my thoughts: game of thrones
i talk about this show too much on my filmstagram, so here is the full-length version!
To be honest, I never imagined that Game of Thrones would be something so right up my alley; being invested in fictional politics and mediaeval worlds. In fact, I don’t actually remember reading the synopsis beforehand, so I think I went into the show completely blind. And oh boy, I truly had no idea what I was getting into.
plot
What makes Game of Thrones so universally groundbreaking is in its writing and direction. It’s wildly unpredictable – hidden agendas, betrayals, deaths. It’s full of shocking twists and clever turns, even at the expense of certain characters. It’s so fascinating yet horrifying as to how this fictional world works. Greed and power consume the minds of those seeking ascension. A father’s mistake becomes his son's burden. Nine noble houses all fighting for one damn throne.
Politics aside, the show’s fantasy elements are also worth looking into. Although it’s a slow build-up and foreshadow of bigger threats looming ahead, the White Walkers have been creeping into the show right from the very beginning. Even if they've been treated as a subplot for most of the seasons, it was still pretty interesting unpacking the lore. As for the dragons, anytime Daenerys is flying on one, I get chills.
characters
Apparently honour gets you killed, which is why the majority of the characters are morally ambiguous. In fact, they are so complex, I can never truly define how I feel towards a particular character. Even if their actions are sickening enough for me to absolutely hate them, why do I still feel bad for them and hold compassion? Take Jaime Lannister for example; his actions are… to say the least, questionable. But when that one monologue scene hit about his ‘Kingslayer’ origins, my walls broke down. Game of Thrones may have me feeling confused and conflicted about these characters all the time, but that’s just a testament as to how in-depth and well-written they are. Also, be careful not to get too attached, because this show does not provide any safety nets for their characters.
music
Ramin Djawadi, you are my hero. I never dared to skip the main title theme, and I was so overjoyed that they actually re-used it for House of the Dragon. My goodness, does the score encapsulate every scene in the show perfectly — from solemnity and grief to grandness and epic battles. Absolute masterpieces.
ending
In truth, I wasn’t exactly bothered by the show’s ending. Sure, the quality in writing definitely deteriorated over the last two seasons, which did leave rather unfavourable endings for some of these characters. It was obviously very rushed and therefore much less refined. But at the very least, it marked the end of feudalism and abusers of the system. So, here’s to brighter days.