Game of Thrones

Winter is Coming
4 seasons in 4 days - when you catch-up with Game of Thrones in the matter of 4 days, you know you've won the game of thrones. You know you've got that crown on your head and you know you're sitting on the iron throne. And most importantly, you know when a TV show has gripped you. This means that you are not the only winner. The show has won too, on a larger scale; the show has claimed a more powerful kingdom. Well done to Game of Thrones, it has intrigued their audience which is the initial aim for all TV shows out there. Game of Thrones has done that. I have surrendered to the ideas, themes and connections it provides. I kneel before it as if it were the first of his name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.

Each episode being an hour long, with 10 episodes to 4 seasons, this must mean there is a lot to discuss here. The show opens with the sworn brothers of the night's watch departing from the wall to investigate reports of wildlings in the Haunted Forest but, they come across the supposedly extinct white walkers. One man abandons his post where he swore an oath that he'd never desert his brothers or the watch. For this, he was sentenced to death by Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark, Lord of Winterfell. We get introduced so many characters. Lady Catiline is his wife and mother of Lord Robb Stark, Lord Brandon Stark, Lord Rickon Stark, Lady Arya Stark and Lady Sansa Stark. The Lord of Winterfell also has a bastard son named Jon Snow and a ward whom he treats like a son named Theon Greyjoy.

Back in King's Landing, Jon Arryn, the hand of the king, dies thus King Robert Baratheon goes to the North, to Winterfell, to find a new hand of the king. He chooses Ned Stark, an old friend he has not seen for 9 years and the only man left that he trusts with his life. Ned has to decide whether or not to accept the King's offer.

Meanwhile, the Targaryens prepare for the meeting of a bride and groom. Daenerys Targaryen is obligated to marry Khal Drogo, a warlord of the Dothraki nomads, in order for her brother, Viserys Targaryen to build an army of Dothraki members so that he could bring back his name to the iron throne in King's Landing, capitol of Westeros.

The Queen is also in Winterfell, having journeyed with her husband (the King), twin brother Jamie and her youngest brother, Tyrion (the dwarf). These are known as the Lannisters. Tyrion seems disinterested in the Starks and prefers the company of his whores, yet brother Jamie interrupts him, urging for Tryion to get ready for the dinner party the Starks have arranged for them. Two of the Lannisters involve themselves in something they should not be doing at all and this leads to a very shocking ending.

As the winter approaches in the North, the coldness is not just a physical feeling for the characters. We can expect dark acts and cruel ordeals to happen at some point. What gripped me to this first episode was the medieval setting. This was the era where trial by combat, swords and beheading and the 'hue and cry' existed. It's a time where you have heads on spikes in the capitol, to provoke fear on the civilians to ensure they commit no crime at all. Punishment was made public, executions were carried out, and treason was to be the most terrible crime to commit, above murder and rape. This was the era that I enjoyed learning about.

Game of Thrones give the audience an opportunity to love and hate characters. It leaves you edge-of-the-seat thrills and makes you undertake a session of hypnosis. For long revision, I need breaks 99.9% of the time. For long movies, I need a ten minute break at least. But with Game of Thrones, I am so compelled that no breaks are needed. I'll welcome the cramp in my leg and the pins and needles at my feet, so long as I'm watching Game of Thrones.

IMDB: 9.5