16/26
Appeared in Hollywood’s Top Ten: Critics’ Choice Awards: Drama (2011)
Story
Nine noble families fight for control of the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after George R.R. Martin’s wife, who has been dormant for millennia, once said she would abandon him if he killed either Arya or Sansa. Tywin Lannister: The man who must say “I am king” is not the true king. During the opening credits, each cast member’s name is accompanied by signs from their character’s home. Main Title (uncredited) Written by: Ramin Djawadi Starring: Ramin Djawadi.
Far from it
I started watching Game of Thrones gradually from the very first episode (gradually, because I was very busy), having heard nothing but great things about it from friends, family, and IMDb reviewers. Plus, with such a talented cast and a brilliant book series, how could anything go wrong? The good news is that Game of Thrones didn’t go wrong. Not only is it the rare TV series that does justice to its source material and treats it with respect, but it is also one of the best, most gripping and consistently compelling series in recent memory. A TV series so brilliant that you have to check if it was made for TV, when everything is done to such a high standard that it puts many modern films to shame.
Visually, Game of Thrones looks incredible
It is one of the finest examples of a critically acclaimed series that deserves every bit of praise it gets. The scenery is spectacular throughout, the sets are incredibly atmospheric and pleasing to the eye, with a really great attention to detail, and the costumes fit the characters perfectly. Then there are the special effects, which are some of the best on TV and they are not overused or overdone. The scale, detail, and the way they have character and soul are better than many big-budget blockbusters. And the cinematography and editing are also cinematic.
Again, worthy of a big-budget fantasy/action/drama film
You can’t talk about Game of Thrones without mentioning its multi-layered thematic, orchestral and atmospheric score and unforgettable main theme. It’s hard not to be impressed by the quality of the writing, excellent is not a strong enough adjective to describe how good this writing is. It always flows naturally, is multi-layered and thought-provoking, and displays a wide range of emotions, such as gripping tension, moving pathos and witty humor. The narrative lines are very well-paced, constructed with great nuance and attention to coherence, high emotional levels and handling of complex and delicate topics with intelligence and tact. Whenever there is a scenic or more action-oriented scene, there is always a reason for it, never for its sake.
The characters are also a huge part of the charm
Not only are the sets done on a grand scale, with excellent staging, excitement and dramatic tension, but there is a lot of heart and layering underneath all the scale and brilliant attention to detail. They are not overly long, and there are no out-of-place elements. Game of Thrones has characters that are as well-developed and as close to real life as possible, despite being in a fantasy world. These characters are not archetypal heroes and villains (only Joffrey comes close, the difference being that he is an incredibly interesting character with a lot of development who ranks well above 100 percent on the threat level scale), they are so much more and have strengths and weaknesses. The decisions are logical and you don’t appreciate the character any less when the decision is wrong because you can recognize and learn from your mistakes.
