"Game of Thrones" Season 3, Episode 1, titled "Valar Dohaeris," picks up where the previous season left off and sets the stage for the conflicts and struggles to come.
The episode opens with Jon Snow and the wildlings, led by Mance Rayder, crossing the Wall and entering the Seven Kingdoms. Jon is torn between his loyalty to the Night's Watch and his growing admiration for the wildlings, who are portrayed as more human and relatable than the Night's Watch.
In King's Landing, Tyrion Lannister has taken over as Hand of the King and is working to improve the city's defenses in anticipation of an attack by Stannis Baratheon. He is also trying to rein in his father, Tywin Lannister, who is determined to maintain the Lannister's grip on power.
Daenerys Targaryen and her followers have reached the city of Astapor, where she plans to buy an army of Unsullied, a group of highly trained slave soldiers. However, she soon realizes that the cost of such an army is too high and decides to take the city by force.
In the North, Bran Stark is still recovering from his injuries and is having strange dreams and visions. He is also struggling with the weight of his responsibilities as lord of Winterfell.
In Riverrun, Robb Stark is trying to rally his bannermen in preparation for an attack by the Lannisters. However, his mother, Catelyn Stark, is pressuring him to make peace with the Lannisters and release her sister's captive, Jaime Lannister, in exchange for Sansa and Arya Stark.
The episode ends with Samwell Tarly and the Night's Watch coming across the remains of a wildling camp and discovering that the wildlings have been sacrificing Night's Watch members to the White Walkers.
In summary, the episode sets the stage for the conflicts and struggles to come, with each main character facing their own challenges. It also emphasizes the theme of power and the cost of gaining and maintaining it. The episode also shows the complexity of the characters and how they are forced to make difficult decisions in order to survive.
