I can't add to some of the wonderful reviews by predecessors. I am reacting emotionally to something that has utterly captivated me. I am watching this series because of all the hoopla about it and all he awards it keeps winning. It just wasn't available to me until now. I am so pleased to have now entered into this masterpiece. All the forces are in play. The snot nosed king sits on the throne, showing us that he has no mercy but a venomous sociopathic nature. His mother sits on his right, perhaps wondering if this boy will some day turn on her. We have his betrothed, who, in an early scene, may have intended pushing him off a bridge, several stories high. She is Ned's daughter and is aware of what a mistake she has made in promising fealty to this lizard. We have rebel forces all over the place, including the horse people. Wait for the stunning conclusion of this episode which is a game changer. Jon Snow impulsively goes off to fight and brought back by his loyal friends, but his patience is rewarded. We have Bran still out there, helpless, but aware. His mother is engaging forces with her son. Tyrion has been given a leadership position by his father (Ned's former position of the Hand of the King), who has expressed nothing but disdain for him in the past, and then starts out by disobeying one of the few requirements. When he and Joffrey come together, it's going to be very interesting, to say the least. Father wields a great deal of power. So here we go. This is going to get better and better.
