Game of Thrones is set to return to HBO this Sunday, kicking off what’s sure to be another season of murder and mayhem. Chris and Andrew—who haven’t read the books but LOVE the show—will be following along and chatting about the surprises that each episode holds. In advance of the Season 4 premiere, they take a look back at what happened when we left Westeros, and a look ahead at what the new season might hold.

Andrew: Hey, Chris! It’s hard to believe that after all the waiting and anticipation, we’re now only a few short days from season 4 of Game of Thrones. To get ready, I’ve watched some episodes and read plenty of season 3 recaps (preparing to re-enter the world of GoT is like cramming for college exams), and now that I’m fully caught up on all the major plotlines and characters, I’m getting excited to live in this world again. And a little anxious, too—if there’s anything season 3 taught me, it’s that no one is safe from betrayal, death, or torture in Westeros. So my excitement is tempered with a healthy fear of what horrors we’ll witness this season. How about you? How are you feeling on the brink of GoT season 4?

Chris: Andrew! Hello sir. Bring on season 4! I share your enthusiasm, but since I just watched season 3, I didn’t have to live through the anticipation. I’m basically rolling straight from 3 to 4 this time, so the catch up work—which is exhausting in Game of Thrones—I will happily be able to skip this time around. As for fear, well, bring on the horrors. Assuming that at some point the horrors have to be suffered by the horrible, right? Right? It can’t just be the Starks that suffer in Westeros? And Theon, I guess. Seems like Theon’s probably suffered enough horrors.

Andrew: Agreed. Theon’s degradation at the hands of Ramsay Snow were among my least favorite parts of season 3—at times, I thought, verging into torture porn. The scenes with Theon indulged one of GoT’s worst habits: gleeful cruelty for cruelty’s sake. More than once, I wondered whether Martin and showrunners Benioff and Weiss were empathizing with Theon or identifying on some level with Ramsay, tormenting their characters and their audience just for the hell of it. I’m ultimately not sure if I really believe that the show takes the side of sadists and bullies—but either way, I was excited to see at the end of last season that Theon’s sister was coming to his aid, and I really want this plotline to bear some fruit in season 4. It would be nice to see Ramsay on the end of a sword. Joffrey too.

Chris: Indeed. Theon’s story was a blight upon an otherwise fantastic third season. Not only was it torture porn, but it was a reminder that torture porn is boring. Obviously Martin’s got something in store for Theon, but I couldn’t help but wish they’d just kill him and be done with it. I have no interest in Theon or his sister’s rescue attempt, so they’ve got work to do on that. Luckily there’s plenty of other stories to feast on. Seems to me that the fourth season has to hold a major Lannister clan shake-up. They’ve basically been unscathed throughout the entire series (Jamie’s hand not-withstanding), and Joffrey’s time on the throne must be getting close to its end. I mean it’s a GAME of thrones. Other people need their turn. For my money, I hope it’s Daenerys Stormborn. Mother of Dragons. I love her. And after three years, I’m more than ready for her to cross the sea to Westeros and get into the madness.

Andrew: Yes, it’s high time for Dany to get into the mix in Westeros. Next to Arya, she’s one of my favorite characters. But I’ll confess that I don’t totally understand what she’s up to across the sea. She’s motivated by revenging herself upon those who took her father’s throne, right? Then why does it seem like she’s gotten a little distracted? Don’t get me wrong—I could watch her say “Dracaris” and free slaves all day. But sometimes it seems like she’s preparing to set up shop and start a new kingdom on the other side of the Shivering Sea. Has Dany lost interest in Westeros, and in the Iron Throne? I don’t know, but the show sure is taking its sweet time in getting her there.

Chris: That’s interesting. I just assumed Dany was taking her sweet time because this is fantasy and everything takes a very very long time. But perhaps she’s up to something more. I did get a little curious about her commitments when she took up with her new blonde-haired shirtless slaughtering-boyfriend guy—what’s his name? But it seems unlikely to me they’d let Dany wile away the story across the sea. She’s just too powerful, and too wonderful and rich a character. Which leads to another subject: how fantastic are these women? Dany, Sansa and Arya, Cersei. Watching the women square off against the men has been an absolute delight. Brienne and Jamie were a highlight of season 3. That story-line became something truly special. Margary and Joffrey are getting insane. And their grandparents, Olenna Tyrell and Tywin Lannister. Oh man. I honestly have no idea how the joining of the Tyrell and Lannister Houses will go, but I’m very excited.

Andrew: Totally. Arya’s a badass who needs to go on a killing spree like now. Valar Morgulis indeed. Margaery’s a formidable woman who can be a hero to the unwashed masses, go head-to-head with Cersei, and keep a rein on Joffrey all in the same day. But Brienne is my favorite—she’s a person we don’t often see on TV, and I love every minute she’s on screen. She can beat Jaime Lannister in a swordfight and bring out his human side? That’s pretty impressive. And speaking of Jaime’s human side, it occurs to me that we’re about to learn for the first time some of Jaime’s dynamics with his family—his, um, complex relationship with his sister, and his friendship with Tyrion, which we’ve heard about but haven’t really seen demonstrated since Season 1. Jaime’s presence at King’s Landing is a new variable that is bound to make some interesting things happen.

Chris: Let’s move to the north. Remember, I just finished season 3 last week so I still CAN NOT BELIEVE what happened in the north. Argus Filch shows up and in 1 episode he absolutely changes everything about the show. Rob was the only one who managed to balance Westeros with the Lannisters, I thought, and he’s dead. It’s stunning. John Snow’s “betrayal” of Ygrette and the Wildlings was no surprise. Ygrette’s accent is the greatest accent ever, by the way. Bran can enter people’s minds now, and he’s going up beyond the wall to find a raven just as everyone else is fleeing south. And to top it all off Stanis and the Red Woman are going to galvanize the north to face the walkers? Did I miss anything? Because that’s a lot of plot.

Andrew: It is a lot to keep straight, for sure, but that’s what I really find so thrilling about this show. Not the shocking deaths, not the feeling that no one is safe. It’s the way Martin, Benioff, and Weiss manage to keep so many plates spinning at once. I can’t for the life of me see how all these plotlines might come together, how the Red Wedding and the coming of the White Walkers and whatever Dany’s up to across the sea change the balance of power in Westeros—or how individual players like Arya, Littlefinger, or Varys play into it. The complexity of GoT’s plot sometimes makes it a dull show, as the writers inch everything forward like chess players painstakingly setting up lines of defense and attack. But as in chess, dullness can give way to an unexpected flurry of action when a bunch of pieces suddenly go down in rapid succession. I’ve got no idea what will happen next. But I can’t wait to find out.

Chris: The most powerful piece on the chessboard is the Queen, so your metaphor might just turn out to be the perfect choice. I’m with you all the way. The creators have managed to weave a very complicated and compelling story. It’s exciting watching a show this big and having no clue what might happen. A safe guess would be someone we’ve mentioned will lose their head. Let’s find out who. Talk to you Sunday.

Note: Please keep all comments free of spoilers from A Song of Ice and Fire. Any comment that discusses plot points that haven’t yet been covered in the show will be summarily deleted. Be cool, everyone.

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