I recall writing a blogpost about this spectacular series a while back during the summer of 2015 – the time when I was first exposed to the story, enamored by its elaborate plot of medieval caliber. I probably rambled on about how taken aback I was by its graphic content at first, or how fascinated I was with its sheer attention to detail, but that’s about it. Since then, many of my other passions, interests, and responsibilities gradually took hold of my attention : newly-discovered television productions, ceaseless video editing, meticulous college applications/scholarships, and the endless abyss of Hindi cinema. Now, nearly two years later, I’ve found myself drifting back to the harsh, tyrannical world of Westeros again, still utterly fascinated by its unwavering splendor of both fantasy and reality. ♘ ♖ ♙ |
I’ve had an affinity for medieval-like fantasy stories ever since I was a child. I remember spending afternoons immersed in a fairy tale story book for hours, studying the elaborate artworks of gallant knights and beautiful princesses within its pages. My fascination with this time period (and the mystical escapism that comes along with it) continued to reincarnate itself in different forms – film and television productions, especially. The Other Boleyn Girl (although falling into more of the Renaissance era) was a film that had completely captivated me, inspiring my fourteen-year-old self to read the historical fiction novel in which it was based. This sparked my interest in Showtime’s epic television series The Tudors, as well. But I digress. Years later, here I am, still utterly captivated by this time period’s beauty, mystery, and rather compelling ruthlessness.
The BBC’s beloved fantasy drama Merlin may just stand as my all-time favorite television series, mainly for its fantasy and charming characters – and its light-hearted, nostalgic sense of escapism which never ceases to bring me back to my childhood. Ironically, Game of Thrones (with the exception that it’s set in an entirely fictional world, of course) is far more historically accurate in its portrayal of medieval societies than that of Merlin, a family-oriented production loosely based on iconic figures from the late fifth century. (Though, the mysterious existence of Arthurian legend and Camelot have been disputed upon by historians for many years.) Merlin does not depict the harsh realities of war, nor does it accurately represent the true nature of human brutality. Inevitably, it’s far too optimistic. And for a soft-hearted romantic like myself, the show is a perfect fit.
In all honesty, Game of Thrones was not a show I gravitated towards upon first hearing about it. Even though there was this overbearing, incessant craze about it – from how gorgeous the costumes and filming locations were, to how exceptionally genius the plot was – I found myself extremely reluctant to start it. Why? Many sources have considered it to be, perhaps, the most gruesomely violent show on television. However, this reason alone did not avert my curiosity. If anything, it strengthened it. One fateful night during the fall of 2014, I set my fearful presumptions aside and gave Game of Thrones an hour of my time.
The BBC’s beloved fantasy drama Merlin may just stand as my all-time favorite television series, mainly for its fantasy and charming characters – and its light-hearted, nostalgic sense of escapism which never ceases to bring me back to my childhood. Ironically, Game of Thrones (with the exception that it’s set in an entirely fictional world, of course) is far more historically accurate in its portrayal of medieval societies than that of Merlin, a family-oriented production loosely based on iconic figures from the late fifth century. (Though, the mysterious existence of Arthurian legend and Camelot have been disputed upon by historians for many years.) Merlin does not depict the harsh realities of war, nor does it accurately represent the true nature of human brutality. Inevitably, it’s far too optimistic. And for a soft-hearted romantic like myself, the show is a perfect fit.
In all honesty, Game of Thrones was not a show I gravitated towards upon first hearing about it. Even though there was this overbearing, incessant craze about it – from how gorgeous the costumes and filming locations were, to how exceptionally genius the plot was – I found myself extremely reluctant to start it. Why? Many sources have considered it to be, perhaps, the most gruesomely violent show on television. However, this reason alone did not avert my curiosity. If anything, it strengthened it. One fateful night during the fall of 2014, I set my fearful presumptions aside and gave Game of Thrones an hour of my time.
I cannot convey to you the level of disgust I had for this show throughout the entirety of its very first episode. At the time, I had seen many medieval-oriented productions before this (take the Tudors and the film Braveheart, for instance) and thought those were very explicit at times – boy, was I wrong. I had never witnessed anything of this degree before. In fact, my detest for Game of Thrones after one mere episode was so extreme that I had actually boycotted it for about six months. I hated it. I didn’t understand how anyone could find enjoyment in watching it. The plotline was overwhelmingly confusing, introducing at least twenty main, integral characters throughout its duration. The extensive scenes kept refraining from going back to any of the characters that had just been introduced in the scenes prior. I was frustrated. Then again, I was just a clueless fifteen-year-old girl who still loved her valiant princes and knights in shining armor – not the war, violence, and rape that came along with them. |
So, you may be wondering, why am I so captivated and inspired by this series now? After giving Game of Thrones another chance to unravel its storyline to me through a few more episodes (and all the way through six seasons), I soon began to understand the show’s refreshing perspectives towards these topics. What I first assumed was a show that enjoyed depicting violence for the sadistic sake of entertainment was actually a series that addressed and tackled these issues in a creative light – issues of human interaction and morality that are just as prominent today as they were in medieval societies.
The truth is, I haven’t actually sat down and sorted out my all of my conflicting thoughts concerning the massive scale of this series – particularly that of the controversial, appalling, and jaw-droppingly horrific realities it brings to the television screen. And that’s what I aim to do in this blogpost. I’m going to delve deep into the catalysts of these controversial events and characters and why – perhaps for some sick, twisted reason – I condone, condemn, and justify them all at once.
The truth is, I haven’t actually sat down and sorted out my all of my conflicting thoughts concerning the massive scale of this series – particularly that of the controversial, appalling, and jaw-droppingly horrific realities it brings to the television screen. And that’s what I aim to do in this blogpost. I’m going to delve deep into the catalysts of these controversial events and characters and why – perhaps for some sick, twisted reason – I condone, condemn, and justify them all at once.