As the most anticipated season of Game of Thrones yet, everyone has been buzzing with hype leading up to this premiere, and I had very high expectations. The opening scene was grand, the comparisons to Ned's sword Ice and his subsequent downfall to Lannister pride and Tywin, standing menacingly as his tosses the symbolic wolf hide into the the fire. His conversation with Jaime set up my favourite character for a new season of twists and turns. We see him reject his heritage and rightful place at Casterly Rock, perhaps sensing that he belongs elsewhere. Much more to come from him. Nice to see the Dreadfort in the opening sequence, it is a joy to watch each time.
Pedro Pascal as the Red Viper is magnificent, his initial scene portraying him as the seductive deviant and dangerous conspirator he is. His explanation and his excellent line "The Lannisters aren't the only ones who pay their debts" is great exposition to give us some backstory on the Martell and Lannister clash. Elaria Sand played by Indira Varma was equally seductive, yet I found the accent quite wanting.
As with a big budget show like GOT, they are generous with their CGI of the dragons. I wouldn't have it any other way; they are very lifelike in their grace and ferocity. I hope they don't stress how dragons can't be 'tamed', seeing as Targaryens have done so before, even if it is part of Dany's struggle.
Unlike many I was fond of the old Daario, who had arrogance written all over his face, though this one is quite charming in his own stead. New Daario is much nicer, though giving flowers is a bit cliché. The one handed slaves hint at Dany's campaign to get a lot more difficult for her.
Let's just say they took a different direction with Shae from the books and it could be a vast improvement, or it could be disaster. Her oblivious nature to the politics of the situation is hard to watch. Sansa is wonderful in laying out the bare bones of her tragedy. She seems to be on a whole new level of maturity and that hopefully will see fans grow on her.
Cersei is as vivacious in this new season as she was in the last. The conflicting 'come in' and 'go away' was a great way to show how at odds the pair now are.
Leslie Rose as Ygritte brings so much more than the books that I am glad to see more of her. The Magnar of Thenn is amongst the most meaning characters we have seen yet, towering over Tormund.
I didn't like how they cut up the relationship between Jon and Robb, even though they rarely got any lines with each other. His reaction to the RW was not as good as Sansa's. I hope people noticed Janos Slynt at the Wall, as he is the first sign of the capital trying to influenced the Night's Watch. Master Aemon is as wise as ever, only rivalled by the Queen of Thorns. She again captivates the screen with her cutting cynicism and wit. You can see shades of this in the beautiful Margaery.
Again, the standout actor in Gleeson is despicable and I love it. The appearance of the White Book of the Kingsguard I hope signals one of my favourite scenes. The Hound and Arya make for great dialogue and dynamic. You can sense Sandor already warming up to her. The actor for Polliver was a bit expressionless, but McCann more than made up for it with his carefree insults and ferocity in the fight scene. And what a way for Arya to make her next kills, absolutely brutal. Mirroring the Lommy scene and what we didn't get from the book (Tickler interrogation stabbing).
Other than that, what else it there to say? We didn't even see the whole cast but you can be sure they Littlefinger and Varys are plotting behind the scenes, and Stannis is never far away. Great start to the season.
9/10
Pedro Pascal as the Red Viper is magnificent, his initial scene portraying him as the seductive deviant and dangerous conspirator he is. His explanation and his excellent line "The Lannisters aren't the only ones who pay their debts" is great exposition to give us some backstory on the Martell and Lannister clash. Elaria Sand played by Indira Varma was equally seductive, yet I found the accent quite wanting.
As with a big budget show like GOT, they are generous with their CGI of the dragons. I wouldn't have it any other way; they are very lifelike in their grace and ferocity. I hope they don't stress how dragons can't be 'tamed', seeing as Targaryens have done so before, even if it is part of Dany's struggle.
Unlike many I was fond of the old Daario, who had arrogance written all over his face, though this one is quite charming in his own stead. New Daario is much nicer, though giving flowers is a bit cliché. The one handed slaves hint at Dany's campaign to get a lot more difficult for her.
Let's just say they took a different direction with Shae from the books and it could be a vast improvement, or it could be disaster. Her oblivious nature to the politics of the situation is hard to watch. Sansa is wonderful in laying out the bare bones of her tragedy. She seems to be on a whole new level of maturity and that hopefully will see fans grow on her.
Cersei is as vivacious in this new season as she was in the last. The conflicting 'come in' and 'go away' was a great way to show how at odds the pair now are.
Leslie Rose as Ygritte brings so much more than the books that I am glad to see more of her. The Magnar of Thenn is amongst the most meaning characters we have seen yet, towering over Tormund.
I didn't like how they cut up the relationship between Jon and Robb, even though they rarely got any lines with each other. His reaction to the RW was not as good as Sansa's. I hope people noticed Janos Slynt at the Wall, as he is the first sign of the capital trying to influenced the Night's Watch. Master Aemon is as wise as ever, only rivalled by the Queen of Thorns. She again captivates the screen with her cutting cynicism and wit. You can see shades of this in the beautiful Margaery.
Again, the standout actor in Gleeson is despicable and I love it. The appearance of the White Book of the Kingsguard I hope signals one of my favourite scenes. The Hound and Arya make for great dialogue and dynamic. You can sense Sandor already warming up to her. The actor for Polliver was a bit expressionless, but McCann more than made up for it with his carefree insults and ferocity in the fight scene. And what a way for Arya to make her next kills, absolutely brutal. Mirroring the Lommy scene and what we didn't get from the book (Tickler interrogation stabbing).
Other than that, what else it there to say? We didn't even see the whole cast but you can be sure they Littlefinger and Varys are plotting behind the scenes, and Stannis is never far away. Great start to the season.
9/10