Game of Thrones (season 2)

The second season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered in the United States on HBO on April 1, 2012, and concluded on June 3, 2012. It was broadcast on Sunday at 9:00 pm in the United States, consisting of 10 episodes, each running approximately 50–60 minutes. The season mostly covers the events of A Clash of Kings, the second novel of the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. HBO ordered the second season on April 19, 2011, which began filming in July 2011, primarily in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Croatia and Iceland. The story takes place in a fictional world, primarily on a continent called Westeros, with one storyline occurring on another continent to the east, Essos. Like the novel, the season follows up the dramatic death of Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark, with all of the Starks being separated across Westeros. Season two mainly centers around the War of the Five Kings, fought among the leaders of Westerosi factions who are either staking a claim to the Iron Throne, or seeking independence from it. King Robert's widow, Cersei, stays in the capital as queen regent; her twin brother Jaime is Robb Stark's prisoner, and her other brother, the dwarf Tyrion, acts as King Joffrey's Hand, until the siblings' father, Tywin Lannister, returns to help defend the capital. Meanwhile, in Essos, with three newborn dragons by her side, Daenerys Targaryen works with religious certitude to find allies and resources to help her to fulfill her perceived destiny to win the Iron Throne. The season ends beyond the northern Wall, with the first glimpse of the army of the dead. Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast, including Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Michelle Fairley and Emilia Clarke. The season introduced a number of new cast members, including Stephen Dillane, Natalie Dormer, Carice van Houten and Liam Cunningham.