Review by kingcadmium

Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, is dead. King Robert Baratheon plans to ask his oldest friend, Eddard Stark, to take Jon's place. Across the sea, Viserys Targaryen plans to wed his sister to a nomadic warlord in exchange for an army.

What I Liked:

This premiere does a fantastic job of introducing its characters and themes early on, with almost every main character feeling fleshed out, at least to some degree.

The cinematography is solid, with each scene looking organic with meticulous attention to detail. On top of that, each actor gives a strong performance, with Sean Bean and Mark Addy being notable standouts. Their scenes together are exceptionally well-written and acted.

Ending this premiere with a cliffhanger was a smart move by the writers, leaving the viewer wanting more as soon as the credits roll.

What I Disliked:

Too much expository dialogue is present during some scenes, most notably the first exchange between Jaime and Cersei, to the point of feeling unnatural.

Overall:

Game of Thrones begins with a terrific, near-perfect premiere. Just about every element combines to create a highly enthralling viewing experience.

9/10

King Cadmium.