Game of Thrones season 8 episode 1: 5 things you need to know

Monday morning Game of Thrones chat is coming. Here’s everything you need to know from tonight’s episode, and why they’re important.

It’s been over a year since we’ve had more Game of Thrones to break down and discuss. If you haven’t had time to recap everything, but know that you’ll need to have some talking points ready for work, friends, or family, Culturess is here to help.

Every week, we’ll be breaking down five key points from the week’s episode, then giving you some context and explanations.

Let’s begin.

Kit Harington as Jon Snow – Photo: Courtesy of HBO

Jon Snow can officially ride a dragon

Put aside Daenerys’ extremely weird form of flirting in hinting that Jon might die if Rhaegal doesn’t want him to get on his back. The scene of the two dragons flying through the air comes with a sweeping score.

Although it isn’t really hinted at, Jon probably has some natural affinity with dragons because he’s half-Targaryen. (More on that in a bit, in case you need a refresher.) It’s a big step in their ongoing relationship, as Jon and Daenerys now have something else to share in terms of being able to ride dragons together.

Jaime Lannister is back at Winterfell

Unlike the arrival at the start of this week’s episode, Jaime’s is a quiet one, without much fanfare. That suits the man he’s become, rather than the man he was way back in season 1 — and yes, this is the first time that he’s been back.

When Bran says, earlier on, that he’s sitting out in the courtyard for “an old friend,” Jaime is who he means. Jaime, after all, is the reason that Bran can now fly as the Three-Eyed Raven, even as he’s in a wheelchair in his physical body. That’s why the look they exchange is so important at the end. Jaime is facing, in the form of Bran, his old self, the self that would do anything and damn the consequences.