#spoileralert – mild spoilers ahead for those that haven’t watched the show/read the book and intend to!
I was late to the Game of Thrones party. I had not watched the series through the first 7 seasons. Just before the 8th season was to release, I binge-watched the entire series until that point. In hindsight, I think it was a good decision – that way I didn’t have to wait too long to know what happens next!
The reason I didn’t watch the series was that in the past, whenever there have been screen adaptations of literary works, I have preferred to read the book before watching the movie/show. I, however, did not get around to finishing the books completely and when my husband told me the show was ahead of the books anyway, I decided to switch the order and watch the series first. I am reading the books now!
Wikipedia classifies the series as ‘Horror’! I think ‘Thriller’ would’ve been more apt. The innumerable plot twists, character additions and their unpredictable ends on the show gave viewers a lot of anticipation and most people I know that followed the series, literally lived the show – rooting for their favourite characters, crying when they died, spending hours theorising about what would happen next.
For me, the Game of thrones through its myriad characters is a classic study of people and their thought processes. While there are very few completely black or white characters, all of them are at the very least, grey! They all did things they shouldn’t have at some point. The one guy who, to my mind, was as close to white as possible on the show was Ned Stark who was killed off in the first season!
Jaime Lannister, whom we were initially led to hate, turned out not entirely bad after all. Jon Snow, ethical as he was, broke his vows to the Night’s watch and eventually slept with his aunt (though he didn’t know it at the time). Daenerys Targaryen, who had all the makings of a good queen initially turned completely rogue and set the very city she was to rule ablaze. Arya Stark, for all her courage and tenacity, was basically an assassin and had the ability to kill without reason – something she learnt from the faceless people. Tyrion Lannister, possibly the favourite character for many followers of the show, was also very scheming and shrewd…not entirely something people disliked since he was probably one of the characters on the show that could put anyone in their place!
At its heart, the show is a political drama with various contenders vying for the Iron Throne. But it’s amazing how George RR Martin has written the books and the makers of the show have brought it to life navigating through so many characters and their psychology, plots, sub-plots and events while maintaining viewer/reader interest and anticipation at heady levels throughout. Some of the key highlights in terms of lessons for me from the show are listed below. These are generic lessons in dealing with people and situations.
1. Power is a heady cocktail and makes one uncontrollably corruptible – even the best of us.Â
Daenerys Targaryen – by the supremacy she gained by mere ownership of the dragons, she wielded more power than anyone else on the show – and beyond a point, she didn’t know how to use it well.
2. Whether someone lives up to the trust you put in them depends not only on their nature but on many other things. For instance, where they are in their life journey at that point in time, whether they are at all capable of what you are asking of them and many times (and probably most of all), on whether and how they much owe you.Â
There are lots of examples of this throughout the show – Littlefinger bailing out Sansa multiple times only to leave her with madass Ramsay Bolton, Theon going against Robb Stark but later helping out Sansa, the perennial love-hate relationship between Arya and the Hound, Daenerys’ inner circle (Tyrion, Ser Jorah Mormont, Missandei, Grey Worm)…..the list is endless.
3. Always have a Plan B
Implicit trust in anyone and a conviction that there’s only one way things will pan out are a sure shot way to disappointment at best and failure at worst. Having a plan B is important not just to succeed but because rest assured that your opponents/competitors will have one.
Again, tons of examples from the show – Cersei Lannister was master at this. Despite various impediments in her path, she finally did sit on the Iron Throne. When Arya Stark couldn’t get to the North after the Hound was presumed dead, she kept her wits and realising she may not make it to the North straightaway, headed to Braavos. Knowing that Jon would not be able to defeat the Bolton army by himself and his minuscule army, Sansa does not think twice before writing to Littlefinger and summoning the support of the Knights of the Vale.
4. You are what people see you as, not what you imagine yourself to be
This is a tricky one because we are always told to “be yourself”. But the truth is, when you are yourself, the way you see yourself can be very different from the way others see you.
Daenerys thought she was benevolent but she was seen as tyrannical. Jon Snow thought he was being noble by denying the throne but he was seen by some as foolish and by Daenerys as cunning. Robb Stark was trying to be brave and rule as a king (and is indeed one of my favourite characters on the show) but he never could shake off the image of being ‘just a boy of sixteen’!
5. When you play the Game of Thrones, you win or you die
This is a classic dialogue from the show and one that I think can apply to any ambition one has! It’s so powerful because it tells you that you have no way but to get through this or perish. You need to go all-in if you want something badly enough!
Daenerys Targaryen, Stannis Baratheon, Cersei Lannister probably did this best on the show yet they all died in the bargain. Jon, who deserved to sit the throne, didn’t really want it and eventually gave it up (or was asked to). The one who finally did sit the throne never fought for it but it is arguable that through his innate powers, he did change the course of events to achieve the throne.
What were your biggest takeaways from the show? Do let me know in the comments section.
And if you haven’t watched the show, I strongly recommend it (it only demands an investment of 63.5 hours, or the equivalent of two days, 15 hours and 30 minutes!!!).
New post tomorrow! Ta-da
Random thoughts! 