‘HOLY S**T, THERE’S MOTHER-F*****G DRAGONS!’ followed by ‘HOLY S**T, THERE’S MOTHER-F*****G WHITE WALKERS!’ was the chorus that followed the end of Season 2 of Game of Thrones. Now, after another year of waiting, we have the start of Season 3, and to say we’re excited is an understatement.
Unfortunately, there was no White Walkers to be seen for this episode. Instead, this episode is more dedicated to the aftermath of the Battle of Blackwater. We do, however, see the loveable Samwell Tarly returning to the surviving members of the Night’s Watch after the initial White Walker attack, and Lord Commander Mormont deciding they must return to the Wall to warn the Seven Kingdoms of the coming threat. This is really enough for me at least, as 10 episodes is a lot of time to see White Walkers kick some ass! But, until then, we have some other characters to worry about.
Jon Snow pledges his allegiance to the wildlings, a battle scarred and beaten Tyrion Lannister attempts to solicit affection from his father and fails, while Maergery Tyrell does some charity work with orphans in King’s Landing, much to the chagrin of King Joffrey (and yes, it does sting a little to type ‘King’ beside his name still) and his mother. Meanwhile, across the water, Daenery’s Targaryen is being all bad-ass with her dragons, while looking for an army of brutally trained soldiers the Unsullied in the City of Astapor, Ser Davos Seaworth is rescued and returned to Dragonstone, where he fails to speak sense to Stannis Baratheon and kill his mistress, Malisandre, and Robb Stark returns home to find there isn’t much left of Winterfell to come back to. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand – BREATHE.
Game of Thrones has always been a slightly darker show, but I think that this season looks to be going into proper dark territory. As of the first episode, no-one is safe, which we already sort of guessed, but seeing the fan-favourite Tyrion looking down upon himself while his father barely acknowledges him as a son really shatters the character image we have built up. Winterfell is all but destroyed, and Stannis Baratheon is still under the control of Malisandre. Things have begun to shift, and the power is in no-ones hands. Yet.
The cast all return for this season, thankfully. The chemistry and the feeling from this ensemble is one of the best aspects of the show. After two huge seasons, with an even bigger season now in our midst, these characters are rising and falling and our emotions are going with them, and the performances are selling every last second. We despise Joffrey and cheer for Danaery’s at every step, just like we still should, and will continue to do, but it feels like there could be some switching of sides. Or Danaery’s is going to destroy everyone with dragons. Whichever comes first.
This season is going to be interesting. I can’t wait.
