The fourth season of the fantasy drama television series follows the end of the previous season on a sour note, as the wedding wiped out most of the Starks leaving the Lannisters with less enemies.
Every character beat feels like it's been crafted to its finest point, while each scene carries with it the possibility of drastic change - but that is only because the series has done such a fantastic job conditioning the audience to expect such things.
At its best, the show is completely unpredictable and meticulously detailed in its orchestration of pain and agony. So far as we can tell, season four stands to be its finest frame yet.
HBO very well could hit the 10-season mark with what's become its franchise series. There's no reason to kill this golden calf -- particularly with so many characters still available to be sacrificed instead.
Rejoice! Game of Thrones is back in all its epic, sprawling, bloody glory. And Sunday's briskly paced Season 4 opener, "Two Swords," did not disappoint.
The show proceeds at its own stately pace, telling its own knotty story. Rather than be concerned that future seasons might mar the world that Martin, Benioff, and Weiss have painstakingly created.
