Prepare for Thrones' return with these 10 things

11:00 AM Monday Apr 7, 2014

Can't wait for tonight's fourth episode premiere of Game of Thrones? Then pass the time by checking off every item on our list of 10 things you need to do before show time.

1. Jump online and read the early reviews. Yes, despite the show not yet screening in the US (that's around 4pm New Zealand time) and us having to wait until 8.30pm tonight for Soho to screen it, some lucky telly reviewers have already seen the first three episodes of Thrones' fourth season. Like The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap,Vulture and a reviewer on Rogerebert.com. They all had positive things to say, with the only downer coming from a New York Times reviewer who complained about too much talking and not enough killing. Off with their heads.

2. Rolling Stone magazine has compiled a highly debatable list of the top 40 Game of Thrones characters that - surprise, surprise - has Daenerys at No. 1. Read their list here, send the link to a friend and start voicing your disapproval at their decision making.

3. Warm up your hip-hop hands and listen to the Game of Thrones rap mixtape Catch the Throne, featuring Big Boi, Wale and Common. It's actually really good.

4. Sit on Twitter all day adding "#bringdowntheking" to each and every posting you make, then run down to Aotea Square to watch the King Joffrey statue collapse. By our reckoning, that should happen sometime this afternoon. If his face breaks all over the concrete, you could even grab your very own piece of Joffrey to take home and keep beside your bed. Sicko. Watch the live stream here.

5. Join in the debate on TimeOut editor Russell Baillie's controversial comment piece on why, despite trying his best to get into the sword-weilding swing of things, he doesn't "get" Game of Thrones. "You need counselling immediately if not sooner," said one irate reader. Have your say here.

6. Re-enact key scenes from your favourite episodes with your Thrones miniatures collection. Don't lie, we all know you have them hidden in a trunk in your wardrobe. Like this guy, who used his box of collectibles to create what is probably the world's worst Thrones-inspired YouTube video ever (Warning: video features geeky cover-your-ears jokes, and creepy cover-your-eyes re-enacted sex scenes).

7. Watch this 15-minute behind-the-scenes official Thrones preview again, because it's really funny and well worth your time just to see actress Gwendoline Christie - who plays Brienne of Tarth - laugh. Because she doesn't do much of that in the show.

8. Read all of beardy author GRR Martin's Game of Thrones books using hyped new speed reading app Spritz. If you start now, stop eating and have no toilet breaks, there's just enough time. Maybe.