Grade: B+
So it's interesting to hear stories about the White Walkers at this stage in the show, after having seen the entire show. I remember the intrigue and suspense around them was amazing, and a very good reason to return to the show, year after year. While it was almosy frustrating that they were teased and then slowly revealed, it did make for compelling TV, and a great overall mystery. Won't comment too much on the White Walkers themselves until I get to the episodes that involve them some more, but their introduction through the ominous dialogue here does stand out already.
I suppose the talk of what lies to the far north comes with the fact that this episode is our first big introduction to the wall and the Night's Watch, which Jon Snow is joining. While the storylines around the wall and its characters often don't interest me as much as what's going on with the Starks, and what's going on in King's Landing, it is still an important part of the show. I love how it visually stands out from some of the other settings, and surprisingly, the special effects involved with showing the scale of the wall still hold up quite well, almost a decade later.
King's Landing- though glimpsed in the pilot- is more formally introduced here, too. We get a sense of the politics behind the scenes, as well as the way in which the people behind the official ruler of the realm can often run things to a greater extent than said official ruler. Being introduced to interesting yet mysterious new characters- including Littlefinger and Varys- can feel overwhelming to a new viewer, but it kind of works. We're already engaged with the Starks at this point, and Ned, Arya, and Sansa are all supposed to feel a little out of their comfort zone upon arriving in King's Landing. It's entirely possible that the viewer is made to feel this way too, to have us further empathise with these particular characters.
It's also nice to see Daenerys start to show some power and authority within the Dothraki clan. It's one of the first signs that she isn't helpless and naïve, as she may have initially seemed. Her clashes with Viserys- where she humiliates him- are always fun to watch, and already she's showing herself as something of a force to be reckoned with. It could be seen as more or less the start of a memorable yet perhaps controversial arc for her character; I know some would disagree with me there, though.
Also worth discussing is the introduction of Syrio, Arya's sword fighting mentor. I'm slightly torn, because while he's a hugely entertaining and memorable character, he does sort of clash with the world that's been established. I think he feels like he's out of The Princess Bride, which while also a fantasy story, is an entirely different kind of fantasy story. Still, he's entertaining and of course instrumental in kick-starting Arya's character arc where she progressively becomes tougher and less interested in 'traditional' feminine norms. So it's just a minor thing in all honesty; not really a complaint, just an observation.
The lack of action and violence isn't noticeable in this episode, because the dialogue, backstories, and character introductions are all extremely engaging. Game of Thrones continues to build its world with fantastic and engaging detail, all the while populating it with interesting characters who each have rich histories and backstories. While it's not spectacular in a traditional sense, it is immensely satisfying and well made as a drama, and at times, that's honestly just as engaging as the biggest and flashiest battle scenes HBO's money can buy.
So it's interesting to hear stories about the White Walkers at this stage in the show, after having seen the entire show. I remember the intrigue and suspense around them was amazing, and a very good reason to return to the show, year after year. While it was almosy frustrating that they were teased and then slowly revealed, it did make for compelling TV, and a great overall mystery. Won't comment too much on the White Walkers themselves until I get to the episodes that involve them some more, but their introduction through the ominous dialogue here does stand out already.
I suppose the talk of what lies to the far north comes with the fact that this episode is our first big introduction to the wall and the Night's Watch, which Jon Snow is joining. While the storylines around the wall and its characters often don't interest me as much as what's going on with the Starks, and what's going on in King's Landing, it is still an important part of the show. I love how it visually stands out from some of the other settings, and surprisingly, the special effects involved with showing the scale of the wall still hold up quite well, almost a decade later.
King's Landing- though glimpsed in the pilot- is more formally introduced here, too. We get a sense of the politics behind the scenes, as well as the way in which the people behind the official ruler of the realm can often run things to a greater extent than said official ruler. Being introduced to interesting yet mysterious new characters- including Littlefinger and Varys- can feel overwhelming to a new viewer, but it kind of works. We're already engaged with the Starks at this point, and Ned, Arya, and Sansa are all supposed to feel a little out of their comfort zone upon arriving in King's Landing. It's entirely possible that the viewer is made to feel this way too, to have us further empathise with these particular characters.
It's also nice to see Daenerys start to show some power and authority within the Dothraki clan. It's one of the first signs that she isn't helpless and naïve, as she may have initially seemed. Her clashes with Viserys- where she humiliates him- are always fun to watch, and already she's showing herself as something of a force to be reckoned with. It could be seen as more or less the start of a memorable yet perhaps controversial arc for her character; I know some would disagree with me there, though.
Also worth discussing is the introduction of Syrio, Arya's sword fighting mentor. I'm slightly torn, because while he's a hugely entertaining and memorable character, he does sort of clash with the world that's been established. I think he feels like he's out of The Princess Bride, which while also a fantasy story, is an entirely different kind of fantasy story. Still, he's entertaining and of course instrumental in kick-starting Arya's character arc where she progressively becomes tougher and less interested in 'traditional' feminine norms. So it's just a minor thing in all honesty; not really a complaint, just an observation.
The lack of action and violence isn't noticeable in this episode, because the dialogue, backstories, and character introductions are all extremely engaging. Game of Thrones continues to build its world with fantastic and engaging detail, all the while populating it with interesting characters who each have rich histories and backstories. While it's not spectacular in a traditional sense, it is immensely satisfying and well made as a drama, and at times, that's honestly just as engaging as the biggest and flashiest battle scenes HBO's money can buy.