Reviews on Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 1

The beginning of the end is here.

And if you somehow missed that this was the final flavour, you must have been living in a cell nether the Cerise Proceed because I don't think I've ever seen such intense anticipation for a popular culture upshot since, well, the final season of Breaking Bad. Only Game of Thrones is even more epic and final night was the height of can't-miss-TV.

But was the episode worth the insufferably long wait, or are we just likewise emotionally invested to be completely objective, at this point?

Major spoilers ahead: In addition to talking about the latest episode, comments most the content of George R.R. Martin'southward ASOIaF books are also fair game, merely please no snark about the pace of his writing, etc.

"Togetherness" was certainly the theme of tonight's episode.

You'd think with all of the massive amounts of expiry on this show, the cast would exist pretty small by this flavour, simply, nope: there are a lot of people to reunite nether ane very grim cause.

I was so focused on Jon Snow and Arya reuniting, I forgot to fifty-fifty remember near how some of the other meetings might go, like Sansa and Tyrion. I had completely forgotten that they were possibly technically yet married, depending on your feelings on consummation and if there was time for an officially recognized annulment. You knew Sansa and Dany weren't going to immediately be besties, and I'thou with Sansa on her feelings of frustration with Jon Snow and his new queen. I loved how Jon seemed a flake put out that Arya thinks Sansa is the smartest person she knows and that she and Sansa are keeping their family in mind first.

No affair what your blood says, you are Ned Stark's son, Jon Snow, and that isn't a full compliment.

Jon's familial bonds might be tested when he really thinks through the ramifications of existence a Targaryen and heir to the Iron Throne, only that didn't happen this evening. I was a bit surprised and relieved that Jon learned of his royal lineage then quickly. Though information technology was fun to sentinel Jon ride a dragon for the first time knowing what he did non—so nosotros weren't equally scared for him as he was. (I notwithstanding preferred the dragon hunt scene in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire more, though, or the Reign of Fire archangels scene, if we're ranking dragon flight sequences.)

I'd be happy to come across a just woman and an honorable homo wednesday. Nothing lasts. Dany still actually needs everyone to bend the knee, and it's hard to like her when she'south so damn aloof. But, priorities, and all… She and Sansa do seem to really take the bigger picture in mind, and are both coming at their current catastrophe with good intentions.

Courtesy of HBO

I really didn't think at all about Samwell coming together the queen who executed his male parent and blood brother, ahead of the premiere. I wasn't quite expecting Sam to react with those tears—simply, of grade he would, considering Sam is a caring person and families are complicated. Oh, damn, that's not skillful for Jon Snow's cause. Especially since, oops, Dany didn't tell Jon she'd executed the Tarlys and Jon can't tell Sam that she was wrong to do it. I love all of these unintended emotions and consequences.

I really, really wasn't thinking about Bran seeing Jaime again. It was kind of weird how Bran's Three-Eyed Raven condition makes him basically a robot played for plot exposition and comedic timing—was he just sitting exterior at Winterfell overnight, waiting? But it's interesting that at that place might be a tiny, petty, human function inside Bran afterwards all, and perhaps it still wants some justice for what Jaime did to him in the beginning e'er episode.

If even Bran has some drama to piece of work through, you know information technology'southward going to exist hard for allies to work together, let lonely for Cersei to debate with her enemies, which now includes her favorite brother. Hey, at least Euron makes a plausible father for her unborn kid. I doubt that little fish is going to alive long plenty to take a paternity examination on Maury—and thanks the gods, because Euron is the worst.

Lastly, everyone's favorite wildling is live! As if such a memorable man as Tormund could be killed offscreen along with a bunch of faceless extras. I'chiliad glad we got an answer on that in this installment, because, damn, there was a lot packed into a surprisingly curt episode. I idea all of the final episodes were going to run over an hour—this one clocked in at 54 minutes, although later on episodes in the flavour will be closer to 80 minutes in length—and I was bummed, albeit in the best way, that information technology was over and then fast.

Thinking on information technology a bit more, I'grand also concerned that whatsoever corporeality of Thrones this flavor will not experience like enough to get out everyone happy.

Courtesy of HBO

Terminal thoughts:

• Understatement of the yr (so far): "It had its moments." —Sansa on the Majestic Wedding.
• Lyanna Mormont's wait when she saw Dany. You lot could tell how disappointed she is with Jon Snow. Like, boy, you didn't cull the North, you chose a dragon babe.
• Gray Worm and Missandei in the North looked *real uncomfortable* so far from abode. I'm glad they have each other.
• Bronn had a bad night at the brothel. On the one hand, he really likes Jaime and Tyrion, but he's always insisted that he values money more than. I don't see this ending well for the sellsword, simply perhaps he'll become a man of award, besides, before his end.
• I'm wondering what Tyrion'due south arc will be this season. His story's been as well thin since he met Dany. Volition information technology be more family drama? Will information technology be new love? A new job starting Westeros' commencement parliament?
• I loved how we began the beginning episode of the final season with a callback to the commencement episode of the kickoff season. Little Lord Umber running and climbing through the castle at Winterfell to watch the approach of a visiting male monarch looked so much like Arya waiting for Rex Robert. I hope Umber'south grisly "death" at the manus of the Night King isn't a foreshadowing of Arya'southward fate.
• I didn't forget about Theon. I just don't care.
• Next week: Jaime must reply for more than past crimes; Tyrion looks ready for battle.

Theresa DeLucci is a regular contributor to Tor.com covering Tv set, book reviews and sometimes games. She'southward as well gotten enthusiastic near television for Boing Boing, Wired.com'due south Geek'southward Guide to the Galaxy podcast and Den of Geek. Ship her a raven via Twitter.

citation

myershandep.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.tor.com/2019/04/15/game-of-thrones-season-8-episode-1-review-winterfell/

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