49 Fun Facts About Game of Thrones Season 4

The Game of Thrones season 4 premiere drew HBO's biggest audience since which show's finale?

The Sopranos. The opener's 6.6 million viewers were HBO's most since the mob drama ended in 2007, far above anything in season 3, where even the Red Wedding episode was not the year's high.

Game of Thrones season 4 is adapted mainly from the second half of which novel?

A Storm of Swords. The third novel was judged too long for a single season, so the producers split it in two, and its first half had already become season 3.

At which event does King Joffrey die in Game of Thrones season 4?

His wedding feast. Joffrey chokes on poisoned wine minutes after humiliating his uncle Tyrion in front of the guests, which is why Cersei has Tyrion arrested on the spot.

Which writer's last script for Game of Thrones was the season 4 episode 'The Lion and the Rose'?

George R. R. Martin. He wrote one episode in each of the first four seasons, then stopped to concentrate on The Winds of Winter, saying a single script cost him at least three weeks.

In Game of Thrones season 4, which Icelandic band plays 'The Rains of Castamere' at the royal wedding?

Sigur Rós. Joffrey cuts the trio's performance short by pelting them with coins, and their mournful cover of the Lannister anthem returns over the closing credits.

In Game of Thrones season 4, which actor plays the Dornish prince known as the Red Viper?

Pedro Pascal. After years of small parts, his single season as the Red Viper was the breakout that led to Narcos, The Mandalorian and The Last of Us.

Who joins Game of Thrones in season 4 as Ellaria Sand, the Red Viper's paramour?

Indira Varma. Her Ellaria later murders Prince Doran and seizes Dorne to avenge her lover, a coup that never happens in the novels, where she argues for peace.

Who replaced Ed Skrein as Daario Naharis in Game of Thrones season 4?

Michiel Huisman. The Dutch actor took over after a single season, and Ed Skrein later said that giving up the sellsword role had not been his choice.

Which actor took over the role of Tommen Baratheon in Game of Thrones season 4?

Dean-Charles Chapman. He had already died on the show once: in season 3 he played Martyn Lannister, a captive squire murdered in his cell by Rickard Karstark.

Which strongman took over as the Mountain in Game of Thrones season 4?

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson. The Icelander was the third actor in the part after Conan Stevens and Ian Whyte, who lasted a season each, but he kept it until the series ended.

Which Sherlock actor plays Iron Bank envoy Tycho Nestoris in Game of Thrones?

Mark Gatiss. Sherlock's Mycroft plays the banker who turns Stannis down flat, then relents when Davos argues that the ageing Tywin Lannister will soon be dead.

In the Game of Thrones season 4 premiere, the Hound starts a tavern brawl after demanding what?

A chicken. With no money to pay, the Hound warns the king's soldiers that he will eat every chicken in the room, and in the fight that follows Arya wins back her sword, Needle.

Which villain makes his first on-screen appearance in Game of Thrones season 4?

The Night King. After a split-second glimpse in one of Bran's visions, he appears in the closing scene of the fourth episode, where a touch of his finger turns Craster's last baby son into a White Walker.

What is the name of King Tommen's cat, introduced in Game of Thrones season 4?

Ser Pounce. Margaery meets the cat on a secret night-time visit to Tommen's chambers, her first move to win over the boy king before his mother can turn him against her.

Who secretly trains Jaime Lannister to fight left-handed in Game of Thrones season 4?

Bronn. Jaime cannot let the court see how badly the head of the Kingsguard now fights, so Tyrion sends him to the sellsword, who can be paid to keep his mouth shut.

The Game of Thrones season 4 episode 'Mockingbird' is named after which character's personal sigil?

Littlefinger. Petyr Baelish chose the mockingbird as his own emblem and wears it as a silver pin, and the episode named for it ends with him killing his new wife.

In the Game of Thrones season 4 premiere, Tywin has which sword melted down into two blades?

Ice. The Lannisters had held Ned Stark's huge Valyrian steel greatsword since his death, and Tywin turns it into one blade for Jaime and one for King Joffrey.

In Game of Thrones season 4, what name does Brienne give the Valyrian steel sword Jaime gives her?

Oathkeeper. Jaime hands it over with new armour and a squire, Podrick, and sends her to find Sansa, honouring the vow he made to Catelyn Stark to see her daughters safe.

Which Game of Thrones season 4 episode title comes from Tommen's coronation?

First of His Name. The phrase follows the boy's name in the royal style proclaimed at the crowning, and during the ceremony Cersei surprises Margaery by seeming to approve of her marrying him.

In Game of Thrones season 4, who gives Sansa the necklace that secretly carries the poison used on Joffrey?

Dontos Hollard. The court fool offers it as his mother's necklace, in thanks for Sansa once saving his life, but it is a fake made for the plot, and he is killed as soon as he has delivered her.

In Game of Thrones season 4, who privately admits to Margaery a part in King Joffrey's murder?

Olenna. The Queen of Thorns tells her granddaughter she would never have let her marry 'that beast', then leaves for Highgarden while Tyrion sits in a cell for the crime.

Daenerys crucifies Meereen's masters in Game of Thrones to avenge whom?

Slave children. The masters nailed one to every mile marker on the road to Meereen, 163 in all, so Daenerys overrules Barristan's plea for mercy and crucifies 163 masters in return.

In Game of Thrones season 4, whom does Lysa admit she poisoned at Petyr Baelish's urging?

Jon Arryn. Her husband's death was the mystery that opened the series, and by blaming the Lannisters for it she set the Starks against them and started the war.

Littlefinger brings Sansa, disguised as his niece Alayne, to which Game of Thrones castle?

The Eyrie. At the Bloody Gate he tells the guards she is his niece Alayne, but the disguise is dropped inside, where her aunt Lysa is waiting to marry him.

Who are the three judges at Tyrion's trial in Game of Thrones season 4?

Tywin, Mace and Oberyn. Tywin chooses both fellow judges himself, winning over the Dornish prince with a seat on the small council and a promise of justice for his murdered sister.

Who is the final witness to testify against Tyrion at his trial in Game of Thrones season 4?

Shae. Her false story that he and Sansa planned the murder makes Tyrion throw away a deal to confess and be sent to the Night's Watch, and demand a trial by combat instead.

Through what is Sansa's aunt Lysa pushed to her death in Game of Thrones season 4?

The Moon Door. Lysa is threatening to throw Sansa through the hole in her castle's floor when her new husband calms her, tells her he only ever loved her sister, and shoves her out instead.

Whom does Cersei name as the crown's champion for Tyrion's trial by combat in Game of Thrones season 4?

Gregor Clegane. Naming the Mountain costs Tyrion both his first hopes: his brother Jaime admits he would lose one-handed, and his sellsword friend has been bought off with a highborn bride.

Who volunteers to be Tyrion's champion in his trial by combat in Game of Thrones season 4?

Oberyn. He has no love for Lannisters: he wants the chance to face the man who killed his sister Elia and her children, and to force a public confession out of him.

After the trial by combat in Game of Thrones season 4, what sentence does Tywin pass on Tyrion?

Execution. Tywin passes the death sentence the moment his son's champion falls, but it is never carried out, because Jaime lets Tyrion out of his cell before it can be.

In Game of Thrones season 4, what royal document does Roose Bolton give Ramsay after Moat Cailin falls?

A decree of legitimization. It turns the bastard Ramsay Snow into Ramsay Bolton, his father's heir, as a reward for tricking the fort's ironborn garrison into surrendering and then flaying them.

In Game of Thrones season 4, what does Barristan receive that exposes Jorah as a spy for Robert Baratheon?

A royal pardon. King Robert had granted it as payment for Jorah's reports on Daenerys, and when Jorah admits the document is genuine she banishes him from her service.

Who kills Ygritte during the battle at Castle Black in Game of Thrones season 4?

Olly. Ygritte has an arrow trained on Jon but hesitates, and the boy shoots her first, avenging his father, whom she killed when the wildlings raided his village.

In Game of Thrones season 4, Grenn and five others die holding Castle Black's inner gate against what?

A giant. As it charges down the tunnel, Grenn steadies his terrified men by leading them in the Night's Watch oath, and all six are found dead beside its body the next morning.

Whose cavalry charge crushes the wildling army in the Game of Thrones season 4 finale?

Stannis Baratheon. He had sailed north in ships hired with the Iron Bank's gold, and it is on Jon's suggestion that the surrendered Mance Rayder is taken away as a captive.

Which member of Bran's party dies in the skeleton attack in the Game of Thrones season 4 finale?

Jojen. Stabbed by a wight, he tells his sister to save herself, in a fight the director staged as a tribute to Ray Harryhausen's skeleton warriors in Jason and the Argonauts.

In Game of Thrones season 4, the Three-Eyed Raven tells Bran he will never walk again but will do what?

Fly. Bran asks the old man tangled in the tree roots whether he is going to help him walk again, and this is the answer he gets instead.

With what weapon does Tyrion kill his father Tywin in the Game of Thrones season 4 finale?

A crossbow. Freed by Jaime and meant to be fleeing the city, Tyrion climbs to his father's rooms instead and shoots Tywin dead on the privy.

Whom does Daenerys chain up in Meereen's catacombs at the end of Game of Thrones season 4?

Her dragons. A grieving father brings her the charred bones of his small daughter, killed by Drogon, so she chains Rhaegal and Viserion underground while Drogon himself is still missing.

Where does Arya sail at the very end of Game of Thrones season 4?

Braavos. The captain takes her aboard only when she hands him the iron coin the assassin Jaqen H'ghar gave her two seasons earlier, and then insists she have a cabin of her own.

In Game of Thrones season 4, Sansa builds a model of which castle out of snow?

Winterfell. Her cousin Robin wrecks part of it in a tantrum and she slaps him, and moments later her aunt's new husband kisses her beside the ruins, in full view of her aunt.

Diocletian's Palace became a new Game of Thrones filming location in season 4 in which country?

Croatia. The country had taken over from Malta as the show's King's Landing in season 2, and for season 4 Daenerys's scenes moved into the cellars of the Roman emperor's palace in Split.

Who leads a failed raid on the Dreadfort to rescue Theon in Game of Thrones season 4?

Yara Greyjoy. She fights her way to the kennels where her brother is caged, but the broken Theon insists his name is Reek and will not leave, and she has to sail home without him.

Who was Emmy-nominated as Game of Thrones' Queen of Thorns?

Diana Rigg. In 2014 she lost to Allison Janney, and though the show led every programme with 19 Emmy nominations, its four wins all came in craft categories such as costumes and visual effects.

Whose body does Bran take over to kill his kidnapper Locke in Game of Thrones season 4?

Hodor. Locke is carrying Bran off during Jon's raid on Craster's Keep when Bran slips into the big man's mind and uses his strength to kill the man, then heads north without letting Jon see him.

The last two episodes of Game of Thrones season 4 were shown in U.S. cinemas in what format?

IMAX. It was the first television series released that way, and 205 screens took about $1.9 million in a week from two episodes that had already aired at home.

In Game of Thrones season 4, Meereen's champion shouts insults translated from which comedy film?

Monty Python and the Holy Grail. At D. B. Weiss's suggestion the show's language creator translated the French knight's taunts into Low Valyrian, so the champion is really shouting them at Daenerys.

Which member of Daenerys's council grows close to Missandei in Game of Thrones season 4?

Grey Worm. He comes to apologise after she catches him watching her bathe, and tells her that if he had never been made one of the Unsullied they would never have met.

Who defeats the Hound in single combat in the Game of Thrones season 4 finale?

Brienne of Tarth. She has come to take Arya to safety, but the Hound sees the Lannister gold on her sword and will not give the girl up, and the duel ends with him pushed off a cliff.