The third season of the fantasy drama television series contains the usual 10 episodes which follows through the defeat of Stannis Baratheon, Jamies attempt to return home and the continuous fight for the throne.
Hinds' performance underscores one of the continuing remarkable achievements of Thrones. Even though it has dozens of characters bundled in the same nondescript robes or skins, particularly for the winter scenes, it keeps them remarkably well sorted out.
For season three, there was no other way to end. After The Red Wedding, an event so monumentally brutal that it instantly became one of the cornerstones of this show's very legacy, the only way to go would be softer, quieter, warmer.
Game of Thrones gives us much to ruminate on regarding power, honor, and family. But it also reminds us that whether one is rich or poor, man or woman, honorable or evil, in Westeros life ain't fair.
Unfolding with the confidence that befits a series just entering in its prime, Game of Thrones successfully juggled its sizeable cast and plethora of ongoing storylines, packing multiple "Wow" moments into every episode.
Despite the sense of going over much familiar ground, the season ends powerfully, its penultimate episode being the strongest single hour in its run so far.
I'm happy to report Sunday's premiere is outstanding, a globe-spinning, breast-baring, bug-stabbing blast that nimbly reminds us where we've been while hinting at big things to come.
Just as HBO blew open the western genre with Deadwood and the crime drama with The Wire, the channel, with Martin and executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, expands the potential of fantasy with Game of Thrones.
"Game of Thrones: Season 3″ is the most challenging and the most rewarding of the seasons so far, and the Blu-ray/DVD combo available now does it justice.
