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.

Thank The Old Gods and The New For Game Of Thrones

If you do not watch HBO's series, Game of Thrones, you should.  It just started its 6th season and I simply cannot get enough.  Every episode is an unexpected delight.  Sure, it has gruesome death scenes and nudity which some find too risqué...but most is fitting for the story lines of the show.

Anyway, I did not think I would like it but I was quickly drawn in.  I enjoy that it is not predictable.  Ok yes, it is based on a series of books but does not follow along exactly.  And now that it has reached its 6th season, they are now caught up and past the books so it is all new ground.  Think Lord of the Rings...but 100 x's better, and I like Lord of the Rings.  Better yet, a soap opera on steroids is a more accurate description!  

Sometimes when my life hits a wall and I feel depressed and just over it all, a good TV show can help.  It helps to take my mind off of the stupid things which I allow to bother me.  Everyone has their own ways to deal with life and right now my go to is GoT (Game of Thrones).   Every Sunday night for the next several weeks I have a new episode to look forward to. I have enjoyed searching the web for clues of characters' story line like other nerds.  The show is so unpredictable and many characters have died that I never would have considered in danger and straight up just can't believe died!  No one is safe and a favorite character may die in the next episode, who knows!  The plots for every character are very interesting and the show leaves me on the edge of my seat each week.  It keeps me intrigued and interested unlike many shows or movies nowadays.  As a matter of fact, this is really the only time I watch any TV nowadays.

It has everything you could ever want in a show - drama, scheming and hated characters, dragons, action, love, dire wolves, dirty politics, magic, strange relationships, dragons, characters you root for, far off lands, elaborate sets and costumes, and a lot of questions leave me wanting more and more.  In case I forgot to mention, there are dragons.  Every episode is packed full of the exciting and made up world of Westros where everyone is fighting over sitting on the Iron Throne - or basically ruling over the whole 7 Kingdoms of Westros.  This season takes us to a new part of their world and introduces new people along the way - which each season does anyways.  This show has a massive and talented cast of characters.

At first it may seem a little overwhelming but trust me, it is amazing and worth investing your precious time.  I have even incorporated their saying "Winter is Coming" to my own little business I am starting called The Hobbit House.  To promote my spring opening, "Spring is Coming" and I made a video set to the theme song.  What does "Winter is Coming" mean?  I don't think anyone can really tell you yet but it is cool either way.  Below is my video if you want to check it out.

There are a lot of shows which are really good series but this is the first one I have not grown bored with and the whole cast are people who are not well known (in this country anyway) which I like as well.

The new season couldn't have started at a better time (I have only looked forward to this moment for a year - but so worth the wait).  I have been feeling down lately but GoT has been my unlikely champion helping me forget my woes.  So thank you old weird guy for writing the books, and thank you HBO for creating this amazing show!  And as they say in Westros, "Thank the old gods and the new."  

Anyone else a Game of Thrones addict?  I am and I don't care who knows it!  Plus, I now have something to look forward to each week and you can't beat that.