Not having cable, much less HBO, I'm at a huge disadvantage when it comes to tv shows. Usually I discover a show about 3 years after it ends (Veronica Mars, The Wire), or a year before it ends (BSG), and then run around obssessed with it while friends and colleagues smile indulgently.
So the hype about the HBO Game of Thrones, based on George R. R. Martin's fabulous Age of Ice and Fire saga, was both fabulous and awful. Fabulous, because the books are amazing, and the trailer felt right. Awful, because fantasy epics are so rarely done well on screen--for every LOTR there are 10 painful, sophomoric special effects sequences masquerading as stories.
I adore the books, but given precious little free reading time (not for work) and the scope/complexity of the saga, I'm pretty much waiting until the series is ended (and I have a loong vacation). So I was coming in to the first episode with knowledge of the characters and their story arcs to come, but without having read the books in several years.
The cinematography is gorgeous, and I loved the opening sequences (of course, I also adore maps). This first episode, like the Lord of the Rings movies, hits exactly what epic fantasy should feel like--grand, sweeping, and epic. It's bigger than you can contain, stark terror and brutality besides honor and moments of beauty. We're barely into the series, but it gets the feel right--I want to make everyone who thinks fantasy is all pink and purple glitter unicorn sparkles watch this.
More surface thoughts, while I was watching:
I hadn't really equated the White Walkers with the undead, but it actually works. They're doing a great job of signaling the danger to come. You can feel the doom that will approach--both for the Starks, and for the country.
Arya--exactly how she should be.
Direwolf puppies! Ooh! (Okay, am back from being 12 years old).
I'm glad all the Stark children are a bit older. And am reminding myself the women characters get more nuanced later on. Catelyn is good here, Cersei less so.
Great meeting between the King and Ned Stark. Good actors are always fun to watch.
They're doing a fairly good job of highlighting the key characters while not being too confusing thus far. Will see how that goes.
Tyrion Lannister is an amazing character, and based on the scene here with Jon Snow, he's going to be our next Omar--a great character played by an actor you love to watch. Peter Dinklage is wonderful.
Oh, Malta. You are beautiful, and I want to go back.
Actor playing Viserys does a great job--he's such an arrogant poisonous princeling. Cannot wait until he gets his crown.
Daenerys is absolutely gorgeous in the silver dress. The actress is going to have a meaty part to play, but I wonder if this was hard to film.
Jason Momoa, you are also beautiful, but wearing way too much eyeliner.
Dragon eggs! Foreshadowing!
The wedding is less objectionable in the books--the scene here makes you cringe, though I liked that some of the women actors showed sympathy for Daenerys as they surrounded her. Definitely appreciated the cut-away here, though it's odd they changed the scene so much from the book. Nicola Griffith made a good point in re doggy-style and the treatment of women. Am assuming they had the Jaime/Cersei scene be the same to balance some of the 'savage' scenes (which could be an entire post/discussion on its own. *sigh*)--see, the white people also prefer doggy-style--but it does seem a bit odd.
Oh Bran. Perfect way to end--showing the darkness that awaits. And like in the Wire, no one is safe in this series. Can't wait to see what happens next.
----
What did everyone else think? Obviously, it's already a hit, as HBO has renewed, but share your thoughts!
-- Diana
Having not read the series, I have the luxury to judge it without knowing what's coming next, which I prefer. Thanks for actually reviewing the acting, directing, cinemato, etc. As opposed th the NYT dribble. I'm immersed and ready for the dark deep.
Posted by: Mateo | April 22, 2011 at 10:25 AM
I am totally hooked, and wishing there was a way to get hbo without also getting cable. And yes, wondering if the reviewer even saw the show. (She probably thinks only guys liked The Wire.)
Posted by: Diana | April 22, 2011 at 11:39 AM
How could you have missed the White Walkers being undead in the Books? Their victims rise from the dead as white Walkers!
Posted by: Drunkenscholar | April 22, 2011 at 10:10 PM