The third season of HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones begins on March 31 and, like the throngs of GOT fans around the world, I can’t help but be excited about it. I am actually counting the days until I finally get a weekly dose of my guilty viewing pleasure once again — and by the looks of it, season three is going to be epic.
So it is quite obvious that I am a fan. But what is it about GOT that has gotten me and a whole lot of fans hooked?
The Story
It’s the story that keeps fans like me coming back for more. It’s one that’s full of twists and turns. Even though the series is based on George R. R. Martin’s award-winning novel series, I avoid reading it and prefer watching the series instead. I hate spoilers, I don’t want to know what happens next; I prefer to keep the element of surprise. I know that watching the series when I’ve already read the novel will have me comparing one to the other, and I don’t want to do that. In other words, I’m leaving it all in the hands of the series’ writers.
The Elements
GOT is a beautifully crafted hodgepodge of all the elements that make a successful series. There’s love, hope, scandal, betrayal, deception, hate and revenge. Oh, and did I mention that there’s also lust? Nevertheless, you would find that GOT is a little more subtle with the rather risqué scenes than other series like Spartacus or The Borgias. The good thing about GOT is that there’s just the right amount of it, although most guys would rather see more. The writers probably thought that just a dab of it here and there is enough to keep even the busiest corporate exec glued to his TV rather than his business phone.
The Characters
For me, all of the characters contribute to the series’ success, especially those whom the fans love to hate. That includes Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and yes, even the loathed king himself, Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson). Fans love Arya Stark (Maisie Williams),and of course, the ladies just adore (and drool over) Jon Snow (Kit Harington). Fans also can’t get enough of Khaleesi’s dragons and the White Walkers.
Photo: fanpop.com
For me, the most refreshing and intriguing of all is Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) a.k.a. the “Imp” or the “Halfman.” You’d think that just because he’s a dwarf, he’d automatically be stereotyped as the series underdog, but not so. He’s witty, cunning, able to manipulate people by playing with their weaknesses, but he’s also a softie, a sucker for love and romance. Fans like me find ourselves intently listening to his every word, waiting for lines that would soon make the “Tyrion Lannister’s Most Famous Quotes” list.
Just a few more days and the wait will soon be over. So like my fellow GOT fans, I’m marking my calendar and preparing to get hooked all over again.
