Game of Thrones returns this Sunday....

[Ridge Runner]

I really enjoyed the first season. Having not read the books, I didn't know what to expect and I was afraid it would be too far-fetched for my tastes, but although there are some shenanigans with dragons and the mysterious white walkers, it hasn't veered that far off into total fantasy. For the most part it's a very interesting, at least to me, and plausible study of power struggles in an early-medieval type kingdom. (I never really saw anything about what time period this is set in, but it looks a little too advanced for Dark Ages).

From the previews, Season two looks to be very promising with a variety of competing interests for the throne. You have cruel spoiled brat Joffrey sitting on the throne with Tyrion as the Hand of the King and the powerful Lannister family backing him up. It looks like Robb Stark and his followers are looking to break up the Seven Kingdoms by establishing Winterfell as a separate Kingdom in the North. Then you have the two competing brothers of King Robert jockeying for position and the threat of Danaerys Targaryen leading the Dothraki across the narrow sea to swoop in and take advantage of a divided kingdom, not to mention Littlefinger and Lord Varys in the background spinning webs of intrigue to increase their influence, all with the looming threat of winter coming.

[Black Diamond Vol]

Can't wait.  Unfortunately, I don't get HBO, so I have to wait until the next day and watch on HBO Go.