Why I enjoy Game of Thrones

[*Deidre*]

*Note I posted this elsewhere recently when I had only been a few seasons in, but now finished all five seasons  

A few weeks ago, I began 'binge watching' the hit HBO series Game of Thrones. I had never seen one episode until about a month ago. So far, it’s intriguing, fascinating, complex and deliciously reckless. Essentially, the plots are all intertwined culminating around families who are all striving to be kings and queens of various regions of the world. It’s magnificently written and brilliantly acted, which could be why it’s so popular across all age groups. But, what exactly is it about this series that has captivated so many people’s attention for the past five years since it first aired? 

As I sat last night, watching season two come to a close, it dawned on me that perhaps in the west, we just don’t have a sense of what it means to honor much of anything, anymore. We have passion and drive, but not the type of passion and drive our ancestors had many moons ago, when fighting for their freedoms, civil liberties and the common good of all men. It would seem that what we fight about these days, deals with political correctness and trying not of offend someone. I can’t imagine waking each day, having to pledge an allegiance to a particular king or queen, or I’d be liable for treason and potentially put to death. I can’t imagine having to marry a man I barely know, as to carry on my family’s good name and reputation. I can’t imagine having such little freedom as a woman, centuries ago, and most likely I would have been beaten and tossed aside like garbage, if I didn’t perform my wifely ‘duties.’ Men were not treated much more favorably. They're expected to lay down their lives, defend their cities and families, and sacrifice pride and dignity...all in the name of upholding their family legacy. So much needless violence. So much death. So much hopelessness. Yet, so much passion, honor and courage. It is a strange emotional ride of sorts that the viewer embarks upon, when deciding to view this series. 

Despite the violence, cruelty and disregard for human life that is illustrated throughout Game of Thrones, it has captivated us for some reason. What reason is that? I’m thinking it’s because the characters of this series didn’t live entitled lives. They had to fight for what they had, and even if they were given a kingdom passed down from generation to generation, they still found themselves having to defend it. It wasn’t like today, where we elect Presidents, and they remain in power for four years at a time. There weren’t ‘terms’ back then, rather anyone could overthrow the king, and take the kingdom as his own, if he had enough strength, and a powerful enough army backing him.

So, would you die to defend your honor? To defend your family’s honor? To defend your siblings, or your significant other? What is honor and is it worth fighting for, in and of itself? Would you protect your family at all costs, even if it meant hurting those outside of your family?

These are questions I find myself asking as I watch the various characters come and go from the series, and I’m only on season three! Lol It is by far, one of the most riveting series I’ve ever watched, and for me at least, it enthralls me because my life looks nothing like it. And yet, the characters all struggle with the very same things we do, today – family strife, gossip, slander, libel, war, famine, depression, feeling unwanted, power struggles, politics, and so on. The only difference, today… we don’t carry swords, but instead…carry guns. At least many in the west do. Each character is complicated yet simple as perhaps we all are, and as the story unfolds, you realize that for some of them, their ruthlessness is all they know. Not excusable, but it's all they know. They are products of their surroundings, in part. Humankind hasn’t changed much over the centuries, we are still quite selfish and self-seeking, and this show depicts a raw savage nature that seems to exist in all of us, perhaps. The desire to survive, and for some, at all costs. However, there are those in the series who are valiant, noble, and honorable, despite the horrible circumstance where they find themselves. Each person has a choice in this life, we don't have to be a slave to our upbringing, our heritages, or our ancestry. Perhaps, it is that very thing that makes GOT so very intricate and relevant, that each character reveals the good and bad in all of mankind, and that violence, war and chaos are actually choices made collectively, even though many feel at times, those are the only choices. 

April 24th begins season 6 and I’m on season three, now. The plot thickens as the feuds continue, secrets mount, promises get broken, and new alliances form. Not unlike the world in which we live today…well, just without the White Walkers.