Article first published as GAME OF THRONES Review Season 1 Episode 1 Valar Dohaeris on Seat42F.
Grade: 96%
Grade: 96%
There are many fans of HBO’s GAME OF
THRONES out there, eagerly awaiting the start of the series’ third
season this weekend. Having viewed the premiere, “Valar Dohaeris, I can
report that it is back in the fine form we are accustomed to seeing, and
those holding their breaths can finally let them out. Without spoiling
anything important, here are my thoughts on the latest installment.
“Valar Dohaeris” is very accessible. I
really wanted to refresh my memory with a reviewing of season two’s
finale, remembering how dense season one was, and having re-watched the
entire first season to prepare for the second, but didn’t have time.
However, this episode, without quite recapping, doesn’t take long to get
you back up to speed. There are enough references and callbacks to last
year’s finale to connect the threads, yet not so much that they slow
down the pacing of the return. This is much appreciated.
There isn’t a sense of urgency in this
week’s episode. It takes its time, showing us one or two characters at a
time, and very few get a second glimpse. In this way, we get to check
in, be reminded of the trajectories, delight in a few extended dialogue
exchanges, and don’t have to struggle to keep up. There’s a whole season
ahead of us, and “Valar Dohaeris” doesn’t push anything too big
forward, letting fans get back into the swing of things before trying to
drop a huge shocker.
Among those mentioned exchanges, one of
the best is between Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Tywin (Charles Dance).
The relationship between these two is definitely one of my favorite
parts of GAME OF THRONES. We’re familiar with their past beef, and
Tywin’s ongoing disappointment in his halfling son. The scene between
them this week is not exactly a rehash of their previous conflict, but
it definitely lets us know where they stand now, and how things may or
may not move forward between them.
Dinklage and Dance slay this bit.
Dinklage’s awards for the role are well deserved, and I would argue that
he comes across as the most intelligent and compassionate character on
the series. This shines through here, in stark contrast to Dance’s icy
father, likely a deliberate choice on Dance’s part that serves the
chemistry well. I do think, at some point, things will come to a head
between the two. But it’s interesting to see Dinklage mix a need to win
his father’s approval with a strong spirit that is willing to stand up
to Dad, played with masterful nuance.
Tyrion also gets a tense scene with
Cersei (Lena Headey). The siblings have a complicated relationship, to
say the least, and the events of last year’s finale have left them on
shaky ground with one another. “Valar Dohaeris” addresses this, and
reminds me that Headey may be one of the more underrated performers on
GAME OF THRONES.
The MVP of this episode, for once, may
not be Dinklage, though, instead going to Natalie Dormer. Margaery
Tyrell has little to do in the second season, but that will definitely
not be the case in the near future. She immediately establishes herself
as a very familiar political sort, and her public persona is deliciously
crafted. I cannot wait for a true power struggle between her and
Cersei, as Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) now has two women who seek to
manipulate him for their own purposes and gains.
I also like the introduction of Mance
Rayder (Ciaran Hinds, Political Animals, Munich), the King Behind the
Wall. We don’t know a lot about him yet, but his early interaction with
Jon Snow (Kit Harington) is layered and intriguing, setting up yet
another ruler in a land already crowded with them. The casting choice
here is inspired.
Among the other treats of the episode,
we see more of the aftermath of the loss in Stannis’s (Stephen Dillane)
camp, Robb’s (Richard Madden) anger at his mother, Catelyn (Michelle
Fairley), is unabated, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) has at least three
tantalizing bits, Ghost saves a life, and Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen)
makes an uncharacteristic generous offer (or does he?).
Sadly, the slower pace and lingering
conversations means that not every fan favorite character shows up in
“Valar Dohaeris.” Several of the most central players are completely
absent, which leaves one very much wanting more at the end of the hour.
However, this is understandable with such a large cast, not
unprecedented in past entries, and it’s not like any minute within the
episode is wasted, so it’s more a testament to how beloved these people
have become, and how much we want to see them, rather than a complaint
about the storytelling.
The effects are also quite excellent
this week. From a creepy little girl who is more than she appears, to
the fast-growing dragons, there are quite a few CGI elements present,
all seamlessly incorporated into the fabric of the show. Clearly, much
care and expense has gone into making these feel like everything else in
this world, and they are remarkable for how well they blend with the
actors and scenery, rather than stick out like a sore thumb.
Overall, I am left incredibly satisfied
with the premiere, and stoked to watch more episodes. GAME OF THRONES’
third season airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO beginning this week.
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