In one of the first scenes of the first episode of the first season of Game of Thrones

In one of the first scenes of the first episode of the first season of Game of Thrones, Eddard 'Ned' Stark stands with a firm blow of his sword Ice the head of a "deserter" from the Night's Watch from the rest of his body . At the end of that season we see how Ilyn Payne with the same sword does the same with Ned. The first episode of the fourth season opens with the melting of ice - made from the rare Valyrian Steel - two smaller swords.

It seems to be a symbol of the fate of the family Stark - once one of the most important and powerful families of Westeros, but now that the Lannisters respect nothing more than a young girl trapped in King's Landing. But it is also a symbol for the tone of the series. Because make no mistake: the Red Wedding was not only a shocking highs and lows in the series, but also a turning point in the story and the tone of both the book and the TV series. From here, the story progresses in a way you might not expect, but we will get further behind later in the season.
Whichever way you look at it, the Starks were quite a bit of the main characters from the TV series. But the Lannisters have won and Joffrey sitting with his triumphant grin firmly on the Iron Throne. The fourth season also opens in King's Landing, where Jaime a less than warm welcome given hoped. His father wants him back in Casterly Rock, but there is no blond hair on his head thinking about that. His main reason to stay, and beloved sister Cersei, however, have nothing to learn from him. Meanwhile, he gets a grotesque golden hand measured and nobody takes it more seriously. And then you get, despite everything, still a bit sorry for him.

In King's Landing, we meet Oberyn 'the Red Viper' Martell. A new face, but one this season we are going to see very often. His backstory comes very quickly, but perhaps requires some explanation. Booklet notes at the ready! The Martells come from the southern Dorne, where Oberyn's brother reigns Doran. Oberyn and Doran also had a sister named Elijah. She married Rheagar Targaryen - the elder brother of Daenerys and Viserys late. Rheagar "kidnapped" (opinions differ) Lyanna Stark - the sister of Eddard and the late Brandon. The kidnapping was the start of Robert's Rebellion, as Robert Baratheon was betrothed to Lyanna. Robert defeated Rheagar, Jaime Lannister put Aerys 'Mad King' Targaryen (the father of Rheagar, Daenerys and Viserys) in his back, his father Tywin Lannister stormed the city and left the Rhaenys and Aegon - the children of Rheagar and Elijah - executed by Gregor "the Mountain that Moves' Clegane, which for the record raped their mother and cut in half with his sword. Oberyn thus has a bone to pick with both the Lannisters as Gregor Clegane.
We're back? Beautiful! The introduction of Oberyn is made further strong. He works with his beloved Ellaria Sand from a hooker, showing himself interested in the pimp, pint not long after a Lannister soldier with a knife through his hand at a table and is about him and his friend to soap to help. This gives you direct the right image of the Red Viper: he is a wild card and you have no idea what he's capable of.

About wild cards spoken dragons Daenerys are getting bigger and thus becoming unmanageable. Even the 'Mother of Dragons' she seems not to be difficult to control, as Jorah 'Captain Obvious' Mormont a bit stressed. Although the story of Dany creeps forward again very slow, we are in that part of the delivery or reacquainted with Daario Naharis. Last year, played by Ed Skrein, but this season we see Michiel Huisman not unknown smoelwerk for us in his place. Nice for the fans; Huisman has in any case a beard, if it is, unfortunately, still not blue. Daenerys seems meantime nice to regroup and fortunately no longer swooning schoolgirl as Daario is nearby.
Back in Westeros Jon Snow should his superiors of the Night's Watch convince you that he is not a traitor, while his former lover Ygritte to get with the thenn ( "I fucking hate the thenn ..."). In this scene, it is remarkable to see how you never know who to sympathize viewer. One moment the Wildlings are clear about the murder of our darling Jon and a minute later do the creators of the show one step further with the cannibalistic thenn. Then Thormund Giantsbane and his companions suddenly not so evil anymore.

But the best scene of the first episode is Arya and The Hound. After the death of her mother and older brother go all the stops for the young Stark and if she wants a pony, she gets a pony. Willingly or unwillingly. An additional advantage: they can again remove a name from her death prayer.