Game of Thrones Quick Episode Discussion/Review - Season 5, Episode 1, "The Wars to Come"

I've been pretty jazzed for this season of Game of Thrones, I think because I know a little of what may be coming, but mostly I'm back to not knowing, since a lot of the TV show has now outpaced the book. If you've been checking in here at all recently, you probably already knew that. You also knew that I like writing about things I enjoy. So, naturally, I'm going to take a crack at writing a quick post about each episode.

Now, other blogs will do step-by-step reviews/recaps of episodes. That's not what this blog is about. Really, what this blog is about is lists of five. So, I'm going to post five thoughts from each episode the morning after the episode. They won't be in any order necessarily, though I will number them just to make sure I get five each time.

1. Is Cersei just a complete ball of hate at this point?

Granted, listening to Loras Tyrell spout totally useless sympathies is enough to make anyone angry, but she basically spits on everyone she knows. Jamie, Lancel, Pycelle (obviously), and she visibly loathes all of the Tyrells getting comfortable in King's Landing. A ball of hate is an interesting character though, so I'm expecting good things out of the queen regent this season. I mean, not like D&D alignment "good" things, but entertaining things.

2. Stannis seems...happy?

I'm sure a large part of it is that he finally won a battle. After the massive defeat at Blackwater Bay, he had gotten sullen and angry, but after routing the wildling army, he seemed downright giddy by comparison. Or maybe he just liked the idea of threatening people. But he's basically grinning when he proposes the offer to Jon Snow of the wildlings joining his army. It's an odd look.


3. Daenerys is still kind of a bitch.

Look, I know you all love her, and clearly lots of people in the show think she's a great option to rule Westeros, but sometimes she can be a class A bitch. When she metaphorically slaps Hizdahr about being a queen and not a politician, his response is a perfect imitation of Sansa responding to Joffrey; that is, the way you respond to a powerful child when they're being stubborn: agree and move on. TV Daario is more likable than book Daario, which doesn't feel right, but at least somebody is putting Dany in her place...in more ways than one. Wink!

4. The Missandei/Grey Worm angle is getting tired...
...no, it's not getting tired. It's been tired for a while. At this point, it's excruciating.

5. Episode one is usually a window into what the season will be "about." So now we sort of know that.

There are pieces we haven't touched on yet; Arya will doubtless make an appearance, and we'll spend some time at Winterfell under new management. But we've got a lot of information at this point:

• Daenerys will have more trouble ruling Meereen, and controlling her dragons.
• Tyrion and Varys are on their way to visit Daenerys, and likely engage in a few dozen quip-battles on the way.
• A new Lord Commander will be decided, and something has to be done with the tens of thousands of wildlings still at the wall.
• Stannis aims to take Winterfell from the Boltons, presumably in the hopes of currying favor from the northerners still loyal to the Starks.
• Littlefinger's up to something, and we probably won't know for a while.

I loved the final moment of the episode. Jon's act of mercy was gratifying, and holy shit, Ciaran Hinds is a fantastic actor.

Tune in later this week for my next post, which will have absolutely nothing to do with Game of Thrones.