What were the ten best moments of Game of Thrones season 4 opener “Two Swords”?

Well, where do you start? After the shocking climax of the Red Wedding, Game of Thrones came back with all the political intrigue, nail-biting action, and nudity that we’ve come to expect from the HBO epic series. However, what was particularly thrilling about “Two Swords” was the way it balanced those heavier scenes with quiet moments of reflection and some hilarious laughs. It’s hard to whittle down all of those great moments to a list of our ten favorites. So, Hypable writers Harri Sargeant and Laura Byrne-Cristiano have teamed up to try and narrow down the entries. Then, Tariq Kyle worked some gif magic so you can re-live this week’s best laughs, shocks and one-liners again and again.

Check out our favorites below, and don’t forget to share your picks in the comments! This article contains strong language.

Change is hard, but sometimes change is necessary. At other times change is so necessary that people are running around like Kermit the Frog in a full-out flail, wanting to get their point noticed. The initial casting of Daario Naharis in series 2 was one of those moments. Showruners David Benioff and Dan Weiss haven’t been shy about making changes, and this was one of their better ones.

“I’d rather have no brains and two balls.”

Daario number one, Ed Skrein, was just not suited to the role. He was more reminiscent of a Fabioesque, bodice-ripper cover model, than a man who commands a legion in the unforgiving lands of Essos, and is the arguably the most skilled mercenary on the continent. With Michiel Huisman now taking over the part, Daario clearly has both a swagger and a danger, not to mention a mysterious quality that makes one wonder where his allegiances will ultimately lie. He is still charming, but can he be trusted? – Laura Byrne-Cristiano

Rory McCann is one of Game of Thrones‘ most under-appreciated actors, and his dangerous yet side-splitting portrayal of The Hound was showcased brilliantly in “Two Swords.” Dropping expletives left, right and center, one could be forgiven for thinking his bark was worse than his bite – until he reminded the world of Westeros just how badass he really is by taking on an inn full of Lannister soldiers.

“I understand that if any more words come pouring out your c**t mouth, I’m going to have to eat every f**king chicken in this room.”

Of course, he didn’t do it all without a little help from Arya Stark, an excellent sparring partner both in and out of battle. The developing chemistry and character relationship between these two has been great to watch, and they were at their best here. Let’s hope the wolf and the hound stick together for a while to come! – Harri Sargeant

The Arya and Hound banter was what carried the later quarter of the show, but it was the episode’s closing moment that really illustrated how far the characters of Westeros have come since King Robert visited Winterfell. Witnessing the gruesome deaths of her father, mother and brother have certainly taken their toll on poor young Arya Stark – but she has survived the brutal times she finds herself in and is starting to emerge as a deadly warrior to rival the world’s most lethal.

“Something wrong with your leg, boy?”

Maisie Williams undeniably nails the scene in which her character finally gets a chance at some revenge. The bitterness and fury in her voice are plain to see, as Williams gives a performance so memorable that it has inspired both triumphant delight and serious concern from fans. It’s rare you see moments like this on television and, though they may be controversial, they only further reinforce George R. R. Martin’s place on the throne of thrilling television. – Harri Sargeant

When it was announced that Chilean actor, Pedro Pascal, was to play Oberyn Martell, A.K.A. “The Red Viper”, the news wasn’t met with enthusiastic, universal applause. Commentary ranged from “Pedro who?” to those questioning if a Hispanic actor was the right race for a Dornishman. After the series 4 debut episode, critics have been silenced. Pascal utterly owned the screen in every scene he was in. Starting from his first scene, the playful, and barely contained, lustful banter with Ellaria Sand, his mistress, was deftly crafted. Pascal said more with a raised eyebrow during the “sexposition” than with his words. Moments later, #RedViper was trending on Twitter.

“It’s not just the Lannisters who pay their debts.”

The ultimate pièce de résistance was how Pascal riveted the audience with the backstory of his late sister, Elia Martell. In the hands of a less accomplished actor, it would have been a dry recitation of long overdue exposition. With Pascal, the audience felt as though the events of a generation ago had just occurred. Book fans have been wringing their hands, desperately wondering if the story of the Martells, Rhaegar Targaryen, and Lyanna Stark was ever going to come to the forefront. Finally, there is a connection being made from the fallout from those relationships and the present-day turmoil. – Laura Byrne-Cristiano

Daenerys has always been a Queen of the people, liberating slaves and fighting tyranny wherever she goes. The evil powers-that-be in the city of Mereen tried to exploit this and warn her away with a chilling piece of villainy – by nailing dead children to wooden posts on every mile of her 163 mile journey. However, far from discouraging the mother of dragons, it only spurred her on further.

“I will see each and every one of their faces.”

After refusing the suggestion of burying the children before she could see them, Dany demanded that she be able to look upon the face of every fallen youth. The look of sheer fury and determination shows that she isn’t going to take this insult lightly, and if her exploits in season 3 are anything to go by – justice is going to be swift and unforgiving. We can’t wait. – Harri Sargeant

On page 2:

A thorny start, a cold shoulder and a golden handshake….

Page 2: Our 10 favorite moments from “Two Swords”

Aside from being a convenient production work-a-round (poor Nikojal must have got tired of having his arm in a sling for the better part of a season), Jaime’s golden hand led to one of the funniest visual gags in the show’s history. As the expert craftsmen who Cersei spent days with (well, the better part of an afternoon) leaves her and her twin, he gives a sarcastic and clumsy wave with his new metal hand.

“A one handed man with no family needs all the help he can get.”

We’re sure this will only be the first in a stream of hand-related jokes to come in the future, but it was a hilarious way to kick them all off. So good, in fact, that we’d like to meet whoever thought of it and, well, shake their hand. – Harri Sargeant

Jon Snow, apparently no worse for wear having been shot full of arrows last season, unflinchingly stands before the council at Castle Black to explain what he’s been doing with Mance Rayder and the Wildlings. As he faces down his old nemesis, Alliser Thorne, it’s clear that the Jon Snow who was Ned Stark’s unsure and insecure bastard is no more.

“And now you’re here. You must not have been very good at your job.”

Jon Snow, showing no fear and a barely concealed contempt for Thorne, succinctly states why he had no choice in his actions, what the Night’s Watch needs to do next, and the cost of disregarding his information and doing nothing. While he clearly antagonized Thorne, he won the respect of the rest of the council including Maester Aemon Targaryen. – Laura Byrne-Cristiano

One could argue that if Jamie Lannister expected a warm and fuzzy family reunion upon his return to Kings Landing, he’d clearly forgotten who his family was. Tywin demands he leave the King’s Guard because one-handed at age 40, he’s apparently all washed up. Cersei is ungrateful, petulant, and cold. Last, but not least, Joffrey echoes the taunts of Tywin with a malicious glee, and goes one step farther by stating that Jamie is not so much as a footnote in all the annals of the King’s Guard. Perhaps it’s not so much that Jamie has forgotten who his family is, but that Jamie Lannister has changed. Whether he has changed for the better is a matter of point-of-view.

“My bloody honor’s beyond repair, but my answer is still ‘no.'”

Months as the prisoner of the Starks and Brienne have given Jamie time to reflect on his life’s choices, and the public’s perception of those choices. He’s had a chance to regain something of his honor by defending Brienne, and by swearing to help the Stark girls. Is it possible that in the months away from his corrupt family Jamie Lannister has started to care about more than selfish ends? – Laura Byrne-Cristiano

Dianna Rigg’s hilarious and commanding performance as the Queen of Thorns is always a treat, as is Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth. So it was a nice surprise to see the two come face to face – cue some now trademark witty banter from the Tyrell senior. It was a quick moment, but it’s another entry in the surprisingly long list of funny scenes in “Two Swords.”

“My word. We’ve heard all about you, but hearing is one thing… aren’t you just marvellous? Absolutely singular.”

It’ll be interesting too to see how Brienne reacts to other characters in King’s Landing, and of course, how they react to her. Having spent most of her time on the road with Jaime fighting with swords, pushing her out of her comfort zone could make for some very interesting television. – Harri Sargeant

Heartbreaking. There simply was no other word for the moment when viewers witnessed Ned Stark’s sword, Ice, being melted down into two, smaller blades. It was a grim reminder that House Stark is rapidly being broken apart as was its ancestral, Valarian steel sword.

“It was a big sword.”

The only thing more heartbreaking than the reforging of the great-sword, was the fact that the Lannisters now have possession of its newly-formed, smaller blades. Jamie Lannister, who initiated much of the chaos by tossing Bran Stark from a window, now wields the long-sword, Oathkeeper. What becomes of the other blade, and its new name, has yet to be revealed. – Laura Byrne-Cristiano