# Game of Thrones 2.02 "The Night Lands" 4/8/12 No book spoilers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 8, 2012, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161 "2012-04-08T08:13:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/1 "2012-04-08T08:13:27Z")
[Week 1 thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=646369) This is the thread for people who want to discuss the show without outside information that may spoil the story from either the books or other sources. Discussion about the current episodes and all previous episodes of the series requires no spoiler box. Which means that there should be no need for the use of any spoiler boxes in this thread. If you are looking for discussions where spoilers are acceptable, please visit the [season 2 closed spoiler](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=646499) and [open spoiler](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=646497) threads. And please do not argue about the spoiler rules in the thread. If necesary, we have an [ATMB thread for that purpose](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=646962). **Gukamatz** has been moderating these threads because he’s more familiar with the source content than the other cafe society mods. This was his note in the OP of the first thread this season: > [@](#): > > **Moderator’s Amendment:** > > **Spoiler policy for this thread:** > > 1. **Anything** that has not yet been AIRED ON TV is not acceptable in this thread. (This includes webzines, DVD extra content, magazines, speculation based on unaired content and so on.) > 2. Any discussion, comparison or really anything related to the books the show is based on needs to go to the Closed Spoilers thread. (See below) > 3. We follow the US airing schedule. There is no “grace period” for letting the rest of the world catch up. (Like us Europeans, people who DVR the show, stream it later, etc, etc) > > This is in order to allow people who want to ask specific questions and receive specific answers regarding backstory or things they missed, be able to use this thread as a resource. For those who wants limited spoilers - for instance people who have read the books up unto a point but don’t want spoilers for the rest of the books - this is the place to be. Please report information which should not be in the open by using the Report Post tool. > > If you want to ask questions regarding backstory, discuss how the series reflect the books, speculate in the future based on unaired information or otherwise engage in a discussion in an enviroment in which posters are to use their best judgement to decide what is or is not a spoiler, please follow this thread: > [Game of Thrones Season 2 - CLOSED SPOILERS Discussion Thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=646499) > > For those who want to discuss in a **COMPLETELY** open-spoilers enviroment in which the books, the series, webzines and in short all the information available anywhere is valid and open for discussion, please follow this thread: > [Game of Thrones Season 2 - OPEN SPOILERS Discussion Thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=646497) > > Meta-discussion of the spoiler policy itself should happen in a separate ATMB thread if really necessary, though I invite people to PM me instead. > > With regards, > Gukumatz > Game Room & IMHO Moderator > Consulting Game of Thrones Moderator We left off with the goldcloaks hunting down Robert’s bastards to kill off any potential claimants to the throne. Stannis seems unwilling to compromise or ally with any of the other factions, instead demanding their fealty. Renly has raised a substantial army, and the Starks are trying to come to an agreement with them. Danerys and friends are in bad shape, starving in the Red Waste. Tyrion continues to be purely made of awesome. In the North, the wildlings who aren’t fleeing south are forming an army under a former night watch member. Arya and Robert’s remaining bastard flee north. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/2 "2012-04-08T19:36:36Z")
Thread stickied for a few days. I expect I’ll take down the stickies on Tuesday. With regards, Gukumatz Game Room & IMHO Moderator Consulting Game of Thrones Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/3 "2012-04-09T01:11:16Z")
“You should taste her fish pie!” ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/4 "2012-04-09T02:07:31Z")
For some reason there was no nudity warning before the episode, i was kind of surprised that they might actually do an episode with no sex. Hah, silly me. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/5 "2012-04-09T02:14:23Z")
That answered the “who ordered the infanticide” question. Also, everyone in Westros is a piece of shit. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/6 "2012-04-09T02:34:11Z")
I looooved the scene where Tyrion dismisses Janos Slynt. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/7 "2012-04-09T07:08:30Z")
And then Tyrion realizes that the man he replaces him with would do the same thing, just for money rather than orders. Interesting that Tyrion is setting up Bron as head of the guards - I wonder if he plans to settle in, long term, and get people he can trust (in so much as you can…) into high positions. The mutual hatred between Tyrion and Cercei runs deeper than it seemed to at first glance, which should make for some interesting politicking. Littlefinger is cold. Makes me wonder about the arrangement he has with Ros - he made it sound as if she were an investment rather than an employee, as if he bought her, but she came as a free woman. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/8 "2012-04-09T07:17:46Z")
Lots of sex in this episode. It’s like they were trying to meet their boobies quota for the entire season. It was fun seeing Theon Greyjoy get put in his place by his dad. Even the icky brother/sister groping was worth it for the look on his face when he found out who she was. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/9 "2012-04-09T12:22:09Z")
There was a running theme of gender roles throughout the episode. In the dark ages being a man is awesome and being a woman is awful. So that’s the reason for part of the sex. The rest was just gratuitous, par for the course for GoT. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/10 "2012-04-09T13:44:08Z")
Well, I’m enjoying Season 2 a lot more that Season 1, but damn if I can figure out who everyone is. And did they change the opening to show more kingdoms? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/11 "2012-04-09T13:47:20Z")
They change the opening every time there is a new location, like Dragonstone and Pyke. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/12 "2012-04-09T14:06:16Z")
Melisandra’s monotone is annoying. It doesn’t make her sound mysterious, it makes her sound as if she can’t act. Arya and Gendry sittin’ in a tree. . … I dunno about them as a couple. Seems too trite for GoT. Although it was good to see Theion get his comeuppance, I would have liked to smack the smirk off of his sister’s face. BTW, what was her name? Was it Caster who cracked Jon across the head? And wasn’t it convenient that a baby boy was born on the one night the Nightwatch was crashing Caster’s pad? Last season I loved Dany, this season I am quite sick of her flat performance. How long will it take for all of them to die of hunger and thirst in the desert? That storyline needs to either pick up or end. Tyrion and Cersei sure know how to hurt each other, huh? They should replace all of the dying in the desert scenes with scenes of those two drawing psychic blood from each other. I can’t beleive I’m saying it, but I missed Sansa. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/13 "2012-04-09T14:48:08Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > They change the opening every time there is a new location, like Dragonstone and Pyke. OK, so those were just new this Episode? Are they both one of the 7 kingdoms, or just a “new location”? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/14 "2012-04-09T14:59:45Z")
Dragonstone was in the last episode, I’m assuming that’s where Stannis is. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/15 "2012-04-09T15:03:01Z")
Dragonstone was there on the last episode, that’s where Stannis is. They are both new locations in other parts of the seven kingdoms. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/16 "2012-04-09T16:34:44Z")
Its interesting to note that when a political discussion is going on, the first one to resort to an emotional argument loses. When Cersi realizes she’s losing in the political battle with Tyrion, she immediately resorts to the “Well, you killed our mom!” argument. She knows she lost. She’s now more dangerous than ever. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/17 "2012-04-09T16:52:41Z")
> [@Noelq](#): > > Its interesting to note that when a political discussion is going on, the first one to resort to an emotional argument loses. > > When Cersi realizes she’s losing in the political battle with Tyrion, she immediately resorts to the “Well, you killed our mom!” argument. > > She knows she lost. She’s now more dangerous than ever. That wasn’t in response to a political point, it was in response to Tyrion going “hey, how does Jaime’s cock taste?” ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/18 "2012-04-09T17:21:29Z")
Still a great show, but I worried that there is just so much to cover now, that the plot is starting to slow. I feel like a lot was going in this episode, but nothing really happened. A couple people picked sides and changed positions, but that was about it. I don’t think we even saw Winterfell or what Robb’s army was up to. Also, did anyone else let out an audible “Ewww…” when they revealed that woman was Theon’s sister? For some reason, that grossed me out way more than any of the Lannister’s business. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/19 "2012-04-09T17:23:26Z")
The early bits of the season are for establishing the world, introducing new characters, and setting up the pieces. No doubt the second half of the season will be much more active and busy. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161/20 "2012-04-09T17:28:47Z")
I think the first two episodes of season one were pretty slow too, but it picked right up. I’m not too worried. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-2-02-the-night-lands-4-8-12-no-book-spoilers/618161.md?page=2)