Winter is Here

Winter is finally here! Sadly, though, we won’t be able to see season 7 of HBO’s Game of Thrones until April. But before getting into any of that, this is rated TV-Ma, expect strong content.

The HBO TV series Game of Thrones is adapted from George R.R Martin’s epic fantasy novel series, A Song of Ice and Fire. The series consists of seven novels, with the last two still being written.

Game of Thrones tells the tale of a dynastic clash between several families in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. The main families involved in this war for supremacy are the Houses Stark, Lannister, Baratheon, and Targaryen. Later on, many other Houses join the fray. While the Houses fight amongst themselves, a supernatural threat looms over the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, known as the White Walkers (Others in the book series.

The series, like it’s source material, focuses on the perspective of several characters in the story that increases in number over time. The most notable and easily recognized characters of this story are Jon Snow (Portrayed by Kit Harrington) the illegitimate son of Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark.

Tyrion Lannister (Portrayed by Peter Dinklage) the brother of the queen of the Seven Kingdoms and the youngest son of Lord Tywin Lannister, the wealthiest man in the land. And last but most certainly not least Daenerys “Dany” Targaryen (Portrayed by Emilia Clarke), an exiled princess of the Targaryen dynasty and contender for the throne.

All three of them capture the essence of the novels’ characters, while adding their own flare to the show.

Jon Snow is initially portrayed as solemn and guarded but really just seeks recognition from those around him. His status as an illegitimate son means that he will never truly be a proper Stark. Jon knew this and so joined the Night’s Watch, a military order that guards the Seven Kingdoms from outside threats. The Watch takes in anyone who volunteers, be they of low or noble birth. Jon goes there to prove his worth and earn his honor. Harrington plays this role very well by presenting to the audience how Jon Snow struggles to secure his place in the world as he stands by his moral principles. Harrington also gives us a glance into what life was like for someone of neither low or noble birth. Although these types of characters are often romanticized as larger-than-life and never faltering, that’s not the case for Jon Snow and many of the other characters. He falters more than once, he has known failure, and feels loss. Yet maintains his hope and determination.

Tyrion Lannister is the most easily recognized and well known character in both the show and the books. Tyrion has achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, which earns him spite from his father Tywin, and contempt from his well-known and wealthy family and many others who call him “The Imp” or “Dwarf” among other things. Despite his circumstances, Tyrion proves himself to be one of the cleverest and resourceful characters in the series. What he lacks in height, he makes up for with sharp and occasionally sarcastic wit. Dinklage is the most successful of member of the cast, with 55 nominations and 13 awards with his name on them. Dinklage, like Tyrion proves that his condition doesn’t get in the way of his success. That only you can decide your own limits.

In one scene of the pilot episode when the king of Westeros and his family visit Ned Stark’s castle, Jon was not allowed to sit with the king’s children. His parents thought that would offend the king. This of course upset Jon. Tyrion tells Jon that he can’t let his status hold him back. That whenever people try to use his illegitimacy against him, to wear it like armor. That way, it can never hurt him.

Daenerys “Dany” Targaryen is an excellent example of how legends start out small. The Targaryen dynasty had been dispositioned by the Baratheons as the ruling house of the Seven Kingdoms, forcing any remaining Targaryens into exile. All of this happened before Dany had been born. At one point in the story, Dany obtained three fossilized dragon eggs. Her family had previously conquered the Seven Kingdoms thanks to their ability to tame and ride dragons, all of which died off long before her time. Through various situations, the eggs are restored to life and reborn into the world, with Dany as their mother. With this, and many other things, Dany aims to reclaim the Seven Kingdoms from its usurpers.

Clarke, like her fellow cast members, plays her role beautifully. She conveys all of Dany’s confidence and all her fears. Clarke takes us through Dany’s transformation from a helpless maiden to a powerful and ambitious conqueror.

As the series goes on, every season finale ends with Dany making further progress towards reclaiming the throne. Clarke’s spectacular performances in these closers is always something for fans and possible fans to look forward to.

As mentioned above, Season 7 will air on April. Fans look forward the next epic season of Game of Thrones. To anyone interested in starting, you still have time before the new season to see what makes this show so binge-worthy. And remember, Winter is here.

But before getting into any of that, this is rated TV-Ma, expect strong content.