My Kind of Groovy

For the uninitiated, HBO’s “Game of Thrones” is an ongoing show based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series entitled A Song of Ice and Fire.

This isn’t a review, really… a regular review wouldn’t get me anywhere with drawing people to this series. So here’s why you need to pay attention:

1. The most important reason: It brings fantasy and genre delicousness to the mainstream. Nerd chic has been “in” for a while and “Game of Thrones” is a perfect example to show that high concept fantasy is cool and can be done in an amazing way that doesn’t pander to any audience.

2. Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister. As an actor, he has been great for a long time, but unfortunately, many of his roles are typecast to him because of his stature. “Game of Thrones” lets Dinklage flex his acting muscles in ways that many never get a chance. In a show with many great performances, his character definitely stands out as the best and most interesting.

3. Dragons. Everything is better with dragons.

4. Sean Bean as Ned Stark and Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo in season 1. Brilliance.

5. The opening credits. Opening credits have been on a comeback recently with really cool ideas highlighted in shows like “Dexter”, “The Walking Dead” and many others. It’s an art that has been largely overlooked and “Game of Thrones” has the best opening sequence of any show I may have ever seen. I make sure never to miss it.

6. Treatment of theme. “Game of Thrones” takes an unflinching look at ideas that are hard to sell to mainstream society. Homosexuality, prostitution, incest, racism, sexism, etc. are treated with responsibility and the show never bends to the wills of what is “good” or “bad”. It merely presents the issues as they occur organically and leaves the viewer to decide something for themselves. Shoehorning does not exist here.

7. The women. Not just because many are insanely beautiful, but that their characters are incredibly well-written (thanks to the show writers as well as George R.R. Martin) and are fleshed-out people that don’t just do typical “women activities”.

8. Peter Dinklage… Yeah, he’s that good I must list him twice.

Seek out season 1 (on DVD now) and season 2 playing on HBO Sundays at 10 and revel in its amazing. Nothing makes me more proud to be a nerd and to be able to share fantasy and genre with others whom may not be so inclined to jump into that pool.