14 DAY TRIAL // Tomorrow, Sunday, April 6, 2014, millions of fans from all over the world will be tuning in to HBO to see the season 4 premiere of the network’s most recent hit, “Game of Thrones.” With it, HBO has changed the face of television for good and, believe it or not, it’s not just because it’s a high-rated series that this happens.
Recent years have seen a shift in focus for TV series. For one, storylines have become more complex as budgets expanded, allowing producers to create shows that were no longer rushed, but almost as elaborate, time consuming and expensive as filmmaking.
Also in recent years, audiences at home started witnessing the rise of the anti-hero. The idea of rooting for the bad guy seems wrong and immoral, especially when he or she does things we’d never even imagine ourselves doing and, even worse, shows no remorse for it. Killers, drug dealers, mafia guys and all kinds of villains have come to replace the goody-two-shoes hero or heroine TV had glorified so far.
“Game of Thrones” takes all these subtle changes in television work so far, amplifies them to the maximum and then delivers them back to the viewer in a gorgeous, shameless and well-executed production. HBO has been taking risks, both creative and visually, for years but never before as with this fantasy story set in a fictional kingdom, where heads fall quicker than leaves off a tree, carnal pleasure is had whenever the urge strikes, and backstabbing is not a necessity but a way of life.
The universe of “Game of Thrones”
“Game of Thrones” is based on George R.R. Martin’s series of novels “A Song of Ice and Fire,” which he’s yet to complete (a nightmare for fans, trust me!). They say to never compare a film or a TV series to the book it’s based on or inspired by, but, in this particular case, you could actually do that and not feel forced to choose a favorite.
More importantly, the books offer fans the occasion to enjoy this wonderful and very complex universe in a way the show can’t, but they don’t do that at its expense: the show is a visual companion to the novels, which is something that doesn’t happen all that often.
The existence of both makes fans feel like they belong, thanks to the very strong online community of “Game of Thrones.” Social media is vital in the promotion and survival of any project, especially in television, but HBO producers have taken online promoting to a new stage, one that also includes the fans and makes them feel special and, above all, able to actually change things in this fictional universe.
The violence
“Game of Thrones” is violent but, unlike those B-movies where you can do a bodycount just for the heck of it and simply because it doesn’t feel justified, here we have scenes of gore and violence that make sense, if I’m permitted this wording. We’re not going to get here into the larger discussion of whether the show glorifies violence but I will say this: this world you enter when you tune in is cruel and only the strongest and most cunning can survive in it.
Violence comes with the territory so, if you’re queasy, just don’t watch.
The explicit scenes
The same goes for the nudity and the explicit scenes, with the note that, yes, indeed, there were cases in the first 3 seasons when even the more careless observer could have picked up on the fact that HBO was using eye-candy to make the show more controversial and get more viewers to tune in.
Even so, it takes guts to do that and, if only in this regard, HBO is writing history because you can use the fingers on one hand to list the shows who have dared to push the envelope this way. If that’s a good or a bad thing, it’s up to you to decide.
The unpredictability
“Game of Thrones” has guts. Well, George R.R. Martin and the writers on the series have, but you get the idea. This is a show that’s not afraid to kill off leading characters if that’s what feels right for the story, and it won’t shy away from sucker-punching viewers with a new plot twist if it’s deemed necessary to the general story arc.
In an industry that relies on “patterns” for success (the good guy always gets the girl, the underdog always wins, etc.), and in which predictability has become norm, seeing a show as bold as this one is like a breath of fresh air. You might choke on it (remember the Red Wedding?!), it’s true, because you’re not used to it, but it’s still great to have it.
The acting
“Game of Thrones” isn’t made with household stars. In fact, judging from Kit Harington’s progress so far, we might never see some of the actors outside this series but that doesn’t change the fact that they’re all spectacular performers. Sometimes, for real talent and few money / diva demands, you have to go outside Hollywood. Well played, HBO, well played.
The storyline
This one goes hand in hand with the unpredictability of the show. The appeal of “Game of Thrones” lies in not knowing or even guessing who might come out a winner on the other side. There are no favorites in this violent, treacherous race and, if they are, they change often and unexpectedly.
There is no exact storyline to speak of: there are just various plots and subplots that always keep viewers on their toes, sometimes thrilled and sometimes enraged at the injustice.
Because Martin is yet to finish his series of books, the ending is shrouded in mystery, so that too works in favor of the show because, once more, no one knows how this will end.
The budget
The difference between HBO and other networks is that HBO isn’t cheap. It’s always invested considerably in their shows, choosing to do fewer seasons with hour-long episodes to fit the budget and not compromise anything, instead of dragging the story on for years, even when there’s nothing left to say. “Game of Thrones” is no different.
Sure, there is some pressure to complete it because the young actors are growing up but, other than that, production goes unencumbered. Least of all a problem is money, and you can tell that by looking at the high production value, the locations, the set pieces, the costumes and, ultimately, the acting, the directing and the marketing.
“Game of Thrones,” whether you’re a loyal fan or not, has changed television pretty much in the same way that “Alien” or “Matrix” changed filmmaking. It’s taking risks with every episode, it shocks and opens up debates, it’s bold, it’s beautiful, it’s smart and it’s gruesome. “Game of Thrones” is the perfect combo of excellent writing, acting and post-production work.
And I for one can’t wait for it to return on TV.