What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

Normally, I don’t post on a Saturday, but this is too good to miss. No recap; just opinion.

Game of Thrones

Baby dragons are now flying off the shelves at the HBO store. Even though the new season start date is July 16^th, HBO is airing a Game of Thrones marathon that started from season one, episode one. (As I’m writing, they’re on the second season.) I’m guessing this is for Independence Day weekend, and they’ll have another marathon prior to the beginning of season seven. If you haven’t seen this show before, now’s the time. If you’re already a viewer, it’s a great refresher course. It’s been so long, you’ll need it.

While I love the fashion and the castles, Medieval themed stories are not my thing, but I immediately fell in love with GoT. I didn’t come to it the conventional way though. I had pretty much ignored it throughout the first three seasons, and then came “The Red Wedding” in The Rains of Castamere episode at the end of season three. It was everywhere on the internet, and I decided to see what all the hoopla was about, so I went to trusty YouTube. And I was in. Spoiler ahead.

I have to admit, the scene made me laugh the first time I saw it. Not knowing much about the show, I had absolutely no investment in the characters, and didn’t even know the plotline, so I was watching with an unbiased, figuratively detached eye. It was bing! bang! boom! bodies dropping left and right, front and back, blood flying everywhere, like a Monty Python comedy sketch. The episode was still airing, so I checked it out, and was intrigued. I resolved to read the books, even though reading fantasy set in The Middle Ages is even less appealing to me than watching it. By page two, I was hooked. It was that well-written. As I read though, I started to become frustrated trying to picture certain things like The Wall, and couldn’t wait for the series to return. Occasionally, I would catch an episode here or there, but out of context, it wasn’t working for me that well.

When the next season rolled around, which, thankfully, didn’t take a year. I was able to catch up. I also continued reading the books (George R.R. Martin, write faster! And whatever you do, don’t die.), which were just as wonderful, and gave me a better understanding of the characters. I also liked that they were loooong, unlike a lot of modern day fiction.

So even if you think it’s not for you, give it a look. The sets and costumes are spectacular, the acting and writing is superb, and the plotline follows the books for the most part. At least, up until now. (Write faster!) And it has dragons. Everybody loves dragons.

Some Thrones Quotes

Death is so boring. – Tyrion Lannister

There is only one god, and his name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: “Not today.” — Syrio Forel

You can’t steal her. She’s a woman, not a goat. – Samwell Tarly (Not the greatest quote, but it made me laugh.)

Winter is coming. – about a hundred different characters

When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground. — Cersei Lannister

If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention. — Ramsay Bolton

Hodor! – Hodor

Sort of like a Pinterest fail…

Game of Thrones promo

My fireplace…

…at Christmastime