'Game of Thrones' (Spoilers) Recap: Women Rule All on Season 7 Premiere

*Warning, spoilers ahead*

"Game of Thrones" is finally back, and its rabid fans were delighted. In fact, the episode garnered the highest ratings ever for HBO. The premiere episode saw the women of "Game of Thrones" ruling all; it seems that women, not the men of patriarchal Westeros, are pulling most of the strings in the fight for the Iron Throne.

After years of male-centric storylines, the premiere was a breath of fresh air, with only two men (Samwell Tarly and The Hound) seeing much solo screentime. (In summation: Sam's bored at the Citadel, but he might be onto a way to kill the White Walkers. The Hound feels bad about stealing from some serfs and causing their deaths. That's literally it.) Daenerys Targaryen is back in Westeros, as is Arya Stark. Brienne of Tarth is Sansa Stark's official protector with a secret admiration for Lyanna Mormont. Sansa Stark has become a level-headed strategist; whether or not her brother Jon Snow will listen to her remains to be seen. Meera Reed has successfully dragged Bran Stark away from the Night King. Cersei's Cersei. Here's a recap on what each badass lady was up to, in case you missed last Sunday's episode.

Arya Stark (played by Maisie Williams)
Arya is out for blood, and she's taking things to a brutal level. The noblewoman turned assassin gets revenge on the men who killed most of her family. Her training as a Faceless Man comes into play as she disguises herself as Walder Frey, who orchestrated the slaughter at the Red Wedding. She then invites the men of the House of Frey to a lavish banquet, where she toasts the lot with poisoned wine. After the bodies hit the floor, she turns to Walder Frey's widow and tells her, "When people ask you what happened here, tell them the North remembers." Yikes.

From there, she's seen traveling to King's Landing, though she stops to bread bread with some royal soldiers along her route. Ed Sheeran was there. That's pretty much the entire scene, except for one passing comment: "I'm going to kill the queen."

Look out, Cersei. Arya's body count is increasing at an alarming rate.


Brienne of Tarth appreciating Lyanna Mormont's existence.

Brienne of Tarth (played by Gwendoline Christie) and Lyanna Mormont (played by Bella Ramsey)
The lady knight seems to be waiting for the fight to come Sansa's way, and contents herself during the premiere with trouncing her squire Podrick and watching Lyanna Mormont like a proud auntie at her niece's dance recital.

The ruling lady of Bear Island is Lyanna Mormont, the spitfire 10 year old remains loyal to the King of the North, whose name is Stark. The young head of the House of Mormont gracefully stands up for the women of the North when Jon Snow orders that all men, women, and children will be taught how to fight before the White Walkers come. When the male bannermen object, Lady Mormont shuts down any arguments against training women how to fight, wearing down a dissenter until he bows his head and submits to her will. Brienne, also in the meeting, gives her a rare smile as the youngster defends Jon and vows to join the training herself, per her right as a Northern woman.


Lyanna Mormont is not having your misogyny today, no sir.

Oh, and Tormund still has a schoolyard crush on our lady knight. The redheaded wildling apparently likes to watch Brienne spar with her squire with metaphorical hearts in his eyes. Brienne is still a little creeped out. Who knows what will happen there.

 


Meera and Bran finally reaching the Wall.

Meera Reed (played by Ellie Kendrick)
Bran's sole living protector, is seen for approximately 2 minutes in the hour long episode, but her steadfast care is the only reason Bran Stark is alive. The three-eyed raven's protector takes Bran all the way to The Wall, where the Night's Watch waves them in. The young girl dragged the paralyzed warg for who knows how long, with little food and still grieving her brother Jojen's death as the pair ran from the White Walkers. Hopefully Meera at least gets a hot meal and a catnap before dragging Bran anywhere else.


Sansa trying to reason with her brother Jon Snow.

Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner)
The eldest Stark girl is now a grown woman and a shrewd strategist to boot. She is currently in a close-knit partnership with her brother Jon Snow, as the two prepare for the war between the North, the White Walkers and the Lannisters. Sansa suggests during the meeting between Jon and the Stark bannermen that they should take the lands and castles of those who betrayed them in penance for their acts. Jon refuses, though Sansa persists, asking if Jon believes there should be no reward for loyalty and no punishment for treason. Jon still disagrees, refusing to punish the remaining members of the traitorous houses, as they're merely children, and swears them in as bannermen to the King of the North.

Afterwards, the siblings argue, with Jon irritated with Sansa's questioning of his decisions in such a public way. Sansa still believes she's in the right, telling her brother her viewpoints are valid. She also warns Jon not to underestimate Cersei, who sends a raven to the siblings telling them to swear allegiance to the new Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Jon again refuses to listen to Sansa, believing the White Walkers pose a greater threat. Sansa, who lived with the hell that is Cersei Lannister, isn't convinced, and rightly so. Here's hoping Jon listens to reason before he winds up headless like his father.


Cersei surveying a map of her world.

Cersei Lannister (played by Lena Headey)
Cersei's become even more megalomaniacal during her brother Jaime's absence. Last season saw the mother of three blow up the Great Sept of Baelor with an old stockpile of wildfire left over from the Mad King's reign. She's apparently unaffected by Tommen's subsequent suicide, telling Jaime that she loved her son, but he betrayed her. Cersei's one redeeming quality, other than her cheekbones, was her love for her children. Now that her children are dead, Cersei has no nothing holding her back.

In the premiere, Cersei is seen overseeing the painting of a large map of the world as she muses on her political situation. Jaime comes, seemingly to reason with his sister/lover, only to find Cersei has her own plan in action. The following scene shows Queen Cersei in her fully glory on the Iron Throne, in audience with Euron Greyjoy. His plan? To marry "the most beautiful woman in the world." Hers? To gain a new, albeit untrustworthy ally, as the Lannisters are barely treading water as their enemies close in. She rebukes Greyjoy, though he promises to bring her a great gift to woo her amidst jabs at Jaime, who seems ready to skewer him on the spot. Greyjoy leaves and Cersei smiles after him, to her brother's absolute horror.


Daenerys Targaryen reaching Dragonstone, her ancestral home.

Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke)
"Shall we begin?" With one line, Daenerys picks up her rise to the Iron Throne back in her homeland of Westeros. The Mother of Dragons lands in Dragonstone, the ancestral home of the Targaryens, and calmly reclaims it. She stalks through the abandoned castle, reaching the Painted Table of Westeros after a labyrinth of dusty rooms. There, she looks at the table, and begins to plan her siege of Westeros.

"Game of Thrones" airs Sunday nights on HBO.

What do you think will happen on Sunday's episode of "Game of Thrones"? Let us know in the comments below!

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