Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Caalarogus Shark Media. Welcome back to TV in the Basement,
your sanctuary for all things fantasy, horror and drama. I'm
your host, Journey Joe Mitchell, and today we're continuing our
deep dive into HBO's Game of Thrones with a look
at the show's fourth season, based on roughly the second
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half of A Storm of Swords, the third novel in
George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.
Game of Thrones fourth season premiered in April twenty fourteen
and continue to raise the stakes and expand the scope
of the story. With the aftermath of the Red Wedding
still reverberating throughout Westeros and new alliances and enemies emerging
on all sides, the world of the show was more
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complex and unpredictable than ever before. One of the main
storylines of the season follows the fallout from Geoffrey Barrathian's
shocking death at his own wedding feast. Accused of poisoning
the King, Tyrian Lanister, played once again by Peter Dinklage,
is put on trial for his life in a tense
and emotionally charged sequence that showcases Dinklage's incredible range as
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an actor. The trial culminates in a devastating betrayal by
Tyrian's lover, Shay played by Sybil Cachilli, and a jaw
dropping moment in which Tyrian demands a trial by combat
to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Denaries
Targarian played by Amelia Clark, continues her quest to claim
the Iron throne and free the slaves of Essos. Her
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journey takes her to the city of Marine, where she
faces new challenges and moral dilemmas as she seeks to
balance her desire for justice with the realities of ruling.
Clark's performance is a particular highlight of the season, as
she brings new depth and nuance to Denaris' character and
grapples with the weight of her responsibilities as a leader.
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In the North, john snow played by Kit Harrington, returns
to Castle Black and takes on a leadership role in
the Knight's Watch as they prepare for the impending attack
by Mance Raider's Wildling Army. The battle for Castle Black
is one of the most thrilling and visually stunning sequences
of the season. With director Neil Marshall bringing a sense
of scale and intensity to the proceedings that rivals anything
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the show has done before. But perhaps the most talked
about moment of the season comes in the final episode,
The Children, which features the long awaited confrontation between Tyrian
and his father Tiwin played by Charles Dance. In a
shocking and brutal sequence, Tyrian murders Shay in a fit
of rage, before confronting Tiwin on the toilet and shooting
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him with a crossbow. It's a moment of catharsis and
tragedy that feels both inevitable and shocking, and it sets
the stage for the power struggles and alliances to come.
Other memorable moments from the season include the introduction of
the fan favorite character Oberin Martel, played with charismatic swagger
by Pedro Pascal, the tense and atmospheric sequence in which
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Aria Stark and the Hound played by Maizie Williams and
Rory McCann confront the men who killed Aria's friend Micah,
and the stunning visual of the Night King turning one
of Kraster's baby sons into a white walker, hinting at
the larger threat to come. Throughout the season, Game of
Thrones continues to impress with its powerful performances, intricate plotting,
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and striking visuals. The show's world building remains a particular strength,
with new locations like Bravos and the Ari adding to
the rich tapestry of the series. However, the season is
not without its controversies and criticisms. Some fans felt that
the show's portrayal of Stanus as a rigid and unsympathetic
character failed to capture the complexity and nuance of his
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character in the books. Despite these issues, Game of Thrones
fourth season was another critical and commercial success for the series,
earning widespread acclaim and a record breaking nineteen Emmy nominations.
The show's cast and crew continued to deliver outstanding work,
with standout performances from Peter Dinklage, Lena Hetty, Charles Dan
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and many others. At the sixty sixth Primetime Emmy Awards
in twenty fourteen, Game of Thrones fourth season led the
pack with nineteen nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Writing
for a Drama Series for the episodes The Children and
the Lion and The Rose, and Outstanding Directing for a
Drama Series for the episode The Watchers on the Wall.
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The show ultimately took home four Emmy Awards that year,
including Outstanding Art Direction for a Contemporary or Fantasy Series,
Single Camera, Outstanding Costumes for a Series, Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup
for a Series, and Outstanding Special and Visual Effects. Peter
Dinklage also received widespread critical acclaim for his performance as
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Tyryan Lanister in the season, particularly for his work in
the episodes The Laws of Gods and Men and The Children.
Dinklage was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama
Series at the Emmys, marking his fourth consecutive nomination in
the category. Looking back on the season, it's clear that
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Game of Thrones was continuing to evolve and adapt to
the challenges of translating such a complex and sprawling story
to the screen. The show's willingness to take risks and
subvert audience expectations, even if it sometimes led to controversy
or criticism, is a testament to its commitment to bold
and uncompromising storytelling. At the same time, the season also
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delve deeper into the show's central themes of power, morality,
and the consequences of our actions. From Tyrian's trial and
the fallout from Jeoffrey's death to Denaris's struggle to balance
her ideals with the realities of ruling. The season grappled
with complex questions about the nature of justice, the corrupting
influence of power, and the cost of pursuing one's goals
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at any cost. As we move into the final seasons
of the show, it's interesting to see how the events
of season four continue to shape and influence the larger story.
The deaths of major characters like Geoffrey and Tiwin Lanister
create new power vacuums and alliances that will have far
reaching consequences for the Seven Kingdoms, while the growing thread
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of the White Walkers and the rise of Danares Targarian
as a major player in the Game of Thrones set
the stage for the epic conflicts to come. But perhaps
the most enduring legacy of Game of Thrones fourth season
is the way it continued to push the boundaries of
what was possible on television, both in terms of its
storytelling ambition and its technical achievement. From the stunning battle
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sequences to the emotionally charged character moments the season showcase,
the incredible talent and dedication of everyone involved in bringing
this epic saga to life. So what did you think
of Game of Thrones fourth season? Did it live up
to your expectations or were there moments that left you
feeling disappointed or conflicted? Until next time, keep watching the skies,
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the screens, and your own backs, because in the Game
of Thrones, power is always changing hands, and no one
is safe from the consequences of their actions.