HBO surprised fans at the recent Golden Globes with the release of new footage from Game of Thrones Season 8. The video shows a scene from Episode 1 when Jon Snow and company arrive in Winterfell.
The footage shows the most-awaited first meeting between Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). Jon Snow (Kit Harington) beckons his new love forward to come and meet his half-sister. The two women greet each other and Sansa utters the same words her father, Eddard Stark, said to King Robert Baratheon when he visited Winterfell in the first episode of the first season (see 0:40 scene in the video below).
"Winterfell is yours, your grace."
Sansa does not look too pleased to hand over the kingdom to Daenerys and for very good reasons. She barely knows the platinum-haired beauty. Likewise, her years of experience under manipulation by kings and queens have taught her not to trust easily. She may have just said those words to please Jon Snow but her voice and face reek of sarcasm.
Also in the footage is Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen), who walks alongside his Khaleesi as she approaches Jon and Sansa. Brienne of Tarth (Gwendolyn Christie) also takes her position behind Lady Stark in keeping with her oath from the previous season to always protect her.
Understandably, this encounter happens in Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 1 after Sansa welcomes Jon back in Winterfell with a less-than-happy embrace. HBO previously released a two-second- footage from the final installment in August that shows the siblings hug each other, but Sansa does not look to happy to see the new King of the North. Their hug looks different from their initial reunion at Castle Black when Sansa appeared relieved and happy to see Jon.
Interestingly, in this scene, the camera locks on Sansa's face as she gives an icy stare at something or someone behind Jon Snow. Perhaps her glare is directed at Daenerys.
When you bring your new girlfriend home to meet the family but your half-sister-cousin ain't having it. #GameofThrones #Season8 pic.twitter.com/tfkeDyZFOv — David (Razor) Harris (@House_Razor) August 27, 2018
The new Game of Thrones Season 8 footage confirms previous reports that Episode 1 opens with a scene in Winterfell. The season opens with "plenty of callbacks to the show's pilot," but instead of King Baratheon's procession arriving in Winterfell, it is Daenerys' and her army. Season 8 premieres with characters meeting each other, some for the first time, like Daenerys and Sansa. There is an intermingling of characters as they prepare to face the inevitable invasion of the Night King and his band of White Walkers.
