Return date announced for 'Game of Thrones'

Is anyone else as ready as I am to get back to Westeros and Essos? There is no series that I miss when it is off air more than Game of Thrones. The HBO drama is like an adult version of Lord of the Rings and is not afraid to shock audiences, as you never know when your favorite character is going to end up dead.

HBO has announced when the fantastic series is coming back. Spoiler alert: look at the picture attached to this story. March 31, 2013 is when we will get our Game of Thrones fix.

The series, based on George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books, will be welcoming new cast members Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell, Mackenzie Crook as  raider Orell, and Coldplay' drummer Will Champion. Ciaran Hinds has also signed on for the juicy role of Mance Rayder, the Wildling "King-Beyond-The-Wall". 

This season is expected to take half of the material in Martin's third novel, A Storm of Swords, with the rest of the book to be covered next season.

What do you make of this news? It seems right time wise for it to be coming back. It is a little surprising the second season has not been released on home video already.