CELEBRATING THE TRIUMPHS OF 'GAME OF THRONES' SEASON TWO

The terrifying visage of a zombie-fied White Walker brings Season Two of GAME OF THRONES to a memorable and gripping close. Images: HBO.

NOTE: THIS FEATURE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

I can only use so many superlatives to describe how much I loved, and became further addicted to, the second ten episode season of HBO's GAME OF THRONES, and particularly relishing how it maintained its quality, drama and star power in matching, sometimes surpassing, what had been an exemplary prior first season. A CLASH OF KINGS, based on the illustrious and iconic work of George R. R. Martin, had pretty much everything you could ever want from a great and memorable TV series, and then taken up a notch!

A full review of this evocative and memorable year, as well as 2013's upcoming third adaptation, will appear on the KOOL TV site in the not too distant future. Instead, and as a nice teaser to all that eventual goodness, I'd thought I'd share some of my favourite images/moments from Season Two with you...

Despite the birth of her dragons, things did not go so well for Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and her faithful follower Ser Jorah Moromont (Iain Glen) at the beginning of the season.

Nightmare child! King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) continued his rein of pubescent terror on King's Landing.

Acting as a boy, the fugitive Arya (a superb performance this year from Maisie Williams) and bastard Baratheon child   Gendry (Joe Dempsie) make an effective on-the-road pairing.

The mysterious shape changing assassin Jagen H'ghar (Tom Wlaschiha) made his impressive debut this season.

Carice Van Houten's witch Melisandre provided some creepy moments, too!

Warrior woman Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) was a brilliant new addition to the series, especially as escort to Stark family prisoner Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau).

Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) betrays the Stark family and takes Winterfell, deserving all that will hopefully come to him!

A sad but noble end for Maester Luwin (Donald Sumpter).

Trouble for Daenerys in the city of Qarth when she meets the warlock Pyat Pree (Ian Hanmore).

The Battle of Blackwater gets off to a spectacular start...

...and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) shows true bravery despite terrible injuries.

Daenerys and her now fire breathing Dragons prove triumphant!

Out in the wilds of the North, our Night's Watch heroes (including Ben Compton and John Bradley) face new dangers. 

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) meets the infuriating Wildling, Ygritte (Rose Leslie). 

GAME OF THRONES Season One is available on DVD and Blu-ray (but get it fast, before the cut versions, minus the behind the scenes decapitated George Bush head in-joke that ultimately went badly wrong for HBO, replace the originals!).