When season two of “Game of Thrones” came to a conclusion, fans everywhere mourned the devastatingly long wait until they could revisit their favorite characters in Westoros once again.

On March 31, almost a year later, season three resumed when 6.7 million viewers tuned in to what producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss say will be the most action-packed season yet.

For those of you who are not familiar with “Game of Thrones,” the HBO series is an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s book series “A Song of Ice and Fire.”

Martin’s medieval series follows the storyline of multiple characters in Westoros.

The main source of drama in the series revolves around who will sit on the Iron Throne, the coveted seat of the king of Westoros.

The current king, Joffrey, is a teenage boy with a habit for cruelty and violence.

During seasons one and two, the viewers find out that Joffrey has no claim to the throne, being that he has no blood relation to his “father,” the previous king, Robert. This knowledge sparks anger in others, resulting in multiple people vying for the Iron Throne.

The third season of “Game of Thrones” opens following the storylines of multiple beloved fan favorites, including Tyrion Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, Arya Stark, Robb Stark, and Bran Stark.

Tyrion, an intelligent, witty and humorous dwarf born to House Lannister, the richest family in Westoros, has suffered a gruesome battle wound to the face and is struggling with his new, not-so-glamorous duty as Master of Coin.

Jaime, Tyrion’s older brother, is being delivered to King’s Landing by Brienne of Tarth as a trade for other hostages, and he suffers a devastating injury during the journey.

Daenerys, an exiled princess across the Narrow Sea, is assembling an army, so she can return to Westoros with her three dragons and take back the Iron Throne, where her father once sat before he was murdered.

Jon, a bastard who serves as a Knight of the Night’s Watch, has been taken captive by the Wildings, the untamed humans living on the other side of the 700-foot snowy wall separating Westoros and the land beyond.

Arya, a tomboy who has fled the capital after her father was beheaded, is trying to make her way home to her brother Robb, dubbed King in the North, and her mother Catelyn.

Robb, who broke an oath last season by marrying a lowborn woman after being betrothed to a different woman, is facing troubles among his own men, who are angered by his brash decisions.

Bran Stark, Arya and Robb’s younger brother, a cripple who often dreams that he is his pet direwolf, a large and intelligent wolf, becomes more in tune with his powers as a Warg, someone who can enter the minds of animals and humans and control them.

It is impossible to get into the intricate storyline that is “Game of Thrones” in one review. Benioff and Weiss do a fantastic job at adapting Martin’s written work on television, especially as there are dozens of storylines to follow in the series.

The beauty in “Game of Thrones,” besides its breathtaking scenery and graphics, immaculate writing, and superb acting, lies with the complexity of each character.

Never before in a series have I hated and loved the same character at once, rooting for them and wanting them to fail at the same time.

The main criticism toward the show this season is that it has strayed further away from the book compared to previous seasons.

Characters such as Talisa Maegyr and Roz, who do not exist in the book, have frequent storylines, while other characters are left out completely.

This is understandable, seeing that all 992 pages of Martin’s “A Storm of Swords” could not fit into a single season, which is why the producers split the third book into two seasons.

If you are queasy at the sight of blood or feel uncomfortable during intimate scenes, I do not advise this series for you. “Game of Thrones” is no stranger to beheadings, deadly swordplay and burning people alive, and season three, so far, is no exception.

For the remainder of this season, prepare to have your mind blown with jaw-dropping plot turns and deaths you would have never expected.

Spring may be on its way in Whitewater, but in Westoros, winter is coming.

4.5 out of 5 stars.