Frigid equations welcome winter

Game of Thrones, Season 7, Episode 1
Dragonstone
2.5/5

The end is nigh, and you can feel it with how Game of Thrones’ season seven premiere is paced. Dragonstone is a satisfying first episode, given that we’ve had to wait for over a year for the new season to be shot and packaged off. And the urgency of it being the penultimate season shows, with a taut storyline flowing through the hands of director Jeremy Podeswa.

As winter arrives, a sort of chill has descended on relationships in the Game of Thrones universe too. King in the North Jon Snow, and a battle-worn Sansa Stark trying to find a middle ground over moving their plans ahead sound off warning bells that all’s not well with the Stark brood.

The other relationship that seems to be undergoing a major upheaval is Jaime and Cersei Lannister’s. The last of their lot — at least ‘the ones who matter’ — the duo have clearly not had any closure over Tommen’s suicide. And Jaime is more than aware now that Cersei, who has lost everything, will stop at nothing to make the situation work for her.

Elsewhere, Arya Stark meets a surprise appearance on the show as she goes about in her mission of striking names off her infamous list. Arya now seems to be seasoned enough to know the ways of the world, and this will probably come in handy to her in the next few episodes.

One of the more delightful things about the last season had been the emergence of strong female characters, and this is something that’s spilled over in season seven too. Bella Ramsey, who plays the fierce Lady Lyanna Mormont may be all of 13, but has lent a tremendous amount of authenticity to her character. Lyanna has fast become a favourite with many, and that doesn’t bode too well, given how the show works.

Possibly one of the weakest segments of the episode includes Samwell Tarly’s dull, mundane routine of cleaning bedpans and assisting the maesters in the citadel. In the midst of the humdrum, you do get a glimpse of a rather interesting character, waiting to make a comeback though.

And, like most promotional material has shown, Daenerys Targaryen has reached Dragonstone. She’s now all set to make the next move from the ancestral seat of the Targaryens, with Tyrion and Lord Varys by her side.

The episode is gratifying, and it sees some tight writing, as well as some witty dialogues, with the best being reserved for The Hound and new-despot-on-the-block Euron Greyjoy. The latter’s appearance is bound to change a lot of equations in the South, and it’s a downright delectable prospect now.

All in all, the episode keeps the season’s cards close to its chest, but gives you a glimpse enough to know that it has the potential to be one of the strongest yet.