Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 1 recap: Young Cersei's prophecy comes true as power shifts in King's Landing.

Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 1 starts with a dark flashback. Young Cersie explores the woods with her friend Melara. They visit a witch called Maggy the Frog, and Cersie asks about her future. The witch wars, as most people regret knowing their future.

But Cersei does not pay any attention to the warning and gives a drop of blood as an offering for the future prediction. The witch answers three questions. Cersie will marry a king and will be a queen, but someone younger will take her place. Her husband will have many kids, and she will have three. The witch laughs manically and says the following

"Gold crowns and gold shrouds for all"

Tywin's funeral and family Secrets

Tyrion Lannister kills Tywin Lannister, and his funeral takes place at the Great Sept in King's Landing. Jamie expresses her anger at how Tyrion betrayed the family and asks Jaime if he freed him. Jaime stands in front of her helplessly, and she understands that Jaime indeed let Tyrion go, and she walks out of the funeral room in anger.

Meanwhile, Tyrion travels in a small box to Pentos, and Varys opens it at a big castle, and Tyrion gulps the nearest wine right away. Varys talks about bringing back the Targaryens, but gets no response from Tyrion. This whole scene indicates that the Game of Thrones dynamics are shifting rapidly.

Trouble in Meereen

In Meereen, workers tear down a big statue as it falls. Following that, an Unsullied soldier visits a woman, and a man in a gold mask shows up and kills the soldier.

The gold-masked man turns out to be a member of The Sons of the Harpy. Daenerys learns about the killing and orders a huge funeral. She swears to catch the killers.

Jon Snow and the wildlings

Jon Snow trains Olly at the Wall and meets King Stannis. The Red Woman, Melisandre, shows an inclination towards Jon. Stannis wishes to get Winterfell back. However, Winterfell was conquered by the Boltons. Stannis needs the wilding soldiers, and Mance Rayder must bow to him; otherwise, he will burn him. Jon has to convince Mance before the night. The Game of Thrones Season 5, episode 1 recap moment becomes crucial.

Sansa and Littlefinger are stuck with Lysa Arryn and see Robin Arryn practice fighting, and soon realise he is bad at it. Not far away, Brienne feels the sting of losing to Renly and the pain of losing Catelyn. She loses Arya as well and chooses to push away all the help offered by the pod.

Power games shift in King's Landing

Back at the funeral, Cersei watches the changing dynamics. She sees Margaery getting close to King Tommen. Then Lancel Lannister shows up in a different guise and has joined the religious group known as the Sparrows.

Lance confesses to Cersei in hiding that he helped to kill Robert. He wishes to save the family through faith this time, but Cersei laughs it off and does not believe him.

Later, Margaery explains to her brother Loras to conceal his relationship so that Cersei can marry him, but they both realize that Cersei would not do the same without Tywin.

Daenerys loses control in The Game of Thrones

In Meereen, Daario and Hizdahr come back. They took Yunkai back. However, Yunkai is set to reopen the fighting pits again. She wishes for only free men to fight. Daenerys says no as she hates the tradition, but Daario tries to convince her.

After a long time, Daenerys goes to see her dragons Rheagel and Viserion, but they show a lot of rage and do not calm down. They proceed to attack Daenerys as well, which leaves her with no choice but to leave the place.

Also See: I totally admire the way Game of Thrones directed Sansa Stark's character arc (& honestly it came out of the blue)

Mance's Final Choice in The Game of Thrones

Jon makes a last attempt to convince Mance to kneel, but Mance rejects it for the sake of his people's freedom. Jon Snow tries to convince him by explaining the terror of White Walkers, but still fails.

Stannis ends up burning Mance after his refusal with the help of Melisandre, and Mance cries out in pain, shouting loudly. Jon Snow eases his pain by shooting an arrow at him, killing him quickly.