The “Game of Thrones” season three premiere has finally arrived. After waiting for a dreadfully long nine months, the premiere did not disappoint; it was filled with humor, mystery, tension and of course sex—staples of the series.
What was necessary for this premiere, and thoughtfully delivered, was plot development. This third season is so highly anticipated that a solid foundation is essential. For this reason, the premiere was not as epic as the build-up was, but nonetheless, it brought exactly what it needed to the table.
The story continued in the same fashion as the previous seasons and books, in which the storyline switches between the points of view of different characters. The season two finale ended on an enormous cliffhanger, so season three naturally began where the previous season left off. While it’s not entirely clear what exactly has happened between then and now, the opening scene depicts Samwell Tarley (John Bradley) running through the snow until he encounters a White Walker. There is a slight disconnect between how the show left Samwell and how he is seen now, but it is sure to become evident in an upcoming episode.
As each character is reintroduced, the story begins to take its shape. Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage, “Elf”) is always entertaining to watch with his wit and cunning. His interactions with Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey, “300”) and Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) are so in tune with the book that it’s almost frightening. Dinklage embodies his character with such passion and curiosity that it is hard not to like him – even as a Lannister.
Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) is also featured, and is on the move. Audiences finally get to see the “Mother of Dragons” set sail. At the end of the episode, Daenerys gets caught up in a shocking turn of events which viewers who have not read the books will never see coming. It is also a clue to those that have read the series about the speed to which certain events will occur.
Jon Snow (Kit Harington), a fan favorite, is also well represented in the premiere. When audiences last saw Jon Snow, he had just “joined” the ranks of the Wildlings. The anticipated appearance of Mance Rayder (Ciaran Hinds, “John Carter”), King of the Wildlings, also occurs in this episode as he is introduced to Jon Snow. Taken directly from the book, the meeting between Jon Snow and Mance sets up their relationship quite nicely for the upcoming season.
Although not a new character, Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer, “Captain America”) steps into a more prominent role within the season premiere. As the new betrothed of King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), Margaery seeks to make herself more “queenly” by appealing to the people. Her interactions with Cersei Lannister also point to future tensions and conflicts—always intriguing to see.
In such a densely plotted series, not everything can fit into one episode. Audiences are still left wondering about certain characters, including Arya Stark (Maisie Williams), Jamie Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, “Mama”) and Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen). There are numerous other minor characters that are not shown in the premiere episode, but this is the price paid to enjoy such a rich story.
Additionally, there are so many characters it can be confusing to keep track of all of them at times. This season will not help with the confusion as many more new (and old) characters are introduced into the storyline. Knowing George R.R. Martin, author of the book series, when new characters are brought in, some have to be taken out. If this holds true, season three is in for some shakeups.
Season three stands to be the best season yet for “Game of Thrones,” and the premiere definitely demonstrated that. When it comes to adapting a book series into a TV series or movie, there is a very fine line between making small changes while retaining the storyline and changing it drastically to fit time slots and budgets. “Game of Thrones” masterfully walks this line and keeps the story as true as possible. Are there changes? Of course. The premiere itself was full of changes. However, these changes don’t distract the audience from any major plot points and are mostly meant to speed up the storytelling process.
This series has something to offer everyone, and with the season three premiere this has become even more evident. Whether you’re a fan of Lord of the Rings, a good mystery or any political intrigue story, “Game of Thrones” is the perfect series to watch. First- time viewers are encouraged to begin back at season one, but be warned: Once you start watching, you won’t be able to stop.
