Kaka

The first episode of season 3 is too lukewarm, it opens up almost no new stories and there are hardly new characters. We have a solid base for the next episodes, hopefully they will be more dramatic than this one, some slight hints are there.

A traditionally well-prepared McConaughey, giving his usual 100 percent to his role. Otherwise, however, this is a rather uninteresting film inspired by a true story, which follows in the footsteps of American Hustle in its retro style, but lacking vivacity and passion. Other than a couple of emotionally accomplished situations, it’s a real borefest.

More fleshed out than the first season, with a handful of new characters. It has its pros and cons. The first season had more pace and was more dynamic. The second season, especially in the middle episodes, has a lot of dialogue filler and the pieces on the chessboard move very sporadically, if at all. Nevertheless, the new nations are fine, they will certainly speak in an important way to the events in future episodes. And finally, at the end of the season, we get to see a proper battle, which we have been waiting for since the beginning of the saga.

Basically, just a teaser for the next season. Things move as expected, without anything important taking place. Except perhaps for the last shots, which lack originality and inventiveness, but why not, If done well they could be interesting in season 3.

The best episode of the series so far, hands down. The gripping battle of Kings Landing is not as pompous and clear as the battle scenes in famous films like Gladiator or the Lord of The Rings trilogy. But it does not lack drive, an excellent wartime atmosphere and many unexpected twists and turns in the course of the action.

An episode in which events move forward on the chessboard only very slowly, most of them even standing still. The calm before the storm and the preparation, I sincerely hope, for the final battle of Kings Landing – will it be uncut?

Jaime Lannister is the highlight of this episode, his character is so colourful, layered and unpredictable. The scenes in the north behind the wall are a question mark, and remain the most ambiguous. In contrast, in the south everything is becoming clear. Another excellent duo with great chemistry between Arya and Tywin Lannister. Charles Dance is terrific.

Starring Theon, who has transformed himself into an exemplarily colourful villain whose cruelty is perhaps exceeded only by King Joffrey. The scenes behind the wall are bland, without anything important happening. Probably a surprise for the coming season. The scenes in Qarth have so far been rather haphazard.

A typically cold corporate drama of high politics and lobbying. Unfortunately, it's filmed in a rather myopic and typically "cinematic" way, with a finale that doesn't correspond with the relatively realistic first half and the slightly tedious but still bearable second half. It is partly saved by Jessica Chastain, who, perhaps for the first time in her career, plays both a leading role and a villain, and enjoys it to the fullest. John Madden wants to build on the success of the likes of Michael Clayton, but on closer inspection you will find that there is no sophistication here. At least just average thanks to the main character's verbal wizardry.

A story gravy with one very important scene. But I still can't shake the impression that this season has been very inconsistent and fragmented so far. Let’s see what the second half brings.