That said, the show still manages to ease you back into the story gently without forcing any unnecessary exposition or rushed pacing. The first episode starts off with a familiar soundtrack and an even more familiar setting, one that fans haven’t seen since the days of Game of Thrones (hint-hint). As the episode goes on, we find ourselves back in King’s Landing and Dragonstone, where the Blacks and the Greens are preparing for what’s to come – whether or not that’s reflected through preventing the war or ensuing violence, you’ll have to find out in a few days.
HBO
Right off the bat, I noticed that everything from the costumes, set design and even the wigs feels a lot more elevated compared to the previous season, which helped immerse me into the story that much more. But what truly takes the crown (pun intended) is the acting, which induced everything from tears, anger, shock and even laughter, the latter of which is a rarity in the GoT universe.
The standout performance is undoubtedly delivered by Emma D’Arcy, who, despite having only one line of dialogue throughout the entire episode, managed to deliver some of the most emotional scenes of the whole series. They masterfully portrayed a grief-stricken mother, arguably going above and beyond their character’s interpretation in the book. One of my favourite scenes in the episode featured Emma and Harry Collett (who portrays Jacaerys Velaryon), both of whom delivered a touching moment and portrayed the close bond between Rhaenyra and her son in a way that we hadn’t quite seen in the first season.
To my surprise, King Aegon II (played by Tom Glynn-Carney) provided most of the comic relief throughout the episode, offering a healthy dose of witty humour and good, old-fashioned medieval swearing. Tom’s performance also added much more complexity and layers to his character’s development compared to the previous season, which goes in line with the producer’s sentiment that “no side is perfect”, that’s also repeatedly echoed throughout the Fire and Blood.
