HBO released a slew of "Game of Thrones" season two photos yesterday, including brand-new images of returning favorites, like Daenerys, Jon Snow, and Hodor. Hodor? Hodor. But more importantly, there are also peeks of some new characters, too, expanding the "GoT" universe even further to include Onion Knights and prophetic priestesses. Let's take a look, and of course: NO SPOILERS.
Character: Davos Seaworth
Character: Jon Snow
Add a little makeup, and Jon could fit right into the crowd of a midnight screening of The Crow. Dude loves the Cure.
Character: Theon Greyjoy
If Peter Dinklage was taller, this is what I imagine he'd look like. Theon is the captain of the ship with the best name in the Iron Fleet: Sea Bitch. I've also decided that "Pisswater Bend," which is briefly mentioned in the second book, is where I want to live.
Character: Joffrey Baratheon
Character(s): Bran Stark and Hodor
I hate speaking ill of a Stark, but Bran was probably my least favorite main character in season one. Things should be better in season two, though, because he'll be hanging out (off?) with Hodor a lot. And Hodor, clueless bastard he may be, is awesome.
Character: Sansa Stark
This is the most Sansa Stark photo ever.
Character: Daenerys Targaryen
This makes me happy, not only because it's Daenerys, but because I don't like seeing Emilia Clarke with brown hair. I mean, I do, because I'm not a monster, but the blonde is much better.
Character(s): Melisandre and Stannis Baratheon
I pictured her more crazy looking, not so composed and Cersei-like. Anyone else feel the same?
Character: Renly Baratheon
I want what's on the wall behind Renly, who looks like a young Nathan Fillion. I've been looking for a painting on a dirty cloth depicting men haphazardly throwing arrows into the air. It's my Lebowski rug.
Character: Arya Stark
Poor actress who plays Arya. She's so...boy-like here, which is great for the role. Not so much for the everything else. At least Arya kicks major ass; she's one of the best things about book two.
Character: Cersei Lannister
I hate her. That is all.
Character: Tyrion Lannister
I'm going to keep this vague and free of hyperbole: if the show does right by the end of the second book, it will be THE BEST THING EVER ON TELEVISION. Tyrion's involved, so already it's pretty great.
Character: Brienne
Amazing they got Tilda Swinton to do TV. She is a...very handsome woman?
Character: Balon Greyjoy
He's come a long way since appearing in EuroTrip. There's also some sick octopus action going on to his right.
Character: Catelyn Stark
It looks like she pulled down her fake beard to her neck. That Catelyn, such a jokester.
Character: Robb Stark
The only good Robb with two b's out there.
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NEW POLICY: If you spoil things from the books that haven’t been aired on the show yet, your comment gets trashed and your account gets marked as spam.
Winter is coming, shitheads.
You are my hero.
As I’m only 1/3 of the way through book 2, I wholeheartedly support this policy.
This is totally not a spoiler, but book 2 is like the peak of the rollercoaster, and book 3 is the “oh shit, what the fuck is happening” downward rush afterwards. With a couple loops, and barrel rolls thrown in for good measure. It’s fucking crazy.
So mentioning in book 5 that Jon Snow rides a frozen Pterydactyl to King’s Landing forces himself on Joffrey while seated on the Iron Throne thus killing him, then rips off his clothing to reveal he’s been Ned Stark in disguise the whole time would be bad?
Well played.
Good call, no great call.
The AV Club sensibly has two blogs during the show’s run; one for those who are new to the story and one for experts, i.e have read the books and want to discuss theories because as shaggy dog stories go we’re talking Digby here [www.youtube.com] G R.R. Martin frowns upon your needs for resolution.
The temptation to get ahead of things as the show airs for those fanatical about the books could be too great. I cannot think of any other work where this would apply but if I was running things I would insist that the books were read before viewing privileges were allowed. Get with the program, dickheads*.
*not you guys, obviously. Probably.
@DG:
Would it be acceptable if we bookies leak spoilers if we post something like: WARNING SPOILERS FOLLOW! At the start of our posts?
For me Cersei is to GoT what Ben Linus was to Lost – there is so much hate, but the show would be worse off without the character.
Exactly. Horrible person, necessary character.
There are tiny little moments when she’s sympathetic, but overall, not so much.
Truth. If Cersei starts getting burritos chucked at her, I’m sold.
It’s kind of like Stringer Bell to. You want them dead but you want it to be huge when it happens.
Can’t imagine being the agent of the actress who play’s Brienne. “Baby, great news, got a role for you in an HBO drama. You’re a total badass lady knight. Should have significant screen time for the next two seasons. One thing though… you know how you’re kinda ugly and mannish? I’m going to need to you to really play that up in the audition.”
It really is a shame. On her IMDB profile, Brienne’s actress isn’t half bad. As long as you can get past the height.
I like how Brienne looks exactly like I thought she would. Stannis, not so much.
I thought the same about Stannis at first, but Stephen Dillane is starting to grow on me, and I loved his voice in the first teaser.
I thought Brienne would be a lot beefier, but yeah, in the face? They did a great job of casting.
Brunette Emilia Clarke is a fucking revelation and I won’t hear any of your nonsense otherwise.
THANK YOU.
Agreed 1000% Blonde is boring, she looks great with the blonde hair, but so much better as a brunette.
Yeah, gotta agree, she cleans up real nice.
brunette > blonde
Shes in the slideshow.
Emilia Clarke: brunette > blonde
Every other woman: blonde > brunette
Brown hair + accent = Bonertown
I’m a little disturbed that she’s wearing clothing in those photos, is she gonna be less naked from this point forward, cause if so that’s a deal breaker.
That’s because Dany has the full-on peroxide thing going. If Emilia had soft golden hair like Ava Crowder it’d be an upgrade.
fapfapfap
@thecursor – There will still be plenty of Dany book from here on out. Martin talks in the books about her outfit having one boob out pretty much 24/7.
I’m fired, aren’t I? I dunno, maybe it’s the tangles or the dragons or the Khal Drogo love juice, but the blonde just does it for me.
Yeah, she’s totally better as a brunette, and I love blondes.
I often feel that UU and I were separated at birth.
I am SO excited for Brienne, y’all. I’m so glad they’re letting her be legitimately unfortunate looking.
As for Arya, she’s the little badass to end all little badasses.
And isn’t Melissandre supposed to come off as all poised and knowledgeable while secretly being a nutjob? Or maybe I just interpreted it that way.
She’s a total nutjob (that’s how I interpret her character), and I guess I always picture nutjobs to be hideous monsters with mad professor hair. Instead, she looks very put together. Time will tell.
Whats great about Brienne is they actually found an actress who is a 6’3 juggernaut to play her.
And I am with Patty it always seemed with Melissandre she was very proper in her look and talk but in reality she is one crazy bad mama jama
I hate to speak ill of this production but, Melisandre should be waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy sexier. I mean smoking, crazy, into freaky shit sexy.
Yeah, she is pretty restrained looking in that picture. There is one scene that I am frightned on how they plan on shooting with her as well.
You’ve summed up the problem with the photo Melisandre perfectly. I really saw her as a much much hotter woman (not just because of the whole fire thing) but she looks rather subdued in the picture.
I really would have liked to seen Jaqen H’Ghar as well, since he’s one of my favorite parts about Clash.
The best part about Cersei is when McNulty has unlubricated anal sex with her in 300.
I pictured Melissandre waaaay crazier. Like, the hot chick at a party who’s probably a freak in the bed, but has that look in her eye that she may stab you if your joke isn’t funny.
Arya = my favorite character in the books. Not close.
Emilia Clarke is amazing as both a blonde and brunette. I’d still like to see her as a dark red head too. Kindof like an Emma Stone with dragons.
I’m torn between Arya and Tyrion as my favorite. Someone short.
Tyrion and Jon Snow are my #2 and #2a. I can’t put Tyrion above Arya because I’m racist against the Lannisters.
Also, I have a 4 year old daughter who acts JUST like Arya: kicks boy’s asses at sports, chases my cat, and stabs people she doesn’t like.
Arya and Daenerys are for sure my favorites, but has Jaime grown on anyone else? Also the guy they cast as Craster is perfect.
Jaime was always one of my favorites. He’s just ridiculous. I found it impossible not to like him even when he was just being a prick.
I can’t say why I started to like Jaime. I don’t want to get marked as spam.
I’m just glad Daenerys still has hair. In the book she is bald for a while after emerging from the fire at the end of Season 1.
Also, I read that the actress that plays Brienne is 6′ 3″. Good casting.
Davos looks like I pictured him and Arya kicks ass. That is all.
Whoa, since when did the comments become a book club? Ugh, yay TV?
*has cabbage thrown at him*
Seriously though, I have two 24 hour flights coming in the next 3 weeks so I figure I can at least get through Chapter 1 of the first book in that time right?
Fact: You are no longer allowed to call yourself human if you don’t absolutely love Arya Stark. She is one of the best characters in fiction ever.
I’ve also been looking for a similar interior design. Something “Middle Ages Murdery”. I would also accept “Early Byzantine Gangstery”
When I read the books, I pictured Hodor as a fat Eli Manning.
I LOL’d
We need a video game prequel. I need a first person shooter where I can swing a warhammer and fly a dragon.
That actually sounds more like a video game version of Heavy Metal.
For $270.00 you swing one around for real.
[www.valyriansteel.com]
People who have read the books: does Jon Snow ever get to be the zombie killing bad ass I know he deserves to be?
That would fall under spoiler. I am already trying my best not to be a spoiler. STOP TEMPTING ME!
Just yes or no, man. Yes or no.
If you want to know that bad, just Google it. No need to throw that info up in a public forum.
Lets just say Jon does get pretty badass and leave it at that. And he has some great fun along the way.
HODOR!
I pictured Davos as more rotund, probably because my mind pictured him in the shape of an onion. Brienne looks like she might be too willowy to be beating the shit out of multiple knights at a time. And yeah, Arya is looking the way she ought to look.
I pictured Stannis as more grizzled or something and Melisandre as darker featured and more crazy looking. Like that broad from Dexter season 2.
I agree about Melisandre. I didn’t think she would look so pale.
I always saw Stannis as being tall, gaunt, with a full dark beard. This guys seems nice, though, I guess.
And for Melisandre, I have to say something that I didn’t think would need to be said for an HBO show: NEEDS MORE SEX
Josh, if you want tapestry’s with arrows’n'stuff, you need to check out the Bayeux Tapestry. And get yourself to Battle in Hastings, England, you’ll LOSE YOUR MIND
[www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk]
Allow me to echo the “Arya is the best” sentiment. By the end of Book 5 I would have welcomed a book with nothing but Arya chapters.
Season/Book 1 only scratches the surface of how great a character Arya is.
I second this comment. It is all uphill from season 1.
The first thing I do every time a new volume comes out is thumb through the book to see how many Arya chapters there are.
Agreed as well. I loved the Aya chapters as much as I abhorred the Sansa ones.
numbersix > Sansa started to grow on me toward the end of Book 3, and loved her in Book 4 (probably because of a certain character she spends so much time with). I like how she evolves so much and GRRM managed to change my opinion of her. (Same goes towards Jaime)
I think the main reason why I hated them for so long is because as soon as I saw her name for the Chapter, I thought, here is the chapter where she gets raped.
Davos is the best! And Liam Cunningham is exactly how I pictured him.
For some reason, I always picture Davos as being black. There is not a single thing in the books that supports it, my brain clearly just made that decision randomly.
I don’t get it, Davos’ part in the story is completely worthless to me.
AG > Heresy! Davos is a fantastic character. I know some people find his storyline boring, but he is the only fully “good” character after Ned’s death. And the conflicts that arise in himself from his relationship to Stannis, and Melissandre influence on him, his will to be faithful to Stannis after what he’s done to him, and do the right thing, which goes in opposition to what he wants for himself and his family. I find the man one of the most complex, endearing, realistic, and respectable in Westeros. (On the total opposite, I also love Littlefinger). I hope none of this is considered spoilerish (I mean, it’s obvious from the get go that Davos is a “good guy”.)
Leigh > I had the same thing with Sallador Saan, maybe because of his exotic name, even if he is clearly described as white in the book.
I agree with you JR except that I would also lump good ol’ samwell tarly in there with completely good and honorable camp
Davos is good no doubt, but there are so many better characters that are mostly good. I won’t get into it because I don’t want to give away who lives/dies.
Any pictures of Ygritte yet? I’m sure fans of red heads are eagerly awaiting them. Here’s a pic of the actress that will playing her.
I have always been conflicted with red heads. I know full well they do not have souls. But the Gods be damned I love em.
Have to say that is pretty spot on casting there.
Yeah, that’s great. Touched by fire, indeed.
Was Stannis ever shown in season 1? Was it the same actor? I have a picture in my mind that I thought came from the series (read the books after seeing season 1).
In my mind he is barrel chested with a black beard.
He was never shown only mentioned a few times throughout the first season.
Thanks, they really should have had that guy in my head play him… He’s brilliant.
Season 2 is going to be the Tyrion show, he absolutely kills it in a Clash of Kings. Start writing your acceptance speech now Dinklage.
He really should be submitted for best actor and not supporting actor if they stay true to the books. No other POV gets more facetime than Tyrion in Book 2. A very good thing
Best part about reading the books all at once is that so much happens you forget anything about what even happened way back in the 2nd book, so I’ll be as surprised as all y’all when it airs.
Which is exactly why I’m not commenting on anything coming up in season 2…I have no idea which book had which certain memorable event due to reading them all in succession. Books 2 thru 4 kinda ran together. As soon as I say I can’t wait to see Tyrion do blah blah blah, it’ll be something he actually did in Book 3, and I’ll get the, “thanks for the spoiler alert, dickhead!*”
*Not me obviously. Probably.
Joffrey does look like an evil little spud there. I’ve not seen anything regarding the casting of Ramsey Bolton. Has anyone been confirmed?
Not sure that is a role I would want to have. Him or Roose. …Shudder…
Huh. Balon’s look not at all what I thought. I saw him as having much more clipped, clean look. And I always saw Davos as a shorter, swarthier man (greek/Italian).
I’ve stalled at the beginning of book 3, but from the comments here, I think I should plow through it and 4 before this next season starts.
Book 3 is the best. Well worth the time it takes to read it. You won’t be disappointed.
Yeah Book 3 pretty much blows your mind and/or breaks your heart twice every chapter
Another vote for book 3. It’s outstanding. Book 4 is kind of a slog, but there are some good stories in there. Book 5 is pretty awesome, and worth working through book 4 to get to.
A Storm of Swords is the best and will make the most fantastic season of the show. I have no idea how they’re going to pull of books 4 & 5.
A Storm of Swords will actually be the 2 most fantastic seasons of the show. Joy.
Book three is le tits. I reread and actually forgot the biggest plot twist of the entire book. You won’t regret it (it’s also almost as long as 4 and 5 put together).
I pictured Melisandre looking like Connie Nielsen in Devil’s Advocate.
I always pictured Melisandre as vaguely Asian. She’s from the East where Martin clearly places a Middle Eastern and eventually Asian influence, and this actress is just kind of blah. Obviously that’s way too much judgement for one screen shot. She’s probably awesome, as the rest of the series has been immaculately well-casted and produced, but I’m not super excited about her based on this.
I’ll just chime in -
Expected Melisandre to look more exotic…younger…Persian, maybe. She’s supposed to be as hot as the fire she commands. Irresistible, even. The pic looks like my Aunt Martha.
Quite frankly, if they didn’t show Daenerys’s boobs as much as they do, she’d be the part I fast forward through. Pretty useless, actually, now that her sun and stars is gone.
Oh, and I do love me some Cersei. One of my favorite characters, behind Tyrion and Arya. She’s that hot, slutty chick we all know that has just enough crazy in her to make her scary, but oh so tempting.
Not to be that guy, but saying that a character is great in book 3 or 4 is a spoiler because it lets people know that the character is still alive by that point. Only reason I bring it up is that I did the same thing on Sepinwall’s blog and got called out for it.
However, Melisandre is exactly how I pictured here. Attractive, but off putting in someway.
Re: Tyrion Photo. I totally agree. If they do right by the end of the second book, we will definitely be in for one of the greatest spectacles in TV history.
Am I the only one who’s disappointed they didn’t cast Christina Hendricks as Mellisandre? She was BORN to play that role.
The Beauty! The Onion Knight! And the Red Lady! Two characters I love and one I love to hate, season 2 can’t get here fast enough.
Yeah I’d be down with a separate thread to accompany these posts for people who have read the books. I’ve read the books and would appreciate the opportunity to bounce comments off of the other WG readers. I guess it might be hard to filter out for people who have read all the books vs. just a few or whatever, but it’d still be nice. Thanks –