My schedule has been insane lately, so I missed sharing my thoughts on the first two episodes of the second season of the cruelest show on television (and I say that with absolutely sincere admiration). I missed write ups on the first two outstanding episodes entirely. I’ll try to be better going forward, but since it’s Thursday night already I’m not going to wager heavily on it.

So what was great? Tyrion, of course. Peter Dinklage owns this role with such force and charisma that it brings a smile to my face every time he’s on screen. His Machiavellian maneuvering of the Small Council to ferret out Cersei’s rat was brilliantly shot and edited and showed that Tyrion is smart and cunning and knows how to play the Game of Thrones far better than poor dead Ned Stark.

Cersei’s dinner with her children and Sansa was a reminder of how casually cruel she can be, and how much she relishes her petty displays of power. The smirk on her face when she forces Sansa to admit she would still be a good member of the family if and when Joffrey kills Sansa’s brother Robb was that of a true sociopath.

But turnabout is fair play, as Cersei learns the hard way when Tyrion tells her that her daughter Myrcella would be married off to the the Martells to cement their loyalty to Joffrey’s throne. Her violent tantrum and refusal to allow it was perfectly countered by Tyrion’s cool demeanor as he informed her that the deed was already done. Cersei was more than likely tormented by the thought of the Martells being as cruel to Myrcella as she’d been to Sansa. (At least I hope she was!)

The introduction of Brienne was very well done. They found a great actress for the role. I found her chararacter to be trying in the books, especially as her story wears on, but at the start I recall being a bit more fond of her.

This was a Stannis and Danaerys free episode this week, which I think is a good thing. Not that they were missing, but that they’re not trying to cram every character into every episode. With as many characters as the show has, it’s counterproductive to try to fit everyone in each week.