I can't believe nobody has reported their impressions yet. I shall be the first: I thought it was awesome, from the genius steampunky-but-not-too-much game board opening credits to the completely unexpected holy shit ending.
I cannot believe the kid died at the end of the first episode! I knew from various reviews that this show wouldn't be stingy with the deaths of sympathetic characters, but I didn't expect one of them to be the boy, and I certainly didn't expect him to be murdered by the brother in the incestuous doggy-style coupling he just witnessed.
Weirdly, I found myself a little surprised at that gigantic horse Count guy taking the little albino chick so forcefully. I know it was all clearly stipulated by the, um, party and his general taciturn barbarianism, but when he gave her that lovely horse that looked just like her and he said "no" the first couple of times, I thought those were glimmers of sensitivity which would make him turn out to be not quite the brute he seemed at first.
I adore Peter Dinklage and I can tell already Tyrion is going to be a favorite character of mine. On the other hand, that blond boy who appears to be destined for a match with the Stark daughter is going to be a complete prick, isn't he?