Well, with Game of Thrones Season Three over and done with, it’s time to look ahead at what is coming with Season Four.
As a note, this is ostensibly all speculative but at the same time is full of potential spoilers. These things are picked based not only on what you can assume is coming but what people who have read “A Storm of Swords” since its original release over a decade ago know is coming. Therefore, if you have not read the books and care about spoilers, turn away now.
I won’t write as much as I usually do, though. I have a tendency to over-write things, and here I will be brief and to the point; book readers will certainly understand what I am referencing in the things I look forward to seeing. But while I will be as light as I can be when discussing specific things, it’s probably safe to say that if there is something that I am mentioning, it is bound to be something a non-reader can think about and make his or her own assumptions about.
So, read on at your own risk.
5. The Return of Needle
One of the most satisfying scenes in “A Storm of Swords” to me is when Arya is finally re-united with her particular instrument of destruction. Needle is important to Arya for many reasons, most particularly of which is that it is the last thing that she truly owns. A gift from her brother Jon, Needle is a special sword and it is her sword.
But some bad men took it away. And she’s going to get it back.
4. Petyr and Lysa in the Eyrie
One of the amazing things about “A Storm of Swords” is how, for all intents and purposes, the book basically preys off of the naivety of the reader. After all, with as many huge things that happen (like the Red Wedding), you never really take into consideration that the twists and turns aren’t over. Worse, you think you’ve seen it all, that you know how low things can go and where the books depths lie.
But as Sansa and the readers will learn when she finally escapes with Petyr as he sails to the Eyrie, some truths are far more shocking than you’d naturally expect. And in terms of a finale, I imagine this moment will be one of the most discussed moments of Game of Thrones.
3. The Purple Wedding
I remarked in our review of Game of Thrones how disappointed I was that we didn’t get this in this season, but alas. It’s still coming.
There are going to be so many satisfied people upon watching this scene it’s not even funny. In fact, some people may even forgive aspects that they didn’t like about Season Three (like, you know, that other colorful wedding). George RR Martin is a cruel god, but he does reward those who wait. Apparently the show runners believe this as well, and I hope this happens right away in the fourth season. There’s a lot that has to happen here, and so much that has built up to this.
2. Tyrion and Tywin
Something that has been foreshadowed all season long is the conflict that is growing between father and son, seemingly reaching a boiling point in the finale of Season Three when Tywin announces that he let Tyrion live. I’m sure book readers noticed certain lines of dialogue in this sequence that have obvious ominous foreshadowing, but Tyrion and Tywin’s upcoming conflict is a big one, and while one thing the show will lack is some of the colorful language Martin utilizes here (something about gold, remember?), it will certainly be a very powerful moment in what will ostensibly be a tremendous new season.
That and the show has really built up Tyrion’s other relationships, particularly with Shae. You can really see why.
1. The Red Viper vs the Mountain That Rides
Arguably the single best scene in the entire book, the Red Viper (who has not been cast) battling against the Mountain That Rides (who has been recast) is so amazing of a scene that seeing it performed on screen will be equivalent to that of a well-choreographed ballet. Hearing whoever they cast as Oberyn say those words — “You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children!” I get chills just thinking about that whole passage.
Continued belowIt may be missing some of the power behind it due to certain historical aspects not having a big part in the show, but sod it all. If this isn’t the best part of the season, one that essentially defines how the story basically operates in its deconstruction of stereotypical hero and villain archetypes and the never-ending quest of good over evil, I may quit the show.
(Ok. I won’t. But, seriously, they better get this right!)
Well, that’s my Top 5. Obviously there are a lot of things not on this list that others are probably looking forward to. Chime in in the comments of what you’re hoping to see!
