"Game Of Thrones" Delivers On Its Hype
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"Game of Thrones" title (HBO)
Based off of fantasy author George RR Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, this season of the show only covers the first book in the series, but still introduces slews of characters and storylines.
The task of bringing the books' sprawling narratives on screen, and introducing them to an audience that isn't composed of diehard fantasy fans, can easily be seen as a daunting and challenging task.
Yet, it appears that "Game of Thrones" meets those expectations head-on, confirming the show's writers' earlier assurances.
HBO did a great job prepping an audience that came to the series mostly cold: with Westeros (the film's domain) maps and detailed character charts, as well as delicious tidbits through the series' YouTube account (and let's not forget the "Game of Thrones" food truck), the hype for this show was almost deafening.
Though to what purpose? HBO is known for delivering quality television beloved by critics, but these same shows often lack competitive ratings with other shows (here's looking at you, "The Wire" and "Deadwood").
While only time can tell if "Game of Thrones" can hold onto its hype, everything about the content and execution of the show suggests that at the very least, it deserves all the praise that it's been getting.
Opening with a bleak look at Westeros' northern-most region, "Game of Thrones" immediately introduces the shows' ominous tagline: Winter is coming, and with it unrest and uncertainty.
This unrest comes to life in Winterfell, the domain of Lord Eddard Stark (welcome back, Sean Bean), as he's tapped to become the new right-hand man to the king of Westeros, the portly and belligerent Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy).
Eddard (oftentimes Ned) is then faced with this decision: accept the king's offered position, or stay with his family. And what a family! Along with his stalwart wife Catelyn (Michelle Fairley), Ned has five legitimate children and one bastard son: ambitious Robb Stark (Richard Madden), shallow Sansa (Sophie Turner), cheeky Arya (Maisie Williams), adventurous Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright), little Rickon (Art Parkinson), and the frustrated but forever loyal Jon Snow (a convincing Kit Harrington).
Also close to the king are Cersei and Jaime Lannister (Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), twin siblings with a thirst for power. While Cersei is married to the king, it becomes obvious that she and her brother are much closer than she is with her husband.
While Cersei and Jaime are one of the show's power couples, their brother Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) is the snappiest character in the film. Deftly aware of his physical differences, Tyrion brings a lightness to an otherwise very dark show, but without sacrificing the level of depth that each character possesses.
Across the sea are Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen (Harry Lloyd and Emilia Clarke), another set of siblings. The exiled children of the last king of Westeros, Viserys plots to regain the throne. Step 1: marrying his sister off to the powerful horse lord Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa) in an attempt to gain the lord's massive army.
Got it yet? The above is only a basic description though, and although it seems like a lot to take in, "Game of Thrones" proves surprisingly accessible.
As someone coming into the series with very little background knowledge, this reviewer picked up on the complex plotlines quickly, and most others are likely to do the same.
The narrative isn't the only notable thing about the show: full of striking visuals (that opening scene!), "Game of Thrones" also delivers on HBO's penchant for shows with lots of violence and sex. The series premiere is full of both, and it doesn't seem as though the show will temper down either.
"Game of Thrones" is an ambitious venture, but it brings so many elements together convincingly, and creates a truly striking show filled with compelling acting and addictive storylines.
