So, this is definitely Game of Thrones. The killing of Rodrick and Gregor at the start was supposed to mirror the deaths of Robb and Ned. It worked wonderfully. They start you off at the Red Wedding, and when they show The Twins, you immediately start thinking, "Oh fucking shit, fuck me..." and when they start showing the Freys holding their weapons, you start to panic, "Fuck fuck fuck, we have to get out of here, I KNOW WHAT IS COMING!"
The decision to start the story at the Twins was just fucking perfect. It's the most gutwrenching moment in the series, and the killing of the patriarch and the son of House Forrester parallel what we've come to expect from Westeros. It let you know, from the start, where we stood and what was happening. It worked.
My only concern is that they seem to be mirroring House Stark a bit too much. I mean, you can basically draw a direct comparison between everyone:
Gregor = Ned: House Patriarch, noble, loyal, honorable. Loved by all.
Elissa = Catelyn: Wife to the patriarch, forced to try and step up when her husband is murdered.
Rodrik = Robb: Great solider/warrior, the next in line to lead his house, offed in a betrayal at the Red Wedding.
Mira = Sansa: Timid girl in King's Landing, away from the family, living in proximity to the Royal Family. Meant to be a window to the politics.
Talia = Arya: Youngest daughter, strong-willed, wiser than lets on.
Ethan = Bran: Young boy forced into Lordhood when father/brother die. Unsure how to proceed, must balance being kind and merciful with having a strong hand. Advised by a maester.
Ryon = Rickon: Youngest boy, scared, crybaby, naive.
I mean, everything lines up so perfectly, it ALMOST feels lazy. But there's enough separating the characters, there, to make it feel okay. It even lines up with Gerad being the "son but not quite a son" who is sent to the Wall. The only wildcard in the family is Asher.
I did enjoy what happens with the storytelling, here. It's interesting, as a player, to have this vast knowledge of what is going on elsewhere in the world and having that influence your decisions.
Gerad's segments felt the weakest in this episode... he's there to setup the story, kill some Boltons, watch his family die, then be all sad and dejected and get sent to the Wall. I don't feel like I ever had to make a tough decision with him. "WILL YOU TELL THE SECRET THAT LORD FORRESTER TOLD YOU TO ONLY TELL YOUR UNCLE? OR WILL YOU TELL THE SECRET?" was about as 'dynamic' as the decisions got. Didn't feel that high-stakes, and perhaps his story will be expanded in future episodes, but for now, he's basically filler. I mean, what was the point of the whole scene where he spies on Ramsay at the campfire flaying the guy? I just sat there and didn't touch anything and let the scene play out. Pretty pointless.
But the other two segments were so great! Mira's segments in King's Landing were absolutely spot on. The whole time I was playing as her, I felt very tense. Even though the setting was perhaps the most peaceful, talking to Sersei, Margaery, and Sera was the most intense I felt the whole game. Do I take a strong hand with Cersei so she'll know not to fuck with me, or do I appease her? Can I ask this favor of Margaery, or will it hurt my standing with her? Is Sera trustworthy and a real friend, or is she one of Cersei's little birds that tattles on everything Margaery does? The conversations in those moments made me think. I actually paused the game and smoked a cigarette while I waited to make my decision a couple of times. The politics, the two-facedness, everything felt exactly how it should be in King's Landing.
Meanwhile, Ethan's segments felt heavy. The decisions there were very difficult, as I tried to decide what kind of ruler I wanted to be. Was I merciful? Was I harsh? Did I support brute force, cunning wit, or financial savvy? Would I let my mother undermine me, or would I take a strong hand with her? These felt like classic Game of Thrones dynamics and more importantly, Ethan felt much like Clementine did in The Walking Dead... a young child that would grow up how you let them grow up. It all seemed perfect. I took pride in not letting Ramsay push me around, even as things got grim, and I pondered how Ethan would work with a garrison of White--OH MY FUCKING GOD DID RAMSAY JUST FUCKING STAB THE MAIN CHARACTER, A CHILD, IN THE FUCKING NECK?
FUCK YOU TELLTALE GAMES. FUCK. YOU.
Gared is the guy that feels the weakest and goes to the wall. I think we'll get to see him later and if he becomes a Rangers and becomes empowered he'll have more pressing decisions (AND OH MY GOD A MECHANIC WILL ASSIST IN STORYTELLING!). That's my hope, anyway. Otherwise he's a narrative device and that's lame.