If there’s one thing “Game of Thrones” doesn’t do, is waste time. Last week’s episode closed with shots of sorceress Melisandre birthing some monstrous shadow, a wispy, manlike demon summoned for some mysterious bidding. This week’s episode, “The Ghost of Harrenhaal,” opened rather routinely: Catelyn and Renly were chatting about kingly things while Brienne helped Renly remove his armor. And then, with a fellow swoop, the shadow demon entered, stabbed Renly, and fled. All in the first five minutes.

The abruptness of the deed was cold, indeed. Brienne cried out in horror at the loss of her ...

If last night's episode of "Game of Thrones" doesn't get people talking, I don't know what will.

I'm sure dedicated book fans were expecting those final shots, when sorceress Melisandre gave birth to… a shadow baby? As a non-book reader, I'm murky on the details. But I do know that I finished this episode with an audible exhale of breath. Not only was it the most outwardly fantastical scene of the show so far (with the exception, perhaps, of Dany's dragons), but it was wrought with tension. I was expecting the birth of an illegitimate Stannis baby, after their steamy sex scene last week. W...

"Game of Thrones" is nothing if not expansive (understatement of the century). Characters who get the silent treatment for long drags of time have a tendency to crop up as soon as they’re forgotten. That reinsertion takes centerfold in this week’s installment, with Renly Baratheon’s quest for glory as the overarching storyline. 

Like his brothers, Robert and Stannis, Renly is a noble man, a little too proud and a little too stubborn to assume the leadership role he so rightfully seeks. With bastard child Joffrey at reign, Westeros is in the thick of an ugly war, new enemies and allegiances...

Twilight star Kristen Stewart was the toast of Italy's Milan International Film Festival (MIFF) on Tuesday after winning the coveted Best Actress honor.

The actress, best known for playing Bella Swan in the vampire franchise, was picked for the top MIFF prize for her portrayal of a troubled stripper in Welcome to the Rileys.

The Wire star Aidan Gillen was named Best Actor for his performance in Treacle Jr., while Nadia Tass was voted Best Director for her drama Matching Jack.

Filmmaker Fenton Bailey picked up the Best Documentary accolade for Becoming Chaz, about pop legend Cher's tra...

Not to be confused with the John Cusack movie of the same name, Identity is the UK drama series that stars Keeley Hawes (last week's new release Upstairs Downstairs and the early seasons of Spooks/MI-5) and Aiden Gillen (HBO's current Game of Thrones and Tommy Carcetti on The Wire). Acorn Media has released the six-episode series on a two-disc set, and I have a look inside that set for you.

The Show

Identity reminds me of a cross between the Sandra Bullock film The Net and the long-running British drama series Waking The Dead. (That's no surprise: it was created by Ed Whitmore, who work...