More Game of Thrones season two expectations – Beyond the Wall

by Ivey West

This week, we take a look at the events in season two that Ivey is most looking forward to. Undead houses, impish hands and half-handed sword fighting, oh my!

This week in Beyond the Wall, Bob and I continue to take a look at the moments we are most looking forward to in season two of Game of Thrones. Last week, we worked our way through Bob’s list; this week, we are taking on the things that I can’t wait to see.

Just like last week, the Spoiler Warning is pretty high for season two & A Clash of Kings, and there are several nuggets of future seasons/books as well.

Ivey:

OK Bob, your list was pretty good, and included several things that I had on my list. But you left off probably the event with some of the biggest impact after this particular season (I know you left it off because I want to talk about it, but you’re still getting knocked because it is just that important). I’m obviously referring to Dany’s trip into the House of the Undying. When I first read the series, I didn’t really understand what was going on. In retrospect, though, it is pretty much the only thing that happens to Dany in this entire story that I think is relevant. Her visions alluded to things that we could only guess at at the time, including a particular wedding whose colors were neither blush or bashful (Yes, I just worked a Steel Magnolias reference into a post about Game of Thrones … tell me you were expecting that).

I fear, though, that the scene will be much more about what they can’t show versus what they will … right?

Bob:

I’m not sure I agree. Look, a good number of people watching the show have read the books. In fact, I think an even greater percent of people watching this season will have read the books because just about everyone I know has picked them up after watching season one. So, there’s really not going to be anything spoilery for a lot of people. Aside from that, George R. R. Martin didn’t seem to think it was too spoilery to put in A Clash of Kings, so I don’t think the producers are going to shy away from any of the imagery. And let’s face it, that’s what most of what Dany sees in the House of the Undying is — abstract imagery. It’s not like she’s going to see any specific characters dead in front of her.

I agree, though, this should be one of the more pivotal points in the season and definitely the best part in Dany’s story. I’m looking forward to it and seeing how they will approach it. Is it going to be a Lynchian nightmare? Will it be heavy with special effects? Or something simpler?

Ivey:

That’s a fair point about the spoilers for future seasons, but I think that’s why they’ll handle the scene in a surreal sense, so that the audience who isn’t aware of what some of the images could mean will be able to maintain that … ignorance for a while. Let’s face it: there are several things that Dany envisions that we are still not sure what they were referencing or if they’ve yet come to pass.

There is one other part of Dany’s story that I’m looking forward to, but it is such a little moment. And, considering I haven’t heard anything about the casting of Strong Belwas, I’m not sure we’ll even see it this season. But if he does meet Dany this season … will the audience recognize his companion?

Bob:

I’ve wondered about that too. It’s going to be hard. Even if they throw a big bushy beard on him (are we not saying his name?), the actor’s name is still going to be in the credits, right? More likely I figure that this is just one of those small moments that isn’t going to translate to the screen. The audience is going to know who he really is and it’s going to be a secret to Dany. I’ve thought about it a bit and I’ve come to the conclusion that it would be fine like that, the reveal wasn’t all that mind blowing anyway.

Ivey:

I was a fan of the reveal, if only because it was that moment that I really began to understand why he was there, and what other forces were moving behind the scenes. Speaking of wheels turning within wheels, I can’t wait to see Tyrion as Hand of the King. Peter Dinklage was perfect in the first season, and I look forward to what should be an expanded role this season. In several ways, Tyrion was the main character in Clash, managing the city and the realm with a deft touch that the position of Hand hadn’t seen since the last time it was filled by a Lannister.

Bob:

Yes, Dinklage should have another excellent season this year. I’m particularly looking forward to him and Lena Heady going at it (arguing, I mean, Cersei only does that with the other brother). The Cersei/Tyrion stuff in the second book is a lot of fun, between all the manipulating and backstabbing, it’s going to be very fun to watch.

Ivey:

He’s a bit like Rodney Dangerfield, though … No respect! Seriously … Would King’s Landing have been able to fight as well as they did in the Battle of Blackwater if Tyrion had not prepared the city as well as he did? I think not. And how is he repaid?

I’ll wrap things up by taking a look … well … beyond the wall. Jon Snow’s story takes some nice turns as Clash comes to an end. I’m particularly looking forward to his arc with Qhorin Halfhand — especially how it ends — and his relationship with Ygritte. Jon is one of the two characters that experiences the most change throughout the series, and these are the moments that really kick off his changes. Will they be as well crafted as they were in the novel?

Bob:

What I’m interested in seeing is how the final fight between Jon and Qhorin is played on screen. Will the audience be left to believe that Jon has betrayed the black and gone over to the wildlings, like Mance Rayder before him? Or will it be clear that it was his only option, that Qhorin gave him silent permission to kill him? It could be a great cliffhanger depending on how it goes. If I’m not mistaken, though, doesn’t most of the Ygritte stuff happen in A Storm of Swords?

Ivey:

I guess it depends on whether or not you have your mind in the proverbial chamber pot. Sure, there relationship evolves in future chapters, but it starts with a very specific act by Jon in Clash. Also, we don’t know where the “finish line” of the season will end. I believe the speculation that it is in the writer’s best interest to move as much material from Storm of Swords to this season as is reasonable.

We could keep going, as there is so much going on in Clash — unless, of course, your name is Arya. Were there any particular moments that we missed that you’re looking forward to?

Next week, Bob and I will look at potential changes that the show will have to make to the original source material.