"Game of Thrones" Season 8 Episode 1 Review - Winterfell

Jon Snow and Daenerys marches back to Winterfell, hoping to woo the trust of the Northeners in the coming battle against the White Walkers.

- Arya and Jon Snow reunited

The premiere to the long-awaited (and mostly bittersweet) finale of a beloved franchise, Game of Thrones is back and it sets up an interesting continuity the shocking revelation of the last season — that is, Jon Snow being a Targaryen.

In this review, we will talk about every key parts of the first episode so, SPOILER ALERT!

Still here? Well, let's have a Reel Talk. 

Winterfell

The show begins with a scene of a boy (which we found later as Lord Umber), running to towards a marching soldiers as they enter Winterfell. In it were the Unsullied, the Dothraki and of course, Jon Snow and Daenerys riding a horse as they meet the judging eyes of the Northeners.

Arya Stark were among the crowd as she saw Jon Snow but waits for a moment later on to greet his closest brother. 

I like this scene because it mirrors the Season 1 pilot episode, wherein the Lannisters march to Winterfell and the Stark kids meet them for the first time. Of course, times have changed dramatically but I thought that this particular scene is a sweet homage to our introduction to Game of Thrones.

Meanwhile, Daenerys' dragons also arrived, giving a majestic but intimidating entrance to the cold North that brought panic to the commoners. Sansa, now the Lady of Winterfell saw this from the balcony and was amazed by her first sight of such fabled creatures.

Jon Snow, now at Winterfell, quickly came to give Bran a hug, but was confused by the cold shoulder that his brother gave him. Jon Snow introduced Daenerys to Sansa and Sansa being the critical and untrusting woman that she is right now, gave a snark head-to-toe look at Daenerys.

Personally, I am not on the Sansa fan club train, largely due to her poorly written arc, but I thought this scene feels like a needed moment for their first meeting, especially now that Daenerys is slightly becoming annoying with her whole unwaranted claim to the Iron Throne. 

Cut back to King's Landing, Cersei awaits for the arrival of the Golden Company accompanied by an army of Greyjoys lead by the self-proclaimed head of the house, Euron Grejoy. In his captivity was Yara as she was tied to a pole, whose purpose was solely to lure Theon back into the mix.

Cersei, disappointed by the lack of the promised War Elephants and the overall underwhelming number of ships that was brought to her, shunned Euron who was trying to have sex with her as a reward. She then gave a powerful speech, stating that of Euron wanted a whore, he could easily buy one, if he wanted a Queen however, he have to earn her. Minutes later, they made out anyway.

At first I thought that this scene contradicted Cersei's powerful lines but I also came up with a realization that maybe she purposely wanted everyone to know that she is banging Euron so if her pregnancy comes to light, she will use the opportunity to point the finger to Euron instead at Jaimie. Clever move on her part. 

Cut back to Winterfell, Daenerys met Sam Tarly, who at first had a cutesy comical introduction to one another but then later on becomes too emotional as the truth about the death of Sam's father and brother was revealed to him. 

This scene shows John Bradley's acting range as it's so convincing and I really felt bad at his family's demise at the hands of the, what seems to be, a mad Queen's obsession to power. 

Bran saw a sobbing Sam outside and reminded him that he should waste no time and bring the news about Jon Snow's origins once and for all, which he quickly abided and made Jon Snow flabbergasted by the greater responsibility that would change the entire plan and might destroy his lovey-dovey relationship with Daenerys.

Then we march back to Last Hearth, with Tormund, Berric and Ed, which now has just been ambushed by the army of the dead, and Lord Umber pinned to the wall and now reanmated as a White Walker, suggesting that the Night's King is near Winterfell. 

I like this scene as well as it makes us excited of what's the come but I thought it's a slight missed opportunity of not showing those mutilated hands at the wall move in a zombie fashion. That'd be cool if they did that, but hey, it is what it is.

Let's Be Reel

As a premiere to an already short finale, I feel like nothing truly grounbreaking happened to this episode. Some emotional reunion and some flat ones, mixed in with some cutesy corny flying with the dragons scene for fan service and nothing more. 

This episode feels too conforming to TV formula, as expected, and you can tell the show runners themselves has run dry of meticulously complicated arcs other than the epic (at least what I expect it to be) final battle with the Night's King army.

I am reviewing and rating this episode with the level of quality that this show has proven in the past and with that in mind, I can honestly say that this premiere is one of the weaker ones. 

But it's Game of Thrones, and we are still excited! Episode 2 can't come soon enough.

6/10

Reel Points

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