Rate Episode 7x01 - Dragonstone

Solid 8.

I give it a 9. On the scale of personal enjoyment, it was closer to a 10 - I absolutely loved it. I'm sure that some of that was just my happiness at being back in the world, but even after sleeping on it, I'm still buzzing. I'm only really refraining from giving it that top grade because I recognize that Game of Thrones has another gear that it's more than capable of reaching, and this episode was laying the groundwork to summit that peak later this season.

Overall, I think this is my second favorite season premiere, after "Two Swords". We're off to a great start!

Very strong 9. Probably my favorite season opener.

9.

Good
+ Everything about the BwB scenes ("Bald cunt", Sandor's redemption arc, the vision in the flames, gravedigging)
+ CLEGANEBOWL hype
+ Euron redeemed himself from 6x05
+ The end of House Frey
+ The scene with Arya and the Lannister soldiers
+ Sam's shit montage
+ The foreshadowing (hopefully) with Jaime on the Fingers and Cersei on the Neck
+ The very chilling scene with the Army of the Dead marching in the snowstorm
+ The Winterfell scenes (Jon ruling and Sansa with LF)
+ Dany finally coming to Westeros
Bad (Pretty much just nitpicks)
- The scenes with Bran felt rather... lacking. There should've been more of him and Edd.
- Arya the master assassin
- Lyanna Mormont. She was badass in 6x07, now she is just annoying IMO
- No one garrisoning Dragonstone after Stannis left
- Sam not thinking when Stannis told him about dragonglass
- Mountain doesn't look that intimidating anymore
- Jorah jumpscare

I'm still at a nine but so far it's improved with every rewatch. Podeswa represents my hometown well.

Podeswa is very good with atmospheric moments as konradsmith has pointed out in the past and it's always heightened with Ramin's soundtrack and the cinematography. When Arya first entered the Hall of Faces, Sansa and Theon walking through the godswood to the "Grey Wedding", Tyrion and Jorah traveling through Old Valyria, Mel's age reveal, just to name a few.

8
Season openers are always off a few notches because getting back into the rhythm of things can be pretty jarring. Like last year, the time frame is pretty skewered. Dany and co. arrive on Dragonstone, and Jorah is already in a cell at the Citadel, both long journeys. Sam is also set up in the Citadel (though admittedly, that wouldn't take too long) while in the North, Jon is still in post battle reorganisation of the North and Bran and Meera have only just reached the Wall which they were virtually next to at the end of last series, whilst WaldArya is still hosting a party for the Frey's which makes me wonder how long is meant to have passed. I understand the need for time trimming, but still, that time frame is necessary because like the start of last series, it makes the transition a lot smoother. That said, this series opener was far superior to last years.
Big plus for the Dragonstone set. The increased budget went miles in redesigning it, and re imagining the grim foreboding isle as sunny and warm was certainly a beautiful visual if only a little too fairytale and idyllic. It was still nice to see the full scale of the castle and not just the dusty old Stan-Cave.
The best part of the episode was the Hound and the Brotherhood. It felt like a massive character shift from the agressive and moody "lots of cunts" Hound to the being the only person who bothered about burying the dead. It was a nice character moment.
All in all, it put the series on track, but the issue is more teething and readjusting after a pretty long absence from the show. It doesn't smoothly connect all the dots, but it does a pretty good job.