20/44
George RR
Scenario
Nine noble families fight for control of the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after lying dormant for millennia. Martin’s wife once said she would leave him if he killed Arya or Sansa. Tywin Lannister: Any man who says „I am the king“ is not a real king. During the opening credits, each cast member’s name is accompanied by the insignia of their character’s house. Hollywood Top Ten Spotlight: Critics’ Choice Nominees: Drama (2011). Main Title (uncredited) Written and performed by Ramin Djawadi.
Quite the opposite
I’ve been on a gradual Game of Thrones binge since the first episode (gradually because I’ve been so busy), having heard nothing but great things about it from friends, family, and IMDb critics. Plus, with such a talented cast and a brilliant book series, how could it go wrong? The good news is that Game of Thrones didn’t go wrong. Not only is it a rare television show that does justice to its source material and treats it with respect, but it is, on its own merits, one of the best, most addictive and consistently compelling shows in recent years. A television show so brilliant that one has to really check whether it was made for television when everything is done to such a high standard that it puts many films made today to shame. This is one of the strongest examples of an acclaimed show that deserves every ounce of praise it has received.
Visually, „Game of Thrones“ looks incredible
The scenery is spectacular, the sets are extremely atmospheric and beautiful to look at, with a meticulous eye for detail and the costumes perfectly match the characters. Then there are the special effects which are some of the best of any television show and are not overused or abused, the scale, detail and how they actually have character and soul are better than those in many of the big blockbusters. As is the cinematography and editing, which are also of cinematic quality. One cannot speak of „Game of Thrones“ as highly as it is. Not to mention the multi-layered, atmospheric, orchestral and thematic score, and the unforgettable main theme. Again, worthy of a big budget fantasy/action/drama film.
The characters are also a big part of the appeal
It’s hard not to be impressed by the quality of the writing, excellent is not a strong enough adjective to describe how good the writing is. It always flows naturally, is layered and thought-provoking, and demonstrates a wide range of emotions, such as suspenseful tension, poignant pathos, and witty humor. The stories are paced so beautifully, structured with such nuance and attention to coherence, have a high emotional level, and touch on complex and sensitive themes with intelligence and tact. Whenever there is a set piece or more action-oriented scene, there is always a reason, never because of it. Not only are the set pieces done with great epic scale, superb staging, excitement, and dramatic tension, but underneath all the scale and flashy attention to detail, there is a lot of heart and a multi-layered feel. They are never overlong, nor are there any elements out of place.
‘Game of Thrones’ has characters that are as well-developed and as close to real life as you can get, despite being set in a fantasy world
These characters are not archetypes of heroes and villains (Joffrey is the only one who comes close to that, the difference is that he is extremely interesting, with a lot of development, which is well beyond one hundred percent on the threat level scale), they are much more than that and have strengths and weaknesses. The decisions are logical and you don’t like any character less when a decision is not the right one, because mistakes are acknowledged and learned from.