GAME OF THRONES (2011-) SEASON 7 EPISODE 1 TV REVIEW/RECAP

**** 

An eventful beginning of an end for ‘Game of Thrones’. Ed Sheeran can’t act though!

It was an hour of wine, choking and alliances for ‘Game of Thrones’. The first episode of the penultimate Season 7 serving a routine reminder that the end is nigh for TV’s best drama since ‘The Wire’ (2002-2008).
​
Undoubtedly there will be sobs from the show’s 25.1 million odd fans dreading the day their favourite mash of sex, politics and dragons draws its curtains for the last time.

Thankfully, that won’t be for another year (or two!) and this season opener suggested there’s still lots of life left in the world of Westeros.

After a Wildfire-bursting finale last year, Season 7 opened bloodier than blood. We were greeted with a “warm” welcome from Walder Frey (David Bradley). Yes. That creepy old crone was back in the fold; chastising fellow folk for not killing the Starks properly!

Frankly, Frey’s appearance would’ve left me fuming. Thank goodness it was just a ploy! Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) was spectacularly in place to put all right; albeit through spiking blackberry wine!

Back at King’s Landing, incestuous twins Cersei (Lena Headey) and Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) continued to connive; though their sibling bond is being sorely tested.

Cersei is Queen of Westeros now. Yet House Lannister’s Conservative grip on the Iron Throne is beginning to loosen as previous allies divert east.

East, of course, is the impending army of Daenerys “Mother of Dragons” Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) whose gigantic fleet is gaining strong support from a variety of sources. Her closest and most notable is Cersei’s lovably drunken dwarf brother Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) whose knack for strategic planning will play to perfection in the ever-nearing War to come.

It won’t be long before Daenerys (Dany) hits the shores of King’s Landing and takes back the throne that – she claims - is rightfully hers.

Cersei still has a couple of “friends” though. Her best bet at thwarting Dany’s sea-born threat comes in the form of slippery Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbaek) – the newly-crowned King of the Iron Islands!

From the steps of his strut to the throne room, there was something seriously “dodgy” about this dude!

After all, his first major line last season was “where’s my niece and nephew? Let’s go kill them!”. What a fine fella!

Not that Cersei’s a lovely lady herself! Perhaps the prospect of being wedded to Euron will be her path to victory. The rest of Westeros beware! We could have the latest “most contemptible couple” on our hands!

Up North, recently-declared “King of the North” Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) faced a far-greater threat than the leery Lannisters down south. That being the coming of the White Walkers beyond the Wall.

As the truthful heir to the land’s throne, Jon will find himself torn between the enemies of the south and those pesky ice zombies even further north. Thankfully, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) was swiftly on-hand to offer some sisterly advice to her black-bearded “bastard” bro.

I’m really starting to like Sansa too! Gone is the spoilt girl who chased after psychos like Joffrey and Ramsay in search of a “perfect man”. In her place, we have a dignified, fiercely independent heroine. Not beyond a few scheming tricks of her own!

It wasn’t all thumbs up this week. In fact, one scene had me burying my head in my hands...for all the wrong reasons!

Was there a need for that painful Ed Sheeran cameo? Not to mention, a dose of his whiney sing songs screeching through my computer screen!

For a brief 5 mins, I wondered whether I was watching a ‘Lego House’ audition for a John Lewis commercial! Perhaps that’s personal nit-picking though!

Good thing, Arya was around again! This time, she was having a jolly ole’ drink with a bunch of travelling Lannister soldiers (Mr. Sheeran being leader of the pack…amusingly enough).

It will be intriguing to see what our favourite tomboy assassin (Arya) gets up to in the coming weeks. My hope would be a welcome reunion with “m’ladyzoned” best mate Gendry (a character who has been rowing-boat for 4 seasons now!). Either way, there’s really nothing that girl can’t do!

All in all, a solid start for Season 7. Perhaps not the most “shocking” of instalments, but promising plenty to come.

No wonder I was covered in goosebumps when Dany announced “Shall we begin?”
​
Winter ain’t coming…winter is here!
​