Ranking the Game of Thrones Trailers: Seasons 1-5

Season 4: The “Feral Love” Trailer

Season 4’s trailer was hilarious when it first hit. I remember laughing so hard that it almost gave the game away to the unspoiled around me. For those who knew that the Red Wedding was not the last bloody wedding we saw in A Storm of Swords, the opening focus on Joffrey was the ultimate misdirection. Though some suspected that the Tyrell/Lannister wedding might not come until the middle of the season, focusing on a character who was slated to die early and ugly was a stroke of genius (especially once it became clear that no, they weren’t going to wait, and the Purple Wedding was in Episode 2.)

And though, like the “Bones” trailer, I am not a fan of the indie hit “Feral Love,” this first glimpse of the coming fourth season is strikingly more focused than our first two installments. Observe the use of the full lines from Jorah and Dany defining the struggle to come in Meereen, the focus on the battle for Castle Black that actually won’t come until episode 9, and the first look at Oberyn Martell, who would go on to steal and then break the hearts of every fan in only eight short hours. This trailer makes me want to go watch Season 4 all over again.

Next: Number 2: The Game Begins