GAME OF THRONES: You love it or you (try to) ignore it

In just 9 days, the eighth and last season of Game of Thrones will begin airing on HBO. There’s a lot of anticipation in the media. But when it comes to GoT, people tend to have opposite extreme views: either they’re huge fans of the dark, dragon-ridden, sword-wielding epic tale, or they tell anyone who is willing to listen to them that they don’t want to see it, ever.

Why does GoT have such an extreme fandom?

Well, first of all, it has to do with genre. GoT is a medieval-ish fantasy saga, which automatically makes it unattractive to anybody scared of being labeled “nerdy” or “geeky”. (I mean, since when are historically savage zombie struck adventure stories cool????)

Second, the HBO series is based on a book series, which automatically gives it a hardcore, vocal, loyal fanbase, ready to defend the authenticity of each and every event, scene, line, sigh, and really fight tooth and nail against anyone who dares criticize anything (hidden behind a username on a social network, that is).

But what makes the series different?

An essential factor in its success is its setting. The plot takes us across very diverse landscapes, customs, colors, and dishes even. And different types of personalities. We are naturally drawn to define ourselves through the sense of belonging and labeling. The use of Houses, with diverse traits and aspects (just like the Hogwarts Houses in Harry Potter) makes it compelling to take a Buzzfeed test and know once and for all whose tribe you’ll be on when the fight for the Iron Throne will begin.

Another one of GoT’s assets is the complexity of its characters: nobody is good nor evil, each one of the inhabitants of George R.R. Martin’s universe evolves through time, with lots of experiences and encounters, driven by a will to survive and a quest for power. Women characters, unlike in numerous shows and movies, are resilient, capable, violent and ambitious, without losing the femininity we expect from them. They don’t exist through other male characters, yet their fates are determined by them and this acknowledgment alone makes the story fascinating. They go from being prostitutes to knights, slaves to queens, or archers to witches, none of them is a perfect fit or stereotypical women, nor do they remain fixed throughout the seasons.

Let’s join forces for the final part of this epic battle and meet the King of Night beyond the Wall.

Thanks for reading, it’s been a pleasure.

-Unknown

“Winter is coming."

Season 1, Episode 1 “Winter is coming”