Leading up to the April 14 premiere of the final, six-episode eighth season of HBO’s massive hit series Game of Thrones, Pop Culture Maniacs will be rewatching the entire series (season by season) and writing on how each season fares in light of all that we know now (and thoughts about how the major plot points that came before might impact the great battles still to come). Each season article will contain spoilers for the entire series through season seven, so you have been warned. Any speculation on what might happen in the upcoming eighth season is merely that: speculation.
And we’re back! After the taut plotting and pacing of season one, season two of Game of Thrones was a bit more bloated. While the season had one of the greatest single episodes of the series (“Blackwater,” beginning the tradition of individual, battle-focused episodes being the jewel of each season in which they appeared), there were enough moments (mostly with Jon Snow and Theon- we’ll get to them more later on) that dragged – especially when looked at from the vantage point of six years later. But there was plenty to enjoy in season two, including a personal realization that made me rethink how I’ve looked at Emilia Clarke’s performance in later seasons.
The highlight, for me, when I watched season two the first time was the wonderful interplay between Maisie Williams’ Arya and Charles Dance’s Tywin. The addition of Dance to the series was a huge coup, as he managed to elevate every scene he appeared in throughout his time on the show, and he instantly proved his worth working with Williams in season two. It can be hard for established actors to work well with younger, less experienced actors, by Dance always made sure Williams was the star of each scene (while still managing to endear the audience to one of the series’s best villains). This time around, while Arya’s arc was still compelling (particularly the bits with Jaqen H’ghar), it didn’t stand out as any stronger than the other key plot points in the season.
Chief among those plot points was the beginning of the Jaime-Brienne relationship, which will reach its peak in season three, but which gets off the ground in spectacular fashion in the back half of season two. Looking forward to season eight, it’s safe to assume that this relationship will play a crucial role in the Battle for Winterfell (whether it includes one or both of them dying to protect the other, or just Jaime taking the final step on his hero redemption arc), so watching again how Brienne’s sense of duty and unwavering commitment to her quest changes Jaime was particularly nice to see. It’s been strange to see a Jaime that is so self-centered and callous, but Brienne’s stoicism and fighting strength in the face of his insults clearly drew him to her. Yes, it’s not a romance, but the seeds of their deep friendship are so pure.
The other standout storyline was the action in King’s Landing. Yes, Joffrey is a psychopath and he remains difficult to watch. But after so many seasons apart, it was thrilling to watch Cersei and Tyrion go head to head. It’s easy to forget that Cersei used to have to answer to others, while struggling to maintain control of her son and wrest control of the kingdom from the men around her. It was also interesting to note that the Small Council was content to let her be involved in their decisions, something that would change as the seasons continued and others gained seats around that table. As for Tyrion, he’s quite the different character from the one we met in season one. Season two is a pretty solid argument for Tyrion to sit on the Iron Throne at the end of the series (sure, it would be fun because everyone in the audience loves him, but he’s also a brilliant strategist and the only person left on the show who has the pedigree and experience to really rule). One of the things I’m looking most forward to in season eight is the final showdown between Cersei and Tyrion, and season two reminded me just how electric Lena Headey and Peter Dinkladge can be when they’re together.
Finally, season two gave me a better understanding of two of the series’s crucial endgame characters: Sansa Stark and Daenerys Targaryen, and the actors who portray them. Both characters have a long, rough road to where they are at the upcoming start of season eight (and both are stronger for it, although I could have done with less torment for Sansa). But I’ve always had a great deal of admiration for Sophie Turner’s performance as Sansa, while feeling that Emilia Clarke’s work as Dany has been less impressive. Rewatching season two made me even more impressed with Turner’s work. You can see on her face the calculated choices Sansa is making in each scene – whether or not to show her true feelings to a particular character, or continue parroting the lines that have kept her safe up until this point. It’s a remarkably nuanced performance that I missed the first time around.
As for Clarke’s work, well, I think I’ve finally figured out the issue: Dany’s character development largely ends when she emerges from the fire at the end of season one. Sure, there are moments when she learns to trust various people throughout the series, but everything that makes Dany who she is is present in the character by the end of season one. There’s no additional character development: she has her quest, she’s stubborn in adhering to it, she has her dragons, she believes she’s the queen (and god help whoever says she isn’t).
Her strength comes from her belief in her right to rule and her possession of the dragons. But nothing about her grows or changes from this point- she doesn’t learn anything new about herself, she doesn’t question herself and become a changed person. She’s a stagnant character (I know this might seem controversial, but think about it: Dany goes from being a scared girl to a leader in season one, and learns additional tools for leadership in the ensuing seasons, but never personally changes from that moment on). So, Clarke has been tasked for the past six seasons with playing a character who never grows or changes. It’s a pretty thankless gig. Hopefully, season eight will present Dany with some challenges that allow Clarke to show what she’s got, because the series hasn’t given her much to work with up until this point.
Final Thoughts:
— Oh Theon. I’ve never been a Theon fan, but man, he’s just the absolute worst. This isn’t a slight against Alfie Allen, who does a great job with the character, but I was thrilled to see him get whacked in the head at the end of the season (even if it means the hell of Ramsay Bolton is coming our way in season three).
–But you know who was great? Asha. Everything awful about Theon is redeemed in the introduction of Asha to the series. I had forgotten about the really moving scene in Winterfell where Asha tells Theon the story of how he stopped crying as a baby when he saw her face. For all their posturing, Asha really cares for him (which will be made even more obvious when she rescues him from Ramsay). Theon risking his life to go after her at the end of season seven feels more out of love than duty now, having been reminded of the bond between the two that predates the series.
— The dullest parts of the season were, without a doubt, the scenes with Jon Snow (and I recall absolutely loving the Qhorin Halfhand arc the first time around). Kit Harington remains the show’s dullest actor, and it really shows when he’s paired up with someone as fun and light as Rose Leslie ‘s Ygritte. Harington has zero charisma and it’s almost painful to watch his scenes.
— The Battle of the Blackwater was just as amazing as it was the first time around. The wildfire igniting and burning those ships? Incredible. The hand to hand fighting on the beach? Harrowing.
— Season Eight Key Plot Point: I had forgotten that the White Walkers factored into season two. Yes, it’s only the briefest of moments at the end of the season, but it’s pretty impressive to watch that White Walker and zombie horse walk by Sam. And seeing that the White Walker stared down Sam before deciding he wasn’t worth his time and riding on. I bet the White Walker team regrets that decision come season eight. . .
