The agonising wait is finally over as Game of Thrones returned to UK screens tonight for its fifth season. Season four did the impossible and shocked us more than season three’s Red Wedding with the unforgettable episode that was The Mountain and the Viper. We’re still upset but we can’t stop watching and are already wondering which characters will still be with us at the end of season five?
If you haven’t seen the Game of Thrones season five premiere yet and don’t want anything spoiled then please stop reading now. If you are up-to-date and want to relive the action then keep on reading.
We mentioned in our preview that season five would be making use of flashbacks for the first time and it wasted no time in using them. The first scene of the episode shows us two young girls walking together through the woods. They are seeking a witch, called Maggy the Frog, who is rumoured to tell fortunes. It soon becomes clear that one of the girls is actually a young Cersei Lannister (Nell Williams). The scene gives an interesting little insight into Cersai and shows she was just as ruthless when she was a child by forcing the witch to tell her fortune. The witch slices Cersai’s thumb and tastes her blood before granting her three questions about her future.
We then jump back to present day and at King’s Landing we see the preparations for the funeral of Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance). Jamie (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Cersai (Lena Headey) discuss what to do next. Cersai is furious that Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) was behind the death and cross at Jaime for setting him free. Jaime tries to convince her that Tywin built everything for them.
Across the Narrow Sea we see Tyrion arrive at Pentos in a crate. Lord Varys (Conleth Hill) has successfully smuggled him away from the peril he was facing at King’s Landing. Tyrion is rather annoyed at how long he had to spend in the crate. Varys gets on with his usual scheming and Tyrion has a go at drowning his sorrows in wine.
Elsewhere we see the unsullied army of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) ripping down statues of the old gods. One of her soldiers visits a brothel and winds up with his throat slit by the masked Sons of the Harpy. Dany holds a meeting to discuss who is behind the crime. Present are Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson), Ser Barristan Selmy (Ian McElhinney) and Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel). Dany orders that the men responsible are to be found.
The action then jumps to Castle black where Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) is busy training the new recruits. Looking on are Samwell Tarly (John Bradley-West) and his girlfriend Gilly (Hannah Murray). Jon is interrupted by Melisandre (Carice van Houten) who tells him that the King, Stannis Baratheron (Stephen Dillane) wants a word. They take the lift up the Wall. It’s seems that Melisandre might have her eye on Jon.
Stannis tells Jon that he intends to take back the North from Roose Bolton who has captured Winterfell. To accomplish this he wants the Wildlings to fight for him. To do this he demands that Mance Rayder (Ciaran Hinds) must ‘bend the knee’ and swear loyalty to him. Jon is given the impossible task of convincing Mance to do so.
In the Vale we join the new goth Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) and Lord Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish (Aiden Gillen). Sat with Lord Yohn Royce (Rupert Vansittart) they are watching useless young Robin Arryn (Lino Facioli) fail miserably at sword fighting.
Nearby Podrick (Daniel Portman) and Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) are gearing up for their next move following the confrontation with The Hound. Having tracked down Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) last season and found her not wanting their help Brienne takes some convincing to continue their quest. Pod suggests trying to find Sansa instead who coincidentally, and unbeknownst to them passes by in a carriage with Littlefinger. He’s taking her away to the West to keep her safe from Cersai in particular.
Back in King’s Landing everyone is mourning the loss of Tywin. Cersai is angry at everyone and keeps an eye on Margaery (Natalie Dormer) who has her sights set on Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman). It’s definitely building to some kind of showdown between Cersai and Margaery. Could Margaery be the younger one who takes it all from Cersai as predicted by the witch so long ago?
Cersai’s strange cousin Lancel (Eugene Simon) returns, now a religious man he seeks her forgiveness. Elsewhere we see Loras Tyrell (Finn Jones) sleeping with a rent boy to take his mind off Cersai. He fantasises of running away to Dorne but they are interrupted by his sister Margaery. We’re sure that Dorne will feature this season due to the death of Oberyn in season four.
Back to Tyrion he’s continuing his quest to drink himself to death while trading insults with Varys. We predicted a meet between Tyrion and Dany and it turns out that’s what Varys has been plotting. They set off for Meereen. This should be interesting.
Back in Meereen we see Hizdahr zo Loraq (Joel Fry) and Daario Nahaaris (Michiel Huisman) trying to convince Dany to reopen the fighting pits. She refuses but is still sharing her bed with Daario who looks like he might change her mind. He also says she can’t be Queen of Dragons without any dragons.
With Drogon still missing Dany goes to visit her other two, Viserion and Rhaegal, that she locked away. Nervously she enters the dark cave when they are kept but soon leaves as they snap and breathe fire at her.
The premiere chooses Castle Black for its final scenes where Jon visits Mance to play diplomat.
It looks like Jon might have got through to him but when brought before Stannis a terrified Mance continues to refuse. He is tied to a stake and burnt alive by Melisandre. However his suffering is cut short by Jon who puts an arrow through his heart. We wonder if Stannis will be furious with Jon?
So that’s Game of Thrones season 5 underway and off to a brilliant start. The season four finale had given us an idea of what to expect this season but we’re sure there are plenty of shocks and surprises on the way. We’re already looking forward to next week’s episode and hope to catch up with Arya as she arrives in Braavos.
[poll id=”29″]
Let us know your thoughts on The Wars to Come in the comments below as well as your hopes for the season.
Game of Thrones season five continues at 9/8c Sundays on HBO in the US and at 9pm Mondays on Sky Atlantic in the UK.
