Pacing wise, this is similar to the first episode of season 3, but for me, it is a little bit better.
We catch up with Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth, and we also get the welcome return of Arya Stark with Gendry and Hot Pie, they were some of the most entertaining characters in the last series. Gwendoline Christie and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau have a great chemistry and it is a joy to watch as their characters trade insults and argue.
We get introduced some new characters, the introduction of Noah Taylor's Locke, is brief, but in our our first glimpse at the Brotherhood without Banners it proves a lot of fun. With Paul Kaye's Thoros of Myr, the writers have created a character that Kaye brings to vibrant life. There's something magnetic about Kaye's performance. But for me the introduction of Lady Olenna-the Queen of Thorns is the big one. Diana Rigg is a delight, I adore her.
I have to say, I'm not loving the Bran storyline, it slows things down too much. not the fault of any of the actors, as they are all competent I also did not love the scene with Catelyn and Tulisa. Poor writing (I'm sure to give her character some sympathy) aside, it does not ring true, and was a mistake.
The episodes ends on an appropriate cliffhanger that should keep viewers wanting to come back for more, but the pace needs to pick up a bit. don't get me wrong!! This is a perfectly solid episode, with some fine performances and moments, but it's never going to be classed among the best episodes of the show.
We catch up with Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth, and we also get the welcome return of Arya Stark with Gendry and Hot Pie, they were some of the most entertaining characters in the last series. Gwendoline Christie and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau have a great chemistry and it is a joy to watch as their characters trade insults and argue.
We get introduced some new characters, the introduction of Noah Taylor's Locke, is brief, but in our our first glimpse at the Brotherhood without Banners it proves a lot of fun. With Paul Kaye's Thoros of Myr, the writers have created a character that Kaye brings to vibrant life. There's something magnetic about Kaye's performance. But for me the introduction of Lady Olenna-the Queen of Thorns is the big one. Diana Rigg is a delight, I adore her.
I have to say, I'm not loving the Bran storyline, it slows things down too much. not the fault of any of the actors, as they are all competent I also did not love the scene with Catelyn and Tulisa. Poor writing (I'm sure to give her character some sympathy) aside, it does not ring true, and was a mistake.
The episodes ends on an appropriate cliffhanger that should keep viewers wanting to come back for more, but the pace needs to pick up a bit. don't get me wrong!! This is a perfectly solid episode, with some fine performances and moments, but it's never going to be classed among the best episodes of the show.