Other characters to remember
Mance Rayder: The “King Beyond the Wall” is a former ranger in the Night’s Watch and desperate to get his people to safety, knowing the imminent threat the White Walkers present. Season 4 should bring his assault upon the Wall and a larger role.
Ygritte: Jon Snow’s Wildling “girlfriend” will surely be back for more in Season 4 after playing a major role last year, but where do her allegiances stand? She’s already shot Snow full of arrows when he fled, but she was tearful when she did it. At the same time, she’s a Wildling and they’re on a mission themselves.
Lord Petyr Baelish: Former Master of the Coin, Baelish is an opportunist, doing whatever is best for himself at all times. Set to be Lord Paramount of two territories (The Vale and The Riverlands), you can count on the deceitful and devious Lord Baelish to remain a player in this game in Season 4.
Roose Bolton: A bannerman of the North, Bolton betrayed the Starks in Season 3, killing Robb at “The Red Wedding,” believing it will earn him title in the North. His bastard son, Ramsey Snow, was responsible for sacking and burning down Winterfell, as well as capturing and torturing…
Theon Greyjoy: Once Robb Stark’s close friend, Season 3 was hard on Theon. He was castrated by Ramsey Snow and his father refused to retreat from the North in order to spare him further torture. Last season’s arc with Theon was questioned, but it’s clearly pivotal to the story, so expect more from “The Ironborn” this year, including his sister Yara, who set out to save him when her father refused to help him.
Sam Tarly: The burly Night’s Watchman helped Gilly flee Crastor’s when the other Night’s Watch members revolted, killing a White Walker in the woods with the Dragonglass he found back in Season 2. At the close of Season 3, Sam was back at Castle Black, tending to an injured Jon Snow as he rode in, and we should see even more of him this coming season.
Gendry: The bastard son of Robert Baratheon, Gendry was sold to Melisandre by the Brotherhood Without Banners in Season 3. The priestess planned to use his blood to create a death curse, prompting Davos Seaworth to help Gendry escape. Expect to see more of him in Season 4 as the battle for The Iron Throne continues.
Newcomer alert: Prince Oberyn Martell
Known as “the Red Viper,” Martell is the only major addition to the cast this season. A man with a temper and eight bastard sons, dubbed the Sand Snakes, his sister Elia was raped and killed by Gregor Clegane, “The Mountain,” brother of “The Hound,” Sandor Clegane, during the Sack of Kings Landing years prior. Now he’s back in the city and that should lead to some interesting developments—and probably some bloodshed—this season.
Season 4 outlook
If you watch all the trailers and preview spots like I do, you know this season looks great and that the creative team behind GOT is promising that the action starts early and never really stops.
This isn’t a build to one big episode season—it’s event after event, development after development—and that should be awesome.
I haven’t read any of the books (I’ll read them when the series is complete to see how Martin originally laid things out), so when I offer up predictions and thoughts on where the season might go, know that I have no prior knowledge of what is to come.
My best guess is that the young Starks (Bran and Arya) continue on the quests, becoming stronger, more central figures in the process, and House Lannister continues to descend into turmoil and in-fighting.
I also think we’ll see more of the White Walkers this year, and if I had to pick a characters that reach their end this year, I would put a little money on Tywin Lannister.
Enjoy the season, everyone!
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Season 4 of Game of Thrones starts Sunday April 6th on HBO Canada. Be sure to check out our GOT reviews every Monday here at AmongMen.com.
