The Wars to Come

I couldn't care less if the Series is diverging from the Literature: the books are not canonical texts (neither I would bother if they were); I couldn't care less about disputing which one is the chosen one: the source will always be the "best" because it was the first and it's the basis for the inspiration... well, that's subjective, but hey... I couldn't care less!

We readers and viewers have to understand that one thing is a book, another thing is an audiovisual work. Both have merits on their own and both use different languages to speak for themselves. What comes first comes first, but I couldn't care less. After all the author is blessing the series, even directing some episodes, and he is all smiles about its route, so... why whining?

What matters for me is quality, its juice - narrative with excellence. A story with layers and layers of reviving itself from the ashes, the mighty test of enduring when being hammered in flames, the plausibility of a character's metamorphosis (our own in life), the prevailing string of a persona's charisma: Shakespearean political plots vs. Humanism.

That's what you will find in this episode. Forget about hysterical plot turmoils, Hollywood agendas and frantic compasses. You'll only find a solid narrative with delightful clues for the "Wars to Come". When you reaffirm the protocols of seeing good old "Game of Thrones" again and for the 5th time the episode has already finished leaving you with a watery eye. Son of a...!

A lot of new character's purpose, story are moving forward and building up to the War to come.

I'm not one to expect a death/shock/twist every episode and can appreciate a slower more narrative approach in an episode, but this felt like neither and was more of a reflection on what has happened so far.

This reflection is felt by many of the characters after the last couple of episodes last season...it's not so much the hurt but rather the unknown and how many of these characters do not know how to move forward.

The most interesting scenes were played out at The Wall - with some great dialogue on pride vs. survival (I may have over simplified it here but it was quite powerful stuff, especially in how that climax played out). Also great was the scenes with Varys and Tyrion - this could have been played out with sympathy or regrets or feeling sorry but was very well shown by the main two leads. One of GOT's biggest strengths is the relationships between characters and this one should be great to see develop over the season.

In summary, a decent start but you do get the feeling that more is to come in the season!

Among many shortest sequences split in the episode, three draw my attention, firstly the whereabouts of the Kingslayer Tyrion Lannister who ends up at an port full safe at Pentos aided by Varys who has policy intentions over the future of the drunkard and prickly dwarf in near future.

At Meereen Daenerys is in trouble with the sudden murder of one Unsullied due he pays a visit of the brothel, something forbidden to them, also appears a petitioning about the comeback of fighting against free men, Daenarys refuses due it was a slave mortal games, otherwise will be the return of the primitive habits.

The mainly fact comes across at Castle Black where the King Stannis already receives the new about the death of the leader Tywn Lannister, in absence of it he decides be the right time to trigger a war, he asking for Jon Snow convinces the adamant Mancy Rayder kneel down at King Stannis and gather all savage tribes to fight for Stannis, what goes against his own principles, he denied under pain of death, whatever it may be.

Sadly along the series were losing many key characters, each season one here one there and the producers will making an everlasting replacing process, most probable it seems be the hidden secret of so undeniable success of the series.

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 2022 / How many: 1 / Source: Blu-Ray / Rating: 8.5.

As RavenGlamDVDCollector, I am not really here for the story, No, I am that pseudo stage-door-Johnny bringing flowers for the actresses. But I must speak up, give credit where credit is also due.

Much of my contributions for IMDb is usually before having seen the entire episode, and I noticed that other reviewer going "disappointing start, nothing significant happens" and at about midway, I kinda saw it was down from the previous season, thought this bit of me having jumped (however belatedly) onto the GAME OF THRONES bandwagon, full fury and throng, well, now it's past the apex anyway, like other reviewers say, bah...

Fortunately though, turns out, not the case...

This show does something IMMENSELY right. Look, I'm here for the actresses. I joined up for the beauty of Emilia Clarke. GAME OF THRONES was suggested to me by a friend who showed me a sneak preview in the knowledge I'd flip my lid. You get the picture, I'm sure you do.

But I've recently had one of my few deviations in my reviews when I praised Peter Dinklage's performance in that episode last season, his confrontation in court with Tywin. I've just realized that something similar happened here. This is all about respect.

Mance Rayder wasn't even that much liked by myself up till now, but I'm glad to report that on a freezing cold winter's morning (I call it my GAME OF THRONES Winter Is Coming The Wall Sensurround), here I sit with tears in my eyes. Like Ser Allister, when the chips were down, this guy really showed how to fly the flag.

You will have to watch for yourself. I'm not giving the outcome away.

A powerful word is invoked here. Respect. This show, through sparse scenes with a vast multitude of characters, achieves greatness beyond what I could possibly convey. These characters, whether good or bad, that doesn't matter... They're destined to be immortal legends in this modern classic.

Coming from me, here for the actresses, much, much impressed by these stellar performances, this is the HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.

So scr*w the other reviewer... :)