Game of Thrones, Series 4, episode one review: Swordplay, sex ... and a good slice of humour

Swordplay. Swearing. Sex. The opening episode of season four of Game of Thrones, which had its public premiere last night, brimmed with what makes this unlikely hit so notorious. But it also contained a good dose of the political intrigue and gender politics — the latter both undermined and underlined by ready recourse to female nudity — that makes it so gripping. If Lord of the Rings made fantasy fiction on screen lucrative, Game of Thrones has made it respectable, recasting medieval history for a mass audience.

We return to Westeros to find sociopathic brat King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) still on the Iron Throne, loathed by everyone from his future wife to resentful wedding guest Oberyn Martell (The Good Wife’s Pedro Pascal). Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) has a formidable army and three dragons, but may be losing control of both. And the focus in the North has shifted from petty politicking to the simple business of survival.

Baffled? Believe it or not, even newcomers might have found this to be a forgiving opener for a show with a reputation for convoluted plotting. Most of the key players were nimbly reintroduced, with hardly a duff performance among them (it’s harder to name a British character actor who hasn’t been in it). Asked why they’re so grumpy, both oft-underestimated “imp” Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and paranoid, depressed Cersei (Lena Headey) reel off litanies of exposition illustrating why life in Westeros is so difficult. And it was all leavened by the show’s secret weapon, humour.

The most memorable moments came courtesy of the well-established double acts: Tyrion and his laconic bodyguard; tomboyish pretender Arya and her foulmouthed protector, The Hound; Joffrey and his ego. As both formal prologue and delicious tease, it was beautifully engineered. Book your space at the watercooler now.

Sky Atlantic, starting April 7, 9pm