Game of Thrones Season 4 Ep. 1: "Two Swords" Review

Yes, that's right! Dispatch the ravens immediately, rally all Thronies cause the HUGELY anticipated fourth season to the phenomenal Game of Thrones is finally upon us. The first episode premiered on Sky Atlantic at 9pm, but since I couldn't wait that long and with the real possibility of spontaneously combusting from sheer excitement, I decided to watch it earlier this afternoon through the NOW TV app on my console. As we all know, season three had left us all reeling from the bombshell that was the infamous Red Wedding, which spawned a thousand YouTube reaction videos. We gasped, we screamed and in some cases yes..we cried (I know I did, *sniff*), yet we all left with an overwhelming sense of where the series could possibly go from here. Finally, after an agonising wait of nearly a year, season four is now here and boy does it start with a bang. Some key spoilers will follow as I will be discussing several of the plot points and notable character interactions. As I booted up the episode I was greeted with, "This programme contains Strong Language, Strong Violence and Adult Themes.", hell yes you know what that means, Game of Thrones is back baby!

The impressive and symbolic first scene really does set the stage.

The opening scene has the ancient Valyrian steel greatsword Ice melted down and reforged into two swords, under the equally steely and piercing gaze of Tywin (played effortlessly as ever by Charles Dance) as the Rains of Castamere seeps ominously in the background. This sword was a cherished and ancient family heirloom of House Stark, which Ned Stark had used to behead a deserter of the Night's Watch way back in the first episode of season one, the sword that in a tragic twist of fate would also be used to take his own head later on. He casts Ice's wolf pelt scabbard into the fire and watches it burn, which is not at all subtle...yeah we felt that. Tywin gifts one of the these two swords to Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), fresh from the trials and tribulations and his long odyssey in the North, he's now sporting a new haircut but one less hand. His father insists (in typical Tywin fashion) he must return to Casterly Rock but Jaime is having none of it and vows to stay in the Kingsguard, despite his...handicap. There is always that great tension amongst the Lannister camp and it's certainly true here, and family drama is what Game of Thrones excels at. Jaime has certainly undergone many radical changes throughout the seasons (particularly Season 3), with his ever growing complexity and moral ambiguity, but you can't help but like him despite his obvious flaws, and Nikolaj as ever plays him with great conviction.

Meanwhile, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage, on impeccable form as always) along with his squire Podrick and the ever delightfully vulgar and plain-spoken sellsword-turned-knight Bronn is set to welcome the Prince of Dorne to King's Landing. However they discover from his travelling entourage that he is too ill to attend the Royal Wedding and has instead sent his brother in his stead. Que probably one of the most memorable entrances for a character thus far. Enter Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal, who is perfectly cast) a man with a seemingly genial demeanour yet under that cool and charming veneer is a man consumed with vengeance, particularly against the Lannisters. You are in no doubt by the end of the scene in Littlefinger's brothel (yep, cue full frontal nudity folks) that this is a man who will, like a viper, snap at any moment and one who is hell-bent on exacting swift, bloody justice on those who he feels wronged his family, particularly his dear sister Elia and her two children. She was the wife of Rhaegar Targaryen (a.k.a The Last Dragon) who later died at the hands of Robert Baratheon during the Battle of the Trident. The Sack of King's Landing later followed, and her two children Rhaenys and Aegon were butchered and Elia herself was supposedly raped and cut in half by Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane during the siege, who Oberyn believes was ordered to do so by Tywin Lannister. He warns Tyrion to tell his father that, "the Lannister's aren't the only ones who pay their debts." Look out for this one folks, the Viper is loose.

Oberyn Martell (a.k.a the Red Viper) speaking truths with Tyrion. Look out, there's a new player in town.

Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke, looking gorgeously regal as always) is enjoying some leisure time with her dragons, which are again beautifully brought to life by the special effects team who should be commended for rendering them so incredibly and seamlessly. However, they are growing larger by the day, and here they already appear enormous despite not even being full size yet. She looks on at Viserion and Rhaegal fighting over a dead lamb while stroking Drogon's head. Feeling left out, Drogon decides to join in the fight but as Dany tries to calm him down he snarls at her (like a typical teenager really), warning his mother to stay back and leaves her understandably shaken. Ser Jorah (Iain Glen) ever her wise counsel gives her a dose of reality and states that, "dragons can never be tamed Khalessi, not even by their mother". She sets a course for Meereen, the mother of all slave cities, with her army of Unsullied in tow and a recast Daario Naharis (now played by Michael Huisman, who is a much better fit) who is now more chasing her as opposed to her being in his shadow which I think makes for a better dynamic between the two. He even presents her with a lovely bouquet of exotic flowers, aww a budding romance in the air perhaps. This is a fairly Dany-lite episode which isn't surprising since it's still very early days yet, but as book-readers will know, Meereen plays a very significant part in her campaign so there will be a lot more to come. 

There is a particularly touching scene at the end where Dany and company stumble upon a grisly mile marker in the form of a dead crucified slave child nailed upon a wooden cross, pointing in the direction to Meereen. Ser Jorah states there is one for each mile to the last of the great slave cities, making it a disturbing 163 in total, and Dany vows not only to have them all buried and their collars removed but that she will "see each and every one of their faces". If her Sack of Astapor from Season 3 (Ep. 4 "And Now His Watch Has Ended") is anything to go by, which undoubtedly is one of the greatest moments across all seasons, then Meereen better watch out. The Silver Queen is coming a'knocking, and shes brought her dragons not to mention her 8,000 eunuch warriors who aren't at all shy about getting their spears a little bloody. 

The Mother of Dragons cradling the biggest of her dragons, Drogon who has quite the attitude.

At Castle Black, Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) is being tried for his actions, namely breaking his vows (by sleeping with Ygritte) and the killing of Qhorin Halfhand. Jon Snow obviously knows...something, warning acting Lord Commander Ser Alliser Thorne, Ser Janos Slynt and Maester Aemon that Mance Rayder's wildlings will attack Castle Black. He is ultimately released at Maester Aemon's behest, much to Slynt's and Thorne's dismay who wanted him executed. Jon also doesn't resist a sly dig at Slynt's misfortune of being a former Commander of the City Watch at King's Landing to now an exiled member of the Night's Watch, which is always welcome. Elsewhere, Ygritte (Rose Leslie) and Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) are awaiting orders from Mance Rayder about their next move before they are interrupted by the arrival of a Free Folk clan known as the bald-headed, self-scarifying Thenns (who resemble a cross between a Romulan and a Cardassian) and who also have an appetite for human flesh. Though if you've watched Game of Thrones for as long as I have then throwing cannibalism into the mix shouldn't come as that big a shock, since you've already become desensitised to like EVERYTHING else that is the barbaric world of Westeros. You get the sense that something big is about to erupt in the North, and yes the inevitable battle will come but it's great to see the character arcs evolving already even if it is only the first episode. The Battle of Blackwater Bay will take some topping, but already the building tension is palpable and you can bet in true Game of Thrones fashion that there will be some shocks in store this season.

Back at King's Landing, Tyrion tries to comfort his disconsolate wife Sansa (Sophie Turner, a tragic victim here), as she tells of her brother and mother's butchery at the Red Wedding, I know dear, I know *sniffs*. He also struggles to fend off an overbearing and lovesick Shae (Sibel Kekilli) as their 'relationship' is constantly tested which makes for some great tension and scenes between the two even if I feel personally she has run her course somewhat now. Jaime also gets a fetching new golden hand from Cercei (Lena Headey) though the loss of his original hand and his long time away makes for some much needed friction between the two siblings/lovers (though perhaps not in the way Jaime was..hoping) which is a joy to watch as their deeply complicated relationship continues to unravel. There are a few other great scenes with Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) who encourages Jaime to live up to his vow of returning the Stark girls to safety, though recent events have obviously made this difficult. We briefly drop in on the Tyrells, namely Lady Olenna (Diana Rigg) and Margaery (Natalie Dormer) who are planning for the upcoming wedding, a wedding that as is always the case in the George R.R. Martin universe, will be one to remember, particularly if the Red Wedding is anything to go by and were not forgetting that anytime soon. 

As good as the episode is overall, they really did save the best scene in my opinion til the very last. The Hound (Rory McCann) and Arya (Maisie Williams) are travelling through the woods somewhere in The Riverlands til the pair stumble upon a tavern, where the food and ale is merely the appetiser. Arya's out for a full serving of good old fashioned revenge and she knows it's a dish best served cold, and what better man to have by your side than The Hound who likes a bit of killing himself and...chicken? Seriously, this scene had me in stitches at times, and the two together make for one awesome double act. Dishing out some great lines, brutal violence which of course is what we come to expect in Game of Thrones and from the destruction of one Stark sword in the beginning to regaining another. The execution (pun intended), line delivery and everything about this scene was amazing, and it left me cheering giddily if I'm honest. Full credit to Rory and especially Maisie for making this a truly memorable moment, one of many more to come from them I hope. If "All Men Must Die" is the central theme of this season then there certainly off to a flying start, with the body count already mounting up. Arya is certainly turning into a fine instrument of Stark vengeance, which is not surprising considering all that she's been through and it brings a little smile to my face to see her paying back blood with blood with an almost ruthless sang-froid and icy resolve. Valar Morghulis indeed Arya, go girl! 

A Hound and a Wolf pup walk into a bar...yeah and awesomeness ensues in what is perhaps one of the best scenes of the entire series and certainly of the episode.

The Verdict

A very strong first episode with great performances as always, as well as a compelling new player in the form of Oberyn Martell. Still early days yet, but already it's starting to develop into something truly special. Season 3 will certainly take some beating, but with an assured and promising start like this, I have the utmost faith in Game of Thrones maintaining it's quality and the standard as still, without question the best show on TV right now. That last scene alone will live long in the memory for me, all an all a great episode! Roll on 13th April.