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It’s a good thing we’re all getting a college degree,_x000D_
because we will need it to understand the new HBO series Game of Thrones.
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Game of Thrones’s_x000D_
ten-episode season concluded in June, but its fans continue to rave about the_x000D_
series. The HBO series is based on the book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, and the series was a_x000D_
long-awaited adaptation of the popular fantasy novels.
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Game of Thrones is set in a medieval, fantasy world that feels like The_x000D_
Lord of the Rings meets The Tudors meets_x000D_
zombies. The series follows the drama around the wealthy houses of the world of_x000D_
Westeros. King Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy), who has recently won the_x000D_
throne from the abusive Targaryens, asks Lord Eddard Stark (Sean Bean) of the_x000D_
Stark house of the North to serve as the King’s hand, a position of advisory_x000D_
and prestige. Much of the series focuses on Lord Eddard’s quest for honor in a_x000D_
corrupt government and his rivalry with the Queen’s rich and malicious family,_x000D_
the Lannisters. The many Stark children try to find their paths in the world,_x000D_
from warriors to future queens. Meanwhile, the exiled Targaryen clan tries to_x000D_
unite with a warrior clan in order to win back the throne.
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Oh, and did I mention there are zombies?
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Yes, that’s right, zombies. While not touched upon too much_x000D_
in this first season, this complicated medieval world will soon be overtaken by_x000D_
zombies who live across a giant wall up North.
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The plot is confusing, and the many stories are difficult to_x000D_
follow at first. The world of the series has its own rules, conventions, lands,_x000D_
social classes, and expressions. But a little effort in the first few episodes_x000D_
pays off a lot in the end. The series is rich with interesting imagery, themes, and motifs. If you make it through the beginning episodes, it’s really quite a_x000D_
treat.
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The series thrives in its portrayal of sex and_x000D_
violence. To be frank, some really strange things happen. There’s a memorable_x000D_
scene where Petyr Baelish (Aidan Gillen), a prostitution house owner, tells the_x000D_
story of his true love as he teaches two female prostitutes how to fake an_x000D_
orgasm. Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) provides abundant wit and humor_x000D_
through his many scenes of drinking and partying with a variety of women._x000D_
What’s interesting about the series is that the many sex scenes all have_x000D_
intellectual dialogue and monologues that give meaning to the actions on the_x000D_
screen. The series is not afraid to do the unexpected, and to make you ponder why it is doing that.
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The violence, while often gruesome, is realistic and_x000D_
meaningful to the story. We’re so used to seeing someone get shot by a gun that seeing someone being beheaded or burned by fiery metal poured over their_x000D_
heads is quite shocking. The violence helps create the world of Westeros and fuels the fearsome battle for power and control. It definitely does not hold back the_x000D_
blood and guts, but it contributes a lot to the brutal medieval world of_x000D_
backstabbing and ambition.
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All of this complexity and depth takes place over a_x000D_
beautiful background. The sets are elaborate, vast, and intricate. The show has_x000D_
created iconic landscapes from the Great Wall to the North that keeps the_x000D_
zombies out to the campsites of the battlefields where various houses go to_x000D_
war. The costumes are gorgeous, and give you a sense of the various classes and_x000D_
cultures of the society. Thanks to the resources of HBO, the production quality_x000D_
is incredibly high.
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Give it a chance and power through the first few episodes_x000D_
where the names and rivalries feel like a language you’ve never studied. Once_x000D_
you get past the confusion, the depth of the series keeps you wanting more.
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