I know I’m on the late train but in my defense I’m not a big TV watcher. Anyway, recently a friend gave me the first season of the HBO series Game of Thrones and after the first two episodes I have to admit I was hooked. Yes, it does have plenty of blood and boobs but what keeps it from becoming torture porn is the writing and acting.
Blood & Boobies
Now its almost a shame to reduce the show to these two elements (blood & boobs) but it’s hard to overlook given there abundance. Sure, some of the scenes are appropriate, and I suppose all of them serve to remind the viewer just what the world in Westeros is like for some of its inhabitants, but this seems more of a narrative convenience than an actual aspect worthy of the degree of exposition it’s given.
In addition to boobs, there is also a lot of blood. Although production limitations prevent epic battles from being shown (so far), many characters suffer grisly, violent, and undignified fates throughout the show.
Great Writing
So I don’t ruin it for myself I’m only going to talk a little about the series. Sorry! Anyway, back to the writing. The author GEORGE R.R. MARTIN states,
“I knew it almost from the beginning. Not the first day, but very soon. I’ve said in many interviews that I like my fiction to be unpredictable. I like there to be considerable suspense. I killed Ned in the first book and it shocked a lot of people.”
That’s what I like most about his writing its so unpredictable and the characters are so well developed. No happy endings here and fans love it. There are 3 seasons in all and a 4th season in the works.
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“Booooooobieeeeeees!!!!”
Hahaha!!! I have yet to watch it. I want too but I have my plethora of other shows from Netflix I need to complete before succumbing to GoT. 🙂
OB,
Glad you overcame your TV aversion. This is a really fun topic and one deserving of a review.
LB,
It may be difficult in spots, but I think anyone with a literary appetite will find a lot to like about the show. Believe it or not, I can say that and still still not plug the program.
CR! No the aversion is still there.
LB- U are funny! Have u read any of the books?
OB,
I’m glad you wrote about this topic yet I fear we don’t nearly have the time to do the topic justice. Regardless, though this isn’t really the topic of your article, how would you describe the significant differences between the period fantasy of say J.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin?
OB,
Focusing on the range of content and programming available on Cable television, how would you distinguish the motivations of say the nostalgia reflected in “Mad Men” as they relate to the nostalgia apparent in “Game of Thrones?”
Hmm! Great question CR. Well the obvious difference between Mad men and GOT are the principal characters. In MM they always seem to bounce back after hard times. Also they never die, which makes it fairly predictable. Not to say the writing is bad I think the characters are very compelling. Its just the stakes are much higher on GOT people are fighting for their lives. Where on MM people seem to be fighting for cigarettes and alcohol.
Yes, I read your title and this…
“Sure, some of the scenes are appropriate, and I suppose all of them serve to remind the viewer just what the world in Westeros is like for some of its inhabitants, but this seems more of a narrative convenience than an actual aspect worthy of the degree of exposition it’s given.”
But, you’ve been a frequent critic of masculine perspectives in entertainment in the past. A contemporary drama, “Entourage” made no pretention of being fantasy. Still being the product of contemporary writers, do you think “Game of Thrones” resembles, is aligned with, or is rebellious against say “Entourage?” And please explain why you feel this way?
I’m going to try and answer both of your questions posed. I’ve discussed before I think the reason people are interested in nostalgic stories today is because of the recession. I think it allows for escape from their own lives which can be difficult. Why I think “The Entourage” is so popular because of the celebrity obsession which pose its own set of questions that we’ve discussed before in our Starsucker series. However, what makes “Game of Thrones” so interesting is due to the complex characters, dialogue, and plot points. It’s a fantasy that really does not feel like it. I guess that’s due to the sex, blood and boobies. Now because I haven’t seen the other seasons I don’t know if they show women & men frontal nudity equally.
The violence is pretty horrific, not one person is safe from getting axed. No favoritism here. Like I said its what I like most about his writing the unpredictability.
Hi Everyone,
Welcome to our discussion tonight.
Hi OB.
Hi CR!
Everyone,
There’s been a lot of complaints about the nude and sex scenes in GOT. Yet, not many complaints about the violence. When I saw the first episode I was a bit turned off because I thought here we go again women being exploited etc….Then the principal female characters were being used as a integral part of the plot and story and not just sex toys. Meaning these women are strong, strategic and smart. Daenerys for example marries her husband and over night learns to speak his language. Sure in this day and age where feminism seemed to have reverted back to the dark ages. For any of these women to survive a day in GOT would have to be smart. Yet, today in the media women who are reduced down to their body parts who seem to also be missing a brain.
One more thing. Now granted I’ve not seen the other seasons but I can see why women got hooked on this series. I noticed in the first season all the principal female characters survive the powerful men they are either married or related to. G. R.R. Martin really don’t depict the women as weak and dumb at all but as complex smart and brave heroines. That’s what allowed me to look pass the violence, boobs and gore. I mean the contrast between the two really builds the suspense to show just how courageous these women are.