Fan Friday – Game of Thrones 

Game of Thrones is the greatest show to ever grace the TV screen.   I should end my fan write up here but just because I like you guys, I will go further.   You cannot find a show with so many multi dimensional characters.   The show is based on a series of books written by George R R Martin who I have concluded sold his soul to the devil.   The books were written in a POV format, the author picks different characters and tells the story of a made up world called Westeros, from each of the character’s perspective.

While there are some specifically evil characters, most notable of which is Joffrey Baratheon.   Most of the characters are so real and so (brace yourself for the word again) multi dimensional that depending on the situation or the opponent at that particular time, you can find yourself rooting for characters you hate or rooting against characters you love.   You hate the Lannisters but a part of you rooted for them when Stannis attempted to raid Kingslanding in Black Water.  You were sad when Jamie’s sword hand was cut off.   You hate Theon Greyjoy but you got goose bumps when Yara Greyjoy started a voyage to rescue him.  And as evil as the Queen has been, you really can’t help but feel some kind of sympathy for her in general.

Nothing gets me more than well built up characters but the greatest thing Game of Thrones offers is that no character is safe.   We all know Dexter won’t die (until they say it’s the series finale)…we all know Hank Moody wont end up in jail or ODing (same clause as above)..so no matter how close they come to those situations in episode 4 of season 3…we all know they will get out of it….nope not GOT…the 2 main male characters in season 1 are dead…both died in season 1…Khal Drogo was built up as the greatest fighter of that era, we all had dreams of him and his men crossing the seas into Westeros…he died in the least heroic way…given a mercy death by suffocation because he became a vegetable.  Ned stark was beheaded as a traitor.   Renley, Robb and Kat stark are a few more major characters that met unexpected deaths.   This literally keeps you on the edge of your seat…it adds an excitement that very few other shows (if any) can ever provide.

The biggest criticism a lot of people have with GOT is the lack of action.  Its insane how a lot of people compare it to Spartacus (another one of my favorite shows) because they share the same kind of setting and aired around the same time. Spartacus is a story about Gladiators fighting for freedom…its an action series…Game of Thrones is a drama…the show is about conversations and plotting…Game of Thrones is by far the most amazing show to watch in terms of dialogues….the conversational battles between Varis and Little Finger, Tyrion and Tywin, Tyrion and Cersai, and one of the most classic dialogues of all time the “power is power” conversation between Cersai and Little Finger.    A lot of people miss the impact of these dialogues because they are waiting for the action, waiting for the sword fights and war battles.  That’s not what this show is…we have Spartacus for that.

Finally, the actors: I mean really I can’t imagine another show where I am not able to pick who my best actor is. A friend asked me this “if a character’s actor absolutely had to be changed, which do you think will have the biggest impact? Joffrey, Tywin, Tyrion or Daenerys”…. I honestly couldn’t pick one without still feeling off…the more hate I have for Joffrey the more I appreciate the kid playing the character, all his mannerisms, his excitement, his anger…everything about him screams evil.  No character on the show (and in the book) commanded fear and respect like Tywin and I don’t see too many actors pulling that off.   And Tyrion and Daenerys are just Tyrion and Daenerys.   And these are just to name a few of the exceptional actors that the show boasts of.

That said, I cannot wait till the next season of GOT.  As someone who is currently reading the books and thus ahead of the story I know what is to come and my excitement comes from the way the show delivers it and brings Martin’s words to life.  So far they have not disappointed (the Red Wedding and the Battle on Blackwater were cinematic masterpieces).  Too bad we have to wait 11 months…doesn’t matter though, when the best show ever to grace my tv screen returns, I will be there front and center.

Submitted by Michael from Chicago, IL