Revisit the machinations that have led Westeros to the breaking point.

Catch a sneak peek at footage from the action-packed “Blackwater,” airing  May 27.

Theon brought a boat full of murderers to raid the house he grew up in and then roasted two boys to decorate the place. Robb is coming dangerously close to a truce-breaking game of doctor with Talisa, the Volantene foot-cutter, while his bastard brother Jon gets endlessly dirty-talked by a ginger wildling. Even Arya, who’s about as trusty a moral compass as you’re going to find in this story, is having supper with her family’s archenemy while dropping bodies all over Harrenhal. Joffrey had better maim someone next week, or he’s going to start losing street cred.

The ladies seem to be doing a slightly better job of playing their positions, however. Cersei even gives some useful (yet dismal) womanly advice during her hostage’s “Are You There Gods, It’s Me, Sansa” moment: “Never love anyone.”  It doesn’t get much more results-oriented than that. Also, across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys finally gets a step closer to finding her dragons – and only a dozen people have to die in the process.

Who do you think has the right idea – Theon with his soul-killing, broad strokes of death, or Arya who at least cherry-picks the people who deserve it?

Swinging swords were featured heavily this week. Theon Greyjoy—who up to this point seemed to be a conflicted, but otherwise good guy—crossed firmly over into the dark side when he took Ser Rodrik Cassel's life. Theon being Theon, though, made a mess of it, swinging his sword repeatedly to get Ser Rodrik's head off, while the Stark boys screamed in horror.

Further north, Jon Snow tried to exact the same punishment on a captured wildling, but Ygritte being Ygritte, which is to say a cute and charming wildling girl, Jon was unable to connect his sword to her neck. This man of the Watch was forced to make camp in the cold (since fires would attract the attention of wildlings) with only Ygritte to provide warmth. In the Westerlands, Robb Stark was swinging a sword of an entirely different sort. Flirting furiously with Lady Talisa, he made quite the impression on the Volantine doctor until his mother arrived to splash cold water on the whole thing and remind him that he is engaged. Never mind that King Robb has never seen his Frey fiancée—marriage is coming.

King's Landing was not spared a reality check. The residents of the Red Keep travelled to the harbor to see Princess Myrcella off to Dorne, but were caught in a riot on the return home. For King Joffrey, it meant seeing the consequences of his actions: He started the war that is starving his people. Sansa Stark, barely escaping an attempted rape, learned that people don't have to know you to hate you, and the High Septon found out the hard way that it only takes an instant to be torn from limb to limb. (See above for the storyboard of the gruesome scene from HBO GO's Interactive Viewing Experience.)

What lessons did you pick up from Sunday's episode?

Previously, on Game of Thrones…..

As things kick off in Belfast for the start of work on series 3, we’re also getting a chance to see all of the hard work of last season on our screens. For a lot of the crew, the first time they see the show is when you do, but as you watch it brings back memories of all the things that happened along the way. Here’s just a few:

When Theon Greyjoy arrives home, the harbour shots were filmed at Ballintoy Harbour. When he first gets off the boat you can see a house in the background – it’s actually a fishing shed. When they were filming the close up of the dialogue scenes the director, DOP, half the crew and I were crammed inside next to broken lobster traps and musty furniture so we were never in shot. Later, someone who shall remain nameless (because I like my job) used the opportunity of Alfie being filmed to email Kit Harrington love letters from Alfie’s phone.

You know how Craster’s Keep looks dark and miserable and just a bit desperate? It really was. It rained heavily for days and the ground was so churned up by the crew and cast that your feet sank deep into the mud, all the way past your ankles. It was a cramped set too, so you often had to stand in the muddy bits just to be out of the way. We filmed there for several days, by the end we all had he silkiest ankles in all the land. Little secret: one of those baskets outside had a bag of chocolate bars in it.

Some of you who follow the news will know that we had some bad luck – one of our locations was shut down by a hurricane hitting the north coast. That was the day we first shot Catelyn’s arrival at Renly’s camp, when we meet two of our new, amazing female characters in Brienne and Margery Tyrell. Margery’s outfit didn’t have sleeves to start with – winds strong enough to blow away a marque, and poor Natalie in nothing but her skin. That’s poise.

When we later reshot the entrance it was a much calmer day, Brienne of Tarth still managed some epic ass kicking. First the stunt guys had to fight over and over – there were particular marks to hit and it’s hard to get it right when you are wearing a helmet and are being thrown through the air. All credit to extras – they kept right on cheering for the same fight, from different angles, for hours.

Who read this post about a death? If you guessed Lommy, you get 15 points. I have to say, after all that the blood did look good, but Yoren’s death looked even better. Those of you with keen eyes will also have spotted that a couple of Helen Sloan’s fabulous shots were indeed from the battlefield after Robb’s victory in Ep. 4 and that’s where the “overheard” quotes were from - and yes, we found the director in the end.

The first real shots of North of the Wall after the brothers leave Craster’s were actually the last day of filming. You’d never know, but in the background a massive snowball fight was underway between shots and it was the day after the blizzard when we had to be taken down the convoy. If you’ve seen the excellent behind the scenes video for Iceland, you’ll see how amazing an experience that was for all of us and remains the most fantastic way to end series 2.  

Until next time folks, when I’ll be filling you in on what’s been happening in the last few months while we’ve been away.

Episode 13: "What's Dead May Never Die"

The Starks have been separated for months, and younger ones are still having trouble adjusting. Bran is troubled by dreams in which he sees the world through Summer's eyes. Arya can't forget that her father was beheaded in front of her – and even though she didn't see the act itself, she remembers all the details around it. The two find solace where they can: Bran's comes from Maester Luwin who assures him that there's nothing to fear in his dreams; Yoren tells Arya he would go to sleep reciting the names of those he never wanted to forget.

Things aren't going much better for the other Starks – be they older or ersatz. Sansa has a new handmaiden (Tyrion's whore, Shae) but ends up having to teach her how to do her new job. Catelyn loses patience with Renly Baratheon who is only playing at king. Jon Snow is clobbered by Craster for spying on him – and then dressed down from Mormont when that gets the Watch kicked out of Craster's Keep. Theon Greyjoy decides to abandon his Stark upbringing entirely and casts his lot with the Ironborn, going so far as to pledge himself to the Drowned God. 

Arya's situation darkens considerably when Amory Lorch and Lannister forces attack the men of the Watch. Killing Yoren, the Lannister guards take the survivors hostage and march them off to Harrenhal. The only Westerosi who experiences an even worse run of luck is Grand Maester Pycelle. Exposed as a spy for the Queen Regent, Pycelle is promptly condemned to the Black Cells -- presumably where conjugal visits are not allowed.

Episode 14: "Garden of Bones"

In case there was any confusion, Joffrey Baratheon is not a nice boy. Not to his fiancée, his mother, or even to two random whores procured for his pleasure. In fact, the only time Joffrey feels pleasure is when someone is smacking someone else around, as recently evidenced by his desire to see Ros (Littlefinger's best whore) brutally beat Daisy (Littlefinger's newest whore) with his scepter.

Far East, Daenerys Targaryen approaches the gates of Qarth and begs for entrance. The city's wise men, known as the Thirteen, turn their backs when she refuses to show her dragons. One man interjects, Xaro Xhoan Daxos, and it's on his word that the remaining members of her khalasar are allowed into the city.

Happily, Robb Stark was raised with better manners. Not only does he reject Roose Bolton's suggestion that they torture their prisoners for intel, he helps a pretty young doctor from Volantis amputate the leg of a wounded Lannister soldier.  At Harrenhal, Arya Stark is getting a different lesson in physiology: Gregor ('The Mountain') Clegane and his pal "Tickler" are strapping prisoners into a chair and interrogating them with help from rats trapped in buckets. Arya is never chosen as a prisoner, but upon arrival, Tywin Lannister taps her as his new cup-bearer.

After accepting her husband's bones from Littlefinger, Catelyn Stark tries to mediate the animosity between the Baratheon brothers. Neither side yields, forcing Stannis to switch to Plan B: Magic. He enlists Davos Seaworth to smuggle Melisandre ashore. After doing so, the former pirate is astonished to watch the priestess give birth to a shadowy creature.

Episode 15: "The Ghost of Harrenhal"

Oh Renly, we hardly knew ye. The King in Highgarden's short reign came to an inglorious end when the shadow his brother sent – and Melisandre birthed – entered his tent and stabbed him. Things then got tricky for Brienne of Tarth and Catelyn Stark, witnesses to the mystical assassination. Realizing that blaming the execution on a shadow would be a poor defense, the two are now on the run. As planned, most of Renly's forces defect to Team Stannis, but not the Tyrells. Loras, hot for revenge, suspects his lover's brother. Margaery spends more time grieving for the throne she’ll never grace. 

Naked ambition hasn't been limited to the Stormlands. Meeting up with their scout, Qhorin Halfhan at the Fist of the First Men, the Night's Watch learns Mance Rayder is gathering every wildling alive to march south. Jon immediately decides he'd rather join Qhorin's mission than play butler. (Watch the video below to better understand why.) Off Pyke, Theon Greyjoy takes command of his first ship ... and some advice from his first mate: take Torrhen's Square and Winterfell will be completely vulnerable.

The only person playing nice is Jaqen H'ghar. Grateful that Arya saved him and two others from a fiery end, he tells her that they need to give the Red God three lives to make things square. Ever dutiful, Arya names the Tickler as her first request.

Would Renly have been a good king? I guess we'll never know.

Sunday's episode of 'Game of Thrones' might as well have been dedicated to the Father of the Faith of the Seven. The prevailing focus of the night was very much the show's paternal figures. Theon Greyjoy makes it back home to Pyke after nearly a decade away, but the only living son of Balon Greyjoy is rejected by his father for having gone soft (and humiliated by his sister for not realizing who she is when he puts the moves on her). But at least Theon has a dad: On the Kingsroad, Arya Stark’s only way to feel close to Ned is reminiscing with Gendry about the time he was interrogated by the Hand of the King. And far, far to the north, Jon Snow is still getting the cold shoulder from his stand-in father figure Lord Commander Mormont for mouthing off in front of Craster, who’s officially the worst dad in Westeros. Jon makes the bad situation even worse by trying to investigate what happens to Craster's sons, and gets clubbed on the head for his troubles.

Even those without children had their heartstrings tugged. Littlefinger tries to comfort Ros as she mourns for baby Barra – by reminding her she is an investment that can be recouped in any number of perverse ways. Over on Dragonstone, Stannis Baratheon falls for the oldest line in the book when his in-house religious advisor/ ginger priestess drops her robe and promises him a son. As if having forsaken his own faith isn't enough, Stannis has now completely surrendered himself to the Lord of Light.

Of the Seven, the Father represents justice. Here's hoping that's still around the corner for this motley group.

It seems, in fact, that Tyrion might be the only person in all of Westeros who’s on an upswing. He at least makes his triumphant return to King’s Landing, which series creator D.B. Weiss discusses in HBO GO’s Interactive Viewing Experience. The dwarf was sent by his father with the job of preventing any more improvisational beheadings, but as David Sims points out on AVClub.com, Tyrion may want to leave the ending sequence of “The North Remembers” off his resume.

Over at Televisionary.com, Lace Jacobs observes that this episode is all about the nature of power and where it resides – whether in “The knowledge of a wise man? The sword of a warrior? The magnanimity of a king?” For now, at least, the answer is frighteningly simple: All over the freakin’ place.

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss go Inside the Episode:

The season premiere of GOT introduces plenty of new faces, and even the familiar characters from Season 1 have gone through a lot of changes (or met the end of a sword).  So for the second season, the Game of Thrones Viewer’s Guide has re-launched. And in addition to providing new character bios and family trees, it features a full map of Essos, a Season 1 catch-up guide, and map enhancements that fold the events of Season 2 onto the landscape of Westeros. Check out the Viewer’s Guide now!

'Thrones' fans with iPads should get their swiping fingers ready. Along with the premiere of Season 2 comes the launch of HBO GO's Interactive Features for the iPad. That means extra, in-story content such as cast and crew commentaries, info alerts about the scenes and characters, not to mention media galleries for a closer look at props, costumes or storylines. A guide to the major houses and a map of the continents of Westeros and Essos will also keep you immersed.

Here's how Interactive Features lets you dive deeper into the burning of the Seven at Dragonstone:

Click the photo above to view the slideshow on HBO.com