Friday, July 14, 2017

Game of Thrones - What is the Big Deal?




If you have not at least heard the name "Jon Snow" in the past 6 years, well, you must have been living in a cave!  Everyone seems to at least heard of the television series Game of Thrones.  Some have even read the books while others are discovering it for the first time.  It has just started its 7th season on HBO.  Take a look at the trailer for season 7 below!



I am a Game of Thrones addict and I can't get enough.  This epic fantasy drama is unlike anything I have ever experienced and has been a huge love/hobby of my life for years now.  It has helped me through the tough times in my life where I was down for surgery or being sick.  Even being depressed.  The world  brought to life is based on a series of books by George R. R. Martin who released the first in 1996.  The books aren't even done yet!  Fans are have been anxiously awaiting the release of the next book, Winds of Winter. The show has now surpassed the books but that still doesn't ruin it for book readers.  There is so much more going on in the books than the show could ever even try to fit in.  As a matter of fact, George R. R. Martin wrote the books in a way so it could NOT be adapted for the screen.  Due to HBO's large budget they were able to do so but it is still so vastly different than the books.  


 The world this show takes place in (Westeros and Essos) is so diverse with so much history, different cultures, some magical elements mixed with unique and well weaved together story lines - it is beyond intriguing.  The characters and story lines are like a symphony creating a beautiful song - "a song of ice and fire" - which is the name of the series of books in which the show is based on.  A Game of Thrones is the title of the first book in the series.


Most of the show centers around the seven kindgdoms of Westeros.  Each of the seven regions have a Leige Lord or a main family/house in charge.  For example, in The North House Stark controls or governs the region.  Their family sigil is a Direwolf and their words are "Winter is Coming."  This story focuses on Lord Eddard Stark's family.  The North is the largest of the seven kingdoms and their cultures, traditions, and attitudes are far different than those of "southern" houses.  Each house has a sigil and house words.


There is a lot to know and every word, every scene, every prop, have meaning.  Details are important.  Yes, there are a lot of names but you'll get it! We all have characters we love and hate and find those we strangely relate to or end up liking when at first, you hated their guts (For me - Jamie Lannister).


The characters aren't all just good or just bad.  They are human.  They all make mistakes and face difficult decisions.  It is gory but realistic.  Yes it has sex and blood and all kinds of craziness so if that is not your thing, don't watch it.  This realistic show is meant to take place in a mid evil-esque time period but with dragons and white walkers (ice monster things we still do not know exactly what they are or what they want) and dire wolves and on and on it goes.  If you want a happy ending and unicorns and rainbows do not watch this show.  If you enjoy history, complex and meaningful story lines, courage, honor, betrayal, brutality, sex, and scary white walkers, and a girl with dragons...WATCH IT!





Don't skip around episodes.  You must watch them all and then watch them again to seriously get all the politics, names, schemes, tricks, and so forth.  But you can enjoy it however you like of course!  I just enjoy knowing all about this crazy ass world, its legends, history, cultures, and houses.  In other words, I am a nerd.



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