Based on the gargantuan series of fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin (which I will have to start reading immediately), Game of Thrones is a massive enterprise to set on screen. The story is set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, a sprawling world with several regions that contain differing landscapes, traditions, gods, customs, and people who are at war over a variety of political ambitions. The sheer number of characters is overwhelming and the show has to keep going back and forth between various story lines without confusing the audience. In fact, the first few episodes nearly lost me because I despaired of ever keeping these characters straight. But the key to the show is to just watch it and not worry about the details. The plots are brewing with suspense, romance, and political intrigue and you get swept away with the story. Eventually, without even realizing it, you've internalized the geography of this vast land and discover you can name all the members of the House Stark or House Lannister without breaking a sweat.
David Benioff and D. B. Weiss are the showrunners responsible for adapting these mammoth novels for TV and they have done a simply tremendous job of portraying a complete fantasy world that somehow still feels realistic and believable. Yes there are people with strange names in odd costumes using old-fashioned contraptions with some magic brewing in the background. But the show always focuses on the humanity of its characters and makes them relatable even as they fight with swords and talk about dragons. And of course, the sheer scope and excellence of the show would be impossible without a sizable budget from HBO, who are continuing to stand by their slogan, "It's not TV. It's HBO." Every episode feels like a movie, with impeccable production design, beautiful cinematography, and crackling scripts that can veer from humor and romance to danger and gruesomeness in a matter of seconds.
Adapting fantasy novels for the screen is always a tricky business, but HBO doesn't do anything by half measures and Game of Thrones is a flawless bit of fantasy television. The special effects are always top notch, but more importantly, the actors and writers have combined forces to portray characters that are utterly fascinating and give you a reason to tune in every week. The show has some of the strongest female characters on TV, which is all the more remarkable since Westeros is an old-fashioned world where women are mostly bandied about for political gain. Like all great fantasy works, it's the people you least suspect who turn out to be the true heroes. Of particular note are Tyrion Lannister, the dwarf-prince of House Lannister (played by Peter Dinklage who deservedly won an Emmy and Golden Globe for his work), Daenerys Targaryen (played by the wonderful Emilia Clarke) who started out as a political pawn but has become a force to be reckoned with, and nine-year old Arya Stark (played by the fantastic Maisie Williams), a tomboy with an indomitable spirit who seems poised to introduce all manner of complications in the war for the Iron Throne.
The show's second season kept leaping from strength to strength and the season finale was an emotional rollercoaster that entrenched my love for this new fantasy world. I'll have to wait until March for the next season, but till then, there are a stack of novels, thousands of pages long, that demand my attention.
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