the War of the Five Kings, fought among the leaders of Westerosi factions who are either staking a claim to the Iron Throne or seeking independence from it. Cersei Lannister, the widow of the late King Robert Baratheon, stays in the capital as queen regent, while her son Joffrey rules as King of the Seven Kingdoms. Cersei's twin brother, Jaime Lannister, is Robb Stark's prisoner, and her other brother, the dwarf Tyrion, serves as acting Hand of the King to Joffrey until the siblings' father, Tywin Lannister, returns to help defend the capital. In the North, Jon Snow and the Night's Watch stay with a reluctant ally during an expedition beyond the Wall. Meanwhile, in Essos, with three newborn dragons by her side, Daenerys Targaryen attempts to find allies and resources to help her fulfill her perceived destiny to win the Iron Throne.
Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast, including Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Michelle Fairley and Emilia Clarke. The season introduced a number of new cast members, including Stephen Dillane, Natalie Dormer, Carice van Houten and Liam Cunningham.
Critics praised the show's production values, cast, and music. Viewership rose compared with the previous season. The second season won six of the twelve Emmy Awards for which it was nominated. It received a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage) and Outstanding Drama Series. U.S. viewership rose by approximately 8% over the course of the season, from 3.9 million to 4.2 million by the season finale.
Episodes
Cast
Main cast Starring
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen Aidan Gillen as Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont Kit Harington as Jon Snow Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark Richard Madden as Robb Stark Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark Maisie Williams as Arya Stark Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy John Bradley as Samwell Tarly Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon Rory McCann as Sandor "The Hound" Clegane Stephen Dillane as Stannis Baratheon Carice van Houten as Melisandre James Cosmo as Jeor Mormont Jerome Flynn as Bronn Conleth Hill as Varys Sibel Kekilli as Shae Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister
Also starring Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo
Guest cast The recurring actors listed here are those who appeared in season 2. They are listed by the region in which they first appear:
At and beyond the Wall Simon Armstrong as Qhorin Halfhand Ben Crompton as Eddison Tollett Mark Stanley as Grenn Edward Dogliani as the Lord of Bones Rose Leslie as Ygritte Robert Pugh as Craster Hannah Murray as Gilly Ian Whyte & Ross Mullan as White Walkers
In King's Landing Callum Wharry as Tommen Baratheon Aimee Richardson as Myrcella Baratheon Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle Dominic Carter as Janos Slynt Ian Beattie as Meryn Trant Eugene Simon as Lancel Lannister Wilko Johnson as Ilyn Payne Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne Tony Way as Dontos Hollard Roy Dotrice as Wisdom Hallyne Andrew Wilde as Tobho Mott Esmé Bianco as Ros Antonia Christophers as Mhaegen Sahara Knite as Armeca Maisie Dee as Daisy Josephine Gillan as Marei
In the Stormlands Gethin Anthony as Renly Baratheon Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth Finn Jones as Loras Tyrell
On Dragonstone Kerr Logan as Matthos Seaworth Lucian Msamati as Salladhor Saan Oliver Ford Davies as Maester Cressen
On the Iron Islands Patrick Malahide as Balon Greyjoy Gemma Whelan as Yara Greyjoy Ralph Ineson as Dagmer Cleftjaw Forbes KB as Black Lorren David Coakley as Drennan
In the North Art Parkinson as Rickon Stark Donald Sumpter as Maester Luwin Ron Donachie as Rodrik Cassel Peter Ballance as Farlen Kristian Nairn as Hodor Natalia Tena as Osha
In the Riverlands Oona Chaplin as Talisa Maegyr Michael McElhatton as Roose Bolton John Stahl as Rickard Karstark Paul Caddell as Jacks Aidan Crowe as Quent Tyrone McElhennon as Torrhen Karstark Fintan McKeown as Amory Lorch Ian Gelder as Kevan Lannister Ian Whyte as Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane Karl Davies as Alton Lannister Anthony Morris as the Tickler Andy Kellegher as Polliver David Fynn as Rennick Francis Magee as Yoren Joe Dempsie as Gendry Ben Hawkey as Hot Pie Eros Vlahos as Lommy Greenhands Tom Wlaschiha as Jaqen H'ghar Andy Beckwith as Rorge Gerard Jordan as Biter
In Essos Nonso Anozie as Xaro Xhoan Daxos Ian Hanmore as Pyat Pree Nicholas Blane as the Spice King Slavko Juraga as the Silk King Laura Pradelska as Quaithe Steven Cole as Kovarro Elyes Gabel as Rakharo Roxanne McKee as Doreah Amrita Acharia as Irri
Production HBO ordered a second season of Game of Thrones on April 19, 2011, two days after the series premiere. The second season obtained a 15% increase in budget in order to be able to stage the war's most important battle, the Battle of the Blackwater, in episode nine.
Filming took place during 106 shooting days. During three-quarters of those, two crews ("Dragon" and "Wolf") were working simultaneously in different locations.
Crew David Benioff and D. B. Weiss serve as main writers and showrunners for the second season. They co-wrote six out of ten episodes. The remaining four episodes were written by story editor Bryan Cogman, A Song of Ice and Fire author George R. R. Martin, and new series writer and co-executive producer Vanessa Taylor, who wrote two episodes.
Alan Taylor was promoted to co-executive producer and directed four episodes, including the season premiere and finale. David Petrarca and David Nutter each directed two episodes, while series cinematographer Alik Sakharov and filmmaker Neil Marshall directed the remaining two.
Casting The casting for the second season began in May 2011. Although a large portion of the first-season cast were returning, the producers were still faced with a huge number of new characters to be cast. The producers decided that several characters from A Clash of Kings, including the Freys and Crannogmen Reeds at Winterfell, Frey bannermen of the Starks, the Tullys, Stannis' wife and daughter, Theon's uncle Aeron Greyjoy and the bastard Ramsay Snow would not be cast despite appearing in the novel. Showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss commented on this saying that certain character introductions taking place in A Clash of Kings would be delayed until the third season. This was done due to the large number of characters already introduced in season two, and because they couldn't afford to have people "waiting around" for their characters to become central to the plot. Having to fill so many speaking roles, the showrunners not only "postponed" the introduction of several key characters, but they also merged some into one, or certain plot-functions were given to different characters. Many physical traits were also altered, such as the ethnicity or age of characters. The cast was estimated to be the largest on television. Scattered around two fictional continents characters include:
Emerging as the fourth claimant to the throne is the estranged brother of the late king Robert, Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane). The foreign priestess Melisandre, portrayed by Carice van Houten poses as an influential, yet manipulative advisor to Stannis. Van Houten was previously asked (but unable) to audition for the role of Cersei in season one. While her character retains her signature red robes and hair, unlike in the novels Melisandre is not portrayed as having red eyes, making her appear somewhat more human. Liam Cunningham stars as Ser Davos Seaworth, the "Onion Knight", a bannerman of Stannis and a former smuggler. Cunningham had already been in talks for a role in the first season. As he is left-handed, his Davos has the fingers of the right hand shortened, unlike in the novels where his left hand is crippled. In an interview, Cunningham said that a lot of new dialogue had to be written for his character, because in the novels Davos, a point-of-view character, is portrayed more through his thoughts than through his actions. These three characters headed a new storyline set on a different location, that by the end of the season merged with the main plot.
Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), a main cast member from the first season, but with lesser importance than the others, came to prominence during the second season, as his story unfolded and his character became more central. Gemma Whelan appeared as his sister, Yara Greyjoy. Named "Asha" in the novels, the character's name was changed to avoid confusion with the Wildling Osha, Bran Stark's companion. "Asha" is portrayed as a fairly provocative and independent woman, a captain of thirty ships, as opposed to her television counterpart Yara, who did not retain "Asha's" traits, although her rivalry with Theon remained intact. Their father Balon Greyjoy was played by Patrick Malahide. Many of the characters involved in the Greyjoys' storyline weren't introduced, most notably Balon's brother Aeron Greyjoy. Nonetheless, the storyline received enormous praise, with the alteration of Yara's name and persona being the only criticism.
Tom Wlaschiha is cast as Jaqen H'ghar, a mysterious prisoner who develops a murderous relationship with young Arya Stark (Maisie Williams). Wlaschiha's pronunciation of his character's name, Jack-in, was adopted for use in the show. Natalie Dormer, best known for her portrayal as seductive Anne Boleyn in Showtime's The Tudors, was cast in a similar role as Margaery Tyrell, a noblewoman and the wife of the third claimant to the throne, Renly Baratheon. Gwendoline Christie played, to much praise, Brienne of Tarth, a female warrior who joins Renly Baratheon's guard, but later becomes a follower of Catelyn Stark. To prepare for the role, Christie took up an intense training regimen, adding over a stone (6.4 kg) of muscle mass. So that she could be mistaken for a man, her armor was decorated with lines that slant away from her hips. On the other side of the fictional world, two female roles with rising prominence were added to the cast: Skins star Hannah Murray filled the role of Craster's daughter Gilly, a love interest to Samwell Tarly; while the second role, the one of Ygritte, Jon Snow's love interest among the Wildlings, was played by Rose Leslie.