As the first episode we’ve seen from this show in nearly two years (a marriage and two kids later for me), the world can now breathe a collective sigh of relief that the premier isn’t a flashback or flash-forward, but continues essentially where Season 7 ended. As the (dare I say it) most awaited TV show on the planet (I literally see it everywhere on Facebook and Instagram), I must say that the Game of Thrones premiere didn’t disappoint.
Here we go…
Now because this is just the first episode, like all previous first episodes, it lacks the epic battle scenes or the dialogue-heavy exposition the show is known for. Instead, first episodes are a sort-of “checking in” with all the characters, seeing where they are, who they’re with, and whether or not they’re that much closer to the Iron Throne.
As the namesake title of the episode, Winterfell gets the spotlight. I love the clever parallelism with the first episode of Season 1: a brown haired boy running and squirming through a crowd, trying to peek at a marching army entering the gates of Winterfell. Throwback feels, guys!
Also, much of this episode is all about reunions that are either awkward or heart melting. Jon and Bran finally see each other after near-misses Beyond the Wall. Tyrion and Sansa also have their own moment and I love that she sees right through Cersei’s traitorous lie even though Tyrion can’t see it. “I used to think you were the cleverest man alive,” and then she scoffs. Haha! And then Sansa literally giving Dany the head-to-foot treatment? She is definitely competing with Dany for Ice Queen. Brrrr!
By the way, Tyrion’s idea of bringing back a wight was the worst idea; incredibly stupid and useless and it cost them Viserion who is now playing pet to the Night King. Yep, Season 7 can’t deny its mistakes.
But back to reunions, the show definitely plays on our emotions by giving us nearly all the reunions that we wanted to happen: Arya and Gendry, Arya and The Hound, and (OMG OMG OMG) Arya and Jon. I love these two and I love that the show gave them their own moment in private at the godswood.
And the last reunion we never expected, Jaime and Bran. A lot of deaths and seasons in between, Jaime is a different man or should I say he is now a PWD and Bran is, well, also a PWD and a bird. What? The Kingslayer will definitely put some sense in Tyrion’s head and convince him that nope, Cersei isn’t marching the Lannister army North.
From Winterfell, we go to Kingslanding where Euron Greyjoy arrives with an army of mercenaries called the Golden Company. At this point, Cersei’s storyline is the least enjoyable mostly because she spends her time drinking or glowering or both. Euron is also the least enjoyable villain, at least to me.
Like I said, Winterfell gets the spotlight in this episode. Aside from all the reunions happening, all the usual intrigues and plots are there. Davos Seaworth proposes a proposal for the “handsome couple” Dany and Jon, while Varys and Tyrion see the blooming love affair but realizes that, like all things, it is doomed.
But it’s nice that Daenerys and Jon are given their own sweet silly moments riding their dragons. And OMGGGGG YOU GUYS DO YOU REALIZE THAT JON SNOW IS RIDING RHAEGAL NOW???!? My brain exploded for a few seconds.
For absolute ASoIaF lovers like me, you would know the significance of Jon as a dragonrider. To put it simply, a dragon can only have one rider in its lifetime and a rider may only mount one dragon in his lifetime.
So wait, now that Jon rides Rhaegal, Daenerys rides Drogon, and the Night King rides Viserion, does that mean the dragon finally has three heads? OMGGGGG!
Also, young Lord Umber-turned-blue-eyed-zombie waking up in the background FREAKED ME THE HELL OUT! Yeesh the Night King can be a bit macabre you guys, I don’t like him. #lol
Finally, perhaps the biggest reveal of the episode (well not actually reveal as it was already explained to us viewers so conveniently in the previous episode), at least to Jon Snow, is that he isn’t actually the bastard son of Eddard Stark but the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, which makes him heir to the Iron Throne and the true ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the blah blah.. you get it.
Is your mind blown already? Mine is. And my eyes hurt too from all this typing. I’ll be reviewing this blog post until the next episode because holy sh*t I am losing my touch. See ya later, weirdos!
It's Me Godece 