A show as epic as Game of Thrones needed an equally epic opening (and not just for the time necessary to show the entire cast’s names). This show delivered with an animated map of the kingdom of Westeros, complete with fiery graphics and an uplifting score. What better way to ready ourselves for fantastic adventure?

While fleeing for her life, Arya Stark managed to find her beloved sword, Needle. Just in time too -- a fat stable boy, intent on returning Arya to the Queen, showed up right then. Arya quickly dispatched the fat boy with Needle, thus proving the little girl to be television’s most badass child.

Most shows don’t kill off their main character in the first season. Game of Thrones is not most shows. Out of the shows dozens of characters, Ned Stark (Sean Bean) was the obvious lead. And then he died. Still, the death was shocking, horrifying and tragic -- in all the best ways.

Sure, she lost her husband and her unborn child, but at least Daenerys Targaryen got a trio of dragon babies as a consolation prize. And they were so cute! For now, anyway...

I'm still sad about that :p

Really it's EVERYTHING! and the opening isn't just the best of the year but actually the best I've EVER seen myself!

I was just thrilled that they stuck to the book and killed him, a lot of TV Shows would and have gone out of their way to keep him alive.

The opening is one of the few things I doN't like about the show.. I don't know why, it's just not my style.

Literally everything. and I completely agree with D_J267!

All of them, but especially the opening -coz it is amazing & the song is now my ringtone! :D

And Opening credits.