Winterfell is the best first episode of any season of Game of Thrones since the first. While it does demonstrate some symptoms of Game of Thrones First Episode Syndrome (too much touching base, too little action), the action itself is so moving and and so emotionally charged that one easily forgets the bits that drag. As Daenerys arrives at Winterfell, and Jon tries desperately to hold the living together, there are scenes of heartbreak, terror and perfect happiness, but also ample evidence of the conflict that we all knew was coming.
Please bear in mind that this review will contain spoilers.
Political Status Quo.
Winterfell.
When watching Winterfell, it is impossible not to think of Season 1, Episode 1. The similarities are obvious, from an excited young boy climbing to get a better view, to Arya’s absence, to the music; the same that was used to announce Robert Baratheon’s arrival in Winterfell. The differences, however, are excruciating. Sansa’s coldly civil reception of an obviously nervous Daenerys is light years away from Ned’s hearty reception of Robert and the quantity of hugging and back-slapping that took place between them.
As the episode progresses, it becomes more and more evident that to Northerners, Daenerys is an invader who has taken their kingdom from them (Lyanna Mormont’s reaction and Lord Glover’s betrayal being cases in point). This is, of course, made all the worse by Daenerys’ lack of qualms about this. Seasons 6 and 7 were devoted to the concept of Northern unity, first against the Boltons, now against the White Walkers. The fact that the very existence of the living could now be compromised by Northern pride and stubbornness is devastating, and further decreases the living’s chances of survival. Jon might have succeeded in bringing Daenerys and her armies North to fight. He is still the only one, however, who seems to understand the extent of the threat.
King’s Landing.
One of this episode’s greatest surprises was Cersei’s refusal to have sex with Euron Greyjoy with the admittedly badass line ‘if you want a whore, then buy one. If you want a queen, earn her’… before succumbing, with a mix of anger and resignation. Why? What is she up to?
Cersei now has 20,000 men of the Golden Company who could easily murder all the Greyjoys and take their ships. Let’s face it: if a loon like Theon can sneak onto an Ironborn ship and release Yara, all without getting caught, then it should be easy for professional mercenaries. So why is she keeping Euron around? Is it because the Ironborn are the only allies she has left? Does she seek the whetting of her sexual appetite, as she did with Lancel? Is all this part of some greater scheme? Or was this interaction simply a way to remind us, through Euron’s comment ‘I’m going to put a prince in your belly’, that Cersei is supposed to be pregnant, but is somehow still drinking wine?
It could be far simpler, however.
Best scene: Sam and Daenerys
The interaction between Sam and Daenerys is a small masterpiece unto itself. We see Sam’s initial shyness and desire to please, and how touched Daenerys is by them. Sam’s request for a pardon for stealing books from the citadel is all happiness and adorableness. Then it all comes crashing down at the news that Sam’s father and brother were executed by dragonfire, and Daenerys is abruptly confronted with the human face of her actions: a sweet, innocent man falling to pieces in front of her. John Bradley delivers an astounding performance through raw facial expressions and devastating command of Sam’s attempts to remain polite without crying, while Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys remains cold and aloof, even though we know she probably doesn’t feel that way.
Is this paving the way for Olly 2.0?
Best scene: Honourable Mentions.
Jon and Sam in the crypt.
A subtle scene that is far from the shitstorm that many fans, myself included, expected it would be. Kit Harington demonstrates exemplary restraint as Jon attempts to deal with the myriad conflicting emotions within him and to deny what is happening. This scene is one of many in this episode in which Jon the King must wrestle with Jon the Man, and while it is clearly Jon the Man who emerges here as a hopelessly, brutally-conflicted human being, I believe that it is ultimately Jon the King who will win out. He isn’t going to let Daenerys take the Iron Throne. He will take it because he will ultimately believe that the Iron Throne is his responsibility.
The Last Hearth.
An exquisite example of how quiet horror and the gory stuff can make a powerful combination, this scene is spine-tinglingly atmospheric. The silence whispers out at us as Tormund and Lord Beric move through the Last Hearth; the lack of light, the banners hanging on the walls as though waiting for someone, the snow softly falling. When they run into Dolorous Ed and the Night’s Watch, it’s almost a relief: they’re in a miserable, dangerous place, but at least they’re not alone. Then they see what the Night King has done to little Lord Umber.
The nailing of Ned Umber to the wall, surrounded by the spiraling limbs of whichever poor souls happened to be to hand, echoes White Walker behaviour in previous seasons. The spiral shape, however, will also be familiar to us from the cave paintings, made by the Children of the Forest, that we saw last season. What were the Children of the Forest trying to tell the descendants of the First Men?
I forgot all about that, however, when the unfortunate child’s blue eyes flickered open behind Tormund and this newly-created wight screamed like something from the mouth of hell, the continuation of the screams and the writhing limbs during the burning making the scene all the more horrifying.
Characters.
Reunions.
Arya with the Hound, Gendry and Jon.
Arya spent much of the episode off-screen. I must say that if I had this many emotional reunions to make, I would probably do the same thing.
I found Arya’s reunions with the Hound and Gendry respectively to be rather awkward, and not in a hilarious or endearing way. I know that people get awkward when they haven’t seen each other in a while and parted under horrible circumstances, but flip, aren’t they all going to die anyway? I am exceedingly pleased, however, that there is no obvious indication that Gendarya is going to happen simply because so many people want it to (I am not one of them). The reunion of Arya and Gendry is soft-spoken, with some mumbling about each of them having changed, but also a pleasing return to their m’lady-related discourse from early seasons.
Jon and Arya’s reunion was by far the most moving and emotional of the three, and I wept for most of it. There was so much about it that was lovely: their obvious love for each other, their similar clothes, their similar hairstyles, their conversation about Needle, and the setting in a place where Southerners always feel like outsiders.
I was curious, however, about Arya’s defense of Sansa and the former’s remarking on the obvious friction between Sansa and Daenerys. We didn’t get to see much of what Arya thinks of Daenerys, but I’m guessing it’s not good. Could this change?
Jaime with Bran.
It only lasted for a minute, but God. What a scene. No sooner has Jaime taken command of his new self that he must confront the horror of what his previous self has done. We will no doubt see more of this next week, but Bran’s calling Jaime ‘an old friend’ and waiting for him in the freezing cold is extremely interesting. He should blame Jaime. He should judge him. But will he? Does he?
Also, where’s Brienne?
Daenerys and Jon.
Daenerys trusts Jon enough to let him ride one of her dragons. Jon trusts her enough to give it a go. They fantasise about leaving the world behind and kiss deliriously in front of waterfalls. Both appear to be blissfully and supremely happy, which on Game of Thrones always means, ‘time to die.’ Which one first?
Daenerys.
In this episode, Daenerys displays behaviour that can only be called concerning. Utterly unsympathetic to the feelings of the Northerners and unwilling to place herself in their shoes, Daenerys, amongst other things, also coldly tells Sam the truth about his family and is more concerned with Sansa respecting her as a queen rather than as a potential sister-in-law. This naturally makes me think of Tywin Lannister’s statement that ‘a man who must say ‘I am the king’ is no true king’. Could it be that Daenerys, having left Meereen only one season ago, has already become unaccustomed to being hated and resented? Or is it the fact that those doing the hating have no qualms about showing it, and disdain Southron manners?
The fact that Daenerys can display such stubborn callousness (Sam) and tone deafness (Sansa) only plays into the fears that I have had about her since the Tarly’s. When she feels isolated and cornered, as she does now, will she confuse tyranny with strength and forget to check her worst impulses?
Sansa.
Some of the least perceptive corners of the Internet are saying that Sansa is rejecting Daenerys’ overtures of friendship because she is in love with Jon. How simplistic.
Sansa has just taken her home back from an invader who violated her. She has spent her adolescence as the prisoner of others; treated like a sweet little bird in a cage. She has just seen Jon named King in the North, and believed that this would finally mean independence, being able to live at Winterfell again, cut off from the rest of the world, free. With Daenerys’ arrival, she is no longer the mistress of Winterfell, and is once again subject to the whims of a queen. No wonder she’s feeling annoyed, and is channeling Cersei while she’s doing it.
This is a pity, as I believe that Daenerys and Sansa would make excellent friends. They are of similar ages, and have much in common. Perhaps Jaime’s arrival will do something to break the ice between them. Both are very likely to want him dead; perhaps they could bond over that.
Bronn.
Can I just say first of all how thrilled I am that he’s still here?
It is hopeless to attempt any prediction of what Bronn will do with Cersei’s ‘commission’. True, he has something of a bond with both Lannister brothers, and Tyrion has said that he will double any sum that is offered Bronn. Bronn, however, has also said that he would slaughter a baby girl for the right amount of money. Could failing in this mission be one of the few good things he has done in his life?
Thoughts on Next Week.
I’m worried about my beautiful Jaime.
Jaime meeting Daenerys and the Starks was never going to be an easy thing, but I must confess to being somewhat puzzled by Daenerys’ assertion that she and Viserys told each other bedtime stories about what they would do to their father’s killer. In the course of her quest to be Queen, Daenerys has welcomed men who served Robert Baratheon. She has not murdered Varys for his role in the assassination attempts against her; she accepted the help of Ser Barristan and (admittedly after a long time) forgave Jorah Mormont’s betrayal. She has also made repeated statements about her father’s evil and the sins he committed. So while she may indeed be a tad miffed that Jaime killed Aerys (he was her Dad, after all), I’m unsure as to why she has to publicly fantasise about torturing him and locking him up.
Both Starks who are shown in the preview – Sansa and Bran – appear cautiously aloof, a strong contrast to Daenerys (at least until Arya arrives). So what’s going on?
AND WHERE’S BRIENNE?
The Season 8 trailer showed Jaime fighting on the walls of Winterfell, which seems to imply (unless it’s a trick) that he will get out, or be let out, at some point. Nonetheless, Daenerys is under a lot of pressure and keen to prove to the North that she means business. Executing Jaime would be an excellent step towards earning their loyalty, as well as their fear.
The trailer for next week also seems to suggest that the characters will be fighting by night, and presumably sleeping and preparing by day. This is narratively stronger (both in terms of pacing and atmosphere) and, crucially, creates a ticking clock towards the final episode.
What happens on the first morning that the sun doesn’t rise?
LADYGILRAEN 