Game of Thrones Season 4 Premiere: The Return of the King!

Welcome back, smallfolk! Game of Thrones returned in high style last night, giving us plenty of intrigue for our beloved characters while introducing us to a few new ones. In a phenomenal opening, we saw Tywin having Ned Stark’s iconic sword Ice melted down to slag, to be remade as Lannister swords. Like the most fascistic types of genocide, it was an act that sought to undo the very existence of fallen enemies.

We got to see the dragons, who may not be riding size yet, but are still enormous now, fighting over sheep. Interestingly, Daenerys’ “advisor” Darrio Naharis, has been replaced by a new actor. Dany’s army is on the march to the slave city of Meereen – in a chilling image, that city’s masters have positioned crucified slave children as mile markers to herald her arrival. Farther north, a miraculously healed Jon Snow reports back from his time undercover with the Wildings to a skeptical Janos Slynt, former Lannister Kingsguard stooge. Speaking of Wildings, we got to meet the Thenn tribe, who’ve got the bald/cannibal thing down cold.

We met The Red Viper, Prince Oberyn of Dorne – and if his first appearance is any indication, Pedro Pascal is going to make this character a favorite. The Dornish are being portrayed like exotic Spaniards, with Oberyn having a great Inigo Montoya vibe, conveying the pivotal story of his sister’s marriage to Targaryen Prince Rhaegar and her slaughter by Ser Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane. If you weren’t already chomping at the bit to see The Mountain return, you will be now, as there’s an immediate inevitability to Oberyn’s collision course of vengeance with him. That’s Indira Varma (Luther’s wife Zoe), as the Prince’s companion, Ellaria Sand – Sand is like “Snow,” a surname that connotes bastard birth.

With Jaime back at King’s Landing and fitted with a prosthetic golden hand, he’s getting nothing but disrespect from his family. Tywin gives him the cruel gift of a new sword, his sister rebuffs his advances and King Joffrey does what Joffrey does best: taunts. 




A great scene together has Joff examining the Kingsguard White Book (aka The Book of Brothers), that chronicles all their deeds, remarking at how little there is written about Jaime, “half a page.” Jaime insists there’s still time, but Joffrey snorts at the notion of what a one-handed 40-year-old can still achieve. The answer to that question is going to be fascinating indeed.

Without a doubt, the best sequence of the night goes to The Hound and Arya – a spaghetti western slice of Tarantino payback in a remote tavern that’s the best thing we’ve seen from The Hound yet. Fantastic stuff!

                                         

It was amazing how quickly this first episode flew by. It was beautifully executed, wasted very little time and left me hungry for more! The chess pieces are in motion and it’s great to be back on the board!