Declan Konroyd
The first episode of Game of Thrones was very intense. The
producer/director did an excellent job of conveying the scenery from the novel.
I originally thought that the series would be totally different aesthetically.
It was obvious that the creators had put a lot of time, money, and effort into
making the series as true to the book as possible. Everything from the Lannister’s body armor to
the demeanor of Ned Stark matched my own interpretation of Westeros. There did
seem to be some subtle differences from book to television. The violence seemed
to be way more dramatic in the series. Blood would not simply pour out of a
wound but rather it would cartoonishly spew in every direction. I realize that
they might have adapted this violence to provoke a wider demographic of
viewers. This would seem plausible because even the sex was crudely
implemented. Episode one emphasizes the vulgarity and evil that inevitably
coincides with sexuality. Again, I’m
assuming that they increased the amount of sex in the series to fit HBO’s
demographics. There is a lot of hidden
sensationalism found in Game of Thrones. Every scene attempts to provoke an
emotional response. I am generally fond of TV shows that cause excitement and
contemplation but it comes at an expense.
Much of the accuracy in a story can be disemboweled when using
sensationalism. I see this phenomenon occurring everywhere from News stories to
violent video games. Although I admire fascinating stories, I always prefer the
truth rather than arousal.
