After 595 days of waiting, episode one of the most anticipated final season in recent memory finally aired. It wasn’t the most action-packed Game of Thrones episode, but a solid foundation was built for the rest of the season.
It built enough intrigue to keep us guessing without giving too much away. Let’s dig in to the five most important moments from the final season premiere of Game of Thrones.
*OBVIOUS SPOILER WARNING* Do not continue any further if you want to avoid spoilers. Key plot points will be discussed in the rest of this article. You have been warned!
Jon Finds Out About His Lineage
After 68 episodes Jon finally learned the truth about his mother and father. He is the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. His true name is Aegon Targaryen the sixth of his name, rightful heir to the Iron Throne (insert additional titles here).
His ever-reliable former brother of the Night’s Watch, Samwell Tarly, broke the news to him. At the same time, Sam questioned Danerys’ claim to the throne and if she would be willing to make the same sacrifices as Jon to protect her people.
The way Jon found out about his Targaryen roots was much preferable to the way we found out. As nice as it was to finally get confirmation that Jon Snow is Aegon Targaryen VI, we could have done without the juxtaposed incestual sex scene last season.
Jon seemed rightfully floored by the revelation. Despite it all, what seemed to surprise him most was that Ned kept the truth from him.
Jon didn’t seem to believe it at first because he knew the late Warden of the North was an honorable man. However, the news seemed to finally sink in once Sam told him that Lyanna tasked Ned with keeping Jon safe.
Anyone who could have questioned the legitimacy of Robert Baratheon’s reign was a target, and would have been killed.
This whole scene brings an air of uncertainty between Jon and Danerys. The news that he’s the rightful heir may not matter much to Jon, but Danerys’ execution of Randyll and Dickon Tarly seemed to rub him the wrong way.
Burning them alive with dragon fire doesn’t instill confidence in the Dragon Queen as a stable leader. If anything, it makes her seem more like the Mad King, especially when she was just asking them to bend the knee.
