On April 12, HBO’s hit fantasy drama “Game of Thrones” returned for a new season. Based on the “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series by George R.R. Martin, the show follows the never-ending conflict over the coveted Iron Throne in the fictional land of Westeros.
Now in its fifth season, the show’s characters find themselves in new lands and faced with new choices—all against the usual backdrop of swordplay, dragons and gratuitous HBO-nudity. For those who have yet to see the premiere, beware of spoilers ahead.
The premiere picked up where last season left off: Tyrion (Peter Dinklage, “X-Men: Days of Future Past”), black sheep of the wealthy, power-hungry House of Lannister, is on the run after murdering his manipulative father (Charles Dance, “The Imitation Game”). In the North, Jon Snow (Kit Harington, “Pompeii”), the House of Stark’s resident bastard and member of the Night Watch, comes face-to-face with the piously bonkers Stannis (Stephen Dillane, “The Tunnel”), the scorned, surviving member of the House of Baratheon.
Meanwhile, Jon’s half-sister Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner, “The Thirteenth Tale”) finds herself under the guidance of the creepy and scheming Petyr Baelish (Aidan Gillen, “Charlie”) as she escapes the wrath of Tyrion’s ambitious sister Cersei (Lena Headley, “300: Rise of an Empire”). On the eastern continent of Essos, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke, “Dom Hemingway”), Queen of Dragons and exiled heir from the House of Targaryen, tries to keep her newfound kingdom under control while also taming her maturing, ever-vicious dragons.
The episode moved along uncharacteristically slow for a show otherwise known for its shocking twists and violent turns every five minutes. In a refreshing change, the premiere spent most of its time introducing new directions for its major players while also allowing them to deal with last season’s traumatizing developments. For a show bursting with characters and storylines, it was nice to see the focus narrowed on just a few characters still reeling from last year’s events.
This character-driven episode featured standout performances from Dinklage and Headey as feuding siblings Tyrion and Cersei Lannister. Dinklage perfectly captured the forlorn Tyrion, who finds himself utterly hopeless after killing his father. Usually playing up Tyrion’s comedic snark, Dinklage instead channeled his character’s darker side in a brilliant, understated performance. Headey, meanwhile, commanded the screen with her subdued coolness as Cersei. After losing her father and son last season, Cersei teeters on the brink of a breakdown, which Headey masterfully incorporated into her portrayal.
In another noteworthy change, the show mostly steered clear of its typical objectification of women’s bodies and instead featured more male nudity—though, it still featured a full-frontal naked woman. While objectification is wrong to do to anyone, it was nice to see the show making some effort to equal out its prevalent nudity. In fact, the episode seemed to tone down the sexual content (as well as the violence) overall, focusing on character development instead.
Other highlights included the stunning and subtle use of special effects. Known for its spectacular sights and exotic locations, the show has consistently delivered gorgeous imagery. This episode was no different. In one wonderfully rendered scene, rebels in Essos tore down a massive statue atop a magnificent pyramid. Later in the episode, Daenerys’ dragons were at their most terrifying in a sequence straight out of a horror film.
While some fans might be disappointed with the episode’s slower pace and restrained use of sex and violence, the premiere did a good job re-introducing audiences to the complex world of “Game of Thrones.” The show is always at its best when it can surprise viewers—perhaps all of this is simply the calm before the storm.
The coming weeks will find Tyrion venturing east to meet Daenerys in what will undoubtedly be the most exciting and interesting team-up thus far (until now, Daenerys has never interacted with any main characters from Westeros). In the capital, Cersei will have her authority as mother to the king challenged by Margery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1”), the bride-to-be of her son Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman, “The White Queen”). Also expect to see the return of warrior-in-training Arya Stark (Maisie Williams, “The Falling”), Jon and Sansa’s sister, who was shamefully absent from Sunday’s premiere, as she ventures to the mysterious land of Braavos.
Five years in, “Game of Thrones” continues to engage audiences with layered characters and storylines. Known for its bold moves, the show has the set the bar for itself exceptionally high. But if its past is any indication of its future, “Game of Thrones” will only keep delivering one of the most captivating stories on television. “Game of Thrones” airs Sundays at 7 p.m. on HBO.
