Game of Thrones

I just finished watching the first two episodes of Game of Thrones, the new series on HBO (US and Canada).  This series is very closely based on the novels by George R.R. Martin, the first of which goes by the same name.  I have read A Game of Thrones, but have not read any of the others.  They are very large books and very dense.  They certainly do not qualify as beach reading material.

The series so far is magnificent.  If you like your fantasy full of gory details and unending sword fights with a bunch of monsters thrown in for spice, then this series is not for you.  If you like your TV to be full of drama, intrigue and populated by characters that are deep and complex, then you definitely need to check this out.

The story is set in a fantasy world where the newish king's right hand  man has just been murdered and he has gone north to ask his old buddy Eddard Stark to be his new Hand.  This sets off a spiraling story of court intrigue and politics that is extremely complex and twisted, but not so much that you can't follow it.  The acting is superb and the series stars quite a few people that if you don't immediately recognize them from other television shows, you at least have that "I've seen them before," feeling.

I highly recommend you give this series a try.  Game of Thrones airs on Sunday nights here in North America.  If you don't have access to HBO, then there are other ways of "acquiring" the episodes after they have aired.  I think it would be well worth your time.