It's not a cold open, but it does open in the cold after an awesome new intro that will break down separately.

Episode 1 called A Sun for a Sun is a fantastic new start full of callbacks and references.

Many things in this episode show and or tell us of recurring traditions such as the one started by Torren Stark the king who knelt a century or so ago,

it calls for one in ten men from his household to join the night's watch.

Or why in Arias time well over a century later the Red Keep is full of cats with

nary a rat catcher to be seen.

The first word of the episode is duty and it is a central theme of the episode, but paired with

conflict, the sort that makes one's duty difficult to determine.

The duty of the North to support unity in the South, and remember their oaths, but also to send men, sometimes to their own family, to the Wall when winter is coming.

The duty of the King to defend the small folk, but also to win the war for his family and to avenge those who do it harm.

The duty of a queen in conflict with the inherent duties of motherhood, as Damon tells Rainies, the mother grieves as the Queen shirks her duty.

The duty of Kingsguard!

How are they to know what to do when the House of the Dragon, whom they swear to protect, turns on itself?

It's a question worthy of Jamie Lannister's conflicting oaths.

It was also the duty of Alan, as he himself puts it, to save Lord Corley's in battle.

A conflict in this particular scene is implied rather than explained,

for now, give it time.

The phrase dark wings, dark words is also implied rather than spoken when word arrives for Lord Kregan from Dragonstone about the death of Luke, making war all the more certain.

You might recognize the song playing in the opening northern scene as well, a familiar

haunting tune that many would call the Stark theme. It also debuts back in that very first episode of

Game of Thrones when John Snow leaves for the wall parting with Rob Stark.

They expect to see each other again, but never do.

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