Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 1 Recap

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Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 1 Recap

Craig Koshkin

It’s been 385 days since the last new entry in the Game of Thrones TV series. With that much time off it is easy to forget where we are with all of the important characters so before I get into the episode 1 recap, I would like to reacquaint everyone with what’s going on. Needless to say spoilers are ahead. Read at your own peril. If you don’t need the refresher, skip ahead to the recap of tonight’s episode.

The Narrows Sea/Dorne

Last we saw Daenerys of the House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals…. – oh you know the rest – she was crossing the Narrow Sea with a fleet of ships from Reek Theon and Yara Greyjoy as well as the former Slavers of Essos. Her dragons are in tow and they have an eye on King’s Landing.

In Dorne, Varys, having clearly sided with the Targaryen contingent in the Great War to come, was seen brokering a deal between Ellaria Sand and Olenna Tyrell – The Queen of Thorns – for additional support. Olenna clearly has a reason to seek revenge and take this olive branch…

King’s Landing

Cersei now sits atop the Iron Throne after the biggest power play ever seen. She blew up the Great Sept of Baelor using the wildfire caches left behind by Aerys II Targaryen a.k.a. The Mad King, killing Margaery Tyrell, the High Sparrow, and any other enemies seeking to see Cersei stand trial for her crimes. Seriously, boss move by a crazy person, Cersei, but it also cost her youngest and only remaining child, King Tommen.

Jamie and Bronn return just in time to see a smoldering crater where the Sept used to stand and to see Cersei crowned as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

Heading North/Winterfell/North of The Wall

Winter. Is. Here.

I’m not going to lie, Arya Stark getting back to Westeros, was one of my favorite parts of last season. Arya is an assassin now, with an assassin’s mindset and her list needs checking. She starts by roaming the Northern lands, chopping up Freys, and feeding them to Walder Frey before killing him.

In Winterfell, The Flayed Man Banner of House Bolton has been taken down now that Jon Snow (Targaryen) won the Battle of the Bastards, with the help of Sansa, Littlefinger and his Knights of the Vale. The Dire Wolf Banner of House Stark is back in its rightful place. The Northern Lords have gathered as Jon Snow tries to warn them of the impending war with the White Walkers and the need for the help of the Wildlings. His message kind of hits home, but it seems they are more concerned with crowning a new King of the North after an impassioned speech by the young but fiery Lady Lyanna Mormont. Littlefinger is troubled by the love for Stark and shoots Sansa Stark a knowing look, as if to suggest that she will not sit at her rightful seat as the Warden of the North.

One thing we know is true, the war is coming and the Knight’s King is hot on Bran’s trail.  Bran, now the Three Eyed Raven, was last seen saying goodbye to his Uncle Benjen and using a Weirwood tree to go back in time where we find out that Jon Snow is no bastard (probably), but he is most likely, a Targaryen. I know, he IS a Targaryen, but until something is explicitly stated on this show there can always be some doubt.

How’s that for concise? Not very good? Well who asked you anyway? Now that you’re caught up, onto the Game of Thrones, Season 7, Episode 1 recap:

Starting off, we get a recap of some things that have gone on which I clearly touched on above.

The Twins

What an opening scene! At the Twins, Walder Frey (wait, is this a flashback?) is hosting a second feast in a fortnight, which he admits is unusual. After bringing in some special wine, he gives a toast congratulating all the Freys – with the exception of his young wife – on their part in the death of the Starks at Red Wedding. As they drink, Walder becomes more sarcastic in his remarks and it’s clear something is up. Then the magic happens. Freys throwing up blood everywhere and dropping like flies. Then the big reveal, Arya uses her talents taught by the Faceless Men to reveal herself to the lone survivor, Walder’s wife. In one move, all of House Frey is dead and Arya continues being a badass.

She leaves, telling the wife, “Tell everyone what happened here. Tell them the North remembers. Tell them winter came for House Frey.”  Arya gets my vote for “Person in Westeros whose bad side I’d least want to see”  ***Roll Opening Credits***

North of The Wall

A storm is heading south in the form of the Army of the Dead. White Walkers lead an army of Wights and are those Wight Giants? Seriously? Westeros is doomed. Just give up now. At least Wun Wun was saved from that fate.

This is all just a vision of Bran Stark. He wakes as Meera approaches the Wall and is met by the new Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch and his men. After questioning if these two are Wildlings, Bran tells the Lord Commander all of the terrible things he’s seen.  Bran and Meera are allowed through and the streak of boring scenes with Bran Stark is extended to 137 straight.

Winterfell

In the Great Hall of Winterfell, the meeting between all of the Houses of the North continues. Jon lets everyone know that ALL children 10-16, men and women, will be learning to fight. Some Lords scoff at the idea of a girl fighting. Lady Mormont takes this opportunity to keep handing out Ls to anyone doubting what a woman in the North is capable of. Jon continues barking out orders and sends the Wildlings to the Wall to help staff the Night’s Watch.

An argument ensues between Sansa and Jon about what should come of the castles of the Umbers and Karstarks. Both families sided with Ramsay Bolton, but the Lords died in battle. Jon pulls rank over Sansa and allows the new Lord Umber and Lady Karstark to pledge allegiance to House Stark. They do and Littlefinger gives Sansa another one of his trademarked “knowing looks” as if he now has a hand to play in pitting Jon and Sansa against each other.

Brother and sister continue to argue outside and Sansa goes so far as to draw a comparison from Jon Snow’s stubbornness to dead King Joffrey’s. Bold strategy Sansa, let’s see how that works for you. Sansa quickly retracts and Sansa points out that Jon must be smarter. She even calls out her father, Ned, and brother, Robb, for how stupid they were. Sansa has seen some things, learned from them, and is just a straight shooter with upper management written all over her.

The scene ends with a raven from King’s Landing demanding that Jon Snow head to King’s Landing and pledge allegiance to the Crown. Yea, like that is going to happen.

King’s Landing

Newly crowned Queen Cersei is literally standing on the world contemplating how to act next. Cersei wants to take the world for them; but Jamie is quick to point out that they lack allies. The Freys have just been wiped out. “Traitors,” including her own brother, surround the Lannisters and Cersei wants nothing more than to rush into battle. Jamie again points out that they lack allies and with winter coming, they can’t feed their soldiers. Little does he know Cersei has other plans. Cut to 1,000 ships sailing into King’s Landing, no doubt, Captained by Euron Greyjoy – the murderous uncle of Yara and Theon.

Euron meets with Cersei as she sits atop the Iron Throne and brings his proposal of killing both the Lannister and Greyjoy traitors. Euron takes a step toward the Queen and Zombie Mountain steps in. Euron steps back. Smart choice. Jamie claps back at Euron, pointing out that the Greyjoys are notorious for breaking their promises and there is no reason the Lannisters should trust them. All in all, Euron wants to marry Cersei in return for his ships. Cersei passes, and Euron unfazed, promises not to return until he has a great gift to win her over.

Oldtown/The Citadel

Samwell is living the life of a Maester in training, I think: Part-time librarian, part-time bedpan cleaner (barf), part-time waiter, and part-time father. The only thing seemingly keeping Sam from going crazy is the lure of whatever is in the locked portion of the library, which he can’t access.

Sam gets to help the Arch-Maester conduct an autopsy and the two begin to discuss the Army of the Dead.  Sam wants to go to the restricted area to study, but alas, he can’t. At least the Arch-Maester believes that the White Walkers exist. The Arch-Maester gives some rambling speech about how men would be like dogs without the Maesters and how important they are. The moral to the speech is that The Wall has always served it’s purpose and winter always comes to an end, eventually.

While doing his rounds, Sam steals one Maester’s keys to the restricted area in order to steal some books on Dragon Glass.

Winterfell (again)

Brienne is kicking Podrick’s ass while Tormund watches and wishes he could be on the receiving end of the beating. Littlefinger creepily approaches Sansa and tries to make her happy. Sansa sends Littlefinger away and Brienne is suspicious.

The Riverlands

Holy shit, is that Ed Sheeran? It sure is. Arya joins some Lannister soldiers who are still in the Riverlands to keep order, you know, since the Freys all died. Arya rides by these men and they invite her to join them for some skewered rabbit. Various anecdotes ensue and Arya reveals she is headed to King’s Landing to kill the Queen. The men all have a good laugh.

The North

The Hound, riding with the Brotherhood without Banners in a snowstorm, approaches a vacant house. The Brotherhood would like to stay the night but the Hound wants to keep moving – probably because this is where he killed a man and his daughter in order to take their silver.  Inside the house, Thoros asks the Hound to look into the fire when the Hound questions why the Lord of the Light keeps bringing Beric Dondarrion back to life. The Hound looks, and sees the Army of the Dead approaching the Wall.

Cut to later that night and The Hound has a conscience? He’s burying the man and daughter he killed previously and says a prayer.

Oldtown/The Citadel (again)

Can we stop with all of the Sam scenes? He is stealing at least 10 minutes of this episode. Sam is at home with Gilly and their son, Sam. Sam finds a book and opens to a page about Dragonstone, the first fortress the Targaryens built when invading Westeros. What? There’s tons of dragon glass there? Thanks Game of Thrones writers. We already knew that.

Sam is back at the Citadel, picking up discarded room service, when an arm reaches through one of the doors. The scaly arm of Jorah Marmont reaches out and asks if Daenerys has come yet.

Dragonstone

She’s baaaaack! Daenerys, her dragons, Tyrion, and the rest of the crew lands at Dragonstone, as Jamie predicted, and no dialogue is spoken as the group heads up to the castle. As Daeny surveys her new/old home, she finds Stannis’ old war map/table and looks at Tyrion. “Shall we begin?” ***Roll Credits***

Scenes for Next Week

• Jon Snow being told that Targaryens – Daenerys – can’t be trusted
• Cersei worried about Daeny
• The Iron Fleet sails
• Yara wants to move on King’s Landing
• Is Arya going to find her Direwolf? Yes please
• Yara and Ellaria make out.
• Littlefinger getting choked out by what looks like Jon Snow.