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GAME OF THRONES: S3, Ep.1: Valar Dohaeris: Spoilers, 3 Clips, TV Spot

Rose Leslie Game of Thrones Season 3

Game of Thrones Season Three Spoilers, Clip, TV Spot. HBO‘s Game of Thrones: Season 3, Episode 1: Valar Dohaeris spoilers, 3 TV show clips, and ‘All of Us’ preview video have been released for the George R. R. Martin-inspired TV series. The person reviewing the first episode of season three was sent a screener of the first few episodes of the new season.

Review, impressions, and spoilers of Game of Thrones: Season 3, Episode 1: Valar Dohaeris:

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What follows are my initial, mostly-non-spoilery impressions of the premiere episode of what looks to be the best season yet of Game of Thrones.

What jumps out at you right away is that this show has raised the bar yet again, when it comes to the visuals. The locations, the sets, the costumes, the effects… everything just looks top-notch. And it is all gorgeously shot. This is easily the best looking show on television and, in my opinion, nothing else even comes close.

In the premiere episode, we pick up where we left off last season, with Sam running from the White Walkers and their army of undead. The scene is intense and atmospheric and ends in a way that I didn’t expect. It leads into the opening credits, which feature King’s Landing, Winterfell, Harrenhal, Dragonstone, the Wall and Astapor. The rest of the episode is dedicated to catching us up with the various players in the story, including those in King’s Landing, on Dragonstone, beyond the Wall and across the Narrow Sea. Many of these scenes do double-duty, not only catching us up on past events but also setting things up for later in the season. It is great to watch the chess pieces being moved into position yet again and what that may mean for the storylines this season.

And what of those storylines? Every one wants to know how closely this season will hew to A Storm of Swords. Well, I’ve obviously only watched 1/10th of this season, so my perspective is limited. But it seems that they are still following the main storyline, but are taking a different path to get there, at times. There are a number of new scenes in this episode, which weren’t in the book, but which very well could have been. Others that are wholly different from what was presented in the book, but are there to streamline events and characters. Most of the changes I am okay with and seem like smart adaptation choices, although there is one in particular that I wasn’t a fan of.

One thing I noticed about the season three premiere, compared to last year’s premiere, is it seems that the writers have made a conscious decision to spend more time in each story, even if that means shunting a few characters off into the second episode. I think that was a wise choice. Although I missed seeing some of those characters, I felt like the episode as a whole had more substance and wasn’t just a glorified clip show, popping in on each character so we can see what they’ve been up to.

Although this episode is laying the groundwork for much bigger events to come, I still found it highly entertaining. There are a number of fantastically well-acted scenes as well as some real “geek-out” moments for fans of the books (I especially loved getting our first glimpse at one of Westeros’ few non-human races!) and it all ends with an exciting action sequence and a thrilling reveal…

I am fully invested in this show and can’t wait to see what the rest of this season has in store. I expect I will be pleasantly surprised by some of the changes and also ecstatic at seeing some of my favorite characters and moments from the books come alive.

Winter has come, yet again!

Game of Thrones: Season 3’s cast includes:

Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Michelle Fairley (Catelyn Stark), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Aidan Gillen (Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish), Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Richard Madden (Robb Stark), Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark), Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) and Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon).

Additional returning series regulars this season include: Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Rory McCann (Sandor “The Hound” Clegane), Conleth Hill (Varys), John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), James Cosmo (Commander Jeor Mormont), Stephen Dillane (Stannis Baratheon), Carice van Houten (Melisandre), Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth), Sibel Kekilli (Shae), Rose Leslie (Ygritte) and Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell).

Returning recurring cast members on GAME OF THRONES this season include: Natalia Tena (Osha), Joe Dempsie (Gendry), Oona Chaplin (Talisa Maegyr Stark), Julian Glover (Maester Pycelle), Kristian Nairn (Hodor), Finn Jones (Loras Tyrell), Esmé Bianco (Ros), Gemma Whelen (Yara Greyjoy), Hannah Murray (Gilly) and Art Parkinson (Rickon Stark).

New cast members for the third season include: Ciarán Hinds (Mance Rayder), Diana Rigg (Lady Olenna Tyrell), Mackenzie Crook (Orell), Clive Russell (Brynden “The Blackfish” Tully), Nathalie Emannuel (Missandei), Kerry Ingram (Shireen Baratheon), Paul Kaye (Thoros of Myr), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Jojen Reed), Ellie Kendrick (Meera Reed), Richard Dormer (Beric Dondarrion), Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane), Philip McGinley (Anguy), Tara Fitzgerald (Selyse Baratheon), Tobias Menzies (Edmure Tully), Anton Lesser (Qyburn), Ian McElhinney (Barristan Selmy), Michael McElhatton (Roose Bolton) and Noah Taylor (Locke).

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We previously published these articles on season three of Game of Thrones:

Watch the Game of Thrones: Season 3 TV show clips,  ‘All of Us’ preview video, and leave your thoughts on it below in the comments section. Game of Thrones: Season 3 will premiere on HBO on March 31, 2013. For more Game of Thrones information, videos, photos, and reviews, visit our Game of Thrones Page, subscribe to us by Email, “follow” us on Twitter or “like” on Facebook.

Game of Thrones S3 Ep. 1 Clip: Dany and her dragons

Game of Thrones S3 Ep. 1 Clip: Tyrion and Cersei

Game of Thrones S3 Ep. 2 Clip: Jaime and Brienne

Game of Thrones S3 “All of Us” preview video

Source: Winteriscoming

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Rollo Tomasi

Rollo Tomasi is a Connecticut-based film critic, TV show critic, news, and editorial writer. He will have a MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University in 2025. Rollo has written over 700 film, TV show, short film, Blu-ray, and 4K-Ultra reviews. His reviews are published in IMDb's External Reviews and in Google News. Previously you could find his work at Empire Movies, Blogcritics, and AltFilmGuide. Now you can find his work at FilmBook.
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