Valar Morghulis.

Over the years I have heard so much about the show Game of Thrones and all that it entails, but never got around to watching it until recently. From random spurts of vulgarity to the ruthless killings of major characters, this show really lived up to its praise and I was not the least bit disappointed as I watched it. The creators of the show really do not hold back and I think it is a prime reason as to why it has had such great success

They have managed to depict a story, which to my knowledge and understanding takes place in a medieval setting, in a more accurate and realistic way rather than complete fantasy. Typically a show introduces title characters, the basic conflict, and a climax, which usually resolves the overarching problem but it is not that simple in Game Of Thrones. The characters vary in importance depending on the episode and the particular location in which a scene takes place. In addition to this, there is not one central conflict but many smaller ones that are a part of a major theme; the fact that winter was coming and that it is now finally here.

What makes the show even more interesting is the fact that for the most part, the viewers usually do not get what they want—they get the unexpected. This can be seen starting from the very beginning of the series, with Eddard “Ned” Starks death. I mention this because it is a perfect example of the consequences that rebellion and war bring—the destruction of lives of innocent and noble people. Ned Stark was a widely loved and respected Lord but even that could not save him in his final moments. The same goes to his son, Robb Stark, and wife, Catelyn Stark, during the “Red Wedding”; they were two major characters that contributed greatly to the plot, but their untimely demise brought a change of pace to the show. There are so many beloved characters who are killed off, but that is what drives other characters to react, which allows the plot to thicken.

Throughout the show, I think the viewers are primed to the gruesome nature of war because they have seen small instances since the beginning, and in a way get desensitized to the whole idea, as it becomes a normal occurrence in the show. To be honest, I was really taken back by the way they treated the women, children, and animals and initially could not stomach it, but at the same time I kept wanting to watch more because it was so different from what I am used to in most shows and movies. For example, when I saw the first few Stark dire wolves being killed, I was so distraught because I viewed them as being a part of the Stark family and representative of their safety but later on I realized that those wolves were trained to protect so they would obviously be killed as the show went on. Even though I usually would think: no…there is no way they would kill most of them off, I know it is not realistic to have that thought because it is what makes the Game of Thrones so captivating-- we form attachments to so many aspects of the show and when it is gone it is fascinating to see how they fill that void.

There are few times when the story takes a turn for the better and that is what makes going through all the adversity on the show so worth it. Jon Snow coming back to life honestly gave me life and I cannot describe my joy when I saw that scene take place other than saying this: Melisandre, you are the real MVP. Not only does he come back to life but he starts the Battle of the Bastards, kicks Ramsay Bolton’s ass, and hands him off to Sansa to finish the job— one of the most satisfying thing to happen since Joffrey Baratheon’s death. Speaking of satisfaction, can we just take a moment to appreciate these other events that have also taken place: 1) Jon and Sansa finally reuniting 2) Daenerys saying “dracarys” and obliterating her enemies with the help of her dragons 3) Tyrion finally getting the position he deserves as Hand of the Queen 4) Arya getting revenge on Walder Frey for destroying her family by using her new talents and last but not least 5) Jon Snow being named as the new King of the North. Of course these are not the only incredible things that have happened, but they are certainly among some of the best scenes in the whole show.

The current plot is very different compared to the other seasons because we finally get to see characters interact after many seasons of just talking about one another. I am looking forward to seeing how Jon’s history plays out because as it is implied in the finale of season six, he is son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, which technically makes Daenerys his paternal aunt. One of the most anticipated meetings was between these two characters (Jon and Daenerys), which took place in the last episode. The meeting was intense and there was clearly a power struggle among the two characters-- Jon Snow refused to bend the knee and Daenerys was clearly offended by this. There is still more to come in the next episode regarding the alliance between the two sides and knowing the way the show has been with all its plot twists, I have no idea how it is is going to unravel, but I have many predictions and am eager to see what actually takes place.

Valar Dohaeris.