Game of Thrones-S4E1 "Two Swords" Review By Greg Hernandez

Ah, Sunday nights are relevant once more. Our favorite series has returned. This season premiere did not disappoint. Let's dive right in. Remember, NO SPOILERS HERE!

 

-The beginning. The beautiful shots from season one of Ned Stark beheading the Nights' Watch deserter and getting beheaded himself remind the audience of his great sword, "Ice" which is Valyrian steel. Reforging the sword into two blades is symbolic. Ned and Robb are both dead. Tywin and Jaime Lannister are not. After the events of the Red Wedding last season, the Stark theme (heard at the very beginning) feels somewhat despondent.  Now when the Lannister theme came on the feeling changed to triumphant. The juxtaposition exemplifies the show's new direction. It's all about the Lannisters now. The show is theirs...for now.

- The scene between Tywin and Jaime was beautiful. Shorter and less dramatic in than it was in the book. I liked it this way. Jaime's refusal of his father's plan for him to retire from the Kingsguard and rule Casterly Rock in his stead is his triumphant moment. The word "No" which I believe he said three times was great to hear and see, because of Tywin's reaction. All of last season Tywin got exactly what he wanted. Minus Tyrion's debacle at his own wedding, plus his refusal to consummate the marriage of course. Here right from the start he is defeated. He tells his son to keep the sword he gave him, "You will need it. A man with one hand and no family." Remember this scene from season 1? Jaime and Tywin season 1 conversation.

 

-Joffrey and Jaime. What an ingrate! Making fun of your father like that, I mean uncle (Pretty sure Joff has a good indication of his true parentage). It is funny to see Joff being a douche to everyone. After all he is the King. You could tell though how Jaime wanted to punish him. Each kept their cool and traded some barbs. A nice scene. Age is important. Jaime is 40 years old. Older in the show than in the books, than again everyone is older in the show. Actors age of course. His skills, besides his fight with Ned in season 1 have not truly been showcased. It was said by Theon back in season 1, that Jaime, "Cut down 10 of our men." Yes, 10. In the books he almost got to Robb before he was subdued. Jaime was a fantastic killer. Being one-handed killed the Jaime from season 1-2. This new Jaime was there all along of course, buried beneath the smug demeanor. Martin's writing is brilliant in how he can essentially kill a character and keep them alive. Jaime is complex. He will be interesting to follow on the show. Oh, here is a nifty frame of reference. In the books, The Red Viper is 5-6 years older than Jaime. So...age means nothing. Bronn even said, while squinting, "I'm getting older." The warriors age but their wisdom grows. Bronn and Jaime will be dueling next episode. Jaime knows that his facade cannot last for long. He is weak. He is vulnerable. He must practice his sword play and become decent with his left hand. A difficult feat to achieve.

- Exposition galore in this season premiere and boy was it welcomed! The Red Viper told Tyrion exactly why he is back in Kings Landing. His older sister Elia who was married to the last dragon Rhaegar Targaryen. Was raped and butchered by Ser Gregor Clegane the Mountain. The Children were brutally slaughtered as well and wrapped in Lannister cloths to conceal all the blood! 

 

-The Red Viper shows us all that a true Bisexual can make both men and women feel equal in a brothel. "How do you like it?" he's asked by Littlefinger's procurer,  his answer: Grabs the guy's balls and says, "My way." I love The Red Viper. He's a terrific character who will no doubt be the spark plug for this season. His disdain for the Lannisters helps those who are "Team Stark" feel a little better. If not there is always Arya. Oh and his paramour, Ellaria Sand is her name. She calls herself a bastard because that is what she is. Sand like Snow as in Jon Snow is a bastard name. Remember folks, it's all about hierarchy. Ellaria wears her bastard name like a badge of honor. It cannot be used against her.

 

- Arya and The Hound are my favorite pair. Arya is firmly on that dark path. The deaths of her mother and brother prompted her to kill her first man last season. Now in this episode she kills two more. One being more personal than the other. Polliver was never on her "list" but he more than deserved the death Arya gave him. Let's call it "Just Desserts." Arya killed two more men, got her sword, "Needle" back and got to ride her own horse. Notice the obvious aspect of he retrieving her sword- the last Stark sword! Hence the title, "Two Swords." Now, some people are and will continue to be disturbed by how Arya is killing because of her age and what not. Grow a pair will you...and by pair, I mean a brain and some heart. This is fantasy. Fiction. A child that has lost both of its parents and has begun to kill will naturally come to enjoy the act of killing! If you were her age and had to survive in that world, you would be doing the same thing. Sure it is traumatic. Just be happy that you have not read the books, because it is far worse for Arya in that story.

 

- Jon Snow tells the truth. In one of his better performances- yes I think Kit Harrington's acting is not on par with the rest of the cast. Jon goes before the core members of The Night's Watch. Recognize the main guys at the left of the table? Ser Allister Thorne (Season 1) and Janos Slynt (Tyrion had him shipped off to the wall in Season 2.) He's finally made it! Jon provided some much needed back story on his relationship with this half-brother Robb. He was jealous of his stronger, faster, skilled hunter/rider and good with the ladies brother. The way Ned looked at Robb; Jon yearned for that. Instead he got the cold resentful looks from Catelyn. People who have not read the first book can forget that these two are brothers...why? A few of my friends have admitted to mistaking these two actors for the same character! Yes they do look a little alike handsome, beards, dark hair, same house, both with direwolves, come on, it's an honest mistake! One final point. This season is important for Tyrion and Jaime. Pay attention to their relationship this season. The Lannister brothers will each play a pivotal role in what's to come next.

 

- Staying in the North, the Wildlings are waiting on word from Mance. We get to see another tribe of the massive Wildling army. The Thenns. Styr The Magnar of Thenn is a more brutal Wildling than Tormund and Igritte are. I will say this though, you're intimidated by his sheer size and disposition however, cannibalism is well, old...The Walking Dead's season finale holds the crown of cannibalism. Sorry GOT. If only this was written before the creation of Hannibal Lecter.

 

-Now on to the weakest points of "Two Swords," Shae is a character I have not been happy with since season 2. I fully understand that this is an adaptation. This is the only thing I will sort of rant on (Don't worry I promised to keep this spoiler free, remember?) Her portrayal is more believable in the books than in the show, because of who she is involved with. Tyrion and Shae have just never truly been believable for me. The attachment has seemed forced because of what needs to take place this season. I will leave it at that. Understand that seasons 3 and 4 are one season. One story. Look at this first episode as episode 11 and not 1. Season 1 and 2 stand on their own. That is why the connection between Shae and Tyrion should have begun to deteriorate more last season. Sure, she was jealous because she assumed Tyrion bedded Sansa after their wedding, but this fight needed to happen earlier some how. It fits for the non-book readers, but not for those who know better. It feels rushed to the book readers. Case in point, my reasoning earlier in this paragraph seems strained because of gap in time between seasons. Remember, Jaime told Cersei after she refused his advances, "I've been here for weeks!" I thought that was truthful. Shae's outburst to Tyrion, I did not buy at all. Perhaps it's the acting?

 

- Daenerys. Yup besides the growth of her dragons her storyline has become stagnant since episode 8 of last season. We're getting into the meat of her voyage through the slave arc. Her understanding of what it means to be a ruler- "I will do what Queens do. I will rule," her quote from one of the trailers will be a slow transition; 163 miles on foot to be exact. One interesting thing you may have noticed was the change of actor. Daario Naharis looks different and is acting different. I applaud the change because this actor is doing a much better job than last season's actor. Daario is supposed to go through a slow process of trying to win Dany's trust and ultimately her heart. This actor is smoother and more believable than the actor from last season. It was going way too fast last season. It completely undermined Dany in the final two episodes. It even bordered on cheesy at some points. Obviously Dany misses Drogo but the viewer only feels that way because the show runners butchered the house of the undying two seasons back.

 

- A few tidbits from this episode.

 

-  QUOTES- A few good ones. Let's start with Cersei her quote was the most important one.

 

-  Cersei- "Everything's changed!" It certainly has...

 

 "Now I've been forced to marry my eldest son to a wicked little witch from Highgarden while I'm supposed to marry her brother, a renowned pillow biter." This is why I love Cersei!

 

- Maester Aemon on how he can tell when someone isn't lying. "I grew up in King's Landing." Love that quote.

 

- The Hound was hilarious in this one. "What the fucks a Lommy?" 

 

  "You're a talker. Talkers make me thirsty."

 

-Bronn- "I'd like a sigil." Awesome delivery by Jerome Flynn.

 

- Best moments from this episode.

 

-Joffrey's posing statue shot was BRILLIANT! I LAUGHED SO HARD WHEN I SAW THIS!

 

-Arya smiling when The Hound said, "Fuck the King." Also her smile when riding the horse at the end. And finally obviously her killing the two men. Arya is slowly becoming a bad ass.

 

-Tyrion turning down whores. Even The Red Viper was surprised haha 

 

-Bronn and The Red Viper banter was awesome. I love Bronn. He is also a great character, who is sure to get more time on the show than in the books. 

 

- Cersei and Jaime's Meisner scene. I loved their back and forth. Anyone who has taken Improvisational Theatre- Meisner understands how nice of a scene that was. Jaime was calling her out on everything. The stakes were high. The wants were clear and present. The truth was present throughout that entire scene. Beautifully acted part.

 

-Brienne being called "Marvelous" and "Absolutely singular," by  Lady Olenna Tyrell was perfect. Brienne the beauty is not used to receiving compliments. She's used to Jaime's barbs.

 

Final thoughts. We saw the Dreadfort in the opening credits but were not taken there in the opener which was wise. Plenty of time for 3 episodes of The Boltons this season. Mereen looks good as well. Cannot wait to see it.  

 

The Hound slamming that guy's head onto the point of his sword: hard to watch, but come on, you know you couldn't look away.

 

We still have not seen Mace Tyrell yet. He is the father of Margery and Loras. The big oaf will show up soon enough.

 

Overall this episode did a fantastic job of covering many story lines while maintaining a good pace. Game of Thrones has had a bit of a difficult time in doing that in the past, which is of course natural because of the sheer size in subject matter to cover. I hope the pace remains the same throughout the season.

 

Next episode marks the final wedding! Excited? I sure am! 

 

-Here is the trailer for Sunday's episode-Beware of the spoilers in the comment section... Game of Thrones- 4x02 "The Lion and the Rose."

 

Bran, Melisandre and Stannis are all back next episode. It looks like Shae slaps Bronn and Ramsay is hunting...well you will just have to find out exactly what this Sunday.

 

 Overall I give this first episode an 8.7

 

Please leave your comments below!