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| Four of the key players of the fantastic GAME OF THRONES Book One adaptation. Images: Nick Briggs/Helen Sloane- HBO. |
WARNING: This feature contains possible spoilers...
The ultimate definition of must-see modern television, HBO’s bold and lavish adaptation of the first novel of acclaimed author and TV writer George R.R. Martin’s exotic and evocative mixture of sword and sorcery, sex and brutality: GAME OF THRONES- “A Song of Ice and Fire”- certainly lived up to the hype and fan/critics expectations to become the first true blockbuster small screen event of the year. Every available penny of the productions huge budget was on screen with nothing wasted in its compelling realization which was a winner from beginning to end in all areas of it adaptation, visual design, casting and direction, from its opening episodes soon proving to have that desired and confidently addictive What’s going to happen next? quality about them from beginning to end, and hungrily leaving you desperate for Season Two to come as soon as possible! There was no flashy over writing like most modern TV series of all genres, no plot/story structure gimmicks or over-editing here-just a good old-fashioned, thoroughly absorbing and flowing tale that had a very satisfying beginning, middle and end, with rich plotting and character development-of course, it helped that creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, who've done a highly respectful translation job, had such good original material from creator Martin to start off with!- as the TV version’s ten weeks went on to provide so many memorable and unforgettable moments of beauty, tension and carnage, until it reached its triumphant critical mass point finale and its fine set-up for the next book/season, along with a haunting and beautiful finale scene promising more epic and incredible wonders of story telling to come...
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| The King's Hand: protectorate Eddard Stark (Sean Bean) caught in a nest of intrigue and vipers! |
Our previous review of the opening two episodes hold pretty much true for the entire series (check it out here, excessive commas and all!:
http://kooltvblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/kool-tv-review-game-of-thrones-episodes.html) but the shocks and surprises continue to pile up ever thick and fast by episode six and seven, as the world of the Seven Kingdoms drips ever further with death and wonder, of loyalty, betrayal, consequences and conspiracies further unfolding, alongside dark deeds foreshadowed, a long believed dead threat beginning to stir once more, and good men of honour and courage either betrayed or forced into conflict. All of the cast were brilliantly chosen for the the series (utilizing the cream of the UK thespian crop, and all fighting their hardest against the tyranny of crass reality TV shows currently taking over the domains of our TV sets!), with special notices going to Sean Bean for his superb performance as super-loyal
King’s Hand, Eddard Stark, Michelle Fairley as his dutiful but equally strong wife, Catelyn, Kit Harington as Eddard's "bastard" child, Jon Snow, who may yet turn out to be one of the last hopes for the world if the threat of the terrifying blue eyed White Walkers continues to gain momentum, and the enchanting Emilia Clarke as the blonde locked young exile Daenerys Targaryen, whose storyline with the Dothraki mercenary leader Khal Droko (a strong and confident portrayal from Jason Momoa, now in cinemas as CONAN THE BARBARIAN), which at first showed her a demeaned and vulnerable child dominated by him, would evolve into a relationship of shared confidence, passion and leadership-even charming in places as their love and politically arranged marriage deepened- until it reached a dark and tragic resolution, from which would then emerge an incredible
revelation.
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| In trouble not of his making: the brilliant Peter Dinklage is superb as Tyrion Lannister. |
But, above them all, the most deserved acting praise must surely go to Peter Dinklage as the blonde haired intellectual, Tyrion Lannister, certainly one of the original book series most popular characters and now just as popular in his screen translation: full of larger than life charm, bravery, honesty and cheeky bravura in the face of such danger and family battles than many of his taller peers. If “the imp” doesn’t get an EMMY this year I’ll be seriously annoyed!
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| Despite the fun, there is warfare concealed at the King's celebratory jousting tournament. |
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| Lord Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) is determined to regain the power for his singular family line. |
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| Love and marriage Dothraki style for Khal Droko (Jason Momoa) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). |
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| Jerome Flynn as the soldier of fortune, Bronn. |
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| A born fighter: the courageous Arya (Maisie Williams). |
Beyond those first two episodes, lots of other terrific supporting players of note would emerge across the rest of the season, including fine work from Aiden Gillen as the manipulative and opportunistic Petyr Baelish, Julian Glover as the wheezing, much knowledged old man of the capital, Grand Measter Pycelle, Jerome Flynn, finally overcoming his association with the annoying actor/singer Robson Green, to play the swordsman friend of Tyrion Lannister, Bronn, and the always good value Charles Dance, in the role of the dangerous matriarch of the Lannister family, Tywin, memorable and unsettlingly introduced to viewers cutting up a dead horse whilst talking strategies and family honour, and surely having a future role in the series that looks set to rival his edgy and suitably nasty performance in the BBC’s also superior period adaptation of Dicken’s BLEAK HOUSE.
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| Fighting for the honour of his father and the Kingdoms: Robb Stark (Richard Madden) |
Apart from one mild disappointment – a sadly unrealized battle sequence cut for budgetary reasons (a real shame as young Robb Stark (Richard Madden) deserved his chanced to shine heroically in the midst of conflict rather than being shown victorious emerging from its unseen aftermath)- GAME OF THRONES was one of those now so very rare things: a pure triumph of style and substance. And if you haven’t already seen the entire season at least twice you owe it to yourself to try and catch up with it as soon as possible…
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| Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) exchange looming unpleasantries. It can only get worse between them! |
And now we impatiently hunger for Season Two- A CLASH OF KINGS- of which filming is already underway in Ireland, Croatia and Iceland as you read this- and all that awaits from its dense and building storytelling. With the show’s great rating success worldwide and tremendous critical plaudits, HBO have recently re-confirmed their long term financial commitment and overall support to the series which is most pleasing to hear, and it can only become more ambitious and exciting as it broadens its canvass, with the prospects of the late King Baratheon’s brother, Stannis (Stephen Dillane), attempts to regain the throne from that evil young brat freak King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), Jon Snows brave expedition into the cold climes beyond the Winterfell Wall, and the further building on the book series fantasy elements with the nurturing of the returned dragons of the Targaryen dynasty.
With other new cast including Liam Cunningham, Robert Pugh, Oliver Ford Davies, Roy Dotrice (an old friend to George R.R. Martin since their BEAUTY AND THE BEAST TV series days of the mid- eighties), up and coming starlet Hannah Murray and acclaimed international actress Carice van Houten as the sorceress/priestess Melisandre (for more, check out IGN's comprehensive feature: Game of Thrones: Who's Who in Season 2 - TV Feature at IGN), the wheels of destiny continues to turn as the life and death players-large and small- in this GAME OF THRONES make their next decisive moves…
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| Here be Dragons! The stunning finale scene of Book One. |
With thanks to Paul S. Fraser for all of his help regarding the series.
Repeats of the series will continue on the UK's SKY ATLANTIC. So far, there is no Blu-ray/DVD release date for the series but it will surely be ready for Christmas worldwide.
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