Is anybody else here watching HBO’s new series GAME OF THRONES?
I have become a total addict. It’s funny, we haven’t subscribed to HBO for years…too expensive, too few channels. I much prefer Starz and/or Showtime. So, Starz and Showtime debuted their “big” new shows a couple of months ago–Camelot, and The Borgias. Bruce and I watched the first several episodes of each and each one left us less impressed than the one before.
Then we saw the debut episode of Game Of Thrones. HBO was very smart, debuting it during a “free weekend preview” and showing it a lot that weekend. We were addicted immediately. I dumped Starz & Showtime for HBO & Cinemax. (Now, once Game of Thrones is over for the season, I will very likely switch back to Starz & Showtime…gotta be ready for Dexter and Spartacus! 
)
But until then, we are enjoying the heck out of this show. It’s a little convoluted–set in a medieval-type world, where there are seven powerful families, who all vie for the throne. The main character thus far, Eddard Stark, played by Sean Bean, was best friend to King Robert, who just died…possibly assassinated at the hands of his evil, AWFUL, incestuous wife. The wicked queen has two brothers–one, her twin and lover (ick) and the other “The Imp”…a dwarf, played by Peter Dinklage. He’s a fabulous character, you don’t know whether he’s good or bad, you just know he’s brilliant and you can’t look away when he’s on the screen. 
The thing I’ve found really interesting as a romance reader is the parallel storyline taking place in a far-away land. Princess Daenerys–the daughter king before Robert, who was insane–has basically been sold in marriage by her evil brother. He gives her to this “brutal” warrior lord, with 40,000 soldiers at his disposal. In exchange, this warlord, Drogo (yum!) is going to bring his men to take back the throne for the brother. (That doesn’t work out so well for the brother.)
The interesting thing–Daenerys is VERY smart. She is treated pretty brutally by her husband at first, but only because he doesn’t know any better. She teaches him tenderness and soon this alpha man becomes the romance novel Alpha we all know and love. It’s like a classic romance novel by Johanna Lindsay or something! Only, of course, this isn’t a romance novel, this is HBO and it’s based on a series of books and I don’t think anybody has a happy ending. Sigh.
If you have HBO and you haven’t watched this yet, please do check it out. If you are watching it–tell me what you think! Anybody else as addicted as we are?
Leslie Kelly used to say she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, but then she discovered Nancy Drew books. Being a flashlight-under-the-covers-nose-in-book reader throughout her childhood, she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do as an adult than continue to lose herself in fictional stories. Her real life marriage of 20 years to the man of her dreams is a constant reinforcement that happily-ever-afters really can happen…and that they’re worth writing about. Living in Maryland, Leslie spends her non-writing time laughing a lot with the above-mentioned romance hero and their three daughters. Though an author of more than thirty sexy, contemporary comedies, she has recently branched out to write dark romantic suspense under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish.
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I’m so mad that I don’t have HBO! :*&#!: I will have to catch it on DVD, but hey, then I can watch them all in a row!
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I do love that about discovering a new show that’s been out a while and is on DVD. That’s how we got so into Dexter!
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I love Game of Thrones. I am not big on watching tv but this is one show I wouldn’t miss. This is one show that trumps my reading time.
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Right there with you!
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I’ve seen tons of people talking about this show on Twitter. No HBO for me right now. Will have to wait for the dvds to arrive on Netflix.
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Definitely do keep your eye out…it’s very cool. First HBO show I’ve really gone crazy for since Deadwood!
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no HBO for me…I love how you are switching back and forth.
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What can I say…I’m a cheapskate.
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Me, too..I am thinking of doing that so I can get OWN this summer.
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I absolutely love this show! It’s definitely one of the best …will be keeping HBO cause…gotta watch True Blood….lol…for some reason just not into Dexter or Spratacus…
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True Blood’s one I never really got into, though my kids are.
Dexter is definitely an acquired taste. It appeals to the Leslie Parrish in me.
Spartacus is just super-not, nearly naked guys. I’m cheap and easy that way.
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Sorry no HBO, Starz or Showtime for me! I probably would not watch this show anyway. Great that you & Bruce both enjoy & that is all that counts.
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It’s not the kind of show you can just “occasionally” watch–one of those epic ones that you have to really commit to. I’ve heard the books are the same way. Got middle daughter the first two books for her birthday and I’m looking forward to diving into them once she’s done!
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I. Love. This. Show. I’ve cried. I’ve WTF!!!???!!! so loud I scared the dogs and sent the cat into an arched-back hiss. I checked out the book and actually tried to read it and then decided I didn’t want to ruin the series. That NEVER happens!
I’m really worried for Ned Stark. He is…it’s like he’s the last honorable man in the whole of the Seven Kingdoms. I have to admit, Tyrion Lannister–The Imp–is a fascinating character. His brother and sister should be…something icky done to them–rather like what happened to Daenerys’s brother. They’re *shudder* truly evil.
And now I’m worried about Ned. Gah! I’m not sure how I’m going to survive the cliffhanger at the end of the 11 episodes. (I almost wish I’d read the book now. LOL!)
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You have more willpower than me. I haven’t read the books, but I have gone out on the net and read a ton of stuff about the books, so I do know a lot of the plot points that are coming up. (So far, they’ve been right on the money!)
You’re right to be worried about Ned…:sob:
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Not up on that one, but counting the days until True Blood returns. One of my guilty pleasures — to be viewed at the end of (or start depending how you look at it) of a long week after the kid is in bed. Learned quick that watching any earlier generally means the kid gets an education he wasn’t quite ready for and I have to pause it for comment. It’s something fun my guy and I can both watch, and something my guy and gal pals can gossip about for the next week.
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Hey Les, great write up about GoT. I have heard a lot of wonderful things about this show, but alas, I don’t have HBO. I won’t be getting it any time soon though. However, I might have to pick up the book. Every time I see it at the store, I keep reaching for it. Willpower won out there today, but I will definitely pick it up the next time at the store.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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No I haven’t watched the show at all.
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My husband has been reading the books, so far on number 3, so he has to watch. So I said what the hell bring it on (what else is there to watch on Sunday). I have to say I am enjoying it, but I am constantly asking questions about who, what, when, and where. It kinda confuses me, but there are some characters I love: John Snow and Tryion (imp). I hate the queen, I hope she has it coming to her eventually. I might have to read the books after this!
Oh and Spartacus,
! Cannot wait for it to come back on!!
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absolutley love this show…although I cannot wait for true blood to start again. khal Drago is hot hot hot……
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Don and I are watching Games of Thrones. It’s a great series and keeps us rivited every single week. I LOVE the story line between Drago and Daenerys. She has quickly wrapped her husband around her finger. It’s clear he’ll do ANYTHING for her, and he’s just plain HOT!
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I caught part of episode 6 over the weekend and thought it looked interesting. I’ve added it to my DVR and plan to get caught up on all the episodes through HBO on Demand.
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I guess I’m slower on some things than others.