14/23
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 has to say “I am the king” is not a real king. During the opening credits, each cast member’s name is accompanied by their character’s house insignia. Featured in Hollywood Top Ten: Critics’ Choice Award Nominees: Drama (2011).
Quite the opposite
Main Title (uncredited) Written and performed by Ramin Djawadi. I was late to a gradual binge watching “Game of Thrones” from the first episode (gradually because I was so busy), having heard nothing but amazing things from friends, family, and IMDb reviews. Plus, with such a talented cast and such a brilliant book series, how could it go wrong? The good news is that “Game of Thrones” didn’t go badly. Not only is it one of the few TV series that does justice to its source material and treats it with respect, but it is also, single-handedly, one of the best, most addictive and most compelling series of recent years.
Visually, “Game of Thrones” is incredible
A TV series so brilliant that you have to check that it was made for TV when everything is done to such a high standard that it puts many movies being made today to shame. It is one of the best examples of an acclaimed series that deserves all the praise it has garnered. The sets are spectacular, very atmospheric and beautiful to look at, with a very meticulous eye for detail and the costumes are perfectly suited to the characters. Then there are the special effects, which are some of the best in all of TV and are neither overused nor overused; the scale, detail and the way they actually have character and soul are better than those in many big-budget blockbusters. As is the cinematography and editing, which are also of cinematic quality.
Again, worthy of a big-budget fantasy/action/drama film
We can’t talk about “Game of Thrones” without mentioning its multi-layered, atmospheric, orchestral, thematic score and unforgettable main theme. It’s hard not to be impressed by the quality of the writing; “outstanding” is not a strong enough adjective to describe how good the writing is. There is always a natural flow, it is multi-layered, thought-provoking, and demonstrates a wide range of emotions such as suspenseful tension, poignant pathos, and witty humor. The plots are beautifully paced, structured with so much nuance and attention to coherence, high on emotional level, and tackle complex and sensitive topics with intelligence and tact. Whenever there is an action scene or action sequence, there is always a reason, never just because.
The characters are also a big part of the appeal
Not only are the action sequences delivered with epic scale, excellent direction, emotion and dramatic tension, but beneath all that scale and eye-catching attention to detail, there is a lot of heart and storytelling on multiple levels. They are not overly drawn out and contain no out-of-place elements. “Game of Thrones” has characters that are very well developed and as close to real life as possible despite being in a fantasy world. These characters are not archetypal heroes and villains (Joffrey is the only one who comes close – the difference is that he is extremely interesting, has evolved a lot and ranks well above 100% on the threat level scale), they have so much more to offer and they have strengths and flaws. Decisions are logical and we don’t love a character any less when a decision is not the right one, because mistakes are acknowledged and learned from.