I’ve been waiting for Season 4 of Game of Thrones since the Season 3 finale last year. This is one of my most favorite shows. I had trouble getting into it at first because I couldn’t keep track of all the characters, but I caught a Season 1 marathon when I was sick, and everything came together. Since then, I’ve seen the first three seasons of the show, and I’ve read the first four books. I’ve started listening to the fifth book on audiobook. Season 4 of the television show is supposed to cover the second half of the third book in George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series.

The first episode in Season 4 is titled “Two Swords”. As the episode begins, we see a sword being melted down, and reforged. The same sword is presented to Jamie Lannister by his father Tywin. Jamie wishes to remain part of the Kingsguard, despite the fact that he is missing a hand. Later in the episode, Jamie receives a golden hand. I am looking forward to him smacking people around with it. Queen Cersei is not impressed with the new hand. She says that Jamie took too long getting back to her. Jamie protests that he was held prisoner for a year, and plotted his escape every day. Cersei says he took too long, and breaks up with her brother.

We are introduced to a new character: Prince Oberyn of Dorne. He has arrived for the Royal Wedding. Tyrion finds him in a brothel, where we learn that he has some interesting tastes. But the sexploitation doesn’t last very long because Oberyn hears someone whistling “The Rains of Castamere”. That’s the Lannister song, and Oberyn really hates the Lannisters because of what they did to his sister. Elia and her children died during the Sack of King’s Landing. They were killed at the hands of The Mountain, Gregor Clegane (The Hound’s brother). Oberyn says ominously that the Lannisters are not the only ones who always pay their debts.

I’d like to point out at this point that the showrunners insert “The Rains of Castamere” twice in the first half of this episode. It was used so wonderfully in previous episodes to create dramatic effect. Its use in the Red Wedding episode was absolutely brilliant, and having the soldiers sing it before the Battle of the Blackwater was also well done. But twice in one episode? They’re just trying too hard.

We also get to see Daenerys. Her dragons are getting bigger, and the big one seems to be in need of some of the sensitivity training that rescued animals get before they are adoptable. He’s definitely a little snappy when he thinks that people are going to take his food away.

Jon Snow

Margaery and her grandmother seem to be doing well. It’s nice to see the Dowager Countess of Westeros. Margaery say that she should let Joffrey choose the necklace, and she’ll end up with a necklace of sparrow heads! Love it!

Joffrey is doing well. According to him, he single handedly won the war, and pushed Stannis back. He says that Jamie was too busy getting captured to be of much help. Maybe Jamie is going to hit him with his golden hand. I really hope that he hits him with the golden hand!

Sansa’s being chased in the garden- by Ser Dontos. He has a present for her

Finally, the moment I’ve been waiting for! It’s time for the Hound and Arya show. I would watch the heck out of a spinoff with these two. They could just go around Westeros doing justice and exchanging quips. The best line of the night goes to The Hound.

Arya: I know that man…He killed Lommy
The Hound: What the f***’s a Lommy?

The episode ends with the opening credits music. I’m always fascinated by the use of music on this show, and in particular, in what music they choose to use to play over the end credits.

The scenes for next week look pretty good. They might be getting to Joffrey’s wedding already. It seems a little soon, but I guess they have a lot of ground to cover.