WELCOMETOLEVEL: "WAR IS COMING": 'GAME OF THRONES' SEASON TWO

There can be only one! A Clash of Kings begins. Images: HBO.

NOTE: this feature contains Seasons One and Two spoilers.

That horrific and malicious little blond snot with the love of beheading honest men and degrading teenage puppy lovesters, King Joffrey Baratheon (as played by the sneeringly enjoyable presence of Jack Gleeson), may have his bonce currently parked on the mighty iron sword throne of Westeros, seeing in a new wave of cruel tyranny that even his own shocked mother, Queen Cersei (Lena Headey), could never have predicted, but how long will the boy's greedy reign ultimately last before his enemies from within and without make their final play to remove him from it? The noble Stark family of Winterfell, still in grief and thirsting for revenge over the loss of father/matriarch Eddard (Sean Bean) are gaining ground in their unleashed civil war (though such plans are also hampered by fierce family in-fighting), whilst the late King Barathoen's brothers also make their bid: young Renly (Gethin Anthony) and the older Stannis (Stephen Dillane), the latter taking swift retaliatory action from his island of Dragonstone to claim the succession, beginning the long and arduous sea journey to King's Landing. And then there's the exiled Daenerys (Emilia Carke) of House Targaryen, no longer the used and abused sister to Viserys, her rise to individual greatness seemingly short-lived with the unexpected death of her new husband and Dothraki warlord lover, Khal Drogo, but now back from the brink, her inner fire and determination renewed with the birth of two no longer extinct dragons, whose arrival in the saga and allegiance to her dynasty could swing the balance of power and ultimate destiny in her favour. And let's not forget Joffrey's own Lannister family, either, as the manipulative but decent Tyrion (brilliantly played by Peter Dinklage) is dispatched by his father Tywin (a suitably cold performance from Charles Dance) to rein in the boys violent excesses and keep a firm eye on diplomatic decisions-will this be the break that Tyrion needs in order to seize the throne for himself and rule more benignly for the family line?

Little monster! Prince Joffrey (Jack Gleeson).

Picking up the pieces: Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke).

Northern warrior. Jon Snow (Kit Harington) begins a vital expedition.

A boy's life. The fugitive Arya (Maisie Williams) has to keep her disguise.

Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) has new responsibilities to House Lannister in the new series.

As cometary signs and portents in the sky soon appear, such decisions and alliances, such emotion, such violent actions to come from these warring families will add further layers of history and grave complications for all the unique peoples and kingdoms of Westeros, but an even greater and seemingly forgotten danger looms on the horizon that could could engulf them all, as the heroic bastard son of Eddard Stark, Jon Snow (played with honour and vulnerability by Kit Harington), joins a brave expeditionary force of the Night's Watch protectors of the kingdom's north wall to discover more about the eerie and savage return of the legendary and terrifying beings known as the White Walkers. Just what horrific and potentially unnerving discoveries will be uncovered in the bloodied snow wastelands beyond?

New characters Melisandre (Carice van Houten) the priestess and Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane).

Liam Cunningham as knight and smuggler Davos Seaworth.

Natalie Dormer as the scheming Margaery Tyrell.

Gwendoline Christie as skilled knight Brienne of Tarth.

After such an incredible and pulse pounding finale to Season One, the second thrilling year of GAME OF THRONES, A CLASH OF KINGS, arrives on UK TV screens on the SKY ATLANTIC HD channel from April 2nd, and launches our character chess pieces once more across the fantasy environment board that is Westeros, in what is surely one of the most anticipated television events of the year, as complex new plotlines and new characters add to the already impressive mix of sex, skulduggery and swordplay brought to life by HBO from the equally mesmerising imagination and penmanship of George R. R. Martin, in a gritty but relatable story of wonder and brutality that has captured the imaginations of world television audiences beyond its printed novel reality. Though there are two less episodes this time around in the ten-part adaptation of the saga's second book, the huge production, with its War of Five Kings plot, shows no sign of being diminished in either scale or presentation, of which its creator remains firmly and happily involved in core creative decisions linked to its realisation. An epic episode showcasing the all-important Battle of the Blackwater has been promised, along with more of those cute put powerful dragons and the direwolves, too, and extensive location filming in Iceland representing the mysterious arctic realms beyond the wall...

Despite the pressures of living up to what would ultimately become such a successful premiere year, Season Two of GAME OF THRONES looks set to build and improve on its already addictive story-telling in ways that other TV shows can only dream of, retaining its own unique crown as both the landmark series of the last ten years and one of the biggest projects ever initiated for the medium and genre.

Check out KOOL TV's other features on the series here:

KOOL TV REVIEW: 'GAME OF THRONES': THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR. "GAME OF THRONES" RETURNS...
KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: "THE TUDORS" NATALIE DORMER
FAMILY FORTUNES! "GAME OF THRONES" SEASON ONE OVERVIEW