The first episode of Game of Thrones final season has dawned upon us and it makes for a right start to what's the most anticipated TV event of the year. There was a bit of everything that you have loved about Game of Thrones from the past seven seasons. From dragons to alliance. From nudity to betrayals. So much has happened in the premiere episode that we are really excited to know what's in store for us in the next episode. Interesting part is, that there were no major battles or war scenes in the episode, and yet it was thrilling enough. There were cheery reunions and not so cheery ones. There were small victories and bigger betrayals at play.  Before you go ahead, please note that there are plenty of SPOILERS in the feature. Game Of Thrones Season 8 Episode 1: From a Broken Wall With Ice Advancing to Winterfell's Crypts, What Does the New Opening Credits Sequence Hint At?

Intriguingly, the episode doesn't begin by showing us the aftermath of the  fall of the Wall, though the repercussions are felt throughout the episode. The Night King and his army of White Walkers were absent but they do leave one grisly reminder of what they are about to do in the season ahead. Also yeah, there is a terrific sequence involving the dragons!

So here are what we found the 12 best moments in the first episode of Game of Thrones season 8:

The Reunions and The Cold Stares

The beginning of the episode has Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen and her army along with Sandor Clegane and Tyrion Lannister march into Winterfell. Arya is happy to see Jon and Gendry, but worried to see a still-alive Sandor, though none of them see her in the crowd yet. In the courtyard, Jon reunites with Sansa and Bran, the latter weirding him out like he does with the rest ever since he became the Three-Eyed Raven. Also we are totally loving the icy-cold vibes Sansa and Dany are sharing with each other!

Sansa Belittles Tyrion

After Tyrion makes his announcement at the Council of Winterfell that Lannister army are joining him to fight the War against the Night King, Sansa later meets him in private. It is an awkward reunion, for sure, as Sansa was once married to Tyrion (though they never consummated their marriage) and fled away after the death of King Joffrey in the third season. Sansa asks Tyrion if he believes that Cersei would send her army. Tyrion nods. Sansa then tells him that she had once thought he was the cleverest man alive and walks away. What a burn! Tyrion definitely needs a reality check about his sister!

Arya and Jon's Reunion

The best reunion comes a little later in the episode when Jon is standing in front of the weirwood tree and Arya sneaks up on him. Both have a tearful hug, and later check out the swords that they are in possession.

Bronn's Foursome

The trailers may kept him in the oblivion, but Bronn is back and he is in his elements. The first scene we see him is when he is trying to having a foursome with three naked prostitutes, before Qyburn walks on him and tells him that Cersei has given him a task. He is now to protect the Queen from both her brothers. Meanwhile, Qyburn also informs a shocked Bronn that one of the girls he had planned to have sex with might die from pox within a year! Bronn also has the best line in the show, when he mutters 'That F**king Family'!

A Dangerous Alliance

Euron brings the Iron Fleet and Golden Company for Cersei and asks her to accept him as her mate. Cersei is reluctant at first, but later mulls over and allows him to sleep with her. Euron tells Cersei that he is going to 'put a prince' in her belly and leaves the room. Cersei is seen cradling a cup of wine, but doesn't drink from it and there are tears in her eyes. Which makes us wonder, is she still pregnant with Jaime's child?

Theon Saves Yara and Steals Euron's Ships

Theon, continuing from his rediscovered sense of bravery from the final episode of the seventh season, kills the men on Euron's ships and saves his sister Yara from being captive. Once free, Yara slaps him (deservingly) for ditching her when Euron took her as a captor and later they take the ships to meet Daenerys.

The Dragon Ride

In the most visually exciting sequence of the episode, Daenerys encourages a hesitant Jon to ride one of the dragons, as she rides the other. As Tyrion and co watch them fly by, we see some very beautiful landscapes and some amazing cinematography. Clearly, the makers have put in a huge amount of money for the VFX in the final season.

A Jealous Dragon

After the ride ends, Jon and Dany land on a snow plain with a beautiful waterfall nearby. Dany kisses Jon, but Jon is wary. Why? Because the dragon are clearly not happy with him being their father, and they are snarling their nostrils at him in annoyance! Wicked!

Dany and Samwell's Chat

On the insistence of Jorah Mormont, Dany meets Samwell Tarly when the latter was with his books. After some pleasantries, Daenerys realised that she had killed his father and brother, and now has the awkward responsibility to tell him the news. A shocked Samwell fumbles on hearing the news, but leaves from the place before he says anything unpleasant to Dany.

Sam's Big Reveal to Jon Snow

Sam immediately goes to Jon Snow and tells him about what Dany has said. When Jon insists on being loyal to her, Sam finally tells him his truth - that he should be the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. A shocked Jon still thinks that thinking so is treason enough for Dany.

The Umber Boy

We finally get to see a bit of the aftermath of the collapse of the Wall. Beric Dondarrion and Tormund meet with Dolorous Edd and rest of the handful of surviving Night's Watch. This results in a hilarious sequence when Edd thinks Tormund has blue eyes and Tormund says he always had blue eyes! They later find the Umber boy who was sent to give them a message, pinned on the wall by The Night King with limbs arranged around him in a peculiar design that we saw first in the first episode (see below).

As they talk about getting to Winterfell before the undead army, the boy wakes up as a wight and Beric lights him up on fire.

Jaime, Meet Bran... Again!

The final scene of the episode has Jaime reach Winterfell and the first person he meets there is none other than Bran Stark. Nothing spells more awkward than this! If you remember, in the first episode of the first season, Jaime had pushed Bran out of a tower, after the latter catches him having sex with Cersei. The fall had led to a series of disasters, also leaving Bran crippled and amnesiac. After becoming the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran remembers everything now and especially what Jaime did to him. Interesting to see how this plays in the next episode.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 15, 2019 09:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).