HBO’s Game of Thrones premiers it’s fifth season tonight, a night that the show’s numerous fans have been eagerly anticipating since the fourth season concluded last spring.
Now you may be saying, “This is a movie blog, why would you talk about Game of Thrones?” Well, not only is Game of Thrones one of my personal favorite shows, but I’d argue that it’s on the level of, if not better than, any fantasy film in numerous ways.
Let me explain.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Kit Harington in Game of Thrones
Based on the bestselling series of fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin, HBO’s Game of Thrones has blossomed into a wildly successful, and incredibly made, TV show that has enthralled fans worldwide.
With massive budget that would make many fantasy filmmakers jealous, Game of Thrones certainly cuts no corners. The series’ first season, for instance, was granted an enormous $60 million budget. Most filmmakers are thrilled to work with that kind of budget, while Game of Thrones works with such a budget on a yearly basis.
Featuring a cast of mostly unheralded actors and actresses, at least prior to the show’s inception, Game of Thrones‘ excellent cast delivers like no other. Although the show requires such a vast cast, every contributor is truly excellent.
The special effects and production are certainly top quality, which to be expected given the show’s budget, but absolutely impressive nonetheless.
Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones
The show is superior in virtually every way. But that doesn’t even begin to explain what makes this show so beloved.
First, there’s the show’s absolutely brilliant plot. Never have I seen a show, or even a movie, that interweaves so many subplots so seamlessly. The show features numerous subplots, yet they all intertwine so perfectly. Never are we left wondering what is happening in a particular subplot for numerous episodes, as is so common in other shows. It’s truly incredible just how well Game of Thrones‘ plot is manufactured.
Then there are the characters. One could attribute this point to good acting, and the quality of the acting certainly plays no small role, but Game of Thrones makes the heroes so easy to love, and the villains so easy to hate. Without giving any past plot points away, the show’s fourth season may have featured one of television’s most satisfying villain deaths in recent years.
We truly become attached to these characters, but perhaps that’s what makes my next point so difficult. George R.R. Martin has absolutely no reserves in killing off any of his characters. That seems blunt, but it’s true. As any of us who remember the show’s infamous Red Wedding know, (and how could anyone forget that?), no one is safe.
This show is not for everyone, as some find the large amounts of graphic violence and sex most off-putting.
Nonetheless, we fans of the show know that no other show is as compelling, complex, masterfully written, brilliantly portrayed, and simply enjoyable as Game of Thrones.
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