2012 was quite an eventful year for Game of Thrones and its fans. We’ve rounded up some of the highlights from this past year in Thrones news to celebrate the new year. I bet you forgot about at least a few of these stories.
January
This is no April Fools joke: Season two to debut on April 1 – Jan 13
Dinklage adds to his earlier Emmy win, wins a Golden Globe – Jan 15
Game of Thrones passes Boardwalk Empire to become 2nd-most watched show on HBO, 3rd-most watched in HBO history – Jan 30
February
Season 2 “Shadow” teaser sets the record as most watched HBO promo ever – Feb 1
The cast shows up in their red carpet finest for the DVD launch party – Feb 29
March
The Simpsons spoof the Game of Thrones opening credits – Mar 5
Thrones lands on the cover of Entertainment Weekly – Mar 14
Game of Thrones has the highest first week DVD sales in HBO history – Mar 15
Game of Thrones on the cover of TV Guide – Mar 27
April
GoT Day: Winter live tweets the S1 finale on HBO2, Season two debuts! – Apr 1
Game of Thrones wins a Peabody Award – Apr 4
HBO renews Thrones for a third season! – Apr 10
May
The casting search for season three begins – May 2
Bryan Cogman leaves Twitter – May 22
A partial list of the new characters appearing in S3 is revealed – May 29
June
Neil Marshall reveals nudity is encouraged by one of the exec. producers – Jun 1
Season two finale tops 4 million viewers, sets series high – Jun 4
HBO pulls S1 finale from On Demand and HBO Go after media goes bonkers over prop Bush head – Jun 15
July
Filming of season three begins – Jul 9
A boatload of season 3 castings announced at SDCC – Jul 13
Season three premiere set for March 31, 2013 – Jul 13
Thrones garners 14 Emmy nominations – Jul 19
WiCnet breaks the news that Iwan Rheon has joined the cast of Thrones – Jul 27
August
Dominic West reveals he turned down the role of Mance Rayder – Aug 3
Noah Taylor and Burn Gorman rumored to have been cast – Aug 8
Ciarán Hinds cast as Mance – Aug 17
Daario and Grey Worm cast – Aug 20
September
Game of Thrones wins six Emmy awards – Sept 15
October
TitanCon celebrates all things Thrones for the second year in a row – Oct 6
WiCnet announces the list of WiCnet Award winners for season two – Oct 7
Vulture names Thrones fans most devoted fanbase – Oct 17
November
Coldplay drummer to cameo in season three – Nov 5
Season three teaser poster revealed – Nov 14
First season three promo airs on HBO – Nov 18
Filming wraps on season three – Nov 24
December
First look at characters like Mance and the Reeds in S3: In Production video – Dec 2
Game of Thrones gets a beer – Dec 17
Thrones most pirated TV show of 2012 – Dec 26
Winter Is Coming: What was your favorite Thrones-related moment this year? What are you hoping for or looking forward to in 2013?
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69 Comments
I think the Iwan Rheon news was the one that I probably got the most excited over. Still so curious to see what they’ll do with that character this season.
Um… first?
anicechiantiQuote Reply
Blackwater ….2nd
Iron BornQuote Reply
2012 was a great year for GOT! Blackwater and Valar Morghulis were my two favourite episodes, but the whole season was fantastic. In many ways, I still think it’s better than Season 1.
My other favourite ‘moment’ was when Ciaran Hinds was cast as Mance Rayder.
Happy New Year everyone!
LexQuote Reply
True blood?????? I must be the only person to think that show is unwatchable..now boardwalk empire makes sense but true blood?? I am baffled
Iron BornQuote Reply
Without a doubt … B. Cog leaves twitter.
dizzyQuote Reply
90 days. 3 months. The countdown is finally seeming more bearable. I can handle 3 months.
NerdQuote Reply
When do we get our next sneak peak into season 3? It would be a good New Years present from HBo
T-GoodQuote Reply
Happy New Year! **Waiting for my guests to arrive** So sorry about GRRM’s American Football teams — Jets and Giants both gone the way of Ned — heads, spikes etc. I hope he doesn’t take it out on Arya or Daenerys. Hey Mr. Martin, take it out on Cersei. If Cersei Lannister was an American Football fan, she’d be a Pat’s fan. Why? Where would you place Cersei anywhere in the United States (if not the world)? There is little question that her temperament bears the closest resemblance to us here in New England. We’ve had three consecutive Speakers of the House convicted (present Speaker excluded). Anyway, my New Year’s resolution is to read as much non-GRRM (albiet inferior) fantasy as possible until my Kindle possesses The Winds of Winter, all the while praying for its release.
Mike ChairQuote Reply
Happy new year all! Just think, three more months til we’re back on air! Wedding time :D
Super DannyQuote Reply
Ha…I was just reading GRRM’s live journal about his disappointments ( football).
I hope he gets in a few moments of clarity with the TWOW writing project,
especially in the coming year. Who knows, the Bantam Spectra publishers
may have a manuscript before the 2015 estimated date :D
In the meantime, I’ve just ordered Terry Goodkind’s Wizard series.
A great new year for all ASOIAF/GoT fans, to each and all, a fantastic beginning !
WildSeedQuote Reply
Iron Born,
Boardwalk Empire will never get high ratings as long as it airs in the same time slot as The Walking Dead and Homeland.
sunspearQuote Reply
WildSeed,
You’re planning to read Terry Goodkind?
Only possible reaction under these circumstances.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Ah memorieeeeeeees…lovely evening to reminisce! Happy New Year fellow Thronies, we shall be viewing Season 3 in no time at all now. Party on!
Mrs. H’gharQuote Reply
Funny reaction to Terry Goodkind, but the books are not as awful as the TV show was. But Goodkind is no GRRM. Just saying. Almost anything by Neal Stephenson would be a better choice IMHO. He has an online reading experience with Mongoliad. I think they may have had it printed out as an actual book by now.
Old_GranQuote Reply
Love the YouTube response, that’s a win :D
Why the reaction to Terry Goodkind ? I finally resigned myself to reading
the remaining novellas located within ” Legends “, and after reading
earlier ” The Hedge Knight “. The short story was pretty good…….so
I thought I’d invest in the remaining series. Wish me luck, I’m not
familiar with Goodkind’s other works.
BTW, I was only responding to Mike Chair’s post about reading , whether
inferior to GRRM or not……..just sayin :D
WildSeedQuote Reply
WildSeed,
Terry Goodkind is infamous. I enjoyed his first couple books, like 15 years ago, but they go rapidly downhill. They’re also a total rip-off of other fantasy series (e.g. Robert Jordan). And finally, his arrogant and condescending attitude towards the fantasy genre in general haven’t done him any favours.
Also, that youtube link is priceless. One of my favourite moments from the Office. :)
LexQuote Reply
2012 favorite moments – watching episodes 1 thru 10 of GoT and rereading Feast for Crows/
Dance with Dragons chronologically per boiled leather. Looking to 2013 to introduce more folks at work to S2 DVDs and major GoT addiction.
Patchy FaceQuote Reply
I’m drunk and just came back home but still wanted to say : been a hell of a year !
Thank you everybody and 31th of March cant come soon enough !
ArkashQuote Reply
Lex,
LOL, thanks for the info. I felt similarly ripped off when invested in the Christopher
Paolini books, which many say a rip off of other similar works . Will be time well
spent though, just quick reads and purchased as a set for only $ 15 .
WildSeedQuote Reply
Yes,they are awful,in every possible way,i wanted to bleach my brain after reading the 1st book which i managed to complete,this was years ago.
Why anyone would want to waste time reading these when there are a bunch of much better written SFF series/books out there is beyond me.
JohnQuote Reply
Ah dang, Dominic West involved in thrones.. Definite loss there..
Lord PenroseQuote Reply
Well I guess the Neil Marshall interview was the sauciest, but the most exciting really just has to be that season 3 will exist and will contain the things we’ve heard it will contain.
WatsonQuote Reply
WildSeed,
The books are infamously awful, but on the plus side they do often fall into the ‘so bad they are hilarious’ category. The scenes where the heroine is attacked by an ‘evil chicken’ and the hero is saved by a ‘noble goat’ are particularly impressive.
Their biggest problem is that Goodkind is an Objectivist, and rather than make his arguments through the texts he will instead (frequently) bring the narrative to a screeching halt whilst his main character makes a speech about the evils of socialism, usually lasting for several dozen pages (I believe the record was 70 pages in hardcover), followed by an insane outbreak of ultraviolence. At one point the hero rips out someone’s spine and they are still capable of combat for several seconds afterwards.
In short, they are very bad, but not without entertainment value. There are literally hundreds of fantasy and SF authors whom I’d recommend over Goodkind, though.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Sorry if this is off topic, but I remember reading somewhere on this site that we should be expecting a season 3 trailer around new years. Has anyone else heard anything about that? kind of expected to see it today.
The GreatjonQuote Reply
WildSeed,
Dude seriously cancel your Order. get Malazan instead.
Seriously do what thou willst but know that you have been warned.
Joshua TaylorQuote Reply
Happy New Year everyone!
Favorite moment of GOT 2012: Due to the controversy of canon vs. non-canon debate on s2 all over the internet (yes, I admit I was reading it – my fault to the bone) – my favorite moment was the announcement of the Tullys and Reeds being introduced in S3 in the aftermath of the Blackwater episode (A great episode I should say).
My N-Y resolution to myself : RABBIT: DO NOT REED THE BITCHING, INTERNET FANDOM DRAMA (AND TRAGEDY)- YOU DO NOT NEED IT!!!!!!
The_RabbitQuote Reply
sunspear,
Definitely …my kids watch walking dead we watch homeland but we DVR it to watch boardwalk …. Just tons of dribble between GOT seasons I finished the books so I gotta watch something ….
Iron BornQuote Reply
New Years Resolutions:
- To not sow.
- Don’t insult people that are bigger than me.
(tho I wouldn’t get to insult anyone.)
- Pay the Iron Price.
(tired of getting slapped by Balon.)
- Figure out how to rule over millions when I’ m dead.
- Hire a new cupbearer.
- Look to my sins.
- Keep a closer eye on my dragons.
- Be the tenth.
(winning at battle with fewer than my enemy.)
- Avoid battlefield surgeons.
(even if they are gorgeous Volantene ex-noblewomen.)
- No more smoking.
- No more babies.
- And absolutely no more smoke-babies.
- Bet on the Beauty next melee.
- Ser Gregor, Dunsen, Polliver, Chiswyck, Raff the Sweetling. The Tickler & the Hound. Ser Amory, Ser Ilyn, Ser Meryn, King Joffrey, Queen Cersei.
(Oh, wait…guess we can cut a couple off that list already. Keep charging, Horseface.)
- Learn the difference between “less” and “fewer.”
- Seduce Dornish support.
- See some pretty things, too.
More after the Cowboys annihilate the (& I drink some) Boilermakers
the goatQuote Reply
I”m gonna steer clear of Goodkind, but I’ve been undecided as to whether I should read Erikson or Rothfuss next. The reviews for In the Name of the Wind on Amazon are pretty damn enthusiastic, for Malazan a bit less so, but I trust this community more I think. Tips?
ZackQuote Reply
I think the Television Critics Association awarding Game of Thrones ‘Program of the Year’ was a much bigger deal than any of the emmy nominations or wins
Ser PounceQuote Reply
Zack,
Rothfuss is next on my list. So your good either way I think.
Joshua TaylorQuote Reply
and about a billion times more significant than the GG.
Not that any of them really matter, the tap is flowing.
As the dearly departed Phil Hartman, as Troy McClure, once said, “Who knows what adventures they’ll have between now and the time the show becomes unprofitable.” I think that was around ’96 or so.
the goatQuote Reply
The Greatjon,
I think we can expect a trailer similar to “The Cold Winds are Rising” one on January thirteenth. It’s the premiere of Girls and premieres are also prime for new trailers. This is just a guess because nothing has been confirmed. But we should definitely see one by the end of the month.
After The FeastQuote Reply
Just so I get this, you know nothing?
I keed, I keed, this rings true. 13th at the latest, but I wouldn’t put it past HBO to do a “trailer for the trailer” on ET or Youtube, as has occurred lately.
Days from footage.
“No, don’t, don’t cut my hair, Ned loves my hair.”
the goatQuote Reply
What a great year its been, thank you to everyone at WIC for all the work you’ve done this year to keep us ahead of the curve & happy new year to all the readers of the site
Bro without BannerQuote Reply
the goat,
Look to ur sins Kord Renly! My favourite line of season 2
Tom O’ SevensQuote Reply
Thank you for the link, I read it in earnest :D
I’m enlightened about the author now, and wish I had these insights earlier.
The bookset should arrive tomorrow ( it’s the Wizard series, so no talk of
Socialism, I guess……although I find political philosophies quite interesting
from credible resources ). I’ll give these a perusal, and decide from there.
Wish me luck, I’d sure hope to avoid ” bleaching my brain ” . I’m just looking
for something lightweight to read. I’m a Nerdist, with a penchant towards
Science Fiction, but I spend more time reading Med Journals. Still, I’m a bit
nascent in the fiction arena, so any insights mentioned are appreciated.
Before now, and includes Tolkien and GRRM, I’ve enjoyed mostly Octavia Butler
and Star Trek.
I’ve also ordered a Fae series set, which includes ” Darkfever “. I’ve just
concluded reading Hermann Hesse’s ” Glass Bead Game “, and a bit drained from
watching both a GoT AND Doctor Who marathon(s).
Joshua Taylor , who or what is ” Malazan ” ?
WildSeedQuote Reply
the goat,
All the best, mate :D.
WildSeedQuote Reply
And to you and yours, kind ser :D
WildSeedQuote Reply
the goat,
I never claimed that I “knew” when it was going to be. I merely stated my opinion and I believe that the only people that do know are those who either work for HBO or have direct relations with HBO. And the reason I think it will be by the end of the month is because why would they wait until February to air an official trailer for a show that airs on March 31st? And especially a show as successful as GoT.
After The FeastQuote Reply
This is totally off-topic, but I just have to share this link.
If you are a fan of the classic God games Dungeon Keeper and Dungeon Keeper 2 you will be happy to hear that there will be an re-make called war for the overworld which aims to capture the essence of those two classics.
The project is already founded on kickstarter (PayPal is available as well), but there are very interesting stretch goals including hiring the original voice actor of Dungeon Keeper 2.
Only 43 hours left on Kickstarter!
AbyssQuote Reply
Okay, researched the title and series containing ” Malazan ” . Sounds interesting.
Are these in succession ? Any Timeline issues ? Links of interest ?
WildSeedQuote Reply
WildSeed,
Timeline stays same but it focuses on multiple continents sometimes a whole book devoted to one locus. I would describe it as Band of Brothers meets fantasy with a touch of Homer’s Iliad with influences from Tolkien, Jordan, Brooks and Herbert.
Joshua TaylorQuote Reply
I think that there are many people that enjoy Terry Goodkind. It would be nice to keep the negativity to a minimum or keep your opinions about his style to yourself if you have nothing nice to say.
You just need to be fair, since those of you bashing his writing are the same people that tend to get on the case of the fans who say negative things about GoT.
I am just making an observation and I too dislike Goodkind.
RygarQuote Reply
Eh, I don’t really agree. There are many people who enjoy the Twilight books and the Da Vinci Code too. I, for one, appreciate being warned away from bad writers :) and from the info provided I know Goodkind is not for me where before I had been considering his work.
ZackQuote Reply
Zack,
That really wasn’t the point of my post but I appreciate your polite response. :)
RygarQuote Reply
WildSeed,
Checkout Adam Whitehead’s blog http://thewertzone.blogspot.com/ he has a very good post on the Malazan reading order.
Marty SpinnerQuote Reply
After The Feast,
I was agreeing with you.
Figured using both “Just so” & “you know nothing,” would convey the sentiment.
Well, that, and all those other words after that, which. were. agreeing. with. you.
Eh, could be worse, you could truly believe we live in the eye of a blue giant named Macumba.
“Maybe we do.”
the goatQuote Reply
So I’m probably just before halfway mark of the first volume of aDwD. My question is, what good / bearable fantasy can I read when I’m done with George Martin? How is Robert Jordan’s “The Wheel of Time”?
mags giantsbabeQuote Reply
Zack,
I read both in english… even if my skills are limited as a non-nativ speaker. I loved both… but you can’t compare them. Erikson is difficult to read – because he has too many races, people and locations… and with his new karakas-trilogy it’s even getting more confusion.
I would say: start with rothfuss (even if it isn’t finished yet)… it’s only 2 books. And then go to Eriskon – but don’t put the books to fast away… it can be that you need 2-3 books to love everything.
@ mags giantsbabe
Loved Wheel of Time… but it’s alot to read… and I need to say: Because of the lenght it can get boring in the middle… but the end is excellent – can’t wait for a memory of light. Besides that I can only say: Read Sanderson – great author.
hinka
hinkaQuote Reply
For anyone who likes space opera I recommend Peter Hamilton. Pandora’s Star is as good as science fiction gets
tweedieQuote Reply
In also looking for recommendations – I have a pretty long drive to work each day and have been listening to audiobooks on my drive. I’ve listened to A Song of Ice & Fire twice, as well as the Harry Potter books, and just am finishing up Stieg Larson’s trilogy of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and its sequels. (All the narrators are British, and all excellent.) I’ve also listened to World War Z, A Farewell to Arms and Brave New World in recent months.
Any other suggestions for audiobooks? Preferably fantasy, sci-fi, or mystery/thriller. I’ll probably save my Song of Ice & Fire series until closer to when we get a firm release date for Book 6.
NewJeffCTQuote Reply
hinka,
I will read them in this manner then, and thank you for the advice :)
ZackQuote Reply
I’ve also heard a lot of good things about Jim Butcher and I received some of his novels from The Dresden Files as a gift. So I’ll be reading those at the same time and if there is a place for it I’ll post thoughts when appropriate.
ZackQuote Reply
thanks :D
WildSeedQuote Reply
Thanks Joshua, I like what I’m reading in a synopsis so far, Mazalan series is now
on my list.
WildSeedQuote Reply
Indeed ! Game of Thrones has had a great year , the subject post really outlined
it well and put this in perspective. While the per episode ratings may have varied
for S2, the hard work and production values have been acknowledged by peers
and accolades continue to come from those in primary positions. GoT has
excellent potential to grow and evolve. It was great to have WiC and others, to
record the news and production.
While some may only narrowly focus on the slip ups and flaws, the balance of
respect for the project has succeeded in reaching global popularity. Although
satisfying critics may prove to be an uphill battle, complaints could still come
from unlikely sources even if fans are completely satisfied ( i.e. the San Francisco
Chronicle rated ” the Hobbit ” as questionably bad in a list of worst films made
in 2012, even though readers and attendees gave the film a big thumbs up ).
There will always be measured success when so many factors, including cost,
and adaptations to screen is concerned. GoT continues to move forward, and
maintains to potential to be great with pushing the quality of production bar , a
little higher. Onward to 2013 and Season three !
WildSeedQuote Reply
So a teaser trailer by Jan 13th?
A proper trailer in early Feb?
Episode names revealed through out Feb?
Hype and more trailers and behind the scenes clips through out March.
Then BAM! March 31st and we get our debut.
MannyQuote Reply
the goat,
Sorry about that, maybe I misinterpreted. Let’s just hope a trailer comes out sooner than later.
After The FeastQuote Reply
Erikson. Malazan, despite its complexity, is, IMO, fun. As the fandom says: start with book 2 and then go back to 1. It’s the kind of series that allows for that. It’s pretty insane.
I personally don’t like Rothfuss, but because I’m one of six people in the world for whom the Kingskiller Chronicles did not change my entire life, you might want to take my words with a pinch of salt. To me, it was standard by-the-numbers fantasy — barring the magic system — with a somewhat irritating protagonist and a lack of memorable secondary characters. Also, the demons are called ‘skraelings.’ Erp!
But, again, I’m probably wrong, since it’s one of the highest-rated fantasy books of all time across the board — Goodreads, Amazon, etc. Dude’s been called better than Tolkien, even. And I’ve yet to find an actually ‘bad’ review of the books.
Lin BeifunkQuote Reply
Apologies — this sounded kinda douchey. I just mean that as someone who straight-up didn’t like the books, the gushy reviews on my favorite site, Goodreads — some of which do indeed mention ‘this book changed my life’ — weird me out a little. But to each his own, I always say. There is no arguing a matter of taste etc.
Lin BeifunkQuote Reply
In production video did it for me! And off course the show itself!
And I am really really really looking forward to a new trailer! Secretly hoping to see some RW hints!
Sky AeroQuote Reply
Lin Beifunk,
Interesting counter-point, I’ll keep it in mind. I don’t think you sounded douchey. Just a strong reaction to a book that didn’t work for you.
You said it felt like ‘by-the-numbers fantasy.’ I’m someone who, to this point, has only read Tolkien and GRRM from the genre. So what stands out to a more well-read fantasy fan as generic might not to many others, like me. Before ASoIaF I didn’t consider myself a ‘fantasy person.’ I like knowing people who feel strongly against popular opinion (for valid reasons) just because I know going in that I don’t have to be crazy if I don’t respond well to it. For the longest time I didn’t see what was so great about Tolkien, you see. :)
ZackQuote Reply
Happy new year to all the realm!!! I don’t comment much but i read all your comments every time and im very entertained and informed in some cases…. My fav moment in 2012 was casting news for S3 which is my favorite book from the series so far… im sooo excited for the new season… can we get a ‘bleeping’ trailer now?!?!?
gisizzlahQuote Reply
WildSeed,
Call me Josh, only my mother calls me Joshua. :-)
Joshua TaylorQuote Reply
I wish i was in your position with regard to being a newcomer to fantasy fiction,i would have so many great books to read LOL…
Alas,i have been reading SFF fiction for nearly 20 years now and have read plenty in the genre,both the good & and the bad ,since you are new to the genre,i would recommend the following –
GRRM specifically named Tolkien and Tad Williams as very influential for the writing of the ASoIaF series.
Jack Vance – The Lyonesse Trilogy/ (GRRM’s favorite contemporary author )
The Warlord Chronicles (a mixture of historical fiction + Arthurian mythology,GRRM is a big fan of his & highly recommends him)
Tad Williams – Memory, Sorrow & Thorn series (another author/series who inspired GRRM)
Daniel Abraham – The Long Price Quartet (he wrote Hunter’s Run in collaboration with GRRM,also writes in GRRM’s Wild Cards series)
China Mieville – New Crobuzon/Bas Lag series-
K.J. Parker – The Engineer Trilogy
Scott Lynch – The Gentleman Bastard Sequence
Joe Abercrombie – The First Law Trilogy
Glen Cook – The Black Company series
Matthew Stover – The Acts of Caine series
Stephen King – The Dark Tower series
Steven Erikson & Ian C. Esslemont – Malazan series
Gene Wolfe – Book of The New Sun series
David Anthony Durham – The Acacia Trilogy
Paul Kearney – The Monarchies of God series
Jacqueline Carey – Kushiel’s Legacy series
Ellen Kushner – Riverside series
Felix Gilman – Ararat duology & Half-Made World series
K. J. Parker – The Folding Knife
K. J. Parker -The Hammer
Catherynne M. Valente – Palimpsest
Catherynne M. Valente – Deathless
China Mieville – The City & the City
Jeff VanderMeer – Ambergris series –
1.City of Saints and Madmen: The Book of Ambergris
2.Shriek
3.Finch
Anthony Ryan – Raven’s Shadow series
Miles Cameron – The Red Knight
R. Scott Bakker – The Prince of Nothing trilogy & The Aspect-Emperor trilogy
Robin Hobb – Assassin’s Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy #1)
Robin Hobb – Royal Assassin (Farseer Trilogy, #2)
Robin Hobb – Assassin’s Quest (Farseer Trilogy, #3)
J. V. Jones – Sword of Shadows series
K.J. Bishop – The Etched City
I won’t promise that you will like every book in this list,but this is a good start for people new to fantasy fiction. Enjoy!
JohnQuote Reply
Lin Beifunk,
Agree with you on the whole. I really enjoyed the Rothfuss first book but couldn’t finish the second – just went on much too long. Like Rowling, think these writers need a better editor. Only Martin’s plot lines and writing style manage to hold my attention for over 1000 pages.
Patchy FaceQuote Reply
John,
Wow, thanks! I’d already added Tad Williams to my list, now I’ll be sure to bump them up a bit. Most of your list is new to me, and much appreciated
ZackQuote Reply
You are welcome. In future if you want to look for any specific book recommendations,check out the ssfworld forums.
http://www.sffworld.com/forums/forum.php
JohnQuote Reply