Some initial thoughts on the first episode of "Game of Thrones"

Spoilers, I guess...

• Someone needs to stop me from reviewing the show on cellar door. It's terribly tempting. 
• The casting is perfect. I've avoided the trailers after starting on the novels so I wouldn't read them with the actors and actresses in mind, but everyone is absolutely stunning. 
• Since I've been listening to Roy Dotrice's voice and intonation of the characters for hours now, it is a bit confusing to get used to the different pronunciation of Arya and Tyrion though. It's a subtle difference, but it does feel weird.
• Subtle exposition is my favourite thing ever: Jon talks to Bran about their father, but his mother, and then sees the disdainful looks Catelyn shoots him in the courtyard. This was more elegant than the constant usage of "bastard" to describe Jon and everything he thinks about and does that is almost comical in the books. 
• The same goes for the introduction to the complicated geography the characters inhabit: the title sequence shows the three main settings of the episode (King's Landing, Winterfell, the Wall, Pentos) and works really well to help viewers to get their bearings. 
• The Wall is my favourite setting, I think. The idea of a wall, separating the rational world of Westeros from everything that is old, magical, terrible and irrational on the other side is one of the strongest aspects of the novels, but to see the actual wall, built of snow and massive... was a thing of beauty. 
• The other Other, though (the Dothraki) will take me a bit to get used to. Khal Drogo is one of the more problematic characters in the novel, and especially the early bits with a "deer in the headlights" Daenerys (this has nothing to do with the acting, though) are not my favourite thing in either the novel or the show. 
• The same goes for Sansa Stark: Arya is easier to like, but it's important to remember that all the female characters inhabiting this male-dominated world are struggling to find their own path. 
• I thought the episode did a really good job at setting up the characters in general - there were a lot of small moments which captured the essence of a character (Arya escaping from the dreadful needlework to showcase her archery skills, Sansa gushing over the prince, Ned both as the strong Lord sticking to his ideals even though he feels pity for the man he kills and as the kind and supportive father, Bran climbing). 
• I was worried about the direwolves but apparently they are using baby Huskies that are ridiculously cute (but are direwolves supposed to be cute?). Children and animals are usually the weak points in any show - not in GoT, though. 
• The contrast between the genuine love and care in the Stark family (especially with Catelyn) and the uncomfortable mixture of arrogance and fake cordiality the Queen expresses (especially in the scene with Sansa at the feast - "let me thoroughly inspect you to see if you are worthy of my son oh and the dress is really nice" - works perfectly to set up the basic conflict of the first novel/season. 
• Lena Headey was the initial reason why I was interested in the show (I am also excited at the prospect of seeing Natalia Tena, Sibel Kekilli and Joe Dempsie in smaller roles as the show progresses), and it's stunning what she does with the character of Cersei Lannister, who is one of the most unlikeable characters of the novel (but, as all the characters, complex in her despicableness - but still, one of the main adjectives in the script to describe her appearance is probably "disdainful"). It's a strange twist on Sarah Connor too - just that she isn't as much protective of her children as of her own standing, even though both characters have the same quiet constant preparedness (it's obviously more physical with Sarah Connor). Also, I've really missed her voice. 
• Jaime looks like a Disney prince, which is perfect because he's Jaime. 
• PETER DINKLAGE!
• I never thought I'd say this because Viserys is a horrible, horrible character in the novel, but the odd giddiness Harry Lloyd brings to the role almost makes him likeable. An adorable, power-hungry sociopath, if you will. 
• I'm wondering how the dream sequences will be visualized, if they appear at all.