Ep 2. The Night Lands

In Game of Thrones Season 2 Episode 2 "The Night Lands," we see a continuation of the various factions in the show positioning themselves for the upcoming war for the Iron Throne. The episode opens with Jon Snow, Samwell Tarly, and other Night's Watch members surveying the aftermath of a brutal attack by the White Walkers that left several members of their group dead. Jon and Sam decide to sneak off from the main group to investigate a strange noise in the woods, where they come across a group of wildlings and a White Walker. They barely escape with their lives and make it back to the Night's Watch camp.

Elsewhere in the episode, we see the continued struggles of the Baratheon brothers as they both try to rally support for their claim to the throne. Stannis has enlisted the help of the powerful and mysterious Red Priestess, Melisandre, who claims to have magical abilities that will help him win the war. His younger brother, Renly, meanwhile, has teamed up with the powerful House Tyrell and is attempting to raise an army to take King's Landing.

We also see the continued struggles of the Stark family, with Robb Stark lamenting the loss of some of his bannermen to the Lannisters and his mother, Catelyn, attempting to broker an alliance with House Baratheon. Meanwhile, Arya Stark is still traveling incognito as she attempts to make her way north to join the Night's Watch.

Finally, we see the continued adventures of Daenerys Targaryen and her small band of followers as they attempt to cross the treacherous Red Waste. They encounter a group of traders who try to swindle them out of their remaining possessions, but Daenerys manages to outsmart them and come away with much needed supplies. We also see the introduction of a new character, Pyat Pree, a powerful warlock who claims to have information that will help Daenerys reclaim the Iron Throne.

Overall, "The Night Lands" is a strong follow-up to the season premiere, setting up the various character arcs and conflicts that will drive the plot of the season. The introduction of new characters and the continued development of existing ones keeps the story fresh and interesting, while the stunning visuals and top-notch acting continue to make Game of Thrones one of the most compelling shows on television.