I’m bracing myself for Episode 2 of Game of Thrones and everything it may bring.

I think Episode 1 was brilliant. It’s like the beginning of a chess game between two invisible players. Almost all the pieces have been set up, and the game can start.

And not only that. I see the setting of Episode 1 as a metaphor for a chess board: a white queen and a black king, the knights.

The rooks – Winterfell, the remains of the Night’s Watch castles, the Wall.

The bishops that stand, like in chess, between the queen and her knights, and the king and his knights (Tyrion and Ser Davos). Plus a coupe of powerful extras, like Bran, Varys, Samwell.

The unknown pawns, who would die in the thousands.

The black, square formations of the Unsullied and the less orderly, but equally dark Dothraki marching over the snow-covered land to face the White Walkers.

Black and white, black and white… Everywhere. The absence of light and light itself, in which all other colours are contained.

I’m awaiting the Red Priestess’s arrival, to add some colour to this duality. Yes, there will be plenty of red, but I doubt there will be any more colours in this story except these three.

Photo by Jonatan Pie on Unsplash

I watched dozens of Episode 1 breakdowns, some insightful, some downright stupid. Like concluding that Cersei is pregnant because she stopped drinking wine. Yeah, the dangerous effect of alcohol consumption was well known at the time Game of Thrones wanted to evoke. The other thing – Jon and Daenerys’s love. He might be repelled with the fact that he’s fallen in love with his aunt, but for her it shouldn’t be a big deal. Marrying within the family was a common practice among the Targaryen, as well as of many European royals, by the way, including Queen Elizabeth II and her close cousin, Prince Philip, who married in the 1950s. Not many people find this disgusting. (I do.)

My thoughts on what the hell the White Walkers want?

Well, life. They don’t want to be dead anymore. But don’t take me seriously; I’m a romance writer.

My favourite moments? Arya and Jon’s reunion. The self-confident Lady of Winterfell, who’d started her journey as a naive and self-centered girl who dreamed of marrying a prince. Jon riding Rhaegal. The look Drogon gave Jon when he kissed Daenerys by the waterfalls. Arya admitting that her sister was the smartest woman she ever knew.

And the unforgettable exchange between Eddison Tollett and Tormund.

“Stay back, he’s got blue eyes!” (Tollet)

“I’ve always had blue eyes!” (Tormund)

Absolutely priceless.