Done. Just finished watching the second season finale. It took me a week to watch the whole 20 episodes of the first two seasons: normally, given how much I enjoyed this series, it would have taken me a couple of days...but a girl has got to work!
First things first, a short summary for those who live in a cave (just like I did until a week ago).
Set in a fictional, medieval-like universe in which magic still exists, Games of Throne, through several story lines, narrates the race to power of a number of noble families opposed to each other. Next to this main narrative thread, two more are developped: the awakening of a dark, terrible menace in the North and the survival of yet another throne pretender accross the sea. This summary sucks, I admit, but you need to watch it, because:
Number one. This is different than the usual fantasy. It is dark, it is violent, it is complicated, it is disgusting and, above all, it is incredibly real. Magic and mystical creatures are no Bididi Bodidi Bu: they are instrumental to very real men and women, crying real tears and bleeding real blood. I know I said it already, but this fantasy is real. The neat separation between good and evil we are usually presented with is nowhere to be seen: no one is a heroe here.
Number two. Anything can happen. For instance, there are no safe heroes who you know are going to live until the end just because they are the main characters: anyone can die. The complexity, the different levels of narration, the different motives pushing different people, the evil and treachery and intrigue make it possible for the story to go anywhere.
Number three. The "realization" is superb. I am talking about acting, directing, costumes, settings, music...basically everything. For example, the battle scenes are worthy of the best war movies. The ping ponging accross the different narrative lines is done smoothly. The acting is extremely well done, even more so the one of the children. And they all have a lovely british accent!
One thing I did not like, to be honest, is the second season finale. The firts season ended with a blust; the second one repeats the choice of the "expected surprise", but I found it did not leave up to the rest of the season.
As a last remark, I need to address the main critic this series usually gets: too much useless sex and blood. As for the blood, I do not see how it could be different: the one portrayed here is a fierce and violent world in which living is almost an exception.
As for the sex, I can see the point, but I would answer with two arguments. First, I did not read the books, but I read that sex is not an add on by HBO to make the show more spectacular: it is an ingredient taken right from the books; it is part of the game. Second, I have to say I usually get very upset by the scenes of violent, dirt, disgusting sex (in the sense that some literally hunt me for a while); but here, as disgusting as some may be, they are not upsetting, at least not to me. Maybe, it is because the whole scenario is so upsetting that it all gets blurry into a whirlpool of emotions. Or maybe because, all this "dirt" makes the purity more precious.
I thought, a few days ago, I was not going to go get the books because I wanted to enjoy the series. Today, I decided I am not strong enough and that, after all, I can enjoy the series even if I know what's coming!
Here is my favorite line: "What killed him?" "Loyalty". DON DON DON!
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