What I’m Watching: Game of Thrones (Season Finale)

Game of Thrones: Season 5, Episode 1 “The Wars of Come” (B+)

Talk about a show where there’s a lot going on, and where we might not even see characters for an entire season since too many other things are happening at the moment. This was a relatively intense premiere that brought back up some forgotten elements and sent a few major storylines in some fascinating new directions. I’m most excited to see the alliance brewing between Tyrion and Daenerys, two unlikely challengers to the throne who could be great for each other. Tyrion is going to have to be careful to choose allies that won’t turn on him, and Daenerys has to contend with unrest in her kingdom and the mysterious and disconcerting murder of one of the unsullied, in a brothel of all places. Jon getting an audience with Stannis and Davros was intriguing, as is the idea not of the Night’s Watch fighting for him but instead the Wildlings. Evidently, the Wildling “King of Lies,” as he was dubbed by Melisandre, was not eager to compromise his values to fight for another people, and he had to suffer the brutal fate of being burned at the stake. Opening with a flashback to a young Cersei talking to a witch about an eerily accurate fortune helped ground the subsequent funeral for her father, and it seems like she really has wrested control following his death, with Jaime sheepishly standing by and Margaery plotting a subtle rebellion that could take ages to manifest itself. It’s sure to be another dense and impressively packed season!