Another year ends in Westeros, fans begin the agonizing wait until April 2015.
The fourth season of HBO’s Game of Thrones has hit its conclusion. This season left fans with many memorable moments, some highly anticipated by those in the know (fans of the book) and those like me who were just praying that the plot would take particular directions. The death toll was particularly high this season, seeing the arcs of many supporting characters end, and also a conflict between what I like to call narrative logic and George Martin logic. Below are some of this seasons highlights.
1) Joffrey’s death.. Who wasn’t hoping that this c**t would die in a caucophany of pain and misery. I am not afraid to say it was a pleasure to see him writh in pain as Olenna’s poison spread through his system. What a joke, acts all tough and mighty and then has the most hilarious of deaths, calling for his mother as poison overcomes him.
2) The Battle of Castle Black.. I found the ninth episode to be very strong in terms of plot, character development and emotion. It made war a reality, not everyone survives the fight, and we said goodbye to many minor but memorable characters, as well as possibly the most memorable wildling in Game of Thrones. Her death made for an emotional climax to the season, and ironically Ygritte was killed by the son of a man she murdered in episode three.
3) The Mountain and the Viper.. OMFG!!!! I can’t believe they killed off Prince Oberyn!!! This is a classic conflict between narrative and Martin logic. Narrative logic demands that Oberyn win and get revenge for his sister, that evil acts be punished and evil doers defeated. Martin logic however demands that when you least expect it a main or major character dies, in a totally unjust and brutal manner. This was definitely one of the seasons most shocking moments.
4) Tyrion and Tywin.. While less enjoyable than Joffrey’s death it was good to see Tyrion finally put his father in his place. Everyone should watch out though, now there’s no one who can reel in the ambitions and rage of Cersei Lannister.
5) Brienne and the Hound.. What a fight. Brienne really showed what she’s made of, and the Hound showed he’s more of a fool than I thought. I’ve heard some people whine that Brienne was in the wrong killing him but the Hound really left her no choice.
6) Sansa Stark.. I was very impressed with the character development displayed by Sansa Stark this season. No longer is she the defenceless girl, a piece in everyone’s game. Sansa now is her own woman, and a player in the game of thrones herself. She has grown as a woman, a royal and as a Stark.
7) Arya Stark.. A few names have been ticked from Arya’s list of enemies, but none the more close to her than the Hound. Her cold abandonment of an agonising man shows that Arya has realised there are worse fates than death. Rather than killing her enemies I’m curious to see if she will punish them like she did the Hound. His fate was to painfully die alone. Perhaps Arya may kill Tommen to punish Cersei later in the series. There was a fulfillment in watching her sail away to Braavos, and I am looking forward to seeing what adventures await her there.
8) Brienne and Podrick.. It was good to have another hilarious journey with Brienne, only this time it was Podrick not Jaime providing her with things to criticise. As always her banter was excellent.
9) Daenerys restrains her dragons.. Daenerys’ arc was particularly slow this season. That being said, no one can deny the raw emotion felt as she chained up two of her dragons and left them in the darkness. The way they screamed as she left still rings in my ears. It was a sad, but necessary moment. It will be interesting to see what havoc her largest dragon will wreak, and if the Mother of Dragons can lure it back to the nest.
Conclusions.. All in all this season was very good. Bran and Daenerys’ arcs were anti climactic most of the season and very slow, but this is to be expected with several characters every season. I begin my watch upon the wall, waiting for season five.
-JoelE
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