# Game of Thrones: What's the big deal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 11, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584 "2013-09-11T17:36:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/1 "2013-09-11T17:36:16Z")
I swear I’m not trolling, I just don’t quite get it. The show is ok, ultra-violent and hypersexual. Ok, whatever. But is it supposed to be difficult to follow? I am about halfway through the first season and I still can’t figure out a lot of what’s going on. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/2 "2013-09-11T17:40:28Z")
It can be unless you really pay attention or ask lots of questions. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/3 "2013-09-11T17:41:32Z")
There are so many characters, details and plot points that it’s a show that you have to pay attention to. For many people, such shows are a highly coveted dying breed genre in a medium rife with crap and schlock. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/4 "2013-09-11T17:49:23Z")
There’s definitely a lot going on, and people you think are the protagonists often end up…um, not being the protagonists for very long. I don’t have that much of a problem with the violence. I could do without some of the ridiculous, overly gratuitous sex scenes that serve no other purpose other than to show some T&A, but meh. The show’s well-written and well-acted, and I don’t mind a show that makes me work to keep up, especially when so many other shows try to hold your hand every step of the way. ---
**Author:** ![LinusK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/5 "2013-09-11T18:02:57Z")
Check out [this](http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8hVrlvRXGxg&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D8hVrlvRXGxg) chick. She’ll explain it all. She’s petty hot, and she has a robot-friend, too. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/6 "2013-09-11T18:09:18Z")
A lot of people I know that like it either have read the books themselves, or have a friend who read the books who encouraged them to watch the show and subsequently is “guiding” them through the show. Or, they spend a lot of time online reading about the show, sort of like everyone did with _Lost_. It’s probably easier to do this weekly after each episode instead of when you “binge watch” it after the fact! ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/7 "2013-09-11T18:15:56Z")
To third, or fourth what other people have said: it’s not a show that you can have on in the background while browsing the web and still expect to follow. The plot is fairly detailed. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/8 "2013-09-11T18:19:49Z")
It isn’t _supposed_ to be difficult to follow, but it does require the viewer to pay attention to it, and not just turn it on as background noise or as a colorful distraction while doing something else (the way many shows are viewed). For people who like to use television as a diversion or distraction while performing other tasks, this is a drawback. For people who like a bit more depth and detail to their television, it is a bonus. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/9 "2013-09-11T18:38:16Z")
Podrick, apparently. “We’re talking about the same Podrick? The quiet boy in Lord Tyrion’s service, seems a bit simple?” Seriously, the dense plotting, the sometimes unexpected genre-defying plot twists, some great dialogue and charaters (you could make an entire spinoff show of Tyrion and his bodyguard carousing, whoring, and talking and it would be riveting), and spectacular scenery all make it superior to damn near anything else on televisionright now. Plus, spotting all of the actors who look like knockoffs of more famous actors (when I dubbed Theon Greyjoy “Evil Luke Skywalker” there was mich applause from my fellow viewers). The plot(s) themselves are basically cribbed from _The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire_ and various histories of the spread of Islam, the Mongol Empire, et cetera, with some fantasy elements, but while not terribly original they are well done. The occasional gratuitous nudity and violence is just HBO making sure that you getmyour premium cable fee worth. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/10 "2013-09-11T18:46:31Z")
I never read the books but started a marathon viewing of the show in late April of this year until I was caught to see the last handful of episodes live. It’s fantastic IMHO. I did have to supplement the viewing however by reading the Wikipedia episode plot summary after each show. It helped immensely. I often had a location or character misplaced and it brought everthing into line. This isn’t a jab at it but it really is like a really big soap opera. Lots of characters, lots of seperate plots, gossip and backstabbing, climatic confrontations, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/11 "2013-09-11T18:49:26Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > (when I dubbed Theon Greyjoy “Evil Luke Skywalker” there was mich applause from my fellow viewers). I always saw him more as a young Mick Jagger. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/12 "2013-09-11T19:24:27Z")
I’m a fan of both the books and the TV series, even though I find both very hard to follow if I’m not paying strict attention. The books have literally thousands of characters. As someone who has trouble remembering names, I find it hell to keep up. But the story is so fascinating that I can’t give it up. I make frequent use of the [Wki of Ice and Fire](http://awoiaf.westeros.org/) to remind me of who’s who and what’s what. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/13 "2013-09-11T20:54:24Z")
The name issue is only compounded by the fact that many characters have simliar sounding names or are called by a number of different names, titles or nicknames. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/14 "2013-09-12T00:25:32Z")
It’s my favorite horror series currently running. I like the slow build to sheer horror that catches the viewer off-guard. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/15 "2013-09-12T01:40:16Z")
> [@LinusK](#): > > Check out [this](http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8hVrlvRXGxg&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D8hVrlvRXGxg) chick. She’ll explain it all. She’s petty hot, and she has a robot-friend, too. that looks pretty good! ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/16 "2013-09-12T02:00:51Z")
I had to watch the series twice. Makes so much more sense the second time, and I enjoyed it just as much for it. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/17 "2013-09-12T04:14:43Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > I’m a fan of both the books and the TV series, even though I find both very hard to follow if I’m not paying strict attention. The books have literally thousands of characters. As someone who has trouble remembering names, I find it hell to keep up. But the story is so fascinating that I can’t give it up. I make frequent use of the [Wki of Ice and Fire](http://awoiaf.westeros.org/) to remind me of who’s who and what’s what. Pretty much exactly this for me. I am loving both the books and the series. I’m actually reading the series over since it’s been so long since I read them and since I’m not reading to “find out what happens” I find I am paying more attention to details. The Wiki of Ice and Fire is indispensable for keeping track of who is who. The maps there are helpful, too. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/18 "2013-09-12T10:11:52Z")
I read the Wikipedia round up for each episode after watching it. There’s no spoilers for upcoming episodes (that I saw). I highly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/19 "2013-09-12T14:00:18Z")
I’d be hesitant to go to wikis, myself, but I find Alan Sepinwall’s recaps over at HitFix/What’s Alan Watching to be useful and often thought-provoking if there’s anything I didn’t catch. Same goes for the AV Club. Plus, of course, when you’re watching it “live,” the threads here are great fun and helpful to boot; you miss or don’t follow something, you just ask (thereby unintentionally setting off a spoiler flamewar :p). ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584/20 "2013-09-12T15:00:14Z")
> [@amaguri](#): > > I swear I’m not trolling, I just don’t quite get it. The show is ok, ultra-violent and hypersexual. Ok, whatever. > > But is it supposed to be difficult to follow? I am about halfway through the first season and I still can’t figure out a lot of what’s going on. That’s because very little of substance is going on. Best i could tell it had the depth of an Obama foreign policy objective combinded with the sophistication of an Obama foreign policy objective combined with the … Short version: you spend about 18 weeks being told ‘war is coming’ and then there’s almost a sea battle. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-whats-the-big-deal/668584.md?page=2)