7 Things We Learned From Game Of Thrones: A Foreshadowing

If you’re like us, then chances are that you said your tearful goodbyes for the final time to Robb and Catelyn Stark, and then you hunkered down for HBO’s 14-minute Season 4 preview, Game of Thrones: A Foreshadowing. Hyped with several trailers over recent weeks, the event allowed fans to see their favorite stars and writers—though notably absent was George R.R. Martin, author of “A Song of Ice and Fire”—discuss their own preferred aspects from the previous three seasons, and what we can expect for the oncoming fourth. There was a deluge of new footage, including dragons, throne rooms, and one exceptionally smirking Jaime Lannister, however between all the clips and reminiscing we also learned a few new things about the fourth season. We count down what exactly those things are below.

***SPECIAL NOTE:We are aware that many viewers have read the books (including this writer), however we will not be discussing any potential spoilers from the books that were teased in Game of Thrones: A Foreshadowing.

1. Season 4 Will Be A Red Wedding Pick-Up

The one aspect that HBO drilled down on was all the actors and creatives talking about how Season 4 is very much a reaction to the bloodshed from the unholy events of last season’s ninth episode. As Series Co-Creator David Benioff notes, “There is tremendous clamor for revenge, especially in the wake of the Red Wedding.” Most of all that probably spans from fans, because while all the actors grieve for their fallen co-stars, Peter Dinklage aptly points out, “It’s sort of where do you go from there?” Because so much of the world has changed, and the Lannisters have seemingly won (a supposed fact that Joffrey lords over Uncle Jaime to his own trepidation), that it’s as if the Starks are to the wind with all hope is lost. But while Jon Snow muses, “It’s as if I went to sleep for a year, and when I woke up, the world’s fallen apart,” Arya Stark’s Maisie Williams more gleefully hints that “the good guys” are coming back this season.

2. Tyrion Lannister’s Head is Not Safe

Ever since Tywin Lannister returned to King’s Landing in Season 3, taking back the title of Hand of the King from his dwarf son, Tyrion’s position in the Red Keep has been treacherous at best. Given the unflattering honor of Master of Coin, he became little more than a glorified accountant in the eyes of Olenna Tyrell, and even less to his own. But his position has gone from bad to worse in Season 4, as Benioff points out that there is barely a single episode in Season 4 where Tyrion is not in danger of losing his head. The first and foremost threat is King Joffrey, who has had a bloodlust for the Imp since he made him the (bigger) fool in the Series Premiere with an Internet meme classic: the thrice-slapped. However, it appears that even Tyrion’s sole friendly blood relation, Jaime Lannister, returning home has done little to soothe tensions. Besides Joffrey hating the man he subconsciously must know is his father, even twincest lover Cersei has little time for Jaime’s defense of their younger brother. “You’ve always pitied him, our poor little brother,” Cersei mocks with seething anger to Jaime, with her perpetual wine glass in hand (I see a pattern here). “He’d kill us all if he could!”

3. Meet Oberyn Martell

We got our first official introduction to Oberyn Martell in tonight’s preview after several teases in previous promotional material. Oberyn Martell is played by Chilean actor Pedro Pascal, which is fitting since Oberyn hails from Westeros’ southern-most “kingdom,” Dorne. Unseen in previous seasons, Dorne is the desert kingdom known for a plethora of fine sand and even finer wines. Oberyn is also a wild card presence as he appears in King’s Landing for Joffrey’s wedding, and Oberyn is the younger brother of Elia Martell, the fair bride of Rhaegar Targaryen whom Tywin Lannister “allowed” to be slaughtered by Ser Gregor Clegane and company during the Sacking of King’s Landing at the tailend of Robert’s Rebellion. Actually, to be exact, first Gregor murdered her children in front of her, then raped her, and THEN slaughtered her. Now, Oberyn is in town and warning Tyrion, “Tell your father that it’s not only Lannisters who pay their debts.” By the way, Oberyn’s nickname is The Red Viper. Cheers!

4. Daenerys Has A Throne Fit For A Khaleesi

It feels like every time we check in with Dany after a gap between seasons, her fortunes are ever waxing or waning. In Season 4, they have waxed so much that they should open a Madame Tussaud Was Museum. We are given our first glimpse of Dany’s new throne room, which actress Emilia Clarke charmingly deemed a “mini-tropical version of a Westeros Throne Room.” However, it is looking very Egyptian to me. Indeed, we later see that city teased, and the pyramids have a certain Aztec influence. Nevertheless, the throne room with its Pharaoh-esque stony crispness and open design inevitably draws parallels to the romanticized image of Cleopatra. Which, if you read our Real History of Game of Thrones, may have been the point.

5. Dany Also Has Problems Fit For A Queen Learning on the Job

Yet for all the grandeur Dany is enjoying in some respects, she visibly is suffering in others this season. After nearly a full-year of kicking dragonfire, it appears her winning streak is going to hit a snag, as the cities she has conquered and left in the hands of others are not actually turning out so free. When the only few people Dany trusts are always by her side, bringing liberty to Essos is much easier said than done, particularly when all she does is break the chains before splitting. Also, her dragons, as hinted in the final shot, are getting pretty damn big. Dangerously so.

6. Sam and Jon’s Relationship Evolves

Killing Whitewalkers does the darndest things: like making Sam grow a spine. Both actors Kit Harington and Josh Bradley reflected on how the relationship has evolved in Season 4. “Sam and Jon’s relationship this year is as even and equal as it’s ever been,” says Bradley. This may be a nicer way to talk around the word Harington used: confrontational. Jon no longer has only a sidekick. Now, he may have someone who can actually give him desperately needed advice.

7. There Will Be More Climaxes Than Just the Ninth Episode

While I personally think Season 3 was the most exciting and fascinating year that Game of Thrones has had yet, there has been a vocal minority that’s grown upset about how the climax appears to be in the ninth episode, and then the tenth can be a bit of a disappointment. However, Benioff and company stressed that this will be the biggest, most action-packed year yet. According to the co-creator, the show is not building to one climax like the beheading of Ned Stark or the Battle of the Blackwater, but rather a series of them throughout the course of the fourth season. This would make sense, as it is based on the climactic second half of one book, A Storm of Swords.

Game of Thrones Season 4 returns Sunday April 6, 2014 at 9pm ET/PT on HBO.

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