Ep 1. Winterfell

At long last, Game of Thrones fans were treated to the highly-anticipated premiere of the eighth and final season on April 14, 2019. Titled "Winterfell," the first episode set the stage for the epic showdown between the living and the dead that has been building since the series' very first scene.

The episode opens with a callback to the show's very first episode, as a young boy clambers up a tree to get a better view of a procession led by Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and Jon Snow (Kit Harington). It's a reminder of how far both characters have come since they were first introduced, and a fitting way to kick off the final season. The procession makes its way to Winterfell, where the bulk of the episode's action takes place.

Inside Winterfell, Jon is reunited with his sister Sansa (Sophie Turner) and his brothers (both real and adopted) Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and Sam (John Bradley). Sansa is understandably wary of Jon's decision to pledge fealty to Daenerys, and their tense reunion sets up some of the conflicts to come.

Meanwhile, Daenerys finds herself on somewhat unfriendly turf, as the North doesn't exactly welcome outsiders with open arms. She and Jon share a touching moment where they visit the crypts below Winterfell and Jon reveals his true parentage to her, a fact he just learned last season. The moment is a bittersweet one, as it's clear that Jon's newly-discovered identity will have far-reaching repercussions.

There are plenty of other reunions and meetings happening inside Winterfell, too. Arya (Maisie Williams) is reunited with both Jon and the Hound (Rory McCann), two characters she has a complicated history with. There are moments of levity (the Hound's blunt catch-up with Arya is a particular highlight) that remind us that Game of Thrones is as much a character-driven drama as it is a show about dragons and zombies.

Outside of Winterfell, we see some movement from the show's villains. Cersei (Lena Headey) is plotting with Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbaek) to fortify her hold on the Iron Throne, while the Night King and his army of the dead are getting ever-closer to their ultimate goal.

"Winterfell" also drops a few intriguing hints about where the rest of the season might be headed. Bran, who has become something of a mystical figure in recent seasons, has taken on the role of chief information-gatherer for the show. He spends much of the episode staring off into the middle distance or giving ominous warnings about the Night King's movements. His newfound abilities are clearly going to be instrumental in the coming battles.

Elsewhere, we see glimpses of other characters who will almost certainly play a larger role as the season progresses. Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) returns to Winterfell, presumably to take part in the fight against the White Walkers. And at the very end of the episode, we get our first glimpse of Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), who arrives at Winterfell to find that his former enemies now have him surrounded. It's a tantalizing way to end the premiere, and one that's sure to have fans speculating about where Jaime's loyalties lie now.

All in all, "Winterfell" is a promising start to what's sure to be an emotional and action-packed final season of Game of Thrones. It sets the stage for the key conflicts to come, while also taking time to revel in the show's rich history and memorable characters. With six more episodes to go, it's anyone's guess who will ultimately sit on the Iron Throne. But regardless of who comes out on top, "Winterfell" reminds us that the journey is sometimes just as important as the destination.