Game Of Thrones: Season 6 Episodes 1 & 2 Review
21:15
So after only one previous post I have already decided to break my own rules and will today be reviewing a TV show, not a film... After last night's absolutely epic episode, there is no way I could pass up the opportunity to give my opinion on the awesomeness that is Game Of Thrones. So here goes my review of the first 2 episodes: I will try and post a review of every episode this season every Tuesday so look out for those and let me know what you think.
Please be aware that I will be disclosing information from the book series A Song Of Ice And Fire that the show is based on, so if you don't want spoilers turn back now! (The show is now mostly ahead of the books anyway so I will mainly be guessing many theories.)
Episode 1
The day we'd all been waiting for finally arrived last week when Game Of Thrones returned for its sixth season. Only one question was on everybody's lips: IS JON SNOW REALLY DEAD?! As predicted, the episode really dragged out our agony by having our favourite bastard laid motionless for all to see whilst his friends defended his body from the Night's Watch traitors. But for all the tension, there were some extremely satisfying moments. Ser Davos emerged as my new favourite character with his unwavering loyalty, and Dolorous Edd provided a much needed bit of dark comedy: "If you were planning to see tomorrow, you picked the wrong room. We all die today.”
Over in Meereen, Tyrion and Varys continued with their japes as they struggled to rule Meereen, and Ramsay was as brutal as ever as he fed his lover to the dogs.
Finally of course, the big reveal in the episode was seeing the true form of the Red Woman, Melisandre, who is in fact a lot older than she appears! Whilst we have always known that she has powers, what with the spell with the leeches and surving a poisoning. We truly begin to see her fall apart in this episode as she comes to terms with the fact that she was wrong about Stannis and now Jon Snow. What will she do now with no-one to believe in?
Overall, the episode was the perfect season opener: lots of tension, drama and plenty to build on over the next 9 episodes.
Pros
- Although we only had a few brief minutes with her, seeing Arya blind and totally helpless was great television. Considering she went full Tarintino in the previous episode with Ser Meryn Trant, it's quite the transformation.
- Sansa accepting Brienne's oath. I genuinely nearly had tears in my eyes when Pod had to prompt her on the words, and the moment was especially satisfying when you think back on how long it's taken Brienne to find her. She set out to bring the Stark girls for Catelyn back in season 2!
- Daenerys' speech to her Dothraki captors was a great moment of girl power, and I love to see a bit of fiestiness after a whole season of fairly uninpring scenes in Meereen. However it seems that her situation is still fairly helpless as she marches on to Vaes Dothrak, but I'm sure Drogon will turn up and change that pretty soon...
Cons
- Everything to do with Dorne really. As a book reader it is quite frustrating to see a complex and exciting storyline being wiped out in a single episode. RIP the Martells. I strongly recommend reading the books to fully enjoy how awesome the Sand Snakes should have been.
- Why did Ser Alliser Thorne, Olly (grrrr) and the rest leave Jon Snow out in the snow after murdering him and then demand his body back? Surely it would have been easier to just drag him straight inside...
Whilst the big reveal for Melisandre was a shock, this has been hinted at in the books for some time, and it is known that she has the power to disguise a person's true appearance. In fact in the books, Mance Rayder is still alive because Melisandre disguises him as the Lord Of Bones.
Dorne has gone in completely its own direction however. On the page, Prince Doran is still alive and well in Dorne, and in fact has 3 children rather than just Trystane in the show. Doran is a seemingly weak character who in fact has grand plans for his family through an alliance with the Targaryens. He send his eldest son Quentyn to marry Daenerys, whilst his eldest child Arianne schemes to declare Myrcella the Queen over her brother Tommen in order to pit Cersei against one of her children. Trystane is the youngest child and is barely mentioned!
This being said, I love that the show has now got the freedom to go its own way with the story. Now we really will be truly surprised for every episode and can enjoy them without drawing too much comparison to what could have been.
My favourite reactions to the episode
the red woman has no master, the red woman is a free elf #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/ckZphqUdW0— søfía (@allofpurpose) April 25, 2016
Episode 2
There's only one thing to say after this episode... He's back baby! Whilst I never doubted it for a second that Jon Snow really was gone for good, I admit that I did shout with joy at my television when his eyes opened again. So much happened in this episode I barely know where to start. We lost two Lords, Bolton and Greyjoy, Tyrion seemed to tame two dragons and the High Sparrow delivered a menacing threat to Jaime Lannister. But I do have to focus on what the newly alive Jon Snow means for the story. Bring on next week where we will hopefully see the resurrected Lord Commander seeking revenge on his enemies and wanting to reclaim Winterfell!
Pros
- JON SNOW IS ALIVE
- Brand is back and already revealing truths to us like:
- Hodor could speak?! And is called Wyllis?! This is huge news guys and I need to know more. Hodor.
- Ramsay is now officially more evil than King Joffery as he feeds a newborn baby (his own brother) to the hounds in order to secure his lordship.
- Tyrion taming Viserion and Rhaegal was satisfying in so many ways: fantastic special effects, comedy and a brilliant script. Bravo the writers!
- I genuinely cannot think of anything bad to say about this episode!
I think every book reader knew that Jon Snow would be back in some form and were never truly worried. Throughout the whole series he is hinted as being the hero of the piece and it is almost certain there is so much more to learn about his place in the world. I think by now everyone will have heard of the R+L=J theory (if not, where have you been?) and it seems like the show is going to confirm that theory next week if we are lucky. This is huge, because if Jon Snow is half Targaryen, he is the Song Of Ice And Fire! Targaryen = fire, Stark = ice. That he is the son of Rheagar and Lyanna is hinted at so many times through the books it is practically a fact, but even more excitingly it is also a possibility that he is the 'prince that was promised' or 'Azor Ahai' that Melisandre thought Stannis was. In Melisandre's chapters, she tellingly thinks: "I pray for a glimpse of Azor Ahai, and R'hllor shows me only Snow."
Melisandre is also linked to Jon as she forewarns him of his murder: “The ruby at Melisandre's throat gleamed red. "It is not those foes who curse you to your face that you must fear, but those who smile when you are looking and sharpen their knives when you turn your back. You would do well to keep your wolf close beside you. Ice, I see, and daggers in the dark. Blood frozen red and hard, and naked steel. It was very cold."
Jon also has more powers in the books, as he is a warg just like Bran. He can warg into Ghost although he tries to prevent it. Now he has technically died, he can be freed from his Night's Watch and could maybe even choose to march on Winterfell to free it from the Boltons.
All in all, I am too excited to see the rest of this season and hopefully watch Jon Snow transform into the badass he was born to be! Is it Monday yet?...
My favourite reactions to the episode
Thank you, Melisandre. #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/qNmDo6sPO0— Game of Thrones Meme (@Thrones_Memes) May 3, 2016
0 comments