Game of Thrones - 1x02 - The Kingsroad

Things are moving forward at a slow pace in the second episode of Game of Thrones, and not much really happens.  Not that that is a bad thing, we learn more about the many characters that inhabit this world.

After the ending of the last episode, I assumed that Bran was a goner.  His struggle of survival was a vital piece to this episode.  Catelyn's grief at Bran's bedside, struggle with the would be assassin, and eventual detective work were a nice little arc for her after not learning much about her in the first episode outside of the fact she didn't want Ned to leave.  She seems to jump quickly to the Lannisters after finding a single strand of hair, but given that she already believes they killed John Arryn (her borther-in-law, if I've figured out these family trees correctly), I suppose it's the logical place for her to go.  I also get the feeling the Lannisters have a long standing cold war type feud with the Starks.

The scene with Catelyn and the Queen was a particular stand out for me.  It had the illusion of garnering some sympathy for Queen Cersie with her story of losing a child.  You actually feel for her in that moment, before you remember that she really wants Bran to be dead so he can't reveal what he saw.

We also learned more of Prince Joffery (weird spelling, like many names in this show) and what complete pill he is.  Seems to have much more of the Lannister side in him than Baratheon.  The loathing you feel at this character is unmatched in the series so far, more so than his mother and uncle who have been set up as villains.  The spoiled privileged child has always been grating to me and in this instance you hate him even more when Sansa (how would someone learn all these names without the internet?) refuses to stick up for her sister.  At least she didn't completely side with Joffrey, opting instead for the "it all happened so fast" cop out.

Tyrion continues to grow on me.  His carefree attitude is refreshing with so many characters being serious all the time.  The conversation with Jon Snow on the way to The Wall was a particularly fun piece, while still holding some gravity with Jon wondering if he's made the right choice to join the Night's Watch.

Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys is starting to take control of things.  I really like where this storyline is going concerning her awakening from child to adult.  Emilia Clarke so far has shined onscreen with her slow realization of the power she can wield.

The credits got even cooler this week.  Since the Targaryens moved, the credits actually reflected that.  Instead of going from The Wall to Penthos, it instead moved to whatever the Dothraki call home.  Very cool. A nice shorthand for showing where things will be happening this episode and to give the viewer a sense of scale for where people have traveled.