game of Thrones it meant a lot to both of us personal and professional. Writing about the show helped me build a career. But I can’t overcome my hatred for how it ended. That’s why I was determined never to do a re-viewing – Tyrion certainly doesn’t look back with pleasure in the first half of the Oberyn / Mountain battle. But I was willing to check out the first episode before the show’s 10th anniversary, and then it did the last thing I ever expected to happen: game of Thrones he hooked me right back. This reversal will one day mean the beautiful story that made up the first six seasons of the show – the reason why it managed to disappoint viewers so much in the last two – will eventually be the fans who remember the most.
After a decade of immersion in the Seven Kingdoms, it’s easy to forget how good the pilot really is. “Winter is coming“It does the impossible: it makes George RR Martin’s extended saga accessible to viewers I know nothing about A song of ice and fire, all while preparing the stage for a story defined by the idea that destroys the TV that really anything can happen and will happen. The premiere opens with a huge wall of ice, blue-eyed zombie children and ice demons. It ends with the knight who was caught having sex with his twin sister, Regina, pushing an innocent child out of a tower. And between them he successfully introduces a ridiculous number of characters, all with complicated relationships and stories, spread over two huge continents.
The premiere works because the hallmarks of what made the show great were immediately in place. After their first shot at a pilot resulted in a $ 10 million disaster, showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss quickly realized what changes needed to be made for the series to be successful. The second pilot, with his liberal use of wide photos and impressive real-world sets, sets the magnitude of many incredible places the series would explore. The episode looks as epic in length as the story he was trying to tell. The premiere also features movie-quality costumes and props, which have only improved over time. It was a huge effort, with a tailored aesthetic.
None of this would have mattered if it weren’t for the performers and the script. Although no one knew her at the time, game of ThronesThe cast, made up primarily of non-celebrities and newcomers, is a line of talent for a killer. This impressive group managed to excel immediately, as the writing was sharp, funny, insightful and provided the necessary exposure without feeling forced or difficult. Turn around and watch Tyrion’s interactions with an angry Jon, when Tyrion compares him to being a dwarf to a bastard. It’s as good as anything that followed.
The pilot also holds the great promise that the show gave later in his race – it suggests an even bigger story hidden beneath the surface. Why do Jaime and Ned hate each other so much? Is that why Cat’s sister said the Lannisters killed the king’s hand? What has this got to do with the creepy Targaryen guy across the Black Sea? You know, the guy feels like his sister marrying a giant guy on a horse? Not other dude feeling his sister. This is an episode that makes you want to watch the next one. There is a reason that many of us have done for years. It’s the same reason we watched each episode several times, read all those theories, and learned about the history of Westeros as we prepared for a test – all the elements that made the show a phenomenon are set for the first time. .
You couldn’t hope for a better pilot. I didn’t forget any of this before I sat down to see him again. (Jaime pushing Bran out the window might be my favorite moment in television history.) But what I forgot is how “Winter Comes” made me feel. Ever since the show ended, I’ve been too upset that Jon’s real parents don’t really matter and that the King of the Night has been easily defeated because the White Walkers have stopped paying attention. I wasn’t thinking about any of this during my replay. The beginning of the show is too good to waste time thinking about its end. And with six seasons of that feeling available to me whenever I want, it would be stupid to ignore all those great episodes that I still love and never watch again.
game of Thrones he will never be able to escape his last two seasons; the final 13 episodes will not improve on any replay. But seeing the pilot made me realize that one thing will improve over time: our ability to appreciate everything that came before them.