The long journey to King's Landing is finally over.

I didn't expect palm trees. I wonder what happens when winter comes. The throne itself is an ominous presence. It hardly looks befitting a king, but rather someone who is serving a grave punishment.

Considering the legacy of that throne, perhaps I am onto something there. We have not heard any stories about the rule of a happy king, have we?

In meeting Lord Baelish, we learn that Catelyn Tulley, despite the viewers dissatisfaction of actress to play the role, was quite the catch when she was single.

Baelish fought Ned's brother for her hand. He seems so much younger than the other fellows, and especially Cat. Is the casting wrong or if I'm placing the values of our culture onto that of Westeros?

My favorite wussy Prince, Joffrey, knows fully well he is of no importance but Cersei tries to build him up into something neither of them can ever accomplish.

The way she pushes him frightens me, and I wonder what kind of man he will grow into. I fear he will forever be an overconfident man-child with no compassion and unlimited resources. Frightening indeed.

I found it pathetic watching Joffrey talk like a man about taxes and peasants as he just finished flinching from the placement of a Q-tip on his nearly healed wound. The Lannisters' only redeeming quality is Tyrion.

I adore the way Sean Bean portrays Lord Eddard Stark, Hand of the King, and Ned Stark, father to Sansa, Arya and others. So much humanity is infused into the role.

His demeanor completely changes from his duties as the Hand, his conversation with Sansa and then, finally, his sensitive approach with Arya. As he attempts to explain to her the ways of their world, his tenderness and love of family is clear. As clear as is his motivation to do right by the kingdom in his duties as the Hand.

Once again, when Peter Dinklage graces the screen as Tyrion, my eyes are riveted. Such an interesting character. Son of one of the most powerful Lords in Westeros, brother of a queen, but still an outsider because he is an "imp." It makes his perspective so important to the narrative of the story, and Jon's as well.

They have been brought up amidst the very best and the very worst than life has to offer, giving their characters the chance to truly discern what is happening around them. Somehow, through the love and permissiveness of her father, Arya, too, is able to identify the true value of people and their truths and lies.

Their three perspectives will become important as the story progresses, as they see things with such moral clarity. It seems odd to say that about three such different characters, but their hearts are central to bringing sense to the events that occur around them.

As Ned watched as Arya began her sword training in earnest, he gazed upon her with a haunted look. Now that he has taken the role as Hand, I wonder what he believes it will do to his family, and whether he wishes he had taken more time to ponder exactly that.

Dany is finally embracing her role as Khaleesi. It was a glorious moment when Viserys realized, even in his idiotic brain, what he had done by "selling" her to the Dothraki as their Khaleesi. All the power he once held over her, the fear he counted on to control her, is fleeing.

Where will that leave Viserys? Not a smart man, he is full of pride, he seems to be in constant peril of cutting off his nose to spite his face. Now that she is pregnant, any hope he had of maneuvering Dany back under his sway is gone.

Is it me, or are the names of the episodes sorely lacking in conjunction with the actual material covered? While Jon did learn being high born doesn't have its privileges when in the Night's Watch, there was little to name the entire show in his name (sarcastic as it was).

There are two stories told in "Lord Snow" about what will happen when winter finally comes. It sounds like a frightening time, days of neverending darkness, supposedly only lit by the moons reflection on the snow. The stories have certainly sucked me in, and I cannot wait to find out just what winter in Westeros will really be like.

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.