Game of Thrones is back! And what an episode. Several knots have been tied, but there’s a feeling that this is a fresh start, and the opening sequence contains foreshadowing of events to come. The old sequence was famous for displaying the map of Westeros and Essos, where the events of that particular week would take place. 3D castles, cities, buildings, and landmarks rose, like a steampunk model coming to life from a 2D map, while a drone-like point of view traveled from one location to another, allowing the viewer to keep up with all the events and locations. The landscape even changed as the events of the series took place, so when Winterfell was ransacked, the castle’s model had fumes rising from it; when the Bolton’s took over, the Stark sigil changed to the Bolton’s sigil, and so on.
Careful with spoilers from now on. On “Winterfell,” as episode 1 is called, the sequence begins North of the Wall, from the Night King’s perspective, so that’s something new.
HBOThey quickly reach the Last Hearth, the Northernmost castle in Westeros. The camera pans around for a bit, but then it reveals snow-white tiles on the floor turning icy blue, the color of the Whitewalkers.
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@ifitshipitshereNear the end of the episode, we find out the Last Hearth has been sacked and that it’s been a total massacre. This means the title sequence was mimicking the Night King’s path. So the opening sequence is now telling the viewers where the Undead Army finds itself at the start of the season, but also where it will mostly like be later on. For instance, after the Last Hearth, the view moves further south to Winterfell (again, from the Night King’s perspective). What could this possibly mean? That the face-off will probably take place at the Stark stronghold. You get the picture.
Either way, here’s an interesting never-before-seen change: the camera pans towards the inside of the castle and into the crypts, perhaps a nod to where Jon Snow would find out who he really is. But also, the season trailer featured several scenes in the Winterfell crypts, so will the characters be spending more time in there? And, most importantly, will major events take place inside the crypts? Let’s not forget the crypts are full of dead people (that’s exactly the point of a crypt), dead people that could be brought back to life by the Night King. I get the chills just thinking about Catelynn Stark as a zombie (Lady Stoneheart, anyone?).
Next, the camera goes right into King’s Landing and into the basement where they used to keep the dragon skulls. Remember that?
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HBOAs we enter the basement, the huge scorpion weapon thing (the gigantic bow and arrow) points right at the dragon skull, reminding us that this weapon still exists and Cersei will not hesitate to use it against the dragons. Will it be useful against Vyserion? Probably not. He’s already dead. Undead, anyway.
Then it comes up again into the Great Hall where we see the Iron Throne (and a huge Lannister Lion). Ultimately, this is where the show is headed. This is what it’s all been about. Who will take the Iron Throne? Who is going to rule Westeros?
HBOIt’s also worth mentioning that the astrolabe that features golden bands with historical references have also radically changed and updated. It used to feature three historic events: the Doom of Valyria, Robert’s Rebellion (see the stag and lion killing the dragon), and Robert’s coronation (with the stag above all of the other animals).
Now it’s been updated: one image portrays Viserion destroying the Wall.
HBOThen another one shows the beheading of a direwolf as a lion stands by (The Red Wedding).
HBOAnd finally, there’s the image of a large dragon alongside three smaller ones, while a comet falls from the sky, a reference to when Daenerys’s dragons were born.
HBO This might mean that the new events will shape Westeros much more than the last events the astrolabe previously featured. So we’re in for some major, MAJOR twists and turns as the series reaches its finale. Stay tuned!
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