WARNING: Contains Spoilers!
Last night (Sunday, April 6) fans returned to the war-torn continent of Westeros to once again witness excessive amounts of nudity and violence. Of course, we’re talking about the return of Game of Thrones. The American fantasy-drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss is now within its fourth season and certainly starts off with, well not so much of a bang as the slow melting destruction of a recognisable blade.
After the truly shocking finale to the previous season, it’s evident that viewers were expecting something on par to launch the new season. But does the Game of Thrones Season 4 premiere live up to expectations? Here’s what we thought:
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Carl Martin – Film/TV Editor
After more than a healthy amount of Game of Thrones discussions and debates with colleagues surrounding our expectations, with the addition of months of attempting to quench my ‘series binge watching’ thirst with multitudes of programming that merely resulted in the admission that it simply wasn’t Game of Thrones, today I was able to return to Westeros.
After the shocking and obviously draw-dropping finale to Season Three, I was more than excited to jump straight back into this new series. I sat in my usual Game of Thrones position of lying on my chest, neck arched up with my head aimed at the screen in excitement and proceeded to press play. After a subtle and fairly composed introduction, I was already immersed once again. However, there is a constant reminder that things have changed. Although Game of Thrones Season Four may remain in the third chapter of the original books, the atmosphere within the storytelling certainly portrays that of one which is attempting to appear revitalised and ready to begin anew.
This new season has already introduced viewers with new characters, altered relationships, for better and for worse, and enough gore to remind you that The Walking Dead is actually fairly tame in comparison. Put simply, I cannot wait for the remaining of this already great season. Let’ s just hope I’ll be able to get through it without gagging during the many gruesome scenes of death…
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Joseph Luke Condren – Film/TV Writer
As a reader of the books, and heavily looking forward to The Winds of Winter, the TV show has, and continues, to capture the imagination of anyone who follows the novels.
The return to season 4 is exciting as a lot of game changing events happen within it. Returning to the heavy hitting storytelling and the magnificent actors who capture their characters extremely well, the return of Game of Thrones will, once again, glue our eyes to our screens for the next episode once the first is over.
Can Season 4 overtake the extraordinary events of the last season?
You’ll just have to wait and see.
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Callum Thompson – Contributor
I was very much introduced to the series through the television show, and so far I have been incredibly impressed. Game of Thrones is a show which I would struggle comparing anything to, and that is by far part of its greatest strength. You have no idea what will happen in the next few episodes, there are so many twists and turns that any conclusion you come to will be turned on its head within the next couple of episodes.
The characters are varied and each one has their own special attribute which you start to love. With such a variety of characters you run the risk of the story becoming convoluted and confusing; yet, it is so tightly woven together that you become invest in each individual.
The show is a breath of fresh air in a form of entertainment that can become so cliche and overdone that even different shows start melting into each other and I can’t wait for the story to unravel even further.
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Sam Omar – Film/TV Writer
Despite imposing and impressively captured scenes of dragons, brilliant shots of beautiful cities and incredible scenery and imagery, the new season of Game of Thrones once again establishes its unparalleled character development and stellar writing as its focal point.
The relationship between Arya Stark and Gregor Clegane (The Hound) is probably the highlight with their conflicting attitudes and views coming together in a mishmash of loathing and mutual respect but other characters are already laying down their mark in the Game of Thrones universe: The reunion of Jaime and Cersei Lannister is riddled with bad blood while their brother Tyrion looks to be forming a rivalry with newly introduced character Oberyn Martell (who has revenge on his mind).
However it pans out, we’re sure to see plenty of friendships, conflicts, romances and deaths, and the first major event looks set to unfold in the second episode with the wedding of Margaery and Joffrey. We await with bated breath.
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So now you’ve heard the opinion of the HTF staff, but what’s your opinion? Do you think that Game of Thrones Season Four has been worth the wait, or has it simply left you empty, with room for more dragons, debauchery and death?
Make sure to leave a comment below!
