TV Review: GAME OF THRONES: Season 1, Ep. 1: Winter Is Coming

Game of Thrones, Season 1, Episode 1 – entitled Winter is Coming – is the premiere of an HBO TV Show series that is probably the best show to be brought to the small screen this television season, equal in quality to Showtimes’ The Borgias (2011) and exceeding Starz’s Camelot and AMC’s The Killing. Where Camelot has tone issues, drifting from levity to heavier issues, Game of Thrones‘ tone is constant like The Borgias (2011) and The Killing.

I read the first few chapters of A Game of Thrones and I can say that much of its complexity has been washed away but the meat is still present, enough so that the narrative is not infringed upon. I do wish that the (hiding in the) tree and crystal sword scene had been included and not marginalized but with all adaptations, things will be lost.

The history behind the characters, the way they talk about the past and dead characters was done well, especially the part about Eddard Stark (Sean Bean)’s dead sister, as were the transitions from one kindgom or realm to another. One such clean transition was between Winterfell and across the Narrow Sea to Pentos.

There were three note-worthy scenes in the Winter is Coming episode of Game of Thrones.

The first scene is the one in which Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) is introduced. Now that is how you introduce a character in the midst of an amorous situation. It may remind the viewer of an episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer in which Robo-Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is “servicing” Spike (James Marsters).

The Tyrion intro scene is an illustration of how nudity is not used because its in vogue, to be salacious or for shock value but because is appropriate and of utmost importance to the reality of the situation.

Tyrion’s dialogue belies a large intellect and that dialogue is some of the most interesting in the episode. It is probably one of the scenes the viewer will watch the most in the episode due to its auditory and visual stimulation.

The second scene is in Pentos between Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and Viserys Targaryen (Harry Lloyd) and then between Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa). Daenerys’ brother Viserys does not give a damn about her. She is a pawn to him, not even human, the definition of the slang term “tool”. The viewer will be be amazed at what he says to her face and how he touches her. When Daenerys is alone with her new husband Khal, and she is quietly crying, Khal not understanding a word she says, the viewer is bound to feel even more sorry for her because she doesn’t want to be married to Khal and definitely doesn’t want him to touch her. Unfortunately for her it was their wedding night or in this case, sunset and he would have her “bend” to his will, literally.

The third scene is the incestuous coitus between Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) and Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). I had read about this from the synopsis of the series but I had no idea who the relationship was between. The best parts of the scene were when Jaime admits to be being in love with his sister and then he pushes Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) out an extremely high window. If Bran survives the fall and tells his father Eddard, he will go berserk.

What did you think of the first episode of Game of Thrones? I thought it was wonderful.