You could tell from the visual opening credits that GOT was something special and grand. The beginning of the HOTD has no memorable opening, no sense that an epic story is about to unfold and no compelling characters.

Perhaps the acting will improve as the storyline moves forward but hardly anyone in E1 has distinguished themselves in that regard.

Don't know what mood the show runners were going for but dark, fuzzy lighting will only take the storyline so far. Hopefully, we'll see the characters in the light of day every so often.