Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is filmed based on a cult book saga, which is currently considered a fundamental work of the historizing fantasy subgenre. Fans often fall into the trap of mechanical comparison between the two media, criticizing the missing motifs, characters, and plots, or the deviation of film characters from their novel counterparts. This kind of conflict passes me by. I am unfamiliar with the book series, nor do I intend to read it, so I am spared the trauma of comparing both versions. Game of Thrones represents a complex alternative functional world, modeled after the peak of medieval Europe with elaborate mythology. The series has no competition and probably won't have for a long time. Think about Vláčil's Marketa Lazarová with dozens of characters, which financially exhausted the entire studio and clearly showed the limits of regional cinema. The imitation of the Middle Ages is simply a precarious and expensive affair, which only a handful of producers can afford on this scale. Tolkien fans will probably be upset, but compared to Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings feels like a fairytale for older children with flat black-and-white characters. Game of Thrones reeks of blood, burnt human bodies, sweat, and urine. It offers a much wider range of emotions and is much dirtier. Its weakness lies in its excessive ambition and sprawl. Some storylines will simply seem less interesting to you and you won't be able to identify with certain characters. If the plot simultaneously follows several characters in different environments, you may have to wait a while for the one you feel closest to. In any case, it is interesting to watch the tangle of intrigues and power struggles, where the author often found inspiration in the real rivalries of powerful feudal families in medieval England and France. You won't find many supernatural motifs here, the movers of the plot are not magicians, but people with their down-to-earth desire for power, glory, and wealth. Personally, I could easily do without the dragons and ghouls, as well as other favorite genre props. Overall impression: 90%. (03/10/2013)

It can’t quite compete with Lord of the Rings in terms of grandeur, but otherwise the Game is a good watch. Fine actors (powerhouse Sean Bean and taciturn Jason Momoa are the best in my mind), quality production design (HBO style) and the story is starting out promisingly, but a little slowly. Let’s see what it holds in store... A dragon hatching. A serial that is the real fantasy that all us fans were dreaming of. Intrigues, battles, dead bodies. It mainly relies on superbly written characters who luckily are also excellently cast. My favorites Bean and Momoa were awesome for the whole season, but not just them. Dwarfish Peter Dinklage grew on me, the way he steals every scene with supreme confidence. I also really liked Daenerys, and Emilia Clarke, who plays her, gives an impressive performance (ehem) and has absolutely no problem swapping roles (ehem, ehem). The final scene was totally chilling in her delivery. I look forward to what comes next. Season two: In terms of quality, this is going up and up. Too bad that some of the now main actors are rather dull (Stark’s son - the one with the army, Stark’s non-son, a fisherman or something) and their sub-stories slow down the action. Peter Dinklage easily dominates this season too, and grampa Lanister with Stark’s young daughter (I must try to remember their names) and Jaqen (the assassin) really spiced up this season. And then my sunshine in the night, Daenerys and her dragons. I found those three little guys (I call them Huey, Dewey and Louie) really entertaining, mainly at the end. So bring on another season... Season three: Better and better. One small problem is that some of my favorite characters are just running on the spot (Daenerys and the army of corpses in the second half look like they’re stuck in first gear with the handbrake on) and the storylines are very hard to follow, especially when you have to wait a week for each new episode. The wedding scene maybe is one of the high points, but honestly I considered something like that was unavoidable (nothing interesting could happen with that character anymore) and I think it was essential for the growth of the series for Martin to make his move. Also I relished in the torturing of Grey and I was really pleased about Daenerys buying the Unsullied and the red dragon’s tricks. I look forward to them growing up, those little tinkers. :) Season four: It starts with perhaps the most pleasant death of the entire series so far. The story moves on some. And despite countless surprising twists, it head for the most powerful finale yet. The dwarf’s fate is a central theme of the season and Peter Dinklage literally shines. The brotherly scenes are some of the best of the series. Jon Snow finally begins to show his real colors and Bran’s storyline begins to gain momentum. Arya sailing away made for a nice ending to the season, but damn, a year is too long. (18/04/2011)

No offense, this game of being a rough and different fantasy is mostly about the fact that among all the possible clichés, both directing and story, there is a lot of sex from behind, talking dirty and every now and then someone takes a piss. Otherwise, in the first two episodes, there is a lot of talk, but it does not in any way create interest in the mythology of the fictional world in a person unfamiliar with the book (which is quite a problem when it comes to fantasy). The characters are fine, some of them are absolutely great (especially the decadent dwarf Tyrion), but I kind of found out over time that I don't really care much about what happens to them next. What I miss are the explicitly ballbusting and charming scenes, something that would set this series apart beyond excretion and intercourse. I'm not in the mood to watch the next episode, which is quite a problem for an HBO series. (18/04/2011)

A few years ago, I was really looking forward to this epic fantasy series. Until the end of Season 4, I more or less enjoyed it, but then came a turning point. The writers started increasingly ignoring logic, and my favorite series was gradually turning into a farce, which often made me shake my head in disbelief. I hope I live to see the day when George R. R. Martin writes the ending so that I can read it, but I’m not counting on it... (15/08/2019)

The first season was a struggle. There’s so much empty dialogue, scheming that goes nowhere and raw fucking that it makes you tired. But as the episodes and seasons progress, you begin to marvel at the thoughtful interconnectedness of the individual fates, how everything fits together with surgical precision, how G.R.R. Martin, or rather the showrunners, are not afraid to shock and allow themselves the least predictable (and yet logical) twists that make your jaw drop, your back shiver, and all you can do is utter an involuntary "Bugger me!". The manner in which the fates of Arya, Sansa, Tyrion (and I could go on) unfold in the least predictable ways brings joy to the hearts of viewers who enjoy rich stories. A real viewer's delight that builds to a fantastic fourth season, and I really have no idea what they're going to top it with in the upcoming one. And the fact that the series has an unprecedented, by TV standards, large-scale set design, sets and atmosphere, where every thoughtfully invested dollar of the generous budget is evident, only confirms the quality of this exceptional achievement. (11/07/2014)