It is said that Game of Thrones is TV’s version of Crack. Try it at your own peril. If you are grossed out by the violence or graphic sexuality, you won’t be the first person to quit the show or indeed be scarred for life by it. But if you can get past the shock value, you will be treated to one of the greatest TV shows of all time. Much like Crack addicts, you will be hooked to an extent where the only day worth anything each week will be the day you get your hands on a new episode. If you crave medieval settings, politics and multi-layered plots then you will love this show. Let me lend some perspective - this show has more key characters than How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang combined and then some. It’s not often that one comes across a screen adaptio
n worthy of the book that feeds it. Certainly not in the fantasy genre. For every Lord of the Rings you have several Eragons and more. Game of Thrones is blessed with an exceptionally insightful gang of writers who do more than just bring the characters to life. They let you in on just about enough in terms of plot and schemes to let your imagination run wild. Before you know it you find yourself picking sides and judging war strategy. You may even feel cocky enough to assume you know better than the miserable schemers on screen! As gritty as they come this is show where pregnancies and weddings don’t make you groan and complain about insipid writing. Every event, every twist contributes to the plot in more ways than one. Just writing about it makes me want to play a few episodes again.
Most film studios are cautious when it comes to making movies based on fantasy books. Unless the book is a proven champion like the Harry Potter series or LOTR, studios wouldn’t want to waste their time. The reason of course is the sheer expansiveness of the narrative. The Bourne series sets the action in the middle of cities and towns. Fantasy stories are set in far off magical lands that aren’t too easy to bring to the screen. From locations to costumes, accents and extensive CGI work to bring mythical creatures to a screen a fantasy adaptation simply costs too much. This is why HBO deserve all the respect in the world for bringing to TV screens what most studios fear to release worldwide. HBO are known for backing ambitious projects with mega budgets. Spielberg’s The Pacific proves that. So does Band of Brothers. But those were mini-series. Game of Thrones is a full length series which is sure to run for at least 6 seasons assuming all the books are adapted. It was a risk but they were bold and they now have a legion of fans full of gratitude. Not a piece of cloth out of place, no sets built on overly stingy budgets and no skimping on CGI skill. This show is a production design masterpiece. The city of Qarth looks stunning and would put most Hollywood movies to shame.
Basics: Game of Thrones is set in the mythical land of Westeros and its seven kingdoms.
The Kingdom of the North - ruled by members of House Stark from their castle in Winterfell. The Starks are an honourable clan. Virtuous as they are loyal and brave the Starks are well respected throughout the land and have the support of fiercely loyal banner men.
The Vale - ruled by House Arryn from their castle the Eyrie.
The Iron Islands - are ruled by House Greyjoy from the castle of Pyke. The Iron Islands are home to a fiercely combative race known as the Ironborns.
The Westerlands - rules by House Lannister from the castle of Casterly Rock. The Lannisters are people of immense wealth, high-cheekbones, tactical expertise and incest.
The Reach - ruled by House Tyrell from the castle of Highgarden.
The Stormlands - ruled by House Baratheon from the castle of Storm’s End.
The Dorne - ruled by House Martell from the castle of Sunspear.
Above all else, Game of Thrones deconstructs notions of power and destroys orthodox templates of those worthy of wielding it. The core attributes of power remain the same but the manner in which it shifts is what makes the show a compelling watch.
To the faint-hearted - watch the show’s pilot. I dare you.
To the rest - Watch the pilot and try staying away from the show. I dare you.
Nishant Boorla
Sarcasm means the world to me. Yeah that's always a good place to start. I watch movies...a lot of movies! Sports nut and a die hard Manchester United fan. Highly opinionated and that shows in my articles.
Sarcasm means the world to me. Yeah that's always a good place to start. I watch movies...a lot of movies! Sports nut and a die hard Manchester United fan. Highly opinionated and that shows in my articles.
