"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground" explains Lena Headey's Queen Cersei Lannister to Sean Bean's Ned Stark in the 7th episode of the HBO series. The catchphrase sums up perfectly the plot of A Song of Ice and Fire series and this television adaptation.
Based on author George A. Martin's best-selling medieval fantasty series, Games of Thrones takes place in the fictional location of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and chronicles the violent struggle between the Kingdom's noble families as they fight for control of the Iron Throne.The opening episode closely follows Lord Eddard 'Ned' Stark, played by Sean Bean, of Winterfell and his family are drawn into the court politics of King Robert, who wishes for Ned to replace his recently deceased Hand (right-hand man). With him, King Robert brings his family which includes his wife Queen Cersei Lannister and their son, Prince Joffrey; next in line to the throne. Also in tow is Cersei's brothers Jaime, twin of Cersei with whom he pursues a incestual relationship seceretly fathering her children and nicknamed "Kingslayer" for his murder of the previous King and Tyrion, a womanising, highly intelligent dwarf mockingly named "Imp" or "Halfman" for his deformity. From the first interaction between these characters, there is instant tension; a tension that is matched by the other Kingdoms as the series progresses. The rivalry between Houses Stark and Lannister proves to be the main plotline of Season 1 and as the series draws to its conclusion, horrific events take place (but more on that later!)
The second storyline is set in the Northern border of Westeros, where the winter is constant and harsh. A huge wall of ice and gravel stands tall, created by both magic and labour thousands of years prior to the start of the series, to defend Westeros from the White Walkers; a now-mythical tribe of creatures living further north. The Wall is defended by the Sworn Brotherhood of the Night's Watch, which includes Ned Stark's bastard son Jon Snow, whose duty is to guard the Kingdom from the White Walkers. The White Walkers are present at the very start of Episode 1, where they are discovered by three travellers subsequently murdering two of them and letting the other one go. The lone wanderer comes across Winterfell and this is how the series introduces Ned Stark, who swiftly beheads him; believing his story to be lies and deceit since the Walkers have not been seen for thousands of years. Told through Snow's POV, the Brotherhood that maintain the Wall are primarily made up of criminals and refugees with very few honourable knights in its ranks, since the Night's Watch disolved slowly over a number of years. Therefore, it is under-strengthed and vulnerable against attack, creating much of the conflict that appears in this storyline of Season 1.
The third storyline is set in the Eastern continent of Essos, across the Narrow Sea, and follows Daenerys Targaryen, an exile of House Targaryen and one of the claimants to the Iron Throne. The storyline showcases her evolution from a scared, vulnerable young girl into a confident, powerful ruler in her own right once she enters into a dynastic marraige to the Barbarian warlord, Khal Drago. Season 1 presents her rise to power slowly, as she overcomes the brutality of her older brother Viserys, who had hoped to command Drago's armies against the other Kingdoms after marrying his sister away to him. Viserys plan's backfire, resulting a very very painful death at the hands of Drago and Daenerys leaves his control, establishing herself as a rightful and powerful ruler who vows to take back the Iron Throne.
Now that is indeed alot of story detail to compress into such short paragraphs. It took me a while but I think I managed it (just about!). If I missed anything out, its through no fault of my own. Its as best as I could do. But it proves to you that Game of Thrones is no show lacking in story. If anything, it has too much. However, in the hands of HBO, this show was always going to succeed on a story-telling level. Described as 'The Sopranos in Middle-Earth', what the writers have been able to do is create a significant balance between action and story whilst allowing for major screentime for ALL of the cast. As a non-reader of the series before I watched the TV show, I was amazed by the amount of characters introduced in the opening episode and struggled to remember much of their backstory and how they were to alter the plot further down the line. I soon realised that each character has a significant effect on the plot and that no-one is seemingly the protagonist of the story. Everyone has equal screentime. Everyone affects the story in different ways. And that's what makes Game of Thrones so damn delicious! The conflicting storylines of these incredible characters just make for some damn good TV and I can see where the comparisons with The Sopranos came from. They are very much justified.
HBO have not shyed away from the source material either. They are not afraid to include major plot events early on in the season (this is a spoiler people so look away now if you haven't read/watched the series), for example; there has been much controversy surrounding the death of Sean Bean's character, Ned. Many believed he was the protagonist of the series since he was in all the promotional ads and so on. Frankly, his death scene was the most beautiful, heart-wrenching, unnerving and emotional death I've ever had the pleasure of seeing on-screen. The geography of the scene, Ned noticing his younger daughter watching whilst his elder daughter is screaming for Joffrey to take back his command to execute Ned. There was so much to that scene that I've never been more shocked by a TV show in my life. But come on guys! Can't you see the bigger picture here?! How can this NOT make for more juicy TV? Ned's death (which occured very early in the book series! I'm reading them now) only serves to prove the point that no-one is safe. By pulling a 'Psycho' on the audience (watch it to get what I mean), your alliance to the character is shattered and you have to see who you truly align with. Its brilliant storytelling and honestly, I like that HBO take risks. Nay. I absolutely love it. Killing Ned was the best thing to do, especially in the first season because the plot possibilities for Season 2 are vast. It can go, quite literally, anywhere.
You may be wondering what about all the other characters and plot details. Well, I have left them out simply because there is alot of them and you should discover the wonder of them yourselves. Without divulging to deep into the mythology of the show, I'm hoping people will raise their heads and give Game of Thrones a chance if they already haven't. HBO have commissioned a second sesason based on the first two episodes ratings so give it a shot. There's lots more story to be told and once you start, believe me, you will not turn back. Its immersive, deep and fundamentally its fun to watch. HBO have added yet another gem to their already sterling line-up of past anbd present shows and their reputation will continue to reach new heights if they produce TV as good as Game of Thrones.
Based on author George A. Martin's best-selling medieval fantasty series, Games of Thrones takes place in the fictional location of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and chronicles the violent struggle between the Kingdom's noble families as they fight for control of the Iron Throne.The opening episode closely follows Lord Eddard 'Ned' Stark, played by Sean Bean, of Winterfell and his family are drawn into the court politics of King Robert, who wishes for Ned to replace his recently deceased Hand (right-hand man). With him, King Robert brings his family which includes his wife Queen Cersei Lannister and their son, Prince Joffrey; next in line to the throne. Also in tow is Cersei's brothers Jaime, twin of Cersei with whom he pursues a incestual relationship seceretly fathering her children and nicknamed "Kingslayer" for his murder of the previous King and Tyrion, a womanising, highly intelligent dwarf mockingly named "Imp" or "Halfman" for his deformity. From the first interaction between these characters, there is instant tension; a tension that is matched by the other Kingdoms as the series progresses. The rivalry between Houses Stark and Lannister proves to be the main plotline of Season 1 and as the series draws to its conclusion, horrific events take place (but more on that later!)
The second storyline is set in the Northern border of Westeros, where the winter is constant and harsh. A huge wall of ice and gravel stands tall, created by both magic and labour thousands of years prior to the start of the series, to defend Westeros from the White Walkers; a now-mythical tribe of creatures living further north. The Wall is defended by the Sworn Brotherhood of the Night's Watch, which includes Ned Stark's bastard son Jon Snow, whose duty is to guard the Kingdom from the White Walkers. The White Walkers are present at the very start of Episode 1, where they are discovered by three travellers subsequently murdering two of them and letting the other one go. The lone wanderer comes across Winterfell and this is how the series introduces Ned Stark, who swiftly beheads him; believing his story to be lies and deceit since the Walkers have not been seen for thousands of years. Told through Snow's POV, the Brotherhood that maintain the Wall are primarily made up of criminals and refugees with very few honourable knights in its ranks, since the Night's Watch disolved slowly over a number of years. Therefore, it is under-strengthed and vulnerable against attack, creating much of the conflict that appears in this storyline of Season 1.
The third storyline is set in the Eastern continent of Essos, across the Narrow Sea, and follows Daenerys Targaryen, an exile of House Targaryen and one of the claimants to the Iron Throne. The storyline showcases her evolution from a scared, vulnerable young girl into a confident, powerful ruler in her own right once she enters into a dynastic marraige to the Barbarian warlord, Khal Drago. Season 1 presents her rise to power slowly, as she overcomes the brutality of her older brother Viserys, who had hoped to command Drago's armies against the other Kingdoms after marrying his sister away to him. Viserys plan's backfire, resulting a very very painful death at the hands of Drago and Daenerys leaves his control, establishing herself as a rightful and powerful ruler who vows to take back the Iron Throne.
Now that is indeed alot of story detail to compress into such short paragraphs. It took me a while but I think I managed it (just about!). If I missed anything out, its through no fault of my own. Its as best as I could do. But it proves to you that Game of Thrones is no show lacking in story. If anything, it has too much. However, in the hands of HBO, this show was always going to succeed on a story-telling level. Described as 'The Sopranos in Middle-Earth', what the writers have been able to do is create a significant balance between action and story whilst allowing for major screentime for ALL of the cast. As a non-reader of the series before I watched the TV show, I was amazed by the amount of characters introduced in the opening episode and struggled to remember much of their backstory and how they were to alter the plot further down the line. I soon realised that each character has a significant effect on the plot and that no-one is seemingly the protagonist of the story. Everyone has equal screentime. Everyone affects the story in different ways. And that's what makes Game of Thrones so damn delicious! The conflicting storylines of these incredible characters just make for some damn good TV and I can see where the comparisons with The Sopranos came from. They are very much justified.
HBO have not shyed away from the source material either. They are not afraid to include major plot events early on in the season (this is a spoiler people so look away now if you haven't read/watched the series), for example; there has been much controversy surrounding the death of Sean Bean's character, Ned. Many believed he was the protagonist of the series since he was in all the promotional ads and so on. Frankly, his death scene was the most beautiful, heart-wrenching, unnerving and emotional death I've ever had the pleasure of seeing on-screen. The geography of the scene, Ned noticing his younger daughter watching whilst his elder daughter is screaming for Joffrey to take back his command to execute Ned. There was so much to that scene that I've never been more shocked by a TV show in my life. But come on guys! Can't you see the bigger picture here?! How can this NOT make for more juicy TV? Ned's death (which occured very early in the book series! I'm reading them now) only serves to prove the point that no-one is safe. By pulling a 'Psycho' on the audience (watch it to get what I mean), your alliance to the character is shattered and you have to see who you truly align with. Its brilliant storytelling and honestly, I like that HBO take risks. Nay. I absolutely love it. Killing Ned was the best thing to do, especially in the first season because the plot possibilities for Season 2 are vast. It can go, quite literally, anywhere.
You may be wondering what about all the other characters and plot details. Well, I have left them out simply because there is alot of them and you should discover the wonder of them yourselves. Without divulging to deep into the mythology of the show, I'm hoping people will raise their heads and give Game of Thrones a chance if they already haven't. HBO have commissioned a second sesason based on the first two episodes ratings so give it a shot. There's lots more story to be told and once you start, believe me, you will not turn back. Its immersive, deep and fundamentally its fun to watch. HBO have added yet another gem to their already sterling line-up of past anbd present shows and their reputation will continue to reach new heights if they produce TV as good as Game of Thrones.
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