Let's get the awkward stuff out of the way: I don't watch Game of Thrones. I only read the first two books but didn't continue the series, and I didn't watch the show—for various reasons which we won't discuss here.
What we're really here to talk about is how the rest of the Cosmopolitan Philippines team fared before and after watching the first episode of Season 8! I'm not kidding when I say that weeks (even months!) before the premiere, they were already avoiding possible spoilers, they were talking about theories over lunch, and they were totally fangirling over their fave characters and rehashing scenes while I sat there trying to figure out what they were talking about. They were cute, TBH.
Again, ***SPOILERS AHEAD*** (we cannot stress this enough). Here are their reactions + selfies after watching Episode 1:
Tisha: "I was so pumped about Game of Thrones being back, extra period blood came out!"
How did you prepare for the first episode?
When I started the day, I was expecting I'd watch the episode at around 7 or 8 p.m., after I'd eaten dinner, bathed, and did my skincare. BUT NONE OF THAT HAPPENED because I ended up watching it at the office before going home. I tried really hard to fight the urge, but in the end, I couldn't. Sad (but not really).
What are your reactions, thoughts, and feelings about the episode?
Fucking Lord Umber?! I hate zombie children so even if it wasn't completely surprising he was turned into a wight, I still got scared when he opened his eyes because zombie children are the c-r-e-e-p-i-e-s-t!
Anyway, overall, the episode seemed pretty chill with all the OMFG moments left towards the end—it reminded me a lot of the first episode ever! The two things I was not chill about, though, was 1) Jon riding Rhaegal. I have a fear of heights and watching him ride the dragon made my hands sweat; and 2) I was waiting for Sansa to reunite with the Hound but annoyingly, it didn't happen—fine, Winterfell may be THAT big so hopefully, they'll have a moment in the upcoming episodes. They have five more episodes to do this!
As a whole, this may be TMI, but I was so pumped about Game of Thrones being back, extra period blood came out, LOL! I loved this episode because I feel like I need something "cute" and "sweet" to prepare me for ~*The Long Night*~.
What are your expectations for the rest of the season?
I'm expecting more heart-stopping, nail-biting moments because it's Game of Thrones. And because it's GoT, I'm expecting some beloved characters to die. I hope it's not a secondary character, though, but someone who's been with us since the beginning. I want it to hurt as much as it did when Robb Stark met his tragic death in Season 3. Yes, it's kind of masochistic but I don't care!
Ira: "My snacks were ready, including my heart. I prepared to see someone die."
How did you prepare for the first episode?
Like you, I waited a long time for Game of Thrones Season 8. I braced myself as I clicked the "play" button. My snacks were ready, including my heart. I prepared to see someone die. After all, this is GoT.
What are your reactions, thoughts, and feelings about the episode?
I had a weird feeling when the camera kept on focusing on the Lord of Umber from the Last Hearth. What could be his character's significance? And OMFG! That fucking scene of him turning into a wight and being stabbed. I have to give it to the Night King. He is an artist. Ugh.
I was confused when Cersei expected Golden Company's elephants to be transported via boats. Ma'am, those ships ain't Noah's Ark. Another would be when Daenerys just had to deliver the news herself to Samwell that she turned his fam into barbeque.
And now onto Jon Snow, or may I say Aegon Targaryen, the true heir of the Iron Throne. We all knew that when he rode Rhaegal the dragon (!!!), and kissed his queen and boo Dany while the dragons gave him *the look,* something BIG is going to happen. Thanks to Bran nudging Samwell to speak up, Jon Snow finally KNOWS that he was never a bastard but the King! How about that, Dany??? Will there be a power-play conflict aside from the aunt-nephew relationship?
Oh, before I end this, I have to say, Bran is my man. Great timing, bro! I can't wait for the next episode!
What are your expectations for the rest of the season?
I predict a fan-favorite character to die, and my guess would be Sansa or Dany. Maybe Cersei could finally meet her fate, but I'm also worried about her baby—I suspect she's pregnant! Remember that scene when she refused to drink wine with Tyrion? As for Jon Snow, aka Aegon. I expect he'll need to do A LOT (have a major LQ or maybe break up with Aunt Dany, IDK) to get the throne that is rightfully his. I don't have any expectations for the Night King and his army of Wights. I'll just let him do his own thing.
Cindy: "We had unfortunate officemates who were effing playing the episode during lunch break."
How did you prepare for the first episode?
There was one thing I was sure of: I did not want to hear or read a single spoiler before watching the episode. Knowing I only had the chance to catch the episode after a full day's work at the office, I had to prep myself for battle.
1) I laid off social media starting at 9 a.m. when the episode aired locally on HBO. The most crucial platforms I stayed away from were Facebook and Instagram. This means I did not scroll through my feed for a whole working day (a tough thing to do with a job in media!).
2) I wore earphones and blasted music while I worked because I didn't want to overhear office chatter about the episode (we had unfortunate officemates who were effing playing the episode during lunch break. WTF, RIGHT?!).
3) I stocked up on snacks to munch on during my screening time.
4) I braced myself for the worst. That morning, the thought of losing my favorite characters (Jaime, Arya, and Tyrion) made me tear up. But I knew I had to say goodbye to them this season. As the saying goes, valar morghulis.
What are your reactions, thoughts, and feelings about the episode?
IT WAS NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING AT ALL. MY GOD, THE SHOWRUNNERS ARE PLAYING WITH OUR FEELINGS.
Okay, so I was fully (well, not fully FULLY) prepared for epic deaths and battles. But what we got were bittersweet reunions: Bran and Jon, Arya and Jon, Tyrion and Sansa, Sam and Jon, and even Jaime and Bran. I shed many tears watching these reunions unfold onscreen and it was like a perfect way to wrap up loose ends. The one I'm most anxious about though is the cliffhanger between Jaime and Bran. Jaime's character arc is the most beautifully written one in the whole series, in my opinion. And having him, a changed man, face the boy who was a result of all evil he's turned his back from is like a dagger to my heart. The past really has a way of catching up with us.
Apart from this, I was pleasantly surprised with those light and kilig (okay, more of cheesy AF) moments between Jon and Dany. I imagined Jon riding a dragon to be some epic moment with swelling emotional music, but what we got was a laughable image of Jon flailing about on top of Rhaegal. The scene after that, when Jon and Dany unmounted their dragons, gave us the ~cheeeesiest~ lines in GoT history:
Jon: "It's cold up here for a southern girl."
Dany: "So keep your queen warm."
*makeout session ensues*
Oh, and anything that involves the Greyjoys I just seriously zone out from. Like, what-e-ever.
What are your expectations for the rest of the season?
I'm bracing myself for a more action-packed Episode 2, that's for sure! With Jaime's reappearance in Winterfell to Jon ~finally~ knowing about his true parentage, Episode 1 just set us up for all the events we know will happen in the final season: Deaths, lots and lots of deaths. What I want to be answered in the next episodes is that why the hell was Dany so effing calm when Jon rode a dragon? Doesn't she realize something's up? Or were her judgments clouded by emotions and uh, obvious hormones?
Mixi: "I'm expecting everyone to die in the next episode."
How did you prepare for the first episode?
I didn't get to watch it on the day of the premiere, because I was waiting to watch it with my boyfriend. UNFORTUNATELY (all caps), he did OT at work. So the wait made me angrier because I wanted to watch it already. To be honest, 90 percent of my mental space was dedicated to GoT alone, that day.
The spoilers online are crazier this time around, which made it harder to wait. With everyone talking about it, I couldn't go on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram so I wouldn't spoil myself. Some of my co-workers, (who were near my cube!!) were watching it at work already, I wanted to join in and cry.
I didn't get to buy snacks to binge because I got home late. I also didn't have time to watch the last season's episodes to refresh my mind. So I just watched the next morning, alone, under my covers, with no food and no expectations.
What are your reactions, thoughts, and feelings about the episode?
I'm a dramatic person, so watching and hearing the first few seconds of "PREVIOUSLY on GoT" gave me chills already. Weirdly, everyone's reunion made me emotional. I feel like I've been part of the family, HAHAHUHU. I've missed everyone!
A few minutes into the episode—is it wrong that I feel Daenerys' arrogance through the screen? Damnit! I love seeing Sansa's eye rolls. LOL. Can't wait for more of this tension in the coming episodes. 30 minutes in, no major deaths yet. And, everyone is getting loved up? Nice. Dany telling Jon, "So keep your queen warm," was pretty smooth and funny. Danny asking Jon to ride the dragons with her was pretty epic!
Jon knowing about his real identity was the moment I was really looking forward to, for the longest time! Although the scene with Sam was pretty chill, I love how he urged Jon to make a move. "You gave up your crown to save your people, would she do the same?" Can't wait for his next move!!!
That scene where the Umber boy with arms scattered in formation. WTF was that?! Did I watch the flipping wrong series?!
JAIME LANNISTER'S ARRIVAL IS THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN 50 minutes into this episode. But, why the fuck is Bran everywhere? He just has to be in every time a character gets a moment right?! HAHAHA
Wow, this episode was super chill. I think I may have overestimated this episode.
What are your expectations for the rest of the season?
Given that the first episode has zero major deaths besides the poor Umber boy, at least—I'm expecting everyone to die in the next episode. (BUT DON'T TOUCH MY LADY BRIENNE.)
No kidding, in this series, it's mental torture thinking who among my fave characters will live, or die. But you know, as the Greyjoys say, what is dead *may never* die.
Jico: "I feel like I will never be emotionally prepared for the ending."
How did you prepare for the first episode?
I am very sensitive to spoilers, even a single-word reaction ruins it for me. I closed Facebook on my phone and only opened messages from my trusted friends and family. It has been a tradition that my friends come over my house for a viewing party, it felt sentimental that this is the last season we're doing it.
What are your reactions, thoughts, and feelings about the episode?
The opening credits gave me goosebumps! I loved how everything was straightforward, no more unnecessary side plots. Jon and Dany riding the dragons is as magnificent as Aladdin's carpet ride with Jasmine.
What are your expectations for the rest of the season?
Seeing the pace of the first episode, I expect every episode to be more packed with significant plot scenes. I feel like I will never be emotionally prepared for the ending.
Jill: "After the first episode, I really don't know what to expect. Also, please don't kill another dragon."
How did you prepare for the first episode?
You can never be prepared for a GoT episode! I knew it was gonna be stressful, so I had my junk food and carbs ready! At work, I had to avoid social media spoilers and articles, and internally unfriended ~*friends*~ who were douchey enough to post about it.
What are your reactions, thoughts, and feelings about the episode?
Tbh, there wasn't much to spoil. I kinda overestimated the first episode to be full of deaths and revelations, since there'll only be six episodes for the final season. BUT that only means they'll all be crammed in the next five! Things I loved: 1) The Starks are together again; 2) Sansa was being a little bitch to Daenerys; 3) WTH is going on with that little Arya-Gendry flirtation?!; 4) Jon Snow said he didn't know how to ride a dragon but he was literally in How To Train Your Dragon, LOL! That ride with Dany was pretty epic!; 5) That cliffhanger with Jamie and Bran finally seeing each other again!
Things I didn't completely love: 1) That Cersei had sex with Euron Greyjoy (Eww, Cers, what the hell were you thinking?!). But then I realized that maybe Cersei did that as a power move (when is it not?) and that she's probably gonna say the father of her unborn kid with Jaime Lannister is Euron; 2) Not enough deaths and revelations! My heart was ready, too bad! I'm glad Jon finally knows his true identity, though! I wonder what he thinks now of Tita Dany?!
What are your expectations for the rest of the season?
After the first episode, I really don't know what to expect. Also, please don't kill another dragon. :(
Follow Lily, Tisha, Ira, Cindy, Mixi, Jico, and Jill on Instagram.