Game of Thrones Season 4, Episode 4: "Oathkeeper" (Spoilers included)

A Game of Thrones episode about love; in a very Game of Thrones way. In a nice scene between Greyworm and Missandei, we see both characters getting really into their reading lesson.  Too bad Greyworm is an Unsullied and has no penis; however they can still love each other emotionally.  It's not all about sex yo.  Next, we get every boy's fantasy of Margaery Tyrell sneaking into their bed in the middle of the night.  It's a sweet scene because of Tommen's innocence, he doesn't know what to talk about besides his cat.  And finally, we get Brienne saying goodbye to Jaime.  It's pretty easy to tell that Jaime means much more to her than she lets on.  Protecting Sansa is something she will gladly do for him.  

Around these unusually romantic scenes, we get some plot building and a possible convergence of the Jon Snow and Bran plotlines.   Hopefully that happens next week!

Grade: 8.0

Notes:

• Greyworm and Missandei seem like a cute couple.
• Did Daenerys win the war 8 minutes into the episode?  Well, that was quick.
• Cool looking shot of Daenerys under her new city and flag.
• Bronn's cheap shot muhaha.  That was for last episode...
• Littlefinger giving the Scarface speech, he wants "everything".
• Oleanna was good, very very good back in her heyday.
• Jaime's handslayer guy is infiltrating the Night's Watch?
• Tommen getting his first boner right before our very eyes.
• Ser Pounce!
• Joffrey threatened to skin Ser Pounce and mix his innards in Tommen's food.
• Jaime presents Brienne with her very own batsuit. And Podrick! Potential favorite new pairing.
• Hey its that orphan boy who's parents were murdered last episode.  He wants to practice fighting and be cool like Jon Snow.
• Skull wine though?
• I was scared they were going to kill Hodor.

Bonus:  All hail Ser Pounce.

Game of Thrones Season 4, Episode 3: "Breaker of Chains" (Spoilers included)

Following last week's events, everyone in Westeros seems to get horny.  Littlefinger gets horny for Sansa, Jamie gets inappropriately horny for Cersei, Sam refuses to get horny for Gilley, Tywin interrupts Oberyn's horniness and I'm pretty sure Daenerys gets horny when Daario kills that soldier.  Around all the sexual tension is a solid, albeit sometimes weird, episode that escalates the conflicts that are unfolding.  While Tyrion awaits trial, the Wildlings attack and Jon forms a counter strategy.  Meanwhile, Daenerys makes the first move in her war against another slave city. There's a lot happening, I can't believe its only episode 3 of this season.  

Rating: 8.5

Notes:

• First image is Joffrey's grim, morbid looking dead face, one more time.  
• Littlefinger in creeper mode with Sansa.  I guess after Catelyn rejected him a long time ago, he wants to go after her daughter? #creeper
• Speaking of creepy, those fake eyes on Joffrey's dead body.
• Tommen seems like a much better person than Joffrey.  Supposedly in the books, he has three pet cats he named himself: Ser Pounce, Boots and Lady Whiskers.
• "Your brother was not a wise king. Your brother was not a good king.  If he had been, perhaps he'll still be alive." Tywin straight to business after Joffrey's death.
• Jaime rapes Cersei in front of their dead child's corpse after talk about murdering their brother.  The hell?
• The Hound and Arya have terrible table manners.
• Sam's girl thinks the term "wildling" is sexy and dangerous.
• Ser Davos is hooked on phonics.
• Could Sam have taken Gilley to a shadier place, geez.
• "When it comes to love, I dont choose sides." -Oberyn.
• Podrick sneaks in contraband (food, attempted wine) for Tyrion, like a true homie. Farewell, there has never lived a more loyal squire.
• The wildling raid was brutal.  "I'm going to eat your dead mama".
• Daario, the badass.  The whole conversation that led to him being expedanble was pretty funny.
• Daenerys, breaker of chains.

Game of Thrones Season 4, Episode 2: "The Lion and the Rose"

Did the biggest event this season happen in the second episode?  As far as Game of Thrones characters go, King Joffrey is the worst of the worst.  He is inexplicably evil, takes pleasure in pain and violence, and a straight up brat.  In a universe where almost every character is complex and shown multiple sides, Joffrey is the exception.  From episode 1, he was a character that everyone hated; with good reason.  Personally, I've been looking forward to see him die for a long time.  Now that ITS FINALLY HAPPENED, I think I'll miss his character in the show, as no one was as easily despisable as Joffrey.  This episode reminded us of that, and let him do what he does best (be awful; especially toward Tyrion) one last time.  He was the best representation of a character that was rotten to the soul in the Game of Thrones universe, which is no easy feat.  R.I.P. Joffrey, the best at being the worst.

Rating: 9.0

Notes:

The opening scene with Ramsay chasing the girl reminded me of The Hunger Games, especially with the line "If you make it out of the woods, you win!".

Ramsay found a girl as crazy as he is. 

Tyrion and Jamie have a good sibling relationship #bros

Joffrey does not like being gifted books, likes swords.

Tyrion uses the tough love approach, "You're a whore!".

Melisandre is back, the night is dark and full or terrors.

Bran is going too deep into inception.

Margaery has elaborate wedding hair.

Oberyn and Lorys were eyeing each other hard.

Jamie and Cersei each had their own scenes where they were defending their territories. That twincest connection/jealousy.

Oberyn with that smack talk.

Wow Joffrey's play.  And Tyrion, the cupbearer.  

Look, the pie!

Props to actor Jack Gleeson, he was perfect at playing Joffrey.

Game of Thrones Season 4 Episode 1: "Two Swords"

Finally, Season 4!  Once again, lets journey back into the world of Westeros.  

So what happened in this season premiere?  Many people will say "not much", as the episode kind of serves as a refresher to the show and what the characters are up to.  However, it was exciting to be spend time with all the main players and see where they are at.  Things have changed since the Red Wedding.  Jaime is back, but doesn't get the homecoming he expected and loses favor with both Cersei and Tywin.  Danerys' dragons are experiencing puberty.  Tyrion is still trying to handle his marriage with Sansa while Shae complains.  And Arya, oh Arya.  She gets vengeance and her own pony in that last scene, while turning into a stone cold killer.  In the break between Season 3 and Season 4, the characters' situations have deepened.

What surprises me most about "Two Swords" is how it accomplishes to not feel like it's starting off in the middle of a book (which it is).  The hour went by fast; it was over before I realized it.  Overall, a good season opener to lay the chess pieces back on the table.  

Rating: 8.0

Notes:

- I got chills during the opening credits again; happens every season premiere.

- Jaime looks like a different man clean shaven and with a new haircut.

- First nude scene this season: 12 minutes and 5 seconds in.

- The bastard, the whore and the procurer.

- Prince Oberyn turns straight men gay, then punks some Lannisters.

- Danerys and her dragons, a sight for sore eyes.

- "She wanted to have me executed, but I admired her".

- Shae is the worst part of the episode, I've gotten tired of her character.  That looks to be remedied.

- Golden hand Jaime looks like a Bond villain.

- Sam is better than Jon at reading.

- That Joffrey statue of him standing on a wolf; muhahaha.  I like his style.

- Best scene of the episode saved for last.