HBO has been releasing a lot of content on YouTube over the past few weeks to hype fans up for the latest season of Game of Thrones, and one thing is certain: season four is going to be epic.
After last season’s bloodbath ending, many are questioning which direction the series will head in. Luckily, the videos that have been released offer a handful of clips that can be dissected for an (at least basic) foreshadowing of what is to come.
1. Trailer #1
This trailer was released almost a month ago, but it offers more than enough information that can be picked apart to make some educated guesses about what is to come.
Firstly, there will be dragons. Incredibly large dragons. Being as Daenerys Targaryen is the only one with dragons, we can expect her to continue to blaze a path of conquest through the East to continue to build her army, following her acquisition of Astapor and Yunkai. Given her new army of Unsullied and freedmen, and her statement of, “They have a choice, they can live in my new world or they can die in their old one,” I think it is safe to assume that she is going to start to prepare for her inevitable migration back West.
Next, it appears that Tyrion is being held captive in King’s Landing at around the 0:40 mark in the trailer. From the way last season went, tensions between Tyrion and his family seemed at an all time high. Judging as Tyrion isn’t totally evil (his treatment towards Sansa as his wife is reassuring) I think we can expect that he is going to act against his family and be chastised for it, likely in a severe manner (knowing how his loving father Tywin is).
The Wildlings, according to Jon Snow, “breach the Wall” in the North, and there will no doubt be an insane amount of chaos that will ensue (near the end the trailer shows the Night’s Watch preparing for carnage). I know, just as we though Westeros would be peaceful for a time.
Jaime gets a fake metal hand to fit his stump after it got lopped off last season, which I suppose implies that he is going to try to continue fighting, as well as being even more badass now that he is a bionic medieval swordsman.
Several other characters make appearances, but there isn’t too much that can be assumed about them just yet. However, that is why we have trailer #2.
2. Trailer #2: Vengeance
The trailer starts out with a scene very worthy of its title starring everybody’s favorite character, Arya. Arya has nothing left. Her entire family was murdered, almost right before her eyes. Arya knows very well that the bloodshed was the work of the Lannisters, and being the driven, badass little girl we know she is, I have a feeling she is going to stop at nothing until her family is avenged. The last trailer showed her, albeit briefly, practicing her swordsmanship. Being as she is still running around Westeros with Sandor Clegane, I think that a master-pupil bond is in order.
We also get a glimpse at exactly how large Daenerys’ dragons have become, around 1:20. They are massive, as expected. Also, there is a short scene showing Daenerys and her army approaching a new city reminiscent of the Aztecs, with colossal pyramids that jut out from the center.
This second trailer repeats a good amount of video shown in the first trailer, which is understandable, as HBO likely doesn’t want to hint at too much. However, the end of the trailer shows us something entirely new, creepy, and absolutely cool: what appears to be a white walker riding a horse. From what we’ve seen of the white walkers last season, they are pretty simple minded, with a sole objective of killing everything that is alive. This guy looks like he could either be a supreme white walker (a leader of sorts) or not be a white walker at all, but something entirely different. Either way, there is no doubt in my mind that he is going to dominate in whatever he is included in (the camera angle implies that much).
3. Ice and Fire: A Foreshadowing
Lastly, HBO released this fifteen minute recapitulation of what happened in season three and foreshadowing of what is to come in season four. Essentially, it emphasizes that nothing is over, despite many fans bewilderment as to where the series could possibly be headed.
Give it a watch, the interviews with the cast and crew offer a great insight as to where matters lie at the moment and how they can impact events in the future.
Yeah, its pretty awesome. If you’re looking to catch up season 4, check out a Game of Thrones recap. Now have yourself a laugh with this picture of Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) as his upcoming role in X-Men: Days of Future Past:
Moustache.
