‘Game of Thrones’ Recap: Season 7 Kicks Off

After an extra-long break between seasons — time that appears to have been devoted to designing gorgeous new cold-weather wardrobes for every major character decked out with millions of teeny-tiny black glass beads — Game of Thrones returned on Sunday, July 16, in an episode that was white with snow, red with blood, and ginger with random Ed Sheeran appearances. Here’s everything that happened in the action-packed premiere.

A Taste for Murder

Keeping in mind that Walder Frey (David Bradley) was last seen getting his throat slit by Arya Stark (Maisie Williams), it was a bit of a shock to see him hosting a dinner party in this season’s cold open — until we remembered that Arya herself has developed a fun new talent for shapeshifting. Unfortunately for the assembled Freys, none of them noticed that Walder’s compliments on their excellent stabbing at the Red Wedding sounded a tad insincere, and by the time it dawned on anyone that he was being sarcastic, they had all barfed themselves to death on poisoned wine. Peeling off Walder’s face, Arya told his wife, “When people ask you what happened here, tell them the North remembers. Tell them winter came for House Frey.” And psst, winter isn’t done yet. In a chance meeting with a group of soldiers (including singer Sheeran in a musical cameo), Arya informed them that she’s on her way to King’s Landing to kill the queen … although luckily for them, nobody believed her.

But for now, Dragonstone has just one occupant: Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) is officially in the building, and she’s ready to rule. A long ceremonial walk brought the Mother of Dragons to the tower room where once upon a time, Stannis Baratheon planned his own ill-fated coup — and where, at the head of a table made for playing war games, she turned to her entourage and asked, “Shall we begin?”