"Whereas Sean Bean's grizzled Ned was the focal point for the audience in the first season, now everything has splintered. There are several kings vying for the titular Iron Throne, and although natural loyalties still lie with the Starks, you're also on the side of dragon mother Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and crafty, charismatic 'imp' Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage). In future seasons, these factions are bound to face each other in battle, but for now they have other fish to fry. Robb Stark (Richard Madden) is moving south fighting Tywin Lannister's (Charles Dance) soldiers on the way. Meanwhile, Daenerys is trying to raise an army to invade Westeros and Tyrion is having to keep one eye on his mad nephew, Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson), and the other on the invading forces of the rightful heir, Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane).
The beauty of Martin's Game of Thrones is that it all hangs together, just enough to keep your average viewer from completely losing the plot. Whether audiences will continue to buy it when the demons and dragons play a bigger role in Season 3, only time will tell. For now, however, Game of Thrones is an essential, exceptional series up there with such current greats as Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men and The Walking Dead. (by Lee Cassanell)