Fans AreThrilled By The Return Of Season 2 Of Game Of Thrones To HBO

"Game of Thrones", the HBO miniseries which has set a new standard by which all other epic series will now be measured, thrills its many fans by returning for its long-awaited second season on Sunday, April 1, at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on HBO East and HBO Latino East (with Spanish subtitles); followed by airings on HBO West and Latino West at 9 p.m. Pacific Time. All four channels repeat the episode immediately multiple viewings back to back.

When we last saw the people of Westeros, King Robert Baratheon had been killed. Ned Stark had lost his head, leaving his surviving daughters in their own personal forms of Hell. Joffrey Baratheon sits on the throne, but it his mother Queen Cersei, aided by her advisor Littlefinger, who is truly in control. Starks’ oldest son Robb has captured Jamie Lannister during a surprise attack and hopes to use him to free his sisters.

Dothraki ruler Khal Drogo has died of an infection, and his devoted widow Daenerys Targaryen ends the first season by walking into the flames of his funeral pyre along with her priceless dragon eggs. We are left with the stunning scene of Daenerys having survived the fire unharmed, holding three newly hatched dragons.

Fans are thrilled by the return of Season 2 of Game of Thrones to HBO this Sunday, April 1. Game of Thrones” is based on the beloved series of novels A Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin. The plot of Season 2 follows for the most part the second novel in the series, A Clash of Kings. If you have read the books, you will notice some characters actually come from the first novel where the series gets its name. There are also details from the third novel, A Storm of Swords, brought forward into Season 2, mainly to increase the role of Jamie Lannister.

More than two dozen new characters will be introduced this year including Stannis Baratheon; oldest brother of the late King Robert; Mellisandre, an eastern priestess and advisor to Stannis Baratheon; Sir Davos Seaworth, also allied to House Baratheon; and Brienne, a female warrior allied with King Renly Baratheon.

"Game of Thrones” Season 2 was filmed in Ireland, Croatia, Malta, and Iceland from late July through early December 2011. The lavish production sets a whole new standard for the miniseries on television. It is essentially a ten-hour long feature film, the equivalent of producing the entire “Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy every single year. The cast and crew are shooting an extremely complex story on location in less than comfortable circumstances. The costumers, artists, designers, set-builders, and every other artisan involved leave no detail out, bring the richly imagined world Martin created in his books to life for the lucky viewers.

Fair warning: this is NOT a series for young children, and parents should preview the series before allowing teens to watch. “Game of Thrones” would earn a strong R-rating if it were a theatrical film due to the violence, sex, nudity and profanity. Children and animals are hurt on screen, and there are monsters that will lurk under the beds and in the closets of younger kids. For adults who relish the delicious evil of it, it’s mature entertainment at its best.