Game of Thrones is Back!

This past Sunday Game of Thrones returned with the season 4 premiere Two Swords.  It was a decent appetizer to the main course to come.  I'm not going to go heavy on spoilers, but wanted to pick out the top 5 best moments in the episode. 

5. Joffrey's exchange with Jamie Lannister
Very brief but once again the actor Jack Gleeson puts on display why everyone loves to hate his character.  Condescending to the max as his Uncle/Dad Jamie tries to lay out the security plans for his wedding.  You can see Jamie trying to not argue with the twerp all the while he insults him by bring notice that Jamie hasn't accomplished anything.  This kid is screaming for a beat down.

4. Introduction of the Thenns
For those that may have been disappointed last season that Styr the Magnar of Thenn wasn't introduced.  It was made up in spades as viewers met the Thenns, and it's easy to see why Tormund Giantsbane doesn't like them.  Props to the make-up artists and casting of the actor Joseph Gatt.  I didn't think that guy could play a creepier character than his Albino from Cinemax's show Banshee.  Yet here you have it tall and creepy and no one you'd want to turn your back on.  His question to Tormund of why the meat down South of the wall is so well fed, then you see what he's actually roasting!  Pretty great intro to an insane character.

3. The Queen of Thorns
I'm not sure if Diana Rigg got nominated for any awards last year for her role as Olenna Redwyne better known as The Queen of Thorns.  But let's be honest she should have!  Every time she's on screen she slays it.  Whether it's picking out jewelry with her granddaughter Margaery Tyrell or meeting Brienne of Tarth for the first time.  She just makes you chuckle or smile with her way with words.  I just hope she's featured even more than season.  If she's not called for find something for her to do she's awesome.

2. The Hound & Omar
This came close to being number one.  I'm feeling the Lone Wolf & Cub thing that the Hound and Arrya Stark have going on.  But it was the intro to the scene that had me like okay now!  While Arrya was trying understand the Hounds honor system.  Where he's willing to kill a child on command, but won't rob someone?  He answers with "A man has to have a code" now anyone that's ever seen The Wire knew exactly who said that first.  Now I don't know if show creators David Beinoff and D.B. Weiss made a conscious effort to channel Baltimore's stick-up artist Omar. But it worked, and then to see He and Arrya tear through the Lannister scum for some roast chicken!  It was an awesome way to end the season 4 first episode.  Now they'll totally blow my mind if you have the citizens of Westoros exclaim "The Hound's coming".

1. The Red Viper
I try not to fall into that category of those that read the books, and let it taint my enjoyment of the show.  It's easy to fall into that trap, but I couldn't help but be utterly excited to see the character of Oberyn Martell the Red Viper.  When Pedro Pascal was cast I know plenty were probably like who?  But let's be real outside of Sean Bean who really knew any of the actors from Game of Thrones.  Point is they nailed it, and his intro gave you all you need to know about the character.  He's lustful, smooth, and totally bad ass.  While frequenting the local brothel The Red Viper and is paramour Ellaria Sand (the excellently cast Indira Varma) he happens to hear someone sing the Rains of Castamere.  In that moment with his confrontation with some Lannisters you know what he's all about!  It was early in the episode but still to me stood out as by far the best moment.  The intro was capped off with his exchange with Tyrion Lannister "Tell your Father I'm here, because the Lannister's aren't the only ones to pay their debts" BOOM.

There you have it there was plenty of good stuff Daenerys encounter with her dragons, Jon Snow at the Wall, Sansa in the God's Wood, Jamie and Brienne's exchange.  But I'm just super stoked for this season which the creators have exclaimed is the most action-packed.  It was a pleasing morsel looking forward for more to come.