Reasons why Game of Thrones is the best show ever. Seriously. Best. Show. Ever.

During #GOT season (which is criminally short, in my opinion), I plan my Sundays around the show. I need to be on my couch, lights dimmed, ready to watch five minutes before 9pm (wouldn’t want to miss the opening theme music, you know). During the show, I don’t get up to the go to the bathroom or grab a drink/snack. I don’t take my eyes off the television. Hell, I don’t blink. I’ve watched a lot of good (and bad…really, really bad) television in my time, but I’ve never felt as strongly about a show as I do about GOT. I dare you to watch this show and not become a fanatic. In case you don’t watch (and why wouldn’t you be watching???), here are the top reasons why during the off season, I’m within kissing distance of needing a GOT support group:

WTF just happened???

I have a talent (or a curse, depending on how you look at it). I can spot a plot twist a mile away. I always know what is going to happen next in a movie or on a show. I knew right away that Darth Vadar was Luke’s father and Leia was his sister. But GOT? That’s the one show that has shocked the crap out of me more times than I can count (I’m looking at you, Red Wedding). For that alone, I’d keep watching week after week.

Can I be her when I grow up?

Critics might not agree with me on this, but I can’t think of another show that features more strong female leads than GOT. There are women who literally kick ass (Brienne of Tarth, Ygritte), women who think circles around the men in their lives (Arya and Catelyn Stark, Margaery and Grandma Tyrell), and women who rule without even needing to physically kick ass (Daenerys Targaryen, Cersei Lannister). Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying all of these characters are good role models for today’s youth. They certainly have their flaws. I’m just saying it sure is nice to see women on TV who hold their own against (and often best) their male counterparts. Girl power!

I hate that guy!
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I think it takes an amazing writer to create villains that people despise. And if Joffrey Baratheon, Locke, Viserys Targaryen, Craster, and Walder Frey are any indication, I would have to say that George R.R. Martin and the show’s writing staff are AMAZING. But while these characters are pure evil with no redeeming qualities, GOT has also managed to create several great anti-heroes. Arya Stark, Jaime and Tywin Lannister, The Hound, and Lord Varys…these are people who’ve done terrible things (and I do mean TERRIBLE things). But the writers managed to make these characters complex enough that I find myself sympathetic to them and even rooting for them. GOT actually made me feel sorry for a character who tried to kill a child in order to cover up the incestuous affair he was having with his sister. I’m not proud of that, but hey, it is what it is. The writing is that good.

Complete fearlessness

Eviscerations, sadistic torture, crushed skulls, baby killing, incest, children getting shoved out of windows, ice zombies, offing main characters left and right…yeah, this show goes there with complete fearlessness. As a writer, I gotta admire the hell out of that (even though as a viewer, a few of these things freaked the ever-loving shit out of me).

Dragons

Need I say more?

Surprise romance

OK, I’ll admit that if you’re looking for romance, GOT probably wouldn’t be the first show I’d recommend. And maybe as a romance writer, I’m just hyper-sensitive to all things romantic. But there have been moments (few and far between, but still) that warmed my heart. Robb’s relationship with Talisa was beautiful (mostly…for a while, anyway), and after their initial (ahem) rough start, Dany’s relationship with Khal Drogo was surprisingly tender. And even though they aren’t technically in a romantic relationship, when Jaime jumped into the pit to fight a bear, one-handed, to save Brienne? Yeah, I fan-girled a little bit.
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I could on and on about this for days, but I’d love to hear from you! Leave a message on this site, letting me know all the wonderful things you love about GOT.