If you watch the show, but did not see last night's episode, you might want to skip the rest of this review to avoid spoilers!!
With that warning, I dive into my recap.
This episode was all about character development and setting the table for season 4, with this first installment giving the audience a few minutes with almost every major story-line from last season as well as new entrants to the scene. Some familiar motifs remain as we see Tyrion, Tywin and Cersei in a never-ending tug of war to see who can be crowned the wittiest Lannister in the land.
The biggest new entrant on the screen was Oberyn the "Red Viper" Martell, a deadly man with an unquenchable thirst to avenge wrongs done to his family at the hands of the Lannisters. The scenes with Oberyn were some of the best of this episode and we can see how quickly this new character will become embroiled in web of King's Landing.
The most telling scenes of the episode came near the end between Arya and the Hound. The two have developed something of a bro-mance, with the sharp banter towards each other standing in contrast with the almost jazz-like violence the two perpetrate. These two come off as killer soul-mates and I can't wait to see what happens down the road in this story-line.
Overall rating: A-
I really enjoyed the episode. The coiling of the spring, with each major character coming under duress during the first episode, should resolve itself with violent explosiveness later in the season.
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