Game Of Thrones Season 7 Premiere: 9 Things You Might've Missed In 'Dragonstone'

For hands of gold are always cold, but a woman's hands are warm.

By James Hunt /

HBO

After what felt like an eternal wait, Game of Thrones is finally back on our screens, returning this week with Dragonstone - a solid if (mostly) unspectacular instalment that set the table for the coming weeks.

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The episode largely followed the tried-and-trusted season premiere template we've become accustomed to, checking in with a few key characters and re-establishing the pieces on the board.

Even within that, though, there was a lot here to love: Arya's brutal, murderous cold open was one for the ages; Euron Greyjoy turned into a much better villain (albeit one who channels a fair bit of Captain Jack Sparrow); the Hound saw into the flames, and also delivered an all-time great one-liner; and Daenerys at last made it home to Westeros.

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With all of that (and more) vying for the audience's attention - not to mention the backlash (and then backlash to the backlash) to Ed Sheeran's cameo - there's a lot left behind to unpick. As with any hour of Thrones, this was one stuffed with details and references that, in all of the excitement/shock/anger, were pretty easy to miss.