I don't think we've seen a flashback before on Game of Thrones. If we have, it's one that I cannot remember, and I'm sure that by the time the series has come to an end, that's not something I'll be able to say about 'Young Cersei' meeting Maggy the Witch in the woods and discovering what her future holds. Or at least, some of what we've seen play out so far.
Whether or not you believe this witch was clutching at straws or really laying down the foundations of what Cersei would face in her adult years doesn't really matter. She could even have been placing a curse on the youngster, and could we blame her? She did threaten to have the witches' eyes gouged out.
What this opening flashback has done now for the show's creators is allow them to explore a whole host of material to which they could up until this point only have the characters talk about. We hear much about 'The Mad King' Aerys II Targaryen, but just how fascinating would it be to see his story - or at least a small portion of it - play out on-screen?
Then there's the big reveal all fans of the book and TV series have been waiting for since day one - just who is Jon Snow's mother? Something tells me that the answer is going to be a complicated one, and perhaps even a whole episode dedicated to his conception could be in order. There are theories flying all over the web as to just who Jon Snow really is, so fans would feel cheated out of their response if this isn't addressed in a way in which truly tells a tale.
Of course with the season premiere also came a funeral, drunken wit, death, drama and new arrivals.
Tywin was laid to rest and it's something that Cersei still cannot come to terms with. Meanwhile with the return of Lancel Lannister comes the introduction of the Faith of the Seven religion - a story thread which will gain huge importance going forward.
Tyrion and Varys are the latest buddied-up pair following The Hound's demise last season, and whilst he's nothing but a "drunken dwarf" attempting to keep his head, Varys has big plans for the little man with a lust for women and fine wine.
Elsewhere Daenerys is struggling to keep everything in order over in Meereen. She has up until this point been stellar in making the right decision, but it appears that now more than ever before she is to be tested - will she pull through or has her luck simply run out?
And we end things with a death. I think at this point it's tradition. Mance Rayder refused to bend the knee and have his Wildling Army fight for Stannis, and so he was burnt alive at the stake. Or at least he was for a short while, before Jon Snow took mercy on him and fired an arrow into his heart, showing mercy on a man whom he respected but simply couldn't understand. Stannis won't be happy.
Game of Thrones continues next week at 9pm on Sky Atlantic.