Game of Thrones - Season 4

Review.

Many claim season 4 to be the best season of Game of Thrones thus far. They just might be right...

Where to start... at the beginning, I guess 😁

Spoilers ahead.


Season 4 Episode 1 'Two Swords'

Well, the title is a dead giveaway. Or perhaps not. Sansa is just the same 'unbeliever' as usual (that girl needs to grow up) and Arya tags along with the Hound.

Interestingly, there's something of respect growing between the two very disparate characters. And once Arya gets her sword Needle back it's time to start feeling sorry for all the enemies on her 'list'...

I was waiting for the moment she would get Needle back. It was a clear setup in the earlier seasons, and this had to happen. Then she killed the person who took her blade in a very cold and calculated manner. She's a killer alright.


Season 4 Episode 2

Ah yes. The predictable break-up between Shae and Tyrion. It just had to happen.

And Joffrey bites the dust, just after marrying Margaery Tyrell. Well, we all loved to hate the crazy bastard, but it was about time he'd die. Perhaps somewhat surprising after most of the primary cast had been killed during the 'Red Wedding' but that is how things go in Games of Thrones. It's one of the shows where the creators / writers / showrunners are not afraid of killing off a few main characters. Well, at least Joffrey won't consume that marriage in his own, crosbow inspired way.

Oh! And of course Tyrion gets blamed. Worse things to come, that is for sure, for sure.

(You just have to feel sorry for Tyrion, the way he gets treated by Joffrey on the wedding party. I wouldn't have blamed him for actually poisoning Joffrey, but we all know it must be a Tyrell thing. It has to be.)


Season 4 Epsiode 3 'Breaker of Chains'

Hey! Emma Peel is back! Diana Riggs plays the matron Olenna of house Tyrell, and she schemes and schemes with a joyous gleam in her eye. Well done.

She's... on top of things. Margaery, cunning and naive at the same time, still needs to learn some things, and Olenna Tyrell puts it so right: "You did excellent work on Jeoffry. The next one should be easier."

My god...


Season 4 Episode 4

Now that's a let-down. A very simple slogan written on a wall destroys the illusion: 'Kill the masters'. In plain English. And in a romanic alphabet. Which all on-screen cast can read. Destroying the illusion, not good, not good.


Season 4 Episode 5

Tommen is crowned king. No surprise. Wonder how long he will last...


Season 4 Episode 6 'The Laws of Gods and Men'

Ah, Shae... She betrays Tyrion, acts as a witness against him, and yet there's something in her eyes, as well as in his.

Very well acted. Both characters tethering right on the edge of sanity, torn between love and hate. There's betrayal and pain.

Great speech by Tyrion, lamenting all the evil things he did not do. I just hope they will give him an even 'grander' finale once Game of Thrones wraps up, in four seasons or so.

Season 4 Episode 10 'The Children'

In Game of Thrones, three episodes, no, three scenes stood out for me thus far, because of raw emotional impact... shock value? Who knows.

There's (of course) the 'Red Wedding' in season 3 episode 3, and the killing of Ros in the last episode of that season. But in the final episode of season 4 there's one more moment: Tyrion is freed by Jaimee (!) adn finds Shae in his father's bed. Tyrion is forced to strangle her (whoever came up with this script set it up very well, there was simply no way out).

In a last gesture of... justice? Revenge? Denial? Whatever the motivation, Tyrion looks up and kills his father Tywin whilst the latter is taking a dump.

Yeah. Smelly business, this Game of Thrones stuff.

One hell of a season. I'd say season 4 is definitely on par with 3, perhaps even better, dunno.

Next, anyway! I have to hurry, the final season 8 will be screening in April!