Game of Thrones: Episode Four - Sons of Winter Reviews
Game of Thrones: Episode 4 - Sons of Winter delivers a dose of of the action we've all been waiting for.
The fourth 'Game of Thrones' episode delivers plenty of exciting plot advancement, but gets hindered by repetitive quicktime scenes and questionable choices.
Seeing the Forresters on the offensive delivers stressful excitement, and gives this lengthy story new life
Game of Thrones' fourth episode prioritizes verbal sparring over the physical kind, slowing down the action and packing in new twists to tension's detriment.
It's interesting that this episode came out so close to the last episode of the show, which is one of the best in the series. Game of Thrones as a sort of meta-property is doing very well.
Telltale's Game of Thrones series, now over halfway through its first season, has been a huge disappointment so far, but it's been improving steadily, and Episode Four – Sons of Winter proves there's real potential in the concept, even if Telltale might not have been the right candidate for the job. There are the occasional flashes of brilliance here that make you wish the series as a whole could match the same level of quality, but they're appreciated anyway.
Backdrops still aren't easy on the eye, Gared's tale has dipped and it doesn't have the tension present in previous episodes, but Mira and Rodrik's gradual transformations are a delight, and Asher's narrative finally steps up.
In the game of thrones, you win or you die, and though House Forrester has always been on the verge of death in the episodic series, Episode 4 finally puts them on the narrow path toward victory.
There aren't any heart-stopping moments or dramatic twists like there were in the early episodes, but Sons of Winter sets a good pace and keeps it up throughout the episode. It's great to see the continued focus on shrewdness over brute strength for most of the characters, especially considering House Forrester's situation in Westeros. What the family lacks in soldiers, it must make up for in cleverness. Being party to the events makes me feel clever, whether I truly have much of an effect or not.
It's obvious now that Game of Thrones simply won't be as successful as Telltale's other series. It's been a worthy experiment, and there have been some enjoyable scenes in there, but it just misses the mark, featuring too many characters and not enough real substance. However, Sons of Winter is certainly a more enjoyable episode than the previous two, with some decent character development. It often gets to the point much quicker with a lot less filler in between, while also taking characters to new places and surprising you along the way as we head towards the series' conclusion.
There's usually one episode in a Game of Thrones season where the numerous setups that the earlier episodes have built finally culminate into a payoff. For Telltale's adaptation, this is that episode.
With just two episodes to go, Game of Thrones fans may soon get something for which they've been waiting years: A legitimate conclusion
Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series Episode 4 - Sons of Winter puts the series back on the right track, offering the same amazing writing, voice acting, and world, but with more progress and consequence to the proceedings.
Despite these shortcomings, Game of Thrones: Episode 4 – Sons of Winter is still an enjoyable experience. While I left the episode feeling like all the choices I had made were, and still are, essentially worthless, I also wanted to dive right into Episode 5. The rising action and a few well-placed, surprising events kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time I played through the episode, and I have a feeling that the next episode will be even more intense.
Sons of Winter continues the high quality set forth by the previous episode, as Game of Thrones now looks set to be on a consistent track. The plot's driving forth at an effective pace, the characters are each growing in their own unique ways, and things end in a way that promises a lot of huge things for episode five. If you've been following along with the series up to this point, you'll definitely be gripped by this one.
While we have two episodes left in the season/series, fans of the franchise know that there are going to be a few more downs and downs coming, but "Episode 4" grants a brief respite of optimism in a jaded, borderline nihilistic world. It stands as the high point of the series thus far and goes a long way to cement the experience as a "must play" for fans of Game of Thrones.
Game of Thrones: Episode 4 - Sons of Winter doesn't hit quite the same highs as its immediate predecessor – but it's likely to prove the most impactful instalment to date. The decisions made this time around reek of future importance, and the impending doom for House Forrester seems closer than ever before – even if the overall story's pace has, once again, slowed just a tad.
Sons of Winter maintains the good form of the previous episode by unloading plenty of tension, drama and action along the way. Roll on episode five.
Game of Thrones' fourth episode is a solid Telltale affair, but it's just that. While the developer continues to churn out quality content using George R. R. Martin's famed license, it does so while struggling to maintain great pacing.
"Sons of Winter" makes you feel almost as if the Forresters might find a way out of the darkness. Which has us incredibly worried about their future.