The Red Woman

If you look back on previous seasons, Melisandre has been given an exclusive preview of various plot developments but like any classic 'tinfoil theory' on a message board, has misinterpreted them. Despite this, the ending of this destined to be classic episode is a window into Melisandre's true powers and tells us that while human vice has threatened her clarity of perception, she does have a divine purpose as her centuries old survival proves.

Perhaps those who doubted that Melisandre's blood magic ritual in Season 3 could have set the Red and Purple Wedding events in motion will now reconsider the vital role of this character in clearing the chessboard for the true war to commence. With all of these engrossing plot lines in motion, it seems to me that characters like Melisandre and Bran Stark have always served as the essential players in a much deeper story, so whilst the Littlefingers and Varyses manipulate the game of thrones, Melisandre envisions the song of ice and fire in which the great game will eventually be consumed.

Through actions both hideous (the sacrifice of Shireen) and heroic (her validation of Jon Snow), Melisandre has moved through the series as a serene constant: highly organised and efficient and inured by an enormous responsibility. With her elegant gravitas, Carice van Houten has manifested the mystical potency of this saga as few others could and if the ending of this stunning episodes proves anything, it is that she has excelled in making the mythical heart of the story come alive for us all.

This seasons start begins the story well with new and unexpected events. I feel a tad underwhelmed with some of it, however I feel there is so much more to come. As usual, I am left dangling with the future of characters and revelations brought by the end of the episode, with hope for more to come. First episode of the season, and I'm intrigued by what I'm seeing. Now that we've left the realm of the books, (I will admit I've yet to finish the 4th book of late), and now the story may or may not be true to what Martin wants the story to go. It still carried the weight of what has already been brought to the screen and I would like to think they will continue to do the series justice. Season 5 was rather weak in certain places so Season 6 should hopefully rise to the occasion.

Last night, I saw the season premiere of Game of Thrones and from what I've got, it's really good. There are two problems I do have with this episode. I'm not going to spoil anything to those who haven't seen it, so I'm just going to point out the flaws and positive aspects.

The plot progression does get very slow and didn't advance some of the story lines left by the fifth season. Also, some of the characters were given little to do and weren't fleshed out enough. Maybe things will get better throughout the sixth season, but only time will tell. For now, everything else turned out fine.

The performances are still good, especially Lena Headey who shines with her emotional performance, the script is fine for the most part, the directing is very solid, the scenery is still gorgeous, the sets and costumes are still lavish to look at, and the music score from Ramin Djawadi is very beautiful. So, overall, not great, but a good start to Season 6. :)

Usually Game of Thrones start in first gear and usually pick up speed. But in season 6, they directly started in fourth gear. They started with all guns blazing bang bang. The episode touched upon almost all the sub-plots.

The best moment for was when Cersei broke down in front of Jamie (not in a sadistic manner). In that moment a character as strong as Cersei started believing in prophecies. This showed her humane side. Because like all of us she also start believing in prophecies, Gods and monsters in our darkest times. Couldn't have asked for a better start of the show!!

One of the best things about Game Of Thrones' return is that the show doesn't waste a single minute. Immediately, it picks up immediately where it left off last season, and that's all the way across the board. After a great tracking shot beginning at the Wall and sweeping over Castle Black, Jon Snow is the first thing we see, laying on his back in the frozen snow in a puddle of his own darkened, drying blood. Ghost howls mournfully from within his pen. The snow falls and winter isn't coming, it's definitely here, and the bodies are falling about as quickly as the snow. One of the more stand-out pieces of this episode involves, surprisingly, Sansa and Reek/Theon. Pursued by Bolton men and hounds, fleeing into the frozen forest, wading across icy rivers (which looked really uncomfortable to shoot), and, finally, getting cornered by men with hounds. Theon has worked hard to redeem himself, and that yields dividends in this moment. He offers to distract the hounds while Sansa flees. Of course, unlike breaking Sansa out of Winterfell, this is a bad idea horribly executed, but Theon deserves some credit for making a bold move. It's a really stunning heroic moment, with Brienne once again coming to the aid of the Starks when needed the most. It's a great fight scene, Brienne and Pod are appropriately heroic, and even Theon gets in on the action, saving a disarmed Pod from the last of the Bolton foot soldiers. It's also much needed, as it finalises Theon's redemption and actually gives Sansa a glimmer of hope to offset some of last season's Stark abuse. It's also some much-needed positivity in an episode where it seems like every storyline is heading towards the violence and disaster. Director Jeremy Podeswa crafts a great episode here, where he picks up where last season left off without too much catching up. It's always a thrill to come back to Westeros, but for every laugh-out-loud moment like Varys and Tyrion walking through Meereen or a spear through the back of Trystane Martell's head, there's something else happening that's just as ominous or unsettling. The episode has plenty of breathing space, and the balance between the various story lines is just right. The Night's Watch is probably the A plot, but there's not too much of it. Jon and the Night's Watch are headed towards violence, as Dolorous Edd is off to round up an army of wildlings to fight against the very traitors who put the knife to the Lord Commander and Davos is so desperate for help he's willing to turn to the very woman he's actively tried to kill, Melisandre. Ramsay hinges his future on his ability to recapture Sansa Stark, who Roose needs to hold the North against a potential Lannister army (and we've already discussed how that goes for Ramsay). Daenerys is captured by Dothraki, fated for a one-way trip to Vaes Dothrak with all the other Khaleesi widows, and her only hope is a grayscale-infected Jorah Mormont and Daario, who seems more interested in poking at Jorah than in saving his lover. Meanwhile, in King's Landing and in Dorne, royal blood is being shed as a continent prepares for all-out war.