Game of Thrones (TV Series) The Red Woman (2016) User Reviews

War is Coming

[ThomasDrufke · 8/10 · 24 April 2016]

After months of speculation, reading dozens of optimistic articles, scavenging for set photos, and reading every David and Dan say in interviews, Game of Thrones has finally returned. While it's far from the eventful episodes that finished off season 5, 'The Red Woman' set up what's to come this season, and I think we are in for one of the best seasons of Thrones yet.

We began back at Castle Black where season 5 left off, as Jon Snow lie dead after being murdered. As expected, Davos finds his body and with the help of a few Night's Watch members, brings his body to safety. I'm glad they spent a good amount of time at the wall because that's ultimately what everyone wanted. We didn't get any real answers in terms of a resurrection, but we have to believe it's coming, right? Sadly, it seems as if Melisandre has given up all hope on anything and everything (seriously WTF to that final scene).

Sansa, Theon, and now Brienne seem to be heading to Castle Black in what will probably be the most gratifying storyline of season 6. With Sansa out of danger and doing things on her own terms I think it will be very satisfying seeing what she does in the North. We may be in for a war of the north type outcome with the Bolton's also on their way to The Wall. I just hope the road trip doesn't take place over the entire season and Sansa gets to Castle Black within a few episodes, thus having the battle be mid-season and at the latest the end of the season. If the show is only going to go 8 seasons, story lines need to pick up the pace a bit.

Speaking of road trips, Jaime's trip to Dorne definitely didn't turn out the way he planned as it ended with the tragic death of Myrcella. As if Cersei wasn't already going to kill everyone who ever wronged her, this death may put her over the top. Tommen is likely not far from biting it himself. But hey, at least Doran Martell died right?

The other 'shame' victim would be that of Margaery, although not nearly at as much fault as Cersei was. Much like Sansa's trip to Castle Black, I hope Margaery finds her way out of that cell sooner or later and we can get back to bada** Natalie Dormer. Though if Cersei has anything to say about it, her days will be numbered.

Lastly, Arya and Daenerys made brief appearances as well. It seems Arya will be having the rough end to the stick for the majority of the season before she inevitably gets her sight back (to a certain extent). I can't say I know exactly where her story will be taken this season nor do I know if it will really relate to the bigger picture at all, but more Arya is usually the better. Daenerys on the other hand, is taking a step back from her progress towards Westeros. As Tyrion put it "I don't think the queen will be heading to Westeros anytime soon". I don't like the fact that she is now in captivity with another Khal and her ships are burnt to shreds. I want this season to end with her heading to Kings Landing, and that seems way out of the realm of possibility at this point.

In all, it was a set up episode for all intents and purposes but it sucked me back into the world of Thrones, and I'm instantly stoked for next week. I'm hoping each story moves at a nice pace to get us at a great place at the end of season 6. Everything this season seems to be leading towards multiple battles/wars, and that's what we want to see. Plus, we are one step closer to Jon Snow returning (fingers crossed). On a side note, does anyone else want Ghost to tear Alliser Thorne's face off?

+Spent a good chunk of time at the wall

+Davos to the rescue

+Brienne & Sansa!

+Dany takes a stand

-But the ships being burnt slows down her plans

8.1/10

Fundamental misunderstanding

[LiamCullen6 · 8/10 · 25 April 2016]

I don't think some people actually understand what can be done during a season premiere.

There are many character arcs and plot lines which must be planted and set up for the rest of the season. Season premieres are not meant to thrust you into the action of Hardhome or the heartbreak of the Red Wedding: they are meant to reintroduce you to the world of Westeros.

And that is exactly what this episode achieved.

Honestly, I was really impressed with this episode. We got to see almost all of the major characters, despite the relatively short run-time in comparison with other episodes.

Sansa and Brienne have finally been brought together. It seems as though Sansa's come to her senses at last and realised that when a killing-machine like Brienne swears her allegiance to you, you don't say no. This is Game of Thrones. You win or you die, and Sansa's come pretty close to dying too many times already.

Is there anything more satisfying than listening in on a conversation between two of the most intellectual and witty characters in Essos? Tyrion and Varys were brilliant together - as you'd imagine - and I can't wait to see how the two of them handle Meereen after the events of last season in the Daznak pit.

I was completely caught off guard by Doran and Trystane being murdered. I don't think anybody quite expected that in the season premiere. This goes to show that Dan and Dave heard our criticisms last year of the Sandsnakes and Dorne, and have immediately gone straight for the jugular. The Sandsnakes are actually proving to be a threat and aren't giving stripteases in jail cells any longer.

Cersei is going to kick ass this season. She's realised that the witch's prophecy is being fulfilled and in order to try to counteract it becoming a total reality she's going to become more protective over Tommen, her last surviving child, than a bear over her cubs.

We got a brief introduction to Arya and witnessed how she's struggling with her latest problem. Last season Arya was in training, but left the training room too soon and was punished by the Many-Faced-God for it. Hopefully she'll be able to quickly learn from her mistakes and pick herself back up again soon.

For a Khal, Khal Moro seems relatively respectful. I was half expecting him to behead Daenerys on the spot as soon as she hissed at him, yet he's clearly not like the other Khals.

As you can see, this episode was quite impressive in the characters that it covered, but we are still yet to see Littlefinger, Bran, Sam, and some other new faces.

I'd really like to see the trials of Margaery and Loras get underway soon, or at least let them be free by the Mother's Mercy as Cersei has been. Hearing that big oaf of a Septa saying "confess" incessantly is becoming rather tiresome.

Also, please don't forget how action-packed the season five finale was. That episode was so dense that this episode was necessary to tie up what happened last season.

Were some people expecting to see Jon jump up from the table or something? If you were paying attention in last season's finale, you'd have noticed how sullen and defeated Melisandre looked. Why? Because everything she thought she saw she didn't. She was so confident in herself - in her visions - and she was wrong. She is in turmoil, and it's going to take some incredible motivation to convince her that Jon is their only hope for survival. Just look at the final scene of the episode: she stripped away all of her clothing and magic and revealed her true self, which is something she's never done before and she'd only do if she felt utterly hopeless. Once she's found herself and she's committed to serving the Lord of Light again, then we can hope to see something happen with Jon.

All in all, I'm thrilled with how this episode turned out. It did exactly what a season premiere aims to achieve, and more.

Hmmmmm Not all bad, But not all good.

[stephenjsmith95 · 7/10 · 24 April 2016]

Right to kick this off I should say I am and have been a BIG fan of the show since the start and I also have read all the books. That being said I appreciate the boundaries a TV show has and that changes are inevitable and up until season 5 I thought they managed the adaptation extremely well.

Now, last season i had a couple of issue with a few plots (or absence of) the main one being the Stannis story and his demise. But nonetheless I decided to look past it and try again. In this episode we see a fair bit of story at the wall and I enjoyed those parts and believe it is, at the moment the most interesting part of the show, including things north of the wall. I even enjoyed Dannys parts and believe they bring some early season memories back.

Now to Dorne. There is no way for me to describe how pointless the introduction of Dorne and the Dornish story line has been made after this episode. Essentially all the story and plot advances that the characters in Dorne offered in the novels has been scrapped and have been turned into cannon fodder. It seems like such a waste of what could have been so much better. the fact that the Martels' have now been wiped out is ridiculous to me, one of the 7 most powerful houses in Westeros gone. to me that was purely for shock value and a BIG waste of a good opportunity.

The final reveal of Melisandre was done pretty well and will probably prove important to future plot points.

All in all a DECENT start to the season with a lot of good points but let down drastically by some sloppy story. Personally I get the feeling they are trying to rush to the finish line now, and in that have lost a lot of the finesse that made people fall in love with this show.

7/10 for now and we'll see how the rest of the season goes

The Red Woman

[stevenlefebvre · 10/10 · 24 April 2016]

Most of the reviews you will read on here right now are biased reviews of people who read the novels before watching the show. Before the novel readers click away, take time to read this because it might be interesting to hear other people's opinions. When game of thrones started to stray away from the books in season 5 a group of people emerged on the internet that criticized and insulted the show for every little change of detail. These people take to their computers right after every episode and go on every website and give ratings unrealistically low because they are upset the show didn't happen exactly like the books. Unfortunately the books are very big and contain a lot of content so the TV show naturally can't include everything because of the lack of time. If everything was included it would take away from the important scenes in the show because they would have to be shortened to fit in all the little details and minor characters that have been cut out. And now unfortunately the show has caught up to the books and is surpassing them so when the TV show has no source material things are going to be fresh, new and slightly changed from the books because they have to start making things up on their own. So it is sad when Game of thrones is putting up higher quality television then most other shows out there but gets slammed and criticized by the novel readers just because the show was a little different and not what they expected. Seeing something unexpected is also the whole theme of game of thrones. Those people should be happy that they can watch an alternate story that is shocking and intriguing but will still end the same as the books instead of always knowing everything that is about to happen.

To move on to the episode. No doubt it is different then the books but that is now a thing of the past because it has to be different. I read multiple negative reviews saying that nothing happened or too much build up or too much set up. I was shocked when I read those. So much happened in the episode, from the nights watch being divided over the murder of Jon snow, Sansa and Theon on the run to be saved by Brienne and Podrick with a good fight scene, Cersei and Jaime mourning their daughter talking about their past and their revenge filled future, foreshadowing with Margaery and the high sparrow, Tyrion and Varys talking strategy and then witnessing the burning of Daenerys' fleet, Daenerys meeting Khal Moro(I believe that was his name), Jorah and Daario finding their first clue, Arya reduced to begging on the streets and then gets abused by the waif, the shocking plot twist of the Sandsnakes and Ellaria killing Doran and Tristaine, and lastly, the episode ends with Melisandre revealing her true form which makes her an even more interesting and mysterious character. That is a lot of things that happened, each story line was compelling to watch and either had a twist, foreshadowing, action, or introduction to the problems a character will have to face this season. So I don't think you can say nothing happened. And for the people who said too much build up you must be expecting a red wedding every episode. It's the first episode of the season. There has to be build up and set up for the rest of the season. They can't just come out first episode and have Jon brought back to life, 3 main characters die, an insane battle, crazy fight scenes, and a shocking reveal. That would make the rest of the episodes in the season look really bad in comparison.

I wrote this long review because I was dumbfounded with all the bad reviews and the reasons for them. People were getting mad and criticizing the show because what they wanted to happen didn't happen or the episode didn't have enough action or Jon snow didn't come back to life so they hated this episode. But that is how game of thrones has always been, not everything you want to happen happens which makes the show one of the most intriguing shows ever made. The show should not receive bad reviews for doing something that makes it good.

Overall, this episode was the best premier yet. It had the perfect amount of action, twists, and set up (which is required in a premier) to get viewers interested and back into the show and excited for what comes next. So with all of that factored in and with being the first episode of the season, I give this episode a 10.

A promising season opener

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 14 March 2018]

Came to 'Game of Thrones' fairly late in the game and due to being so busy the binge-watching was gradual. Have found myself truly loving the show, very quickly becoming one of my favourites. It totally lives up to the hype and not only does it do the brilliant source material justice (a rarity in television) it is on its own merits one of the finest, most addictive and consistently compelling shows in recent years and quality-wise it puts a lot of films in recent years to shame.

Although it is a long way from being the best, or one of the best, season openers for 'Game of Thrones', Season 6 starts off very promisingly. It is easy to see why it has been positively reviewed by critics but also why it is divisive among fans and book fans. It does depart from the source material, especially in its treatment of Doran, even though somebody who always judges adaptations on their own terms not doing anything further with such an interesting character in the source material with more to give was a missed opportunity. There are certainly far better episodes in the season and of 'Game of Thrones' in general, but to me "The Red Woman" was very good, though with a couple of reservations.

"The Red Woman" is at its weakest with the Dorne storyline. It was one of the biggest problems with the previous season and there is not much improvement. It is not particularly interesting and some of it is even cartoonish. Even more disappointing was its cheap treatment of Doran, one that was very rushed and abrupt and he deserved better.

With such a lot going on in terms of story and character interaction, "The Red Woman" definitely would have benefitted from either being longer as an episode or having the events spread out as a two parter or something. Parts did feel hasty and it would perhaps have made the Dorne storyline better.

A huge amount works here however. Character interaction-wise, faring best are Jaime and Cersei and in particular Sansa and Brienne, both intense and poignant. Loved what was done with Daenerys, even though brief, and felt sorry too for Arya. Davos shining more than he has been in a while was a plus as well. Another standout is the shock Melisandre reveal, that was harrowing.

It is an episode that isn't action-heavy and doesn't advance existing storylines, with the main question on everyone's lips from "Mother's Mercy" being answered early on, but it sets up what is to follow well.

'Game of Thrones' has not faltered in the acting stakes and there is not a single bad performance. Standout performances are Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Emilia Clarke and Maisie Williams, while Carice Van Houten gives her best acting to date.

Visually, "The Red Woman" looks amazing, as one would expect for 'Game of Thrones'. The scenery is throughout spectacular, the sets are hugely atmospheric and beautiful on the eyes with a real meticulous eye for detail and the costumes suit the characters to a tee. The make-up is beautifully done. As well the cinematography and editing, which are cinematic quality as well.

One cannot talk about "The Red Woman" without mentioning the thematically, orchestrally and atmospherically multi-layered music scoring and the unforgettable main theme. Again, worthy of a high-budget fantasy/action/drama film.

The writing is thought-provoking and there are no embarrassing lines this time (certainly not on the same level as that Sand Snake line in "Mother's Mercy". The storytelling mostly is passionate and sensitive, underwhelming only in Dorne.

Overall, promising and very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Slow plot progression, but a good start

[gavin-thelordofthefu-48-460297 · 8/10 · 25 April 2016]

Last night, I saw the season premiere of Game of Thrones and from what I've got, it's really good. There are two problems I do have with this episode. I'm not going to spoil anything to those who haven't seen it, so I'm just going to point out the flaws and positive aspects.

The plot progression does get very slow and didn't advance some of the story lines left by the fifth season. Also, some of the characters were given little to do and weren't fleshed out enough. Maybe things will get better throughout the sixth season, but only time will tell. For now, everything else turned out fine.

The performances are still good, especially Lena Headey who shines with her emotional performance, the script is fine for the most part, the directing is very solid, the scenery is still gorgeous, the sets and costumes are still lavish to look at, and the music score from Ramin Djawadi is very beautiful. So, overall, not great, but a good start to Season 6. :)

Strong start to season

[ganguly-sarthak · 9/10 · 24 April 2016]

Good strong start to season. Start off right where it left off last season.

No super crazy turn of events. A few deaths, few twists - like regular Game of Thrones.

Red woman provided an interesting surprise, wait till the end of the episode for that.

Theon Greyjoy showed promise. The episode sowed the seed for Theon to grow into someone stronger over the season.

Looks like Arya will go through a lot of training this will season.

We saw into the lives of all the major characters. Daenerys might be in some trouble at the Dothraki camp, Drogon hopefully will be back soon to save her.

Brienne was wonderful, we fell in love with her AGAIN!! As expected Castle Black is where the episode started and ended. And should play a major part in the next few episodes to come as well. Looks like a fight is brewing up there, wait till next episode to see that.

A solid start to Season Six

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 28 December 2016]

As the sixth season gets underway we are shown what is happening to most of the protagonists. It is quickly confirmed that Jon Snow is definitely dead; Ser Davos and his allies at Castle Black must decide what to do next; knowing that Ser Alliser and the other members of the Watch who killed Jon will surely kill them too. Sansa and Theon are caught by Bolton troops but are then rescued by Brienne of Tarth and Podrick. Cersei vows to get revenge for the death of her daughter. Ellaria Sand and her Sand Snakes stage a coup in Dorne. Daenerys is the captive of Dothraki. Arya Stark is blind and begging on the streets when forced to fight an assailant who promises to fight her again the next day. Tyrion observes that tensions are high in Meereen before he sees the ships in the harbour ablaze.

This episode might not be full of action but there are some moments; most notably when Brienne rescues Sansa but also some shocking moments of violence in Dorne. The way we only get brief glimpse of what happened to some characters may disappoint some viewers, especially those watching it straight after season five, however, having not watched season five for almost a year, I found this did what was required to reintroduce me to what had been happening without actually wasting time on a recap. There are also solid hints at what is likely to be happening later in the season and a surprising revelation about Melisandre, the titular 'Red Woman'. Overall a fine episode that quickly brought me back to the world of the 'Game of Thrones' and keen to see what happens in the rest of the series.

"I saw him in the flames, fighting at Winterfell ."

[TheGoforth · 8/10 · 26 April 2016]

If you look back on previous seasons, Melisandre has been given an exclusive preview of various plot developments but like any classic 'tinfoil theory' on a message board, has misinterpreted them. Despite this, the ending of this destined to be classic episode is a window into Melisandre's true powers and tells us that while human vice has threatened her clarity of perception, she does have a divine purpose as her centuries old survival proves.

Perhaps those who doubted that Melisandre's blood magic ritual in Season 3 could have set the Red and Purple Wedding events in motion will now reconsider the vital role of this character in clearing the chessboard for the true war to commence. With all of these engrossing plot lines in motion, it seems to me that characters like Melisandre and Bran Stark have always served as the essential players in a much deeper story, so whilst the Littlefingers and Varyses manipulate the game of thrones, Melisandre envisions the song of ice and fire in which the great game will eventually be consumed.

Through actions both hideous (the sacrifice of Shireen) and heroic (her validation of Jon Snow), Melisandre has moved through the series as a serene constant: highly organised and efficient and inured by an enormous responsibility. With her elegant gravitas, Carice van Houten has manifested the mystical potency of this saga as few others could and if the ending of this stunning episodes proves anything, it is that she has excelled in making the mythical heart of the story come alive for us all.

A reckoning will come

[dannylee-78082 · 7/10 · 13 March 2022]

1. Brienne and Sansa are finally together 2. Blind Arya gets beaten 3. The Red Woman is OLD

Another season has begun. Sansa and Theon finally escape and join with Brienne. Really glad things are turning out ok for Sansa. I wonder what she feels towards Littlefinger now. He did simply marry her off and we haven't seen him for a while. Hope he plays a part in this season.

Arya is going through another form of training (aka being beaten while blind). She's going through all this to become a good warrior, right? Cersei's scene with Jaime was very emotional. It might be easy to focus on Cersei and her loss but we have to understand that Jaime basically became a father for the first time and right after the moment, he lost his daughter. That's gotta hit a man hard. Season 6 will most likely be a payback by the Lannisters - particularly against Tyrion if possible. Dorne is going to be a mess now that Ellaria Sand is in control. A war against Dorne is definitely incoming. I understand Ellaria's motivation but man, let it go. Oberyn died because of himself.

The Red Woman looks like she found another host to parasite on. My assumption is that he comes back to life with the Red Woman's sorcery. Even if it's that way, I want my favorite protagonist to come back. Daenerys is back to square one - with the Dothrakis. It's going to take the whole season for her to get back to her queenship...

Overall, one of the better pilots that sets up many of the upcoming conflicts. Still full of tension and emotion.

Best "First episode" of any season

[pratapmayank · 9/10 · 25 April 2016]

Usually Game of Thrones start in first gear and usually pick up speed. But in season 6, they directly started in fourth gear. They started with all guns blazing bang bang. The episode touched upon almost all the sub-plots.

The best moment for was when Cersei broke down in front of Jamie (not in a sadistic manner). In that moment a character as strong as Cersei started believing in prophecies. This showed her humane side. Because like all of us she also start believing in prophecies, Gods and monsters in our darkest times. Couldn't have asked for a better start of the show!!

Continues from where it left off

[aadhi444 · 24 April 2016]

OK, so far this has been the most anticipated episode in GOT history. We have got this episode after 10 months of wait. After watching this I couldn't help but have a sense of disappointment. The episode fails to match the anticipation and the excitement. Technically this episode is as brilliant as it has always been. However none of the story progresses. We just see the aftermath of the countless cliffhangers from the season five finale. Other than the ending scene there are no surprises in the story development. Overall this episode sets the stage for the entire season. I hope the story picks up from here and reaches the heights that it is capable of.

Many Segments, Short Running Time

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 24 April 2016]

John Snow is dead and his friend Davos grieves his death. Sansa and Theon are hunted down by Ramsay's knights, but out of the blue, Brienne and Podrick save them. Cersei is waiting for her beloved daughter Myrcella and Jaime brings her corpse instead. Margaery Tyrellis wants to have news about her brother and when she is going to be tortured, High Sparrow interrupts the session. In Dorne, Ellaria and the Sand Snakes betray and kill Doran Martell and his son Trystane. Daenerys Targaryen is made prisoner of a Dothraki horde. Tyrion and Lord Vaeys are walking around in Meereen watching the people posing of merchants. Something strange happens with Melisandre.

The return of "Game of Thrones" with "The Red Woman" shows many segments but along a short running time. The segments with Sansa and Doran are the best ones and the conclusion of the show is intriguing with the old woman. The other segments do not show anything new and are just to introduce the return of the characters. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "The Red Woman"

Butchering the Dorne storyline

[sudiptomaji-07965 · 5/10 · 15 April 2022]

Some good moments, few and far between, it starts the decline of a great TV show. Problems were obvious in the previous season with Jaime and Bronn going to Dorne. Now for some bizarre reason they kill off Doran Martell and Areo Hotah in the first episode of this season. It's revolting to watch an extraordinary character like Hotah being disposed off so easily. The calculating and shrewd Doran is written off likewise. No Arianne Martell or Quentyn in the show but they prolong with the sand snakes for one more season. Great choices and great writing, what else to say. The redeeming moments include Cersei reacting to Myrcella's death and Brienne-Sansa meeting each other once more.

A good start to the season.

[erikleorgav · 9/10 · 24 April 2016]

This seasons start begins the story well with new and unexpected events. I feel a tad underwhelmed with some of it, however I feel there is so much more to come. As usual, I am left dangling with the future of characters and revelations brought by the end of the episode, with hope for more to come. First episode of the season, and I'm intrigued by what I'm seeing. Now that we've left the realm of the books, (I will admit I've yet to finish the 4th book of late), and now the story may or may not be true to what Martin wants the story to go. It still carried the weight of what has already been brought to the screen and I would like to think they will continue to do the series justice. Season 5 was rather weak in certain places so Season 6 should hopefully rise to the occasion.

Moving Toward a Center

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 25 April 2016]

I'm fascinated by people who expect every episode to be full of fights and encounters. Remember, when all is said and done, this is a single story. Lord of the Rings had to have "The Two Towers" to get to the ending. We have several key figures moving into new directions with all moving toward an unspecified center. We know for sure that Theon is regaining his humanity, acting heroically. Sansa is with him and alive and a pawn in the game, but necessary. Cersei is back at the castle. We are still in the dark about how much power she has. How have these religious fanatics affected the empire. The new queen is in the dungeon, being asked to confess. Dany finds herself in the hands of a warrior society similar to the one she left when becoming mother of dragons. The princess returns to the castle with Jaime, dead. And back home the evil women have formed a coup and murdered the bridegroom and his father. Arya is totally blind and is beaten with a wooden rod and asked to defend herself. I'm sure her role will come into focus again. And, of course, Brienne and Pod come to the rescue of the escapees and they swear their allegiance to Sansa once again. She now has purpose again and is a worthy foe to anyone. I, myself, am not even slightly disappointed with the setup. Have some patience, people.

This is the best Opening episode for a season

[GusherPop · 10/10 · 2 March 2023]

One of the best things about Game Of Thrones' return is that the show doesn't waste a single minute. Immediately, it picks up immediately where it left off last season, and that's all the way across the board. After a great tracking shot beginning at the Wall and sweeping over Castle Black, Jon Snow is the first thing we see, laying on his back in the frozen snow in a puddle of his own darkened, drying blood. Ghost howls mournfully from within his pen. The snow falls and winter isn't coming, it's definitely here, and the bodies are falling about as quickly as the snow. One of the more stand-out pieces of this episode involves, surprisingly, Sansa and Reek/Theon. Pursued by Bolton men and hounds, fleeing into the frozen forest, wading across icy rivers (which looked really uncomfortable to shoot), and, finally, getting cornered by men with hounds. Theon has worked hard to redeem himself, and that yields dividends in this moment. He offers to distract the hounds while Sansa flees. Of course, unlike breaking Sansa out of Winterfell, this is a bad idea horribly executed, but Theon deserves some credit for making a bold move. It's a really stunning heroic moment, with Brienne once again coming to the aid of the Starks when needed the most. It's a great fight scene, Brienne and Pod are appropriately heroic, and even Theon gets in on the action, saving a disarmed Pod from the last of the Bolton foot soldiers. It's also much needed, as it finalises Theon's redemption and actually gives Sansa a glimmer of hope to offset some of last season's Stark abuse. It's also some much-needed positivity in an episode where it seems like every storyline is heading towards the violence and disaster. Director Jeremy Podeswa crafts a great episode here, where he picks up where last season left off without too much catching up. It's always a thrill to come back to Westeros, but for every laugh-out-loud moment like Varys and Tyrion walking through Meereen or a spear through the back of Trystane Martell's head, there's something else happening that's just as ominous or unsettling. The episode has plenty of breathing space, and the balance between the various story lines is just right. The Night's Watch is probably the A plot, but there's not too much of it. Jon and the Night's Watch are headed towards violence, as Dolorous Edd is off to round up an army of wildlings to fight against the very traitors who put the knife to the Lord Commander and Davos is so desperate for help he's willing to turn to the very woman he's actively tried to kill, Melisandre. Ramsay hinges his future on his ability to recapture Sansa Stark, who Roose needs to hold the North against a potential Lannister army (and we've already discussed how that goes for Ramsay). Daenerys is captured by Dothraki, fated for a one-way trip to Vaes Dothrak with all the other Khaleesi widows, and her only hope is a grayscale-infected Jorah Mormont and Daario, who seems more interested in poking at Jorah than in saving his lover. Meanwhile, in King's Landing and in Dorne, royal blood is being shed as a continent prepares for all-out war.

Not good when "average" or normal enter your GoT description

[metaldiego_sc · 8/10 · 24 April 2016]

While still way above other TV shows in quality, GoT is slowly drifting from the epic GRRM storytelling to the eternal Deus Ex Machina for TV Shows.

The season premiere is predictable, pretty much uneventful (except for the closing scene) and is desperately trying to make us care for characters that simply have not had a good construction arc since their introduction. Tyrion and Varys steal the show for me though, I love 'em power couple.

Defined in four words: your average GoT episode... and for a work inspired in ASOIF, I think that is not OK.

Pleasantly surprised

[Leofwine_draca · 8/10 · 22 October 2020]

I approach Season 6 with some trepidation, remembering as I do that this series contained some of the very worst moments of the show, i.e. the long, boring and irrelevant scenes featuring Arya's endless training and the High Sparrow droning on relentlessly. However, I was pleasantly surprised by a re-watch of this first episode. It's typically strong, with great production values, and it has a scene in Dorne which is actually impressive - bloodily so. There's a wealth of action and suspense in the individual scenes to enjoy, and you can tell the cast are champing at the bit to get on with it.

Game of Thrones S06E01

[j_forbesy · 8/10 · 27 April 2016]

Finally, GOT is back! Unfortunately, that's as excited as I get with Game of Thrones. Don't get me wrong, I love the show. I came in quite late, only watching the last 2 seasons week to week. The problem I have with Game of Thrones as a whole is that it is only 10 episodes and I find within a few weeks of the season finale, my hype for Game of Thrones has died down. So overall my excitement for this episode wasn't as high as it would be in compared to other shows such as The Flash.

Into the episodes itself. I thought it was a well rounded episode that was a great way to bring us back into this story. With such a big gap, I always thought the first episode of the season was going to be them giving us a reminder of where everyone is at.

First of all, it wouldn't be Game of Thrones without some deaths. Already on the season tally are 2 major deaths. While they weren't the biggest characters, the death of Doran and Trystane Martell was the typical Game of Thrones violence. I think this was a pretty smart decision to kill minor characters first up to get us back into the brutality of the show.

I think the scene I really liked the most was the one with Tyrion and Varys walking around connecting with the people. Tyrion is by far my favourite character so it's always great to see him and I really like how he interacts with Varys. This really continues on from last seasons. I like how their humour bounces off each other and they have a sort of buddy cop sense to them.

I've also had to touch and everything at Castle Black. I will admit I'm a little surprise we didn't get a whole lot of Jon Snow himself. It was more based around his death and I thought everything with Thorne was pretty interesting in how he managed to explain the actions and actually make good sense of the events. This is the story that I'm most interested in just purely on Jon Snow so I really hope they don't drag anything out too much. My second favourite moment in the episode was Arya. I really enjoyed Arya's story so far and bringing the blind factor was really interesting. I like how in this episode they didn't touch too much on it but just showed how her training is still going to continue. That makes me really excited that we might have a Daredevil style character in Arya.

Finally, the Red Woman. I had a bit of YouTube going into this season just to refresh my memory on what has happened in the last season, and in this process I was really drawn into Ken Napzok and everything he has the say about the show. He really knows his stuff. One of the things he said was that he thinks the Red Woman isn't actually who we think she is. So that was really fresh in my mind so when it was revealed, I wasn't massively surprised. But either way, I thought it was a really nice reveal and if that thought wasn't fresh in my mind, I would of legitimately been surprised.

Overall, I thought it was a great introduction back into the show. It really continued off the back season 5. Even through I wasn't completely excited for this season, this episode really made me excited again. What makes me excited most is that there is still so much we don't know about this season. I really hope we get to see Bran next episode because by far he was the part of season 5 I missed the most.

8/10 - See more at thenotsonerdynerd.wordpress.com/

Quick pacing and strong character framework kicks off a new Game of Thrones season

[ryanjmorris · 7/10 · 25 April 2016]

I have to be honest; I was scared going into this episode. Not because of any emotional connection to Jon Snow as a character or his story, but simply because the show's last season was so bumpy that my faith as a viewer slipped a bit. I was scared that the show would resurrect Jon in this opening episode, ruining any kind of narrative direction that it could have earned otherwise. Thank the Gods, then, that by the end of "The Red Woman" Jon Snow is still very much dead. His death shook each and every viewer invested in the show, but for that impact to carry through into the new season we needed to understand how his death affects the people of Westeros as well, and that's exactly what this episode does. We see a broken Edd, devastated by the loss of a true friend. We have Ser Davos, a man whose new found loyalty has been shaken and whose purpose in the narrative is now at question again. Finally, we have Melisandre; the Red Woman herself. Jon's death hits her the hardest. Melisandre has had every ounce of her faith stripped from her over this episode and the season five finale, and "The Red Woman" allows us to truly see the impact this has on her. As she retreats to her chamber, she strips naked, removes her necklace, and we see the real her for the first time: a withered, ancient woman. It's a starkly beautiful sequence, as harrowing as it is surprising. Carice van Houten - one of my favourite performers on the show - gives arguably her best performance to date here. She is portrays this fragility masterfully.

The Wall was home to a variety of excellent sequences in this premiere, but the majority of the other subplots fared equally well. Arya's brief check-in served its purpose of updating us as to where she is now, and finished with the promise of a similarly violent sequence next week. Cersei's gutting reaction to finding Myrcella was a highlight of the episode; I've always adored Lena Headey as a performer, but she truly excelled here. Watching her walk towards the docks to greet her daughter only to cut away to her in her chambers later in the day was heartbreaking, which is quite an accomplishment given some of the monstrous acts that Cersei has performed. I also really enjoyed our check in with Dorne this episode, which surprised me greatly due to how dull and lifeless the Dorne arc was last year. This time around, though, it was benefited by a rapid change in pace. Watching Ellaria Sand murder Prince Doran was undeniably shocking, but it also worked in really emphasising how much Ellaria believes in her cause. She is willing to commit treason to gain revenge for what happened to Oberyn two seasons ago, and I felt that I understood her purpose in the show more in that one sequence than her entire arc last year.

Our brief time with Daenerys was also solid tonight. It's unusual seeing Dany in a vulnerable position after her consistent development into power over the last few years, but it works due to Emilia Clarke's committed performance and the inclination that she won't be in this position for very long. With two large dragons in captivity, and an even bigger one nesting nearby, it's hard to imagine the new Dothraki horde staying in control here: it will just be interesting to watch Dany work her way out of this. Some of the humour felt slightly forced in this story, and not a lot of it landed, but I can overlook a small quibble in an otherwise strong subplot. Brienne, Podrick, Sansa and Theon all also came together tonight in a thrilling sequence placed surprisingly early in the episode. This grouping of characters was easy to predict, but I have to admit to being surprised by how quickly this came about. I didn't expect Brienne to pledge herself to Sansa again until at least the midpoint of the season, so this quick pacing helped push along the episode in its earlier half.

Pacing was a general strength of this entire episode, really. Most Game of Thrones premieres attempt little more than a catch up of the last season's bloodbath, but here "The Red Woman" was content to cover a lot more ground. Perhaps it is down to this pacing increase, then, that it feels as if the show is beginning its end game. A handful of characters are now in places that could launch them into their resolutions, and for the first time in the show's history it feels as if we're a long way into this long, long story. Game of Thrones benefited last year from a tighter hold on character thematics, and it seems likely that that will be kept this year too: every character, here, is focused on a situation they've found themselves in whilst working towards something else. It gives each sequence a sense of purpose in the long run, as if every character isn't really that far apart despite the fact that they're on different continents. If this strong thematic purpose can be coupled with some powerful narrative development and a handful of climactic sequences, then we could be in for a hell of year.

Good start to a hopefully spectacular season

[sanderthijs44 · 8/10 · 25 April 2016]

The first episode of season 6 starts of right where season 5 left off. We see Jon Snow's dead body in the snow and we hear Ghost howling in the night. It's a good start for a hopefully spectacular season.

+

• Melisandre plot twist - The humour - Peter Dinklage, Conleth Hill - Sansa, Theon, Brienne scene - Lena Headey's great acting

_

• Dorne storyline wasted - Short episode - Some plot holes: disappearing hounds, magically appearing Sand Snakes, magically appearing Brienne, Melisandre without her necklace in season 4

Not the strongest of season openers

[ShaunAlanAnderson · 6/10 · 24 April 2016]

*Spoilers*

To be honest, in terms of story development the season 6 opener didn't give us much to go on.

I mean, Jon Snow is still dead, but it's hinted throughout the Castle Black scenes there may still be some sort of chance, so we're still at square one in that regard. I hope the storyline gets resolved soon whether he is resurrected or not because it's gonna overshadow the whole series and frankly if he is dead, just leave it there. They also teased Ser Davos taking on the Night's Watch with Snow's companions, which is probably why this was the most interesting part of the episode.

Theon and Sansa seemed to have sustained no injuries at all from jumping off the top of a castle but whatever right? Anyway they run into Brienne and Podrick after they come to their rescue and looks like they'll be sticking with each other for a bit which is cool but it was the only part of them we saw in the episode.

Tyrion and Varys still can't make me care about Meereen to be honest. There's this new enigma of someone who burned down all the boats which could be kind of interesting but for now it's just not swaying me.

Ser Jorah and Daario - I'm telling you the only reason they featured on this episode was to remind viewers that Jorah had greyscale, that's it. They reminded you in the 'previously' part of the show but they reminded us again and gave us nothing else of their characters.

Ellaria and the sand snakes taking control of Dorne looks interesting, well the Dorne scenes in this episode were more enthralling than any in season 5.

With Dany, it's still unclear whether she's really a prisoner or not because Khal Jhaqo promised he would not harm her but referenced a temple where widows of Khal's are made to go to mourn their husbands, so again with Jon Snow, kind of felt like square one.

Arya's story is her on the streets, still blind and now begging. Waif comes over and fights her and says "See you tomorrow." Maybe the most interesting line of the episode, I mean Arya is bound to end up back in the House of Black and White but it'll be interesting to see what her character has to overcome to get there.

Then to close the show (this episode seemed really short by the way), Melissandre while looking into a reflection takes off her robe and necklace to reveal a very aged, old and wrinkly woman. People think the necklace is preserving her age but there was a scene in a previous season where she's in the bathtub, not wearing it so if they go with that, nice plot hole we got there. But people, including me are still interested by the ending of her showing her true self, maybe it's one step to resurrecting Jon Snow, who knows?

Overall, I think a good amount of characters were introduced this episode to continue a storyline but it didn't really give us much in terms of story progression, like it doesn't progress much from the trailer, so hopefully it picks up soon.

"Is her ***** hair white too?"

[evanbro · 5/10 · 24 April 2016]

This episode was wildly underwhelming with realistically zero plot progression. I mean, in the span of 60 minutes all we saw were things already revealed in the trailer and nothing else. Let me start by listing a few grievances.

What was the point in giving Brienne the ultimatum last season b/w choosing to kill Stannis or saving Sansa? I mean usually the whole point of an ultimatum is that one thing is accomplished while another thing is abandoned, hence the point of an ultimatum. But no, Brienne the Deus Ex Machina is able to kill both Stannis, and conveniently arrive in the nick of time to save Sansa and Theon to help her gain more fan approval. Please give me a break.

Then they completely butchered Dorne's story line past the point of redemption. I was actually looking forward to how Doran would deal with the upcoming conflict that is bound to happen with the Lannisters. He is also one of my favourite and most enjoyable book characters. Instead, they completely butcher his character arc in favour of the sand snakes!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?

And then we have some really questionable dialogue. I mean "Is her ***** hair white too?" ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? That has to be on par with "you want a good girl but need a bad *****" line from last season.

I was also looking forward to the introduction of iron islands and Bran but I guess there is only so much they can fit into an episode.

The only reason why this gets a five from me is because it is still better quality TV than the vast majority of Television shows I've seen recently (I'm looking at you "The Walking Dead"). I mean, if you haven't read the books, than this episode was probably gold and you could care less about my opinion. But being someone who loves the novels from which the show is adapted, I can't help but feel a little let down and you have to try and understand where I'm coming from.

All in all, this was a pretty disappointing premier. This will probably be flagged down by everyone who can't take a little but of constructive criticism. But hey, if you read my review I thank you for your time.

Not a review.

[alyssapresnall · 8/10 · 13 January 2019]

Just wanted to correct something, one of the goofs states that when Jon's eyes are closed his fingers move. Those weren't his fingers, they were Eddison Tollet's fingers because just prior to closing his eyes he put his hand on Jon's chest where the blood was.