Greed, betrayal, love – sometimes unrequited, duty, sex, family ties, loneliness as well as laughter and are all universe truths that we can identify with. When these universal truths are woven into a fantasy world made up of seven kingdoms, tales of those beyond the wall, dragons and a battle to the death to see who will sit on the Iron Throne and rule it all you have officially entered The Game of Thrones.
HBO took storytelling through the medium of television to a whole new level when screenwriters David Benioff and D.B Weiss wrote 10 episodes of The Game of Thrones based on the first book in the series, A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R.R. Martin. The size of the book is enough to rival that of Lord of the Rings but they took the book and turned it into an accessible and thoroughly enjoyable television viewing. Added to incredible writing was a stellar cast of award winning stage and screen actors including Charles Dance, Sean Bean, Conleth Hall, Lena Headey, Iain Glen and new comers Kit Harington, Jack Gleeson, Emilia Clarke and Maisie Williams
In a world where summer can last a few years and winter a lifetime, loyalty is everything and even the viewer’s loyalty is tested to its’ limits. In season 1 we are introduced to the different families or Houses as they are known: Lannister, Stark, Baratheon, Arryn, Greyjoy and Targaryen and at first it appears, superficially as least, easy to decide who is good and who is bad or even treacherous.
Briefly, the main story arc of season 1 concerns Lord Ned Stark leaving his family at Winterfell to head to Kings Landing to take up the role of Hand of the King or Chief Advisor to King Robert Baratheon and also find out who killed the previous Hand of the King, John Arryn. Ned Stark on the surface seems noble – a good master, husband and father with a bastard son Jon Snow. Indeed a bastard son so not such a good husband after all and who is Jon Snow’s mother is one of the many sub-plots in season 1. Others include the incestious relationship between Cersei Lannister and her brother Jaime. The mysterious Varys who will stop at nothing to keep the equilibrium and peace at Kings Landing. Then there are the Brothers of the Night Watch that guard the Wall. Yes the mysterious Wall that protects the North from the fabled Wildlings: are they just a myth or does something still exist beyond the Wall. An individual who shouldn’t really be a favourite character but shone through is that of Tyrion Lannister. His father wanted to kill him as he was born a dwarf and is a terrible warrior yet has some how managed to survive the external as well as internal battles that have engulfed him through sheer ingenuity and treachery and sometimes betrayal. Tyrion is brought to life by Peter Dinklage who won an Emmy for his role and it is not hard to see why.
The Games of Thrones season 1 is a prism in which one can look at it as a simple fantasy story with different kingdoms, kings, lords and even tales of dragons or it can be seen as an examination of the unbreakable human spirit. Even if fantasy isn’t really something you are interested in, I defy you not to get hooked on the Game of Thrones – the snappy dialogue, humour and laughter woven into every episode will have you questioning whether you are watching a fantasy drama or a modern day soap opera.
Excellent writing peppered with high drama and it should be noted rather a lot of nudity together with sub-plots to keep even the most fickle viewer hooked along with the ominous warning that winter is coming. The various plots and sub plots of Game of Thrones season 1 will remain with you long after the end of the 10 episodes.
As well as every episode of Game of Thrones, NOW TV offers no contract access to the best in movies, sports, and entertainment. Whether you want to dip in and catch up on the latest shows, watch your favourite Sports team or entertain the family over the holidays, the NOW TV Passes put great entertainment at your fingertips – just like magic. Simply put: NOW TV gives you the TV you really want, without any of the stuff you don’t.
In the run up to the launch of Season 5, NOW TV will be celebrating each Season by watching one per week before Season 5 airs on 13th April. So whether you’re a fan already or have never seen the show, there’s still time to catch up on the show that everyone will be talking about come April. Join NOW TV on the sofa from 10am each Saturday and midday each Sunday and make sure to follow @NOWTV, they’ll be giving away prizes each day. And to make the weekend of marathon Game of Thrones watching more bearable, NOW TV have given us x5 catch up kits to give away which include NOW TV Entertainment month passes, Game of Thrones official merchandise, a mug and snacks galore!
All you have to do to win one is follow us on twitter @brwc and tell us your fave GoT episode and why with the hashtag #GoTNOWTV. Easy!
Don’t forget to join the conversation with #GoTNOWTV
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