I don't have HBO and I definitely recall there being a free weekend for first season's premiere as well. So the 74% jump between both premieres is still seems pretty significant.

When they were both on the uncomfortable bed, he had a funny quip about Ned Stark sleeping there previously ("as if the man didn't suffer enough").  So I assumed they were in the Hand's bedroom.

..which reminds me. What was Shae doing in the Tyrion's room?  Given the meticulousness with which he covered his tracks in the book, his behavior in the series looks reckless by comparison.

I thought I saw a glipse of Shireen as they were leaving the diety-bonfire, though.  I could just be imaging things.

It does seem a bit odd that the Reeds are missing this season, but it wouldn't make any sense to write them out of the entire series.

I did read the "official" bio a few years ago, and from what I recall Schulz really didn't have much issue with the commercialization of his work.  In many respects he seemed to encouraged it.

Additionally, the show glosses over/ignores alot of important Bran-related stuff that won't make any goddamn sense if you just hop into the second book

I certainly wouldn't mind if they accelerated her story a bit.  I found her book 2 storyline to be a bit on the boring side.

This is great.  I had no idea Ben Walker had another show after "The Theory of Everything" stopped.  You've made my day

No Dead Space 2 love?  I know January was a long time ago and all…