Game of Thrones

On Sunday, April 17, HBO launched its latest series, Game of Thrones based on the series A Song of Ice & Fire by George R.R. Martin. Game of Thrones is Martin's first installment and the television series follows three story lines; the Seven Kingdoms, the Wall and the East.

Martin created a world much in the same vein as Tolkein calling it Westeros. The seven kingdoms are ruled by King Robert Baratheon who sits on the Iron Throne in King's Landing. In the north, protecting the seven kingdoms is the Night's Watch who man the Wall, comprising mainly criminals who chose to serve in the brotherhood rather than face death for their crimes. In the East across the Narrow Sea in the Free city of Pentos, the remaining survivors of the House of Targaryen plan and bide their time til their return to the Seven Kingdoms to take back the Iron Throne from Robert the Usurper.

Game of Thrones is seen mainly through the eyes of the House of Stark, Lords of Winterfell and Wardens of the North. Eddard Stark is made the Hand of the King, a powerful yet short lived position for the titleholder. Bound by honour Stark accepts the position and leaves his wife, eldest and youngest sons behind in Winterfell and journeys south with his two daughters and the royal household while his bastard son goes to join the Night's Watch.

Game of Thrones is a novel rife with sex, incest, battle, treachery and finding yourself. Reading the novel I was very excited to know that the television series does not deviate much from the novel and the words are a match for what Martin committed to paper. HBO however changed the ages of some of the characters since showing a 13-year-old girl having sex with a horse lord may have brought the television censoring watchdogs on their heels.

I look forward to seeing the series progress and with only two episodes gone in the series, HBO has already renewed the series for another season. Catch Game of Thrones on HBO Sundays at 9 (US) and on Sky Atlantic Mondays at 9 (UK).