Game of Thrones, Season 2: Kings and Spoilers
I had thought to write blogs about Game of Thrones Season 2 chronologically, maybe one blog for every 2 episodes. But then I finished watching the whole season before penning even the first blog, and it became hard to remember what happened in which order. Thus I've chosen instead to write about Season 2 more thematically. I believe that will make for better blogs, actually.
Season 2 aligns mostly with the second book of the series, Clash of Kings. In the wake of the passing of King Robbert Baratheon in Season 1, several claimants to his throne wage war on each other. In the books it's named War of the Five Kings. Depending on how one counts it, though, there are between 3 and 7 kings (and queens) vying for the throne. Some really want to rule, while others are just spoilers. ...And, no, I don't mean spoilers as in giving away plot surprises; I mean spoilers as people whose definition of winning isn't coming out on top but merely hurting someone they have a grudge against and seeing them lose.
Here's a quick rundown of these kings, would-be kings, and spoilers. With spoiler protection! 😅
King Joffrey Baratheon sits on the iron throne and is officially King of Westeros since the passing of his father, King Robb Baratheon. The thing is, Joffrey is a false heir. Lord Eddard Stark discovered that in Season 1. He got the word out- narrowly- before he was killed for it.
Robb Stark, eldest son of Eddard Stark, proclaimed himself King in the North in Season 1. He is waging war on King Joffrey, and specifically on the armies of House Lannister, in retribution for the murder of his father and the attempted murder that crippled one of his brothers. Stark does not desire rule all Westeros, though. He only wants unseat illegitimate heir Joffrey to punish him and win independence for his lands in the north.
Stannis Baratheon, younger brother of Robb Baratheon, argues he holds the strongest legal claim to the Iron Throne. I think technically Robb's bastard children (he sired many with prostitutes) would be next in line, but virtually nobody knows who they are. Stannis has been a lord and king's brother for years, and he has an army. Stannis wants to rule Westeros.
Renly Baratheon, youngest brother of Robb Baratheon, vies with his brother Stannis to become King of Westeros. Renly doesn't have the legal claim to the throne his older brother does but simply believes he'd be a better king. Also, he does have a bigger army. In war, that's what counts. Though BTW, part of the reason he has a bigger army is that he really is a better ruler. He is more just and fair than Stannis. Men and lords more willingly join his side.
Daenerys Targaryen also aspires to the Iron Throne. She is the last surviving heir of the murdered king who preceeded Robb Baratheon. While Daenerys will eventually join some kind of war in Westeros, in Season 2 she's stuck in the deserts of Essos, with a following whittled down to fewer than 20 people.
Balon Greyjoy, lord of the Iron Isles, aspires to be King... of the Iron Isles. He holds a grudge against House Stark for defeating him in the last war of accession and really only wants to punish the Starks. He takes advantage of Robb Stark's armies fighting the Lannisters further south to sack cities in the north. Again, though, he doesn't want to expand his rule; his brigands merely invade, sack, loot, burn, and leave.
Margaery Tyrell is a noblewoman who aspires not just to be a queen but the queen (as she states in a memorable exchange with Petyr Baelish). Early in the season she has recently married Renly Baratheon, aligning her house's armies to his to support his claim to be King of Westeros. After Renly is murdered (in a gruesome fashion I'll write about separately) she aligns House Tyrell to King Joffrey and requests his hand in marriage.
Spoiler policy: Comments discussing Seasons 1-2 are welcome. No spoilers for subsequent seasons.
Season 2 aligns mostly with the second book of the series, Clash of Kings. In the wake of the passing of King Robbert Baratheon in Season 1, several claimants to his throne wage war on each other. In the books it's named War of the Five Kings. Depending on how one counts it, though, there are between 3 and 7 kings (and queens) vying for the throne. Some really want to rule, while others are just spoilers. ...And, no, I don't mean spoilers as in giving away plot surprises; I mean spoilers as people whose definition of winning isn't coming out on top but merely hurting someone they have a grudge against and seeing them lose.
Here's a quick rundown of these kings, would-be kings, and spoilers. With spoiler protection! 😅
King Joffrey Baratheon sits on the iron throne and is officially King of Westeros since the passing of his father, King Robb Baratheon. The thing is, Joffrey is a false heir. Lord Eddard Stark discovered that in Season 1. He got the word out- narrowly- before he was killed for it.
Robb Stark, eldest son of Eddard Stark, proclaimed himself King in the North in Season 1. He is waging war on King Joffrey, and specifically on the armies of House Lannister, in retribution for the murder of his father and the attempted murder that crippled one of his brothers. Stark does not desire rule all Westeros, though. He only wants unseat illegitimate heir Joffrey to punish him and win independence for his lands in the north.
Stannis Baratheon, younger brother of Robb Baratheon, argues he holds the strongest legal claim to the Iron Throne. I think technically Robb's bastard children (he sired many with prostitutes) would be next in line, but virtually nobody knows who they are. Stannis has been a lord and king's brother for years, and he has an army. Stannis wants to rule Westeros.
Renly Baratheon, youngest brother of Robb Baratheon, vies with his brother Stannis to become King of Westeros. Renly doesn't have the legal claim to the throne his older brother does but simply believes he'd be a better king. Also, he does have a bigger army. In war, that's what counts. Though BTW, part of the reason he has a bigger army is that he really is a better ruler. He is more just and fair than Stannis. Men and lords more willingly join his side.
Daenerys Targaryen also aspires to the Iron Throne. She is the last surviving heir of the murdered king who preceeded Robb Baratheon. While Daenerys will eventually join some kind of war in Westeros, in Season 2 she's stuck in the deserts of Essos, with a following whittled down to fewer than 20 people.
Balon Greyjoy, lord of the Iron Isles, aspires to be King... of the Iron Isles. He holds a grudge against House Stark for defeating him in the last war of accession and really only wants to punish the Starks. He takes advantage of Robb Stark's armies fighting the Lannisters further south to sack cities in the north. Again, though, he doesn't want to expand his rule; his brigands merely invade, sack, loot, burn, and leave.
Margaery Tyrell is a noblewoman who aspires not just to be a queen but the queen (as she states in a memorable exchange with Petyr Baelish). Early in the season she has recently married Renly Baratheon, aligning her house's armies to his to support his claim to be King of Westeros. After Renly is murdered (in a gruesome fashion I'll write about separately) she aligns House Tyrell to King Joffrey and requests his hand in marriage.
Spoiler policy: Comments discussing Seasons 1-2 are welcome. No spoilers for subsequent seasons.