Game of Thrones Season 2 Preview
We look ahead to the highly anticipated return of Game of Thrones.
HBOs award winning drama series Game of Thrones returns to our screens this week with a full 10 episode second season. The epic fantasy drama, which debuted in 2011, is based on the A Song of Ice and Fire books, by George R.R. Martin. One of the tag lines for this season is: Five Kings. One Throne. As we ended last Season, the king, Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) is dead, and his illegitimate son Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) sits on the Iron Throne (Joffrey being born of the incest between Queen Regent Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) and her twin brother Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau)). Roberts true heir is his younger brother Stannis Baratheon (new cast member Stephen Dillane), who is building his forces on the island fortress of Dragonstone, the ancient seat of House Targaryen. His youngest brother Renly (Gethin Anthony) has also proclaimed himself king, having the support of the wealthy and powerful Tyrell family behind him. In the north, Robb Stark (Richard Madden) is crowned King of the North by his followers. Robb seeks independence from the Iron Throne after the unjust murder of his father by Joffrey. Now the fifth contender we havent met yet, but you may remember his son, Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), friend to Robb Stark. Theon returns home this season to the Iron Islands to offer an alliance and crown to his father Balon Greyjoy (Patrick Malahide), if he will aid Robb Stark in his war against the Lannisters. Meanwhile Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) continues her journey on the eastern continent across the Narrow Sea but shes still so far removed from the rest of the story that you cant really count her as a contender just yet. 
Above are the contenders from left to right: Richard Madden as Robb Stark, King of the North; Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon, King on the Iron Throne; Stephen Dillane as Stannis Baratheon, rightful heir to the Iron Throne; Patrick Malahide as Balon Greyjoy; self proclaimed King of the Iron Islands; and Gethin Anthony as Renly Baratheon, younger brother to Stannis and self proclaimed heir to the Iron Throne. For a more in-depth analysis of what to look forward to in Season 2, read HERE. Also check out our round table interviews with some of the stars (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Michelle Fairley, Alfie Allen, Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke) and the Producers. So remember, if youre in the US, Game of Thrones Season 2 premiers on Sunday night (April 1st). If youre in the UK you can catch it on Monday night (April 2nd) on Sky Atlantic and Sky Atlantic HD. Until then you can check out these awesome trailers, which pretty much speak for themselves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV3RflsNxak http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S14rYrSSW8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X66PDW1Mjf8