Game of Thrones is back and bloody as ever. The first episode seemed to serve more as a re-introduction to the viewers without a lot of plot heavy elements. But for a second season premiere, this seems to be what is needed. We get re-introduced to most of our main characters and locations, so that the show can start running forward next episode. Let’s check out what happened.

Prince Joffrey is now King and is just as big of a brat as he’s always been. Now there is no one who can tamp down his enthusiastic idiocy. But a new sheriff is in town and Tyrion might be the one person who can control Joffrey. Cersei is less than thrilled about Tyrion being named the Hand, since that removes her from any semblance of real power (which she feels necessary to demonstrate to Little Finger when he cracks wise about Joffrey’s heredity). Joffrey asks Cersei about his father’s womanizing ways and then cracks down to try to make his rule a little more legitimate.

Meanwhile Robb is calling himself the King of the North and is winning all the battles that he has entered. He’s ready for the peace negotiations with the Lannisters and makes them an offer to return Jaime and have peace if they return his sisters (and father’s body) and agree that he is King of the North. He doesn’t know at this time that they’ve lost Arya (who’s on her way out of the city while pretending to be a boy), but does know that they won’t agree no matter what. He then sends out Theon and his Mom on diplomatic missions that might help him if the war continues.

Back in the North, Bran is dreaming of being a direwolf and sitting in boring complaint meetings from the subjects of the Starks. His injuries are hampering him somewhat, but he seems to have an unusual connection to the direwolf. Over the wall, Jon is with the Night’s Watch trying to figure out what’s going on North of the Wall. He’s gets verbally slapped a couple times, but the Lord Commander tells him that he is being groomed for command. And across the water. Daenerys and her dragons are trying to survive a brutal march across the wastelands. She wishes she could go somewhere else, but it’s pointed out that any other direction would lead to almost certain death.

Overall, it’s a fine re-introduction to the world of Westeros. There’s not a lot of movement, but everyone’s trying to consolidate the power they have…even if they really don’t have any. There’s a war going on, but the show is more about the politics behind the war than the war itself. The shifting of power has a lot of ramifications and, as Cersei finds out, having actual power is meaningless when it can be easily taken away. It’s a fine start to season two and if you’re not watching the show, you absolutely should. Regardless of whether or not you’ve read the books.