Winter is coming. In the world of Game of Thrones, the new HBO action-drama, cold weather is the least of their problems. Set in the fictional land of Westeros, the battle for the throne is never-ending. In this mythical realm, there are four families introduced all within the first episode: the Starks, the Baratheons, the Lannisters and the Targaryens. The story, which cuts from family to family, seems to focus more on the Stark family than the others.
Action. Adventure. Love. Lust. Betrayal. Revenge. Death.
Game of Thrones has it all. At times, its hard to follow, because everyone, minus the Stark family, seems to have a personal agenda.
Meet Eddard Stark, played by Lord of the Rings’ Sean Bean. Bean, who is no stranger to suiting up in medieval armour and yielding a sword, portrays a just but fair ruler in the land he defends, known as Winterfell. But, even Stark, nicknamed “Ned,” cannot foresee what awaits his family and kingdom. Together, Ned and his wife have five children, not including Ned’s illegitimate son, Jon Snow, who, already by the third episode, plays an important role in the story.
Stark and King Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) are lifelong friends. At one time, Baratheon was betrothed to Starks sister, but tragedy befell the family and Baratheon married the young Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) instead.
Cersei’s twin brother, Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), was responsible for the death of the last King, father of Viserys Targaryen (Harry Lloyd) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). Despite his triumph, Lannister isn’t done yet. Together, he and his sister seem to be up to something—they want the throne for themselves. Trust me, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to these siblings.
The Targaryen siblings have an interesting relationship as well. First impressions of Viserys leave viewers dispising the man as he marries his sister off to a barbarian leader, Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa). Viserys hopes to use Drogo’s army of Dothraki soldiers to reclaim the throne.
Confused yet? At this point in the series, a lot is still up to possibility. One thing’s for certain, this season is showing no signs of slowing down. With each new episode, new characters and plot twists are introduced to bring viewers closer to the lives of the inhabitants of Westeros.
Oh, and did I mention there are walking-undead people in the forests? The White Walkers make a brief appearance in the first episode and have been absent since. It’s clear the writers of Game of Thrones want to leave their viewers hanging…
True to HBO’s quality, Game of Thrones is an excellent mesh of drama, violence and beauty. Despite being set in the medieval times, the women of this drama have a certain aura around them and the men, even the wicked ones, have knightly appeal to them. It might be confusing at times, but already, this show is worth thought-provoking discussion.
