Game Of Thrones Season 8 Premiere: 8 Ups And 3 Downs From 'Winterfell'

2. Samwell Tarly (And The Parentage Reveal)

Game of Thrones Sam Daenerys Winterfell
HBO

Samwell Tarly's story since leaving Castle Black in Season 5 hasn't been great. He's only featured sporadically, with little plot progression, and while there have been a couple of good moments it's largely been quite frustrating to watch.

That changes in this episode, in which Sam absolutely slays the two big sequences he's given. John Bradley West nails the emotional scene where he discovers Daenerys has killed his father and brother, making for another poignant moment in the episode, which then helps spur him on to the BIG meeting.

Jon and Sam - yet another reunion - meet in the Crypts of Winterfell. The Crypts have featured heavily in the marketing of Season 8, and it's long been speculated this is where Jon would learn the truth. So it proves, if not quite as expected: Sam tells him, bluntly, that he is Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark's son, the rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Although it does come a little fast, the setting and the performances help give this the necessary weight, and it's simply HUGE to have this major secret finally revealed to Jon Snow, with Sam (who was so close to another Targaryen) the right choice to deliver it.

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.