Last week’s opener tried to give us an overview of the whole Game of Thrones canvas by featuring every major character, while The Night Lands benefits from concentrating on fewer groups, in more detail.

First and foremost is the character most absent from the premiere, as we follow Arya as she travels north with Yoren and all those that he’s recruited for the Night’s Watch. It’s not long before the King’s Gold Cloaks catch up with them, but it’s not Arya they’re after (and Yoren proves himself their equal regardless).

Joe Dempsie, better known over here as Chris from Skins, is a lively addition to the cast as King Robert’s bastard son Gendry (though he doesn’t seem aware of his lineage), and his easy rapport with Arya is a joy to watch. It’s also great to see Arya interacting more innocently with Hot Pie and Lommy, the other kids in the party.

Sometimes it’s nice to remember that kids can be kids in this world, and their playground banter is a refreshing break from ominous talk of war.

Elsewhere, we get to know new face Davos a little better, as he attempts to hire notorious and flamboyant pirate Salladhor Saan to Stannis’ cause. Salladhor is needed for his ships, but he’s also a long-time friend of Davos, and their interactions help to colour in the somewhat sullen smuggler with a few more shades, while Lucian Msamati’s vibrant and funny turn seems sure to light up the rather drab surroundings of Dragonstone.

Theon Greyjoy, meanwhile, is not a new face, but he has been given a much meatier role this season. Returning home to the Iron Islands (another new location for the credits, and perhaps the most imposing CGI location the show has conjured yet), Theon is not given quite the hero’s welcome he expected.

Having been held as a guest/prisoner by the Starks for ten years, his people don’t know him, and his family are not who he remembers. Alfie Allen plays the cocksure Theon wonderfully, with just the right hint of smarm and slime, but also manages to get us to sympathise with him when his dad Balon – a man as cold as the name “Greyjoy” suggests – shoots him down and his sister Yara – in one of the series best introductions yet – lets him dig himself a deep and uncomfortable hole by allowing him to continue his amorous advances towards her, without revealing her identity.

With the Iron Islands being introduced, the locations are starting to pile up now, but in this instance Theon is present to anchor us in what we know, and good casting for both Yara and Balon should help viewers engage with this new part of the world.

One of the main themes of this episode seems to be family members not getting what they expect of each other. Not only is Theon’s triumphant return quashed almost immediately, but Davos finds himself at odds with his son Matthos over Stannis’ newly adopted Red God, while Tyrion – one man who might actually be able to do some good in Kings Landing – finds himself unappreciated by sister Cersei, and slyly threatened by sneaky Varys.

Conleth Hill and Peter Dinklage have such great chemistry together that any scene where these two fiercely intelligent men are circling each other like cats waiting to pounce is a real treat.

Elsewhere, Dany continues to languish in the Red Waste in Season 2’s most under-developed aspect thus far, while Samwell finds a bit of courage up north of The Wall and tries to rescue one of Craster’s daughters, Gilly (Hannah Murray – another Skins refugee), only to be shot down by Jon, who, presumably with Commander Mormont’s wrath in mind, is intent on following the rules and staying out of trouble.

Of course, Craster is plainly up to no good, and Jon can’t resist following him into the woods at night to see just what it is he’s doing with those sons of his.

The Night Lands is another great episode, and one that benefits from letting a few characters breathe.

If the plot doesn’t strictly move forward as such, it’s only because the characters are preparing themselves for what’s to come, and seeing how each faction is approaching the oncoming war is plot in and of itself. And as all the forces gather and build, it’s only a matter of time before they come together and blood is spilled.

Aired at 9pm on Monday 9th April 2012 on Sky Atlantic.

> Buy the Season 1 boxset on Amazon.

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