The opening of HBO’s new fantasy series, “Game of Thrones” begins just as the George R. R. Martin books it was adapted from. Three men of The Night Watch, out on a solitary patrol, are ambushed by something ethereal and menacing. One barely escapes and attempts to deliver a warning about what he saw… A warning that falls upon deaf ears. What’s interesting about this scene is that it has no real cohesion with the rest of the premiere, but fans of the books will recognize the importance of including it, and hopefully new fans will surmise this is a story full of mystery and narrative complexity, and that no detail should be overlooked.
And we’re off!
The thrust of episode one gains momentum as next we’re introduced to one of the main families in “Game of Thrones”, The Starks. Sean Bean is perfectly cast as Lord “Ned” Stark, you’ll likely remember him from Lord of the Rings, though the opener does well to establish him as a sober and dependable father figure. He’s asked to be “The King’s Hand,” second in command to the king, though it’s instantly apparent the political realities behind this “honor” will be tricky for him to maneuver. “Game of Thrones”, at its core, is a story of political intrigues, where life isn’t fair and power must be seized.
The problem with writing about this first episode is it’s the beginning of an epic, and the start of epic tales never make much sense. It’s like the first note of a symphony, or the first bite of a nine-course meal. There’s a hint of what’s to come, but just a hint, and loving or dismissing anything based on a hint is more or less idiotic.
Still, there are a few snap judgments we can make, kudos to give, and slight concerns to note.
On the positive side, it’s nice to see they’ve really nailed the tone. “Winter is Coming” sings throughout the entire series, and that sense of dread pervades the show opener. Still, there are pleasant moments too. The Stark children get their Dire Wolves, The Lannister family is just as diabolical as you’d think, with Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) in particular playing pitch perfect. I was also happy to see Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) introduced so early, and I think new fans to the story will find her story captivating. Lastly, the opening credits must be lauded, they’re expository yet full of artistry, a quick primer on the lands and geography that will take center stage.
The negative side, I’m sorry to say, includes the accents. The brogue can be tough to discern, and I wonder about the ability of those who haven’t read the books (full disclosure: I have, and I loved ’em) to ascertain what’s happening. This is a monstrously big story and I wouldn’t want people to get discouraged because they couldn’t quite grasp the dialogue. I found myself explaining certain points to a fellow watcher who wasn’t familiar with the story, but I’m fairly certain HBO won’t have a reader in every house.
So far, as series introductions go, we can probably call this one solidly good. Not great, but worthy of the series, and possibly portending something great. Ideally, we’ll have years with this series, as the source material is rich and bountiful. “Game of Thrones” has commenced, let us hope it proves worthy of the crown.
I have included a promo for the series below to go along with the clip from tonight’s episode above. You can also browse our gallery of 50 images from the show as well as four more clips from tonight’s episode right here. If you’re watching, I’d love to hear your thoughts on tonight’s series premiere.
