Game of Thrones: The Complete Fourth Season

"If you want justice, you've come to the wrong place."

A fallen hero's sword is melted down to scrap, remolded, and reshaped into weapons for his enemies. His wife is dead. His oldest son is dead. His surviving children are either crippled, held prisoner, or in hiding. His family house is on fire and his legacy is now nothing more than a cautionary tale: honor gets your head chopped off. His foe throws a wolf's pelt into the flames, while a familiar, foreboding melody plays on in the background. Not a word is uttered. This is the opening scene for the fourth season of HBO's 'Game of Thrones.' In just two minutes, the producers succinctly and artfully usher in a new era for the series, laying the Stark's hopes to rest while perfectly setting the stage for even more shifts in power to come. Shifts marked by growing dragons, deadly poisons, scheming betrayals, epic battles, and some of the best storytelling on TV.

Primarily based on the second half of George R.R. Martin's novel "A Storm of Swords," the fourth season once again focuses on the fictional medieval land of Westeros. In the wake of the "Red Wedding," the Lannisters reaffirm their control over the crown and prepare for the marriage of King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) to Lady Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer). But when disaster strikes, the King's uncle, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), is put on trial for a crime he did not commit. Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) conquers the city of Meereen and continues her quest to free the region's slaves. And back at the Wall, Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) and the Night's Watch prepare to fend off a Wildling invasion that could spell doom for the entire realm.

Further examining concepts related to power, justice, vengeance, and honor, the season's various plotlines continue to delight, shock, and devastate all at once. Without giving too much away, a good chunk of the story focuses on Tyrion's trial, and this murder mystery proves to be an engaging diversion. Peter Dinklage gives another powerful performance, and his verbal diatribe at the end of episode six is absolutely masterful, serving as a cathartic payoff for all of the terrible injustices we have watched him endure. Though some viewers might be disappointed by its lack of forward momentum, Dany's story arc is also rather thought-provoking. The "Mother of Dragons" has been building an army to take back her kingdom for several seasons now, but in reality the woman has no real experience ruling -- and in season four she is finally given a chance to test drive a throne of her own. Faced with numerous ethical dilemmas, the character must learn when to enact force and when to allow mercy, revealing what it really means to be a queen.

Other returning characters like Sansa, Littlefinger, Arya, The Hound, John, Jaime, Cersei, and Tywin are all given strong material to work with as well, and each performer brings their A game. And joining these old faces, are a few new characters, including Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell. After a perfect introduction that highlights the man's thirst for vengeance and physical pleasures, the "Red Viper" becomes one of the season's most compelling aspects. Charismatic, enigmatic, dangerous, and righteous in his quest for revenge against the Lannisters, he helps mix things up in King's Landing, leading to an incredible showdown in episode eight. But the season's true climax actually rests further north, back on the Wall where a raging fire spreads across the snow.           

Each season of 'Game of Thrones' is known for having a very important penultimate episode, and season four is no different. Echoing season two's "Blackwater," the epic ninth installment focuses exclusively on one storyline, following the Night's Watch as they attempt to fend off a Wildling attack. Action-packed, brilliantly choreographed, and expertly shot, the battle sequences here easily rival those found in many big-screen productions, and director Neil Marshall brings a truly cinematic quality to the proceedings. One extended shot that circles around the castle courtyard is especially striking, creating a true sense of sustained chaos. And as exciting as all of the sword slashes are, the episode is also home to some great character moments, never losing sight of the series' emotional core amidst all of the violence and piercing arrows. 

But as impressive as the show's plotting and production remain, the previously tight seams in the adaptation process are starting to unravel just a bit. As the series grows closer and closer to catching up with its source material, the writers have had to reconfigure the structure of the novel's storylines and inject a lot more original material into the proceedings –- and while I have not read the books, I am aware of many of these changes and tweaks. Unfortunately, some of these additions, omissions, and alterations don't end up working (including a very controversial sex scene between Jaime and Cersei), and the show's various subplots feel even more disconnected here than they have in previous years. Likewise, certain arcs remain problematic -- especially Theon and Bran's storylines which continue to be the least engaging -- and the overall momentum of the show's major plot threads can be frustratingly slow. Thankfully, the season as a whole does offer some intriguing developments and the finale promises new dynamics and potentially big changes for the future.

With its fourth season, 'Game of Thrones' continues to subvert narrative expectations, creating a world where the scales of good and evil perpetually swing, and both honor and cruelty are punished in equal measure -- but rarely how or when we want them to be. Epic in scope yet intimate in storytelling, the show excels at large-scale action and nuanced character moments, weaving a plot that grows more rich and textured with each passing year. Though this season's structure feels slightly jumbled and occasionally stagnant, the major beats and emotional payoffs are absolutely riveting and the groundwork has been laid for many future exciting twists and turns. Season five premieres on April 12, when we'll finally get to learn just how big those dragons have grown…  

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

HBO presents 'Game of Thrones: The Complete Fourth Season' in a Blu-ray/Digital Copy Combo pack. While the version being reviewed here is the standard variant, different retailers are offering their own exclusive sets with various packaging flourishes, extras, and bonus discs. For a rundown of the different retail options compiled by the Blu-ray Retailer Exclusives Blog, click here. Four BD-50 discs are housed together in an attractive foldout case that comes packaged in a sturdy outer case with a cardboard slipcover that bears the image of a three-eyed raven. Instructions for an UtltraViolet/iTunes digital copy and an insert with episode details are featured as well. After a skippable HBO promo, the discs transition to standard menus. The packaging indicates that the release is region A coded.