Season Two

Recaps (newbies)

Game Of Thrones recaps written for those who have not read the books the show is based on.

Recaps (experts)

Game Of Thrones recaps written for those who have read at least the first two books in the book series.

Melisandre gives birth to a shadow monster

"Stannis dispatches Davos and Melisandre on a mysterious mission to deal with the problem of his brother Renly, and after their midnight boat ride, the witchy redhead disrobes, lays on the ground, and groans her way into giving birth to the pure CGI creation of a shadow monster, tasked with murdering the younger Baratheon (which happens the following episode)."

Ygritte tells it like it is: “You know nothing, Jon Snow.”

"Sardonic and biting, Ygritte is a good foil for stoic, duty-driven Jon, and her needling about Westeros’ monarchy prompts interesting insights into the Free Folks’ views on inherited power."

The Battle Of The Blackwater

"Game Of Thrones had fight scenes before this, but “Blackwater” was the show’s first real battle."

Jaqen H’ghar reveals himself to be a Faceless Man

"A Faceless Man is Jaqen H’ghar—or the man we’ve known as Jaqen H’ghar up to this point."

In restructuring its foundation, Game Of Thrones built a bigger, better second season

"The episodes have moved with more confidence than they did in the first season—when it often felt like the show’s writers were learning how to adapt George R.R. Martin’s novels on the fly"