“Ygritte saying ‘you know nothing Jon Snow’ choked me up, I don’t mind admitting”

“I’m a total convert to Game of Thrones now and consider it up there with my favourite TV shows of all time. I can see what everyone – including most of my friends – have been banging on about, and Season Four is the most mind-blowing and ridiculously tense series yet.

There were several occasions when I had to cover my eyes (and my partner Marigold’s) – especially the court scenes with poor Tyrion, the fierce battle scenes at The Wall (who knew they had that dirty great scythe?) and Oberyn’s intense duel with Gregor Clegane (aka The Mountain). It was amazingly stirring when Oberyn came forward and announced that he was going to be Tyrion’s ‘champion’. But not as stirring as the scene in court when Tyrion finally cracks and yells: ‘I demand a trial by combat’.

All the acting is classy here, but Peter Dinklage [as Tyrion] is a notch above and you really care about him and his fate. I’m really worried about him though – and Arya, Jon Snow and his Night’s Watch mate Sam. That’s the genius of this wonderfully written show – you really do care. The biggest shocks usually come in the ninth episode, but the last one is more shocking this time.

The fight between Brienne and The Hound (Sandor Clegane) is not only vicious, but you’re not sure who to support. Brienne is honourable and brave, but The Hound has smarts and is a survivor in this tough universe. It’s important to have low cunning in this world, and no one proves that more than Lord Baelish who has cleverly manipulated Sansa Stark. She’s the character who winds me up. Can’t she just get herself together?

I can’t believe how good the production values are in this season, and the dust-up between Mance’s wildlings and the Night’s Watch [The Watchers on The Wall, episode nine] is incredible. I would pay to see that scene on the big screen, and I can definitely foresee Game of Thrones being turned into a feature film at some point.

Not many action films are as good as Game of Thrones and not many are as powerful. Ygritte saying ‘You know nothing Jon Snow’ choked me up, I don’t mind admitting. The last episode [The Children] beautifully sets it up for Season Five. My new worries are the White Walkers and the Bolton family. They’re a rum bunch...”

Every episode of Game of Thrones is available now, exclusively on Sky Box Sets.

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