Ep 2. The Kingsroad

As far as episode two of the first season of “Game of Thrones” goes, “The Kingsroad” picks up exactly where the show’s premiere, “Winter is Coming,” left off. The title of the episode refers to the treacherous route that leads from Winterfell to King’s Landing, the latter of which is the desired destination of Ned Stark (Sean Bean), as the newly-appointed Hand of the King, and his daughters Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Arya (Maisie Williams).

In the opening moments of the episode, we find Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright), who was pushed from a tower at the end of the previous episode, fighting for his life, and Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) vowing revenge for her son’s would-be killer. Meanwhile, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) sets out on his own journey, leaving his beloved Winterfell behind and heading for the Wall with other members of the Night’s Watch.

On the Kingsroad, Arya proves to be an adept fighter, while Sansa dreads the prospect of leaving her home for what she views as a fairytale life as queen in King’s Landing. Also accompanying the group is Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), who has been accused of the crime Bran was pushed for and has been arrested by Catelyn. His scenes with Jon Snow and Bran are some of the episode’s best and most revealing.

Back in King’s Landing, we get a better sense of the cruelty of the Lannister siblings, who now hold the reins of power since the death of the previous Hand of the King. We also get to meet King Robert Baratheon’s (Mark Addy) siblings, Renly (Gethin Anthony) and Stannis (Stephen Dillane), who are important characters in their own right, and Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance), the patriarch of the family and one of the show’s most memorable characters.

There are several standout moments in this episode, such as Ned taking time to teach Bran the importance of carrying out his own judgments and an intimate conversation between Jon and Tyrion about the harsh realities of life that Jon is about to face. The series’ ongoing themes of loyalty, duty, and honor continue to be explored in nuanced and thoughtful ways, and the tension between the different factions vying for power continues to ratchet up.

Overall, “The Kingsroad” is a strong follow-up to the previous episode, and it sets the stage for many of the conflicts and storylines that will define the remainder of the show’s run. The episode also does a great job of introducing some of the series’ most important characters, giving audiences a more complete picture of the various political and familial relationships that will come to define the world of Westeros.