The series starts in a wintery forest North of an enormous wall, that separates the North from Savage "civilised" land known as the seven kingdoms. The wall was built to keep out the creatures, which is supposed to rise from the northern forests decade particularly hard, long winter. But they have not been seen for a thousand years and most people think of them as being just legends. However, in the first scene we see they are not. Undead creatures with a hatred for all living things. The first few minutes shows the dismembered bodies of men, women and children, and then one of the undead beheading a ranger from the South of the wall on a scouting mission. Harry Potter this ain't.
Most of the series concerns three families. Gloomy but noble Starks led by Sean Bean (surely he must be a dab hand at swordplay at this stage). Lannisters headed by Lena Headley. She is Queen of Robert Baratheon, once a proud Warrior and friend of Ned Stark (Bean) have gone to seed. He has no interest in his Royal duties and her marriage of convenience wife Cersie. She also hates her husband and having an affair with her twin brother ... YEP, you read that right. other family are a brother and sister: Dany and Viserys Targaryen. The last of their family. Their father was the former King. He and all the rest of the family was killed when Robert took over the throne. They fled to another country, across the sea deep South. Viserys is dying to get his throne back and marries the sister of a local tribal chieftain in exchange for use of its large strain in regaining the Crown.
Fantasy elements are kept to a minimum. Creatures behind the wall is seen only briefly in the entire season, magic is mentioned, but is never seen and seems only to have the appliance of science and medicine. There were once dragons, but they are now trøde to be extinct.
Instead, season one concerns the rivalry between the Lannisters and Starks and intrigue in Viserys.
Big draw (and criticism) of the series is the dependency of sex and violence. Originally, it was almost a parody of itself. All adults seem to get nude at some stage in the Show (Prompting critics to nickname "the game of bones"), and the violence in it can be extreme for a tv show.
The other major draw of the series of books (and as viewers of the series is to find out) is that you really do not know what will happen next. Alliences is formed and betrayed almost weekly, and no one is safe.
HERE BE SPOILERS!
Sean Bean's character Ned Stark is the obvious protagonist in the series. Noble to a fault and trying to keep with the intrigues of the Lannisters and their comrades. The story seems to revolve around him. His illegitimate son goes connected to guards at The Wall, he is despised by Viserys to help Robert usurp his father. Cersie Lannister distrusts his honesty and try to lure him to the dark side. All promotion of the series surrounded Sean Bean's character. From posters to Re-released book covers focused on a brooding and troubled Ned Stark ... ... ... ... ... ... Which made his death in the second last episode very surprising. To put it mildly! One was always believing that recital Sean Bean's high profile as an actor and all promotion surrounding his character that he becomes the main "good guy". Internet response was extreme with all now ask who's next.
Cloud TV is to be commended for this magnificent production. There is far to much dross on tv at the moment and series such as this must be encouraged to be passed. I have read all the books so far, and let me tell you, if they keep this, you have not seen anything yet!!!!!
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