32/30
Nine noble families fight for control of the land of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after millennia. Martin’s wife once said she would leave him if he killed Arya or Sansa. Tywin Lannister: Anyone who has to say “I am the king” is not a true king. During the opening credits, each cast member’s name is accompanied by the insignia of his/her character’s house. Featured in Hollywood’s Top Ten: Critics’ Choice Nominees: Drama (2011). Main Title (uncredited) written and performed by Ramin Djawadi.
Was in overtime because I’ve been slowly watching “Game of Thrones.” From the first episode (slowly because I’m so busy), I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about it from friends, family, and IMDb reviewers. And with such a great cast of talent and a brilliant book series, how could it possibly go wrong? The good news is that “Game of Thrones” did not go wrong. Not only is it a rare TV show that does justice to its original source material and treats it with respect, but it is also one of the best, most addictive and consistently engaging shows of recent years in its own right. A TV show so brilliant that you actually have to check if it was made for TV when everything is done to such a high standard that it puts many films being made today to shame. This is one of the strongest examples of an acclaimed series that deserves every ounce of praise it receives.
The scenery is spectacular throughout, the sets are extremely atmospheric and beautiful to look at, with great attention to detail and the costumes fit the characters perfectly. Then there are the special effects, which are some of the best on any TV program and are not overused or abused. The scope, detail and the way they actually have character and soul is better than many big budget blockbusters. The cinematography and editing are also cinematic. You can’t talk about Game of Thrones. Not to mention the thematically, orchestrally and atmospherically complex musical cast and the unforgettable main theme.
Again, it is worthy of a big-budget fantasy/action/drama film. It’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the quality of the script because “outstanding” is not an adjective strong enough to describe how good the script is. It always has a natural flow, is multi-layered and thought-provoking, and displays a wide range of emotions such as thrilling suspense, poignant pathos and witty humor. The storylines are so beautifully paced, so nuanced and designed for coherence, have a high emotional level, and touch on complex and sensitive issues with intelligence and tact. Whenever there is a set piece or a more action-oriented scene. Not only are the set pieces crafted with great epic scale, superb staging, suspense and dramatic tension, but behind all the scale and striking attention to detail there is a lot of heart and layering.
They are not too long, nor are there any out-of-place elements. Game of Thrones has characters that are as well developed and as close to real life as you can get despite being in a fantasy world. These characters are not hero and villain archetypes (Joffrey is the only one who comes close, but the difference is that he is an extremely interesting character with a lot of development who ranks well over one hundred percent on the threat level scale), they are much more their own and have strengths and weaknesses. Decisions are logical and you don’t like a character less when a decision is not the right one because mistakes are admitted and you learn from them.
