After over a year of waiting, Game of Thrones has finally returned, and as the title of the episode tells explicitly, it begins with the arrival of the delegation of the south--Daenerys, Jon and their teams--to Winterfell. Naturally, this means most of the episode was dedicated to reunions between characters, some who haven't seen themselves for a pretty long time. The quality of the episode was therefore, largely dependent on these reunions and I'll be building my review around them, especially as there were precious few new info to be gleaned (I didn't like that much).
So, let's go!
1. Sansa, Jon... and Daenerys
The first, and the one of the most anticipated. Perhaps I shouldn't call this a reunion exactly: Sansa and Daenerys have never met before. Nevertheless she was such a big part of this scene I can't leave her out. Sansa's entire reaction to Jon's return circles around the presence of Jon's new southern Queen, to whom he has bent the knee and who she bears absolutely no love for. Though the words sid were courteous enough, the undertone was clearly filled with suspicion, distrust and unwelcome, and none of the characters were in any illusion otherwise. Sansa quickly picks up that Jon and Daenerys are sleeping together though, and queries him on it.
2. Jon and Bran
This reunion actually happens before all the others. Jon's first act as he entered Winterfell was to come down from his horse and give his little brother, who he hadn't laid eyes on since the very 2nd episode of the series, a big hug. However, it doesn't take long for him to notice that there's something off about Bran and the boy wastes no time in turning their attention to the fact that the Night King and his army have broken through the Wall and are hading down south.
3. Sansa and Tyrion
Sansa's and Tyrions's reunion was cordial enough, but as Tyrion is the hand of a queen she hasn't exactly taken to, it had the same sort of underlying tension the first had. They are both changed, Sansa most of all, and Tyrion is slightlly jarred by this new version of the Stark girl, especially when she tells him to his face that she 'used to think he was the smartest man alive'. Their last time together is mentioned, of course: Joffrey's wedding, which Tyrion sees as a complete disaster (it was the event that ultimately led to his imprisonment and his killing of his father) and Sansa sees as her liberation.
4. Arya and Jon
Arya took her time in coming to see Jon, choosing to meet him alone in the godswood rather than with all the rest. They still have their bond and share a heartfelt hug, but it's immediately apparent Arya's insights have changed and matured when she sides with Sansa over the matter of the Queenhood of Daenerys. Most noticeably though, she chooses to hide her true self from him, stating she has used needle 'once or twice' and not disclosing her new skills as an assasin.
5. Theon and Yara
Theon and Yara meet when the ship Euron holds her on arrives at King's landing and he comes on board to rescue her. They don't say a word--Yara gives hima massive headbutt for abandoning her in the first place, but then shows her forgiveness by taking his hand and lifting him back off the floor.
6. Cersei and Euron
A meeting of villains. Euron arrives Kings Landing with the Golden Company and brings their leader to Cersei in the throne room of the Red Keep. He's still making his advances, and while Cersei loathes him, she agrees to allow him bed her in what shows as a horribly cold bargain.
7. Arya, Gendry and the Hound
Arya meets up with Gendry in his foundry and the Hound's there. Their reunion is brief. The Hound reminds Arya how she heartlessly left him when he was dying, but though they show no emotion, they are both obviously pleased to see the other alive and well. Gendry and Arya pick up on their dynamic immediately. Arya shows him her Valyrian steel dagger and he teases her about it. He also reveals what he has found out about his heritage as a son of Robert Baratheon and she shows him a diagram of what she wants: a custom made weapon of dragonglass.
8. Sam, Daenerys and Jorah Mormont
Daenerys seeks out Sam in Winterfell's library with Jorah Mormont to thank him for healing her bear of Grayscale. The scene begins well enough... until Sam let's it slip that he's a Tarly and Daenerys informs him quite coldly of the fact that she had both his father and his brother executed by Dragon Fire. This breaks Sam and he rushes out of the library immediately to grieve and mourn.
9. Jon and Sam
The previous reunion leads directly to this. Shaken from the meeting with Daenerys, Sam seeks out Jon in the crypts of Winterfell. Jon is at first pleasantly surprised--he had thought Sam still at the Citadel. However, Sam wastes no time in telling Jon about his truth: he is Aegon Tarygarean and the rightful heir to the throne. Jon tries to oppose this, but immediatley the words reach his ears, he already knows it's true.
10. Bran and Jamie
The episode ends as Jamie finally arrives at Winterfell. At first, he is pleased. But then, he sees Bran, the boy he killed, waiting for him and a look of horror crosses his face.
It's been a real while since I posted here, so I guess this is kind of the start of a new season for me myself! I'll be doing more Game of Thrones, of course, and catching up with the Arrowverse shows.
