Babies, children—a new generation of future rulers: that is the theme running through this week’s Game of Thrones “The Night Lands.” Babies murdered because the threat they pose to the throne; babies disposed to maintain a strange wildling cult are at the periphery of this week’s episode as much as the questionable parentage of the boy-king who sits on the Iron Throne drives the action the series' second season. 
The battle lines in the effort to depose the young king are being drawn on the various fronts in this multi-handed game of chess played by self-appointed kings in the land of Westros. But whom of these will actually depose the ruthless, soulless Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), whose brutality shocks even his ice queen mother, Queen Regent Cersei (Lena Heady)? That is a question unlikely to be answered until the series ends someday. But what a ride to get to that eventual answer!
Joffrey’s doing whatever he can to put down any opposition. Last week, he was busy murdering Robert Baraetheon’s bastard children—each one a potential threat to his rule (especially, given that Joffrey, himself, is the bastard child of Jaime and Cersei’s incestuous union). And of course his grandfather Tywin (Charles Dance) is off fighting the Starks (and whomever else might get in his way).
In the meantime, one of Robert’s bastards, Gendry (Joe Dempsey), has escaped Joffrey’s sword and has fled with his bull’s head helmet (with the King's guard in hot pursuit) to Castle Black as a recruit of the Knight’s Watch, the enigmatic, monastic band that protects "The South" from the threat north of the icy wall in the kingdom's far north. He befriends Arya Stark (Maisie Williams), in hiding from the Lannisters and pretending to be a boy. I can’t help but wonder if this not-so-simple blacksmith’s apprentice, possessed of a seemingly innate nobility (perhaps something Robert had in the days before he’d become a debauched, gluttonous king), will ultimately claim the throne at the ultimate end of this epic tale.
But the strongest claims for now seem to originate with Robert’s brothers: the intelligent, calculating, but essentially cold Stannis (Stephen Dillane). His ill wife will bear him no heirs, we learn. So when he is seduced by Melisandre (Carice van Houten) a priestess of the One True God—the god of fire, who promises heirs, he complies in a scene that cannot be categorized as lovemaking—more like dealmaking. I was so hoping to love the stoic Stannis; I adore Stephen Dillane, the actor who plays him (and I also love those quietly dangerous, yet somehow-noble heroes). But Stannis so far comes off so cold, that he's impossible to root for.
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Article comments
1 - Paul Raihle
I think the Caps have a decent chance against the Bruins. The Stanley Cup is about defense and I don't like Boston's 3rd line defense. Caps in 6. Regarding this episode, I thought it meandered, and what happenned with the dragons and blue eyed zombies? Less humping, more plot and special effects please.
2 - Paul Raihle
BTW, I watched the first season (twice), I'm a little let down with this season. New characters, no idea who the red headed witch is, and many overplayed characters.
Who is fighting who, what is the geography, it's a mess. Who needs a boat, so someone is on an island? Everyone is dressed in Gray, in dark lighting, I can’t keep anyone straight
3 - El Bicho
Not sure what's so difficult to follow
4 - Flo
Liked the episode. Every piece of the puzzle of this season is slowly taking its place.
Looks like TPTB decided to make Cersei a (very) bit less of a cold heart b*tch that she is in the book. Peter Dinklage/Tyrion is his awesome self again.
Stephen Dillane is a very good Stannis. In the book he is really that cold.
Don't understand why they changed Theon's sister name Asha to Yara, but she looks really badass. Good.
With all these very ambitious characters chaos can come.
The first two episodes were slow but rightfully so IMO. There are a lot of places and characters. I think TPTB did a great work of presenting those. I really like the power play and the difficult chess game that everyone is trying to play. They all think to have a legitimacy to be king. They're all so greedy for power that I can't help but wonder who is gonna be crushed by his own ambition.
I love the scenes between Tyrion and Cersi in that regards. Blind power greediness Vs wisdom & thought. Tyrion is perhaps the more intelligent person in Westeros. That's why he's still alive. It is also interesting to see that the smartest, and most wise people are not heard in this time of war. In this desperate time people tend to put their faith in other thing than intelligence and good advice (see Stannis with Melisandre). Religion takes precedence and I find the story/metaphor of the monotheism slowly overtaking the polytheism interesting.
Can't wait for next Sunday!
5 - Nicole
Robert Carlyle on Game of Thrones? that would be amazing, I can't stop thinking about it now!
And for anyone who may think that the first episodes have been slow, just have patience! the story is about to get terribly interesting.
6 - hwl40
Have you given up on us House fans?
7 - Barbara Barnett
hwl40--not at all! Expect my review of tonight's episode tomorrow morning (or even tonight!)
8 - jlm
Stannis has been in 3 count them three scenes. He's just being established as a character and you already can't root for him? Wow.
9 - Barbara Barnett
jlm--just first impressions. Based on his final scene with Melisandre. I find it hard to root for him, given what we've seen. I really want to root for the dour, intelligent Stannis. Am not there yet, however much I love Stephen Dillane (and I do--a lot and have even written about him here on Blogcritics)