Like arch-enemies the Lannisters and Starks, Aliza and I—A.J.—fought to the bitter end for the right to pen this post, but alas, it was a tie, the result of which is that both of us will be offering our perspectives—as avid viewers who haven’t read the books—on what happened during Game of Thrones Season 1, and what might happen in Game of Thrones Season 2.
A.J.: I’m a die-hard Game of Thrones fan, so much so that I’ve bought all of the books—and for one who loathes surprises, and ALWAYS reads spoilers —have not yet read them. I want to wait, yes, the queen of spoilers thrives on the anticipation of what is to come. Very rare indeed!
Aliza: I admit it. I’m a big loser. I had never read the books. I started watching HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones quite by accident the night of the season premiere; I was folding clothes in the basement (a.k.a man cave a la Al Bundy). My guy was nodding on the old sofa, and I was on the loveseat surrounded by a week’s worth of clean, unfolded laundry. I looked up to catch three men on horses. I folded one shirt, then another. I glanced up once more to see a horrifying little girl with one blue eye. A chill ran up my spine.
I looked down to find my neatly folded clothes askew on the floor. I lost myself for a couple of minutes. And I continued to lose myself in this fantastic tale for ten weeks until, sadly, the season came to an end.
Little by little we grew to love—and hate—many of the diverse characters. Thankfully, H&H provided a detailed, and quite entertaining, synopsis of the happenings each week.
And as we all prepare to settle in for a depressingly long wait for Game of Thrones Season 2, we decided to prepare a little wish list of what we’d like and love to see more and less of come Spring 2012.
Drumroll please…
1. Joffrey needs to die: I know, he’s a child, but he’s a sadistic little bugger. He kills Sansa’s father—Ned—then taunts her that they will still marry. But what can you expect from an insufferable product of incest? I wanted to jump through my flatscreen and wring his neck.
2. And whilst were on the topic of Joffrey’s intended, could the producers see fit to bestow Sansa with some metaphorical balls so that she might try and thwart the evil Lannisters, escape King’s Landing, and join her brother, Robb?
3. More Ned? Maybe we’re asking too much, but could the real Eddard Stark please stand up? I mean, maybe the man they killed was his doppelganger, or maybe I’m just reaching.
4. Jon Snow: As far as we’re concerned, we haven’t seen enough of him, and I have an inkling that we’re going to. He’s more like Ned Stark than Robb, and even though he’s taken a vow to guard the Wall and live the solitary, celibate life of a Night Watchman, we feel there’s more to him than a life such as this. He’s delightful and honorable. Who doesn’t love the downtrodden, the betrayed, and yes, alas the victims of circumstance? Snow, as he’s called by the Brothers on The Wall, has been treated atrociously throughout the season by some members of the Stark family, namely Mama Stark, Catelyn. As if it was, his fault he was born a bastard. Ahem, I do believe the folly lies with one Ned Stark, but we digress. He is strong, loyal, the type of guy that you want watching your back when you go past the wall into the wild, white wilderness. Plus, he’s extra yummy. Sometimes, you wish it weren’t so cold in the North so you can see what’s under all those frocks. It must run in the family because Robb has some McNorthiness going on.
5. Another favorite is Tyrion. Yep, Lannister. We know he’s on the wrong team, but is he, really? The treatment he was subjected to by Lysa Arryn was deeply disturbing. Not to mention his father, and Jamie. We hope that he will bring our friend Joffrey in line, and betray the family who has never had his back.
6. Daenerys Targaryen: We watched her go from a place of powerlessness, a pawn to a powerful queen in her own right. It was like watching the rising of a phoenix. In the finale, we find her the proud mother of three baby dragons after her fiery farewell to her husband, Khal Drogo. As she professed earlier in the season, “dragons don’t burn…” That was freaking awesome!
The next season promises to be grand, the dragons full grown, and a war that will threaten everyone living below the Wall. We wish for the safety of Arya, as well as her sister, Sansa. For Robb to defeat the Lannisters and restore order and honor to the kingdom. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until Spring 2012. I haven’t been this excited for a season since Marc Jacob’s 2010 Spring Line!
What are you looking forward to?
Aliza Mann, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Paraplayground.com
A.J. Wilson, Shark By Day, Lover Of All Things Plaid By Night
