SB on Episodes 1.1, 1.2, & 1.3

            Until this week, I had never seen an episode of the popular television show Game of Thrones.  After viewing the first three episodes, I am able to make a more proper assessment of the show.  In this first blog entry, my initial reactions to the content of the show (including the characters, setting, and plot) will be explicated, and this will be followed by a discussion of a few connections that I made between the show and other works of literature.  This blog entry will conclude with a general assessment of the show.

         Even from this early point of viewing the series, I can definitely understand what all of the noise is about:  the show was very appealing with its complex character development and thought-provoking plot that took place in a world of fantasy and escape.  Even though this show is a work of fiction, the characters and events had qualities that could create a sense of identification with the audience. Further, this show contained two elements that are widely considered to be crucial ingredients of a recipe for television success:  sex and violence.  Based on these observations, my first reaction toGame of Thrones was that I could definitely understand why the show is so popular.

           Another reaction to the general content of the show that is worthy of mention was a slight sense of confusion.  Based on a few articles and conversations with other viewers of Game of Thrones, this sense of confusion is not unusual.  In these first few episodes, many characters, settings, and conflicts were introduced and there was a lot of information to grasp for someone who was viewing the show for the first time.  However, there are websites (including “Winter is Coming”) and other resources that are designed to help viewers catch up with the story and learn the characters. 

          So far, my initial reactions to the show’s content have been discussed.  Now, some connections between Game of Thrones and other literature will be explained.  I have never read George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones book series, but I have read some Celtic myths and legends.  After viewing only three episodes, I cannot exactly draw any conclusions. However, I can say that certain sequences of scenes from these first three episodes would fit perfectly into a collection of Celtic mythology.  It is understood that the fictional world in Game of Thrones would not only be considered Celtic because there are various kinds of cultures represented in the show. However, I hold that Game of Thrones (in the first three episodes, at least), with its themes of betrayal, nobility, and glory and its scenes of kings, queens, castles, and green hills, reminded me of the classic works of Celtic mythology.

            While the connection between Game of Thrones and mythology may seem obvious, a less obvious connection between Game of Thrones and a work of literature was also made.  Greg Littman studied Game of Thrones through a more philosophical lens and applied the Leviathan of Thomas Hobbes.  Littman stated that Hobbes would hold that it is preferable to have any ruler (even if that ruler obtained the position of power unlawfully) than a state of civil war or anarchy because it is in everyone’s self-interest to live in a functioning society.  I found the fact that Littman utilized Game of Thrones as an illustration (or a “thought experiment”) of the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes to be fascinating. 

In this first blog entry, I stated my initial reactions to the show (that I was slightly confused by the complexity of the show but that I understood why the show is so popular) and made some connections between Game of Thrones and other works of literature (philosophy and Celtic mythology).  In addition to being a very entertaining television show,Game of Thrones seems like it can inspire viewers to learn new things about history, philosophy, the mythology of cultures, and other topics. In conclusion, it is too early to make a definitive assessment of the series, but I can safely declare that I found the show to be entertaining and thought-provoking.

References

Littman, Greg.  “Maester Hobbes Goes to King’s Landing.”  Game of Thrones and Philosophy: Logic Cuts Deeper Than Swords. Eds. William Irwin and Henry Jacoby. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2012. 5-18. Print.

Selcke, Dan. Winter is Coming: The Game of Thrones News Source. FanSided Network.    November 2008. Web. 23 January 2016.