“Game of Thrones” Season 4 is coming but with a sinister message. HBO has just released a promo poster for the highly anticipated season, and it is truly menacing. In season’s past we have seen normally seen characters featured in a series of a promo poster and at first glance Season 4 looks largely different, but look again, because the three-eyed raven means more than you think. Especially when in conjunction with the threat “All Men Must Die,” which is a direct translation of the High Valyrian pharse, “Valar Morghulis.” The poster is certainly paying homage to Bran and Arya of the Starks, not only is this once ruling family of Westeros set on vengeance, but the once little wolves have now grown and our using their desire for revenge to ensure the promise that “All Men Must Die.” The poster is certainly symbolic, for fans of the series, you will remember multiple characters encounter with the Valyrian phrase most specifically Arya Stark and Daenerys Targaryen, however their use of the powerful words greatly differ and in my humble opinion for Arya they are much more meaningful. The first the young she-wolf heard the phrase was in Season 2 after her encounter with Jaqen H’ghar when he was bidding her goodbye he promised her the ability to train to be a Faceless Man, all she must do is give the small coin to any man from Braavos and recite the phrase “Valar Morghulis.” Despite her confusion and Jaqen refusal to explain what the phrase means, the words stick with Arya and she begins to use the words in her prayer of the people the she wants dead, an almost war like chant that she repeatedly states to herself when she is restless. Again the words become some sort of a prayer for Arya when fleeing from Harrenhal in Season 2, Arya slits the throat of the guard at the postern gate; she whispers the threat as he slowly dies. This phrase is deeply connected to the character of Arya Stark and its inclusion in the Season 4 poster almost hints at the possibility of Arya seeking her revenge for her slain mother and brother.
Another interestingly enough female character who has a long embattled history with this seemingly simple phrase is none other than Daenerys Targaryen, as a part of the Tarygaryen family, the young Queen was taught the dialect at a young age as a sign of her noble education. A significant moment in the series comes when in Season 3 after Daenerys acquires Missandei as a sign of a good deal struck when buying her Unsullied Army, she reminds her that they are heading for war where she could succumb to death. Missandei quickly responds to her new Queen’s warning stating “Valar Morghulis,” considering High Valyrian is Dany’s mother tongue she strongly counters the young girl’s use of the phrase warning, “we are not men.” Considering both Dany and Arya’s use of the warning, it can’t be too much to guess that blood will be on the hands of these two powerful ladies. Both the characters were forced to grow up too fast, after having their families ripped away by the Lannisters, so with a large target on their back and fierce warnings, I think the Season 4 “Game of Thrones” poster is predicting a downfall of the normally lithe Lannister lions.
The three-eyed raven also holds a large importance for Season 4. The bird has been appearing to Bran Stark for the entire series since being pushed out of the tower by Jamie Lannister and becoming a cripple. Moreover, the bird will take on a much larger role in the forthcoming season, before just a part of Bran’s short dream sequences, British actor Struan Rodger has been cast as the three-eyed raven. Without spoiling much, my warning for Season 4 is that the promise of death is lurking in the air and I most certainly wouldn’t want to be warning a large crimson cloak in King’s Landing this season.
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