Game of Thrones: Episode 1 ("Winter is Coming")

Game of Thrones: Episode 1 (“Winter is Coming”)

I had high hopes for the HBO Game of Thrones mini-series since the first time I heard about it, so I was beside myself with glee when I started watching the first episode. Since I've read the novel, I pretty much know who the characters are and how the story develops... and since I love the novel, I'm pretty much a biased fangirl who shouldn't be even attempting to write an unbiased review.

So here, for your entertainment are my thoughts on and reactions to the first episode... with visuals! There are a total of 44 Game of Thrones screencaps in this post (counting some image macros that I made), divided into a number of pages to make viewing easier for all three of you who are reading this blog.

Of course, it goes without saying that this post will be chock full of spoilers.

Wow. Just... wow. The Wall is impressive.

I also found Waymar Royce (Rob Ostlere) to be impressive. Too bad he doesn't last very long.

Holy crap, White Walkers are ugly motherfuckers.

...okay, this one isn't ugly ugly, but that's just creepy.

Combine great music with out-of-the-box visuals and what do you get? A winning opening credits sequence. I admit I was expecting that the opening credits for Game of Thrones would be as amazing as the opening credits for The Tudors, but this is great in its own right.

I love this shot of Winterfell and the way the red leaves of the Weirwood tree pops out against the otherwise gloomy gray atmosphere.

Isaac Hempstead-Wright is adorable as Bran. Which I find to be odd because I never imagined Bran to be that cute. I like how Jon Snow's relationship with his half-siblings is emphasized through little moments like this.

Arya! I really do think that Maisie Williams is the perfect Arya. Oh, Sophie Turner is brilliant as Sansa too, but I don't like Sansa.

Casting Sean Bean as Ned Stark never even crossed my mind back when I was speculating who would play him in the series. But now that I look at him, he looks exactly like the Ned that I imagined. Well, except that his features are less pointy. The Ned in my head had a sharper nose, methinks.

I could not, for the life of me, figure out who that old guy with the ponytail on his chin was. Turns out it's Ser Rodrik Cassel. And beside him is Theon Greyjoy. ...wait. What? Theon Greyjoy with brown curls? And looking like that? SACRILEGE!
Yes, if you must know, I am a Theon Greyjoy fangirl. Regardless of how stupid he is in the books.