Let the ‘Game of Thrones’ (Season 2) begin
Spending tens of millions of dollars on a miniseries was unheard-of in the TV business until HBO upped the ante with "Band of Brothers," " Rome ," and quite recently "Game of Thrones (GOT)." All three have become certified mega-hits and "GOT" is now on its second season in the US. Local viewers will finally get a chance to continue enjoying the series when the first episode of Season 2 airs Saturday, April 21 at 9 p.m. on HBO and 8 p.m. on HBO HD.
To promote the new season, HBO invited entertainment media to an advance screening at The Fort with Communication Director Karen Lai, flying in from Singapore to host the event. When I got the invite, I wondered what gimmick the publicists had lined up for us. In February, the cable network was pushing "Luck," a miniseries about horse racing starring Dustin Hoffman. The press briefing was held at the Manila Polo Club where we viewed the premiere episode, listened to a lecture on horses and participated in betting on which horse would win in a mini race. (Sadly, "Luck" did not win, place or show in the ratings race and was not renewed for a second season.)
For "GOT," we did not participate in a hand-to-hand combat using medieval weapons. Instead, aside from the advance screening, each of us was photographed on a throne, except there was no throne at the location. It was added in digitally after the shoot. With the phenomenal success of "GOT," I guess HBO didn't need to come up with extraordinary gimmicks to hype up the show. Well, someone did get a DVD set of the first season by winning the tweeter raffle.
On to the main event, the advanced screening of the first episode. Well, there was no spectacular battle scene. That will have to wait till future episodes. I understand the show's budget was increased by 15 percent for season 2 due to the much- anticipated battle scene. Also eagerly awaited are the raunchy sex scenes, which unfortunately have been censored for local as well as other Asian audiences due to the prevailing moral climate.
As avid followers of the series know, "GOT" is about five kings in a power struggle to determine who will finally gain control of the Iron Throne. In Season 2's initial episode, "The North Remembers," the action takes place in several locations. Robb Stark and his warriors are engaged in a continuing war against the Lannisters. At Dragonstone, Stannis Baratheon is mapping out his invasion plan to reclaim his late brother's throne. He has allied himself with Melisandre, a mysterious priestess. Miles away, Daenerys and her three young dragons are in a desperate quest for water and allies. In the North, Bran rules over an impaired Winterfell. Elsewhere, Jon Snow and the Night's Watch find shelter with a scheming wildling.
Even as Season 2 is airing in the US , pre-production has already started on Season 3. That's because nine days after HBO picked up Season 2,"GOT" was renewed for a third season. Things have really moved at a dizzying pace for this series based on "A Song of Ice and Fire" George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels, the first of which is called "A Game of Thrones," which became the title for the TV series. The title is taken from a line of Cersei Lannister to Ned Stark, "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."
Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this blog.
