Initiated: My Journey to Find the Beginning of 'Game of Thrones'

Never mind the coffee cup or Jaime's hand. Dismiss any flub that may have occurred associated with this show. This missive is not about those minor events. The major draw, the very crux of the show, is the lives and thoughts of the characters that people Game of Thrones (GoT). It took just the first episode for me to identify and observe what the monumental series has to offer. The truth is, I’ve never been a fan of the show just as I am not of any person, team, or other entity. I can say that I do appreciate the exchanges of power and critique the taboo subjects like incest. As the show unraveled before my eyes, a tinge of excitement like a surge of electricity coursed through my being. I was more than hooked. I found a gem of a television series that has motivated me ever since.

The goings on partly based on the War of the Roses remained such a powerful and impactful way to showcase the story. Daenerys Targaryen stands out in my mind as a vulnerable yet empowered entity in the show. I became aware of her obvious beauty, but her stunning intelligence stimulated my mind. The show is like a wounded wolf that still fights in battle despite its wounds. For it to carry eight seasons on the strength of a labyrinth-styled storyline is what promotes and has sustained GoT. By viewing only a little over an hour of television, I received a lesson like a determined pupil in search of a spark of imagination.

The first episode featured characters that would, of course, perish in later episodes like Viserys Targaryen. But praise be due to George R.R. Martin and David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. These men have crafted a series that changed my life in an initial viewing eight years after the episode first aired. Like an eye not affected by drunken stupor but a clear vision, I viewed the show with thought and emotion and allowed myself the chance to relate.

The struggles between and among the various worlds only bring to the fore a sense that GoT will live on far beyond its last episode. The balance of horrific imagery, delicate bodies of the women, humor, and exciting plotting propels the show. So, I keep watching the episode thinking that the dozens of other episodes must be this great as well. I leaned into the screen and relished every flicker of light glinting off of the snow in Winterfell. I enjoyed with amazement the excellent editing techniques that Tim Porter and Katie Weiland had perfected. From the beginning, I was like an archer myself—focused on targeting the next scene to realize. As the Night Watch rangers became targets of the White Walkers, my terror levels increased. I was shaking like a hand at a craps table as I viewed the initial sight of a massacre and the heads that roll in the episode. While the technical aspects have been lauded (and for good reason) the acting, writing, and direction of the seminal effort ought not be overlooked.

The show is cerebral and commands you to think about the ideas behind the action. I took note of the intellectuality involved in GoT. It is a thinking person’s show that is, of course, based on Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice series. I was worried about not reading the books. I wasn’t concerned about the fact that I had not viewed the scores of other episodes. I locked in on the beautiful cinematography coupled with the intriguing storylines.

When I saw Lord Ned show reverence to his departed sister, I lost track of the minutes slipping away on the digital presentation. At no point did I look up to see the score of the hockey playoff game that aired on the television. I became invested. From this episode, I gained a profound respect for the fantasy genre. While I have delved into science fiction and magic realism, this piece of cinematic art exhibits the spirit of the human imagination. All of this over not a golden throne or silver one but an iron one intrigued me. I thought that the idea of various factions rising up to seize this possession warranted my time and patience. This McGuffin serves as the principle idea and aim as well as the allusion in the title of the television series.

So, I still kept my eyeballs locked on the screen. The fascinating plot and incredible characters from this initial viewing allowed me to glimpse into the entire universe of GoT in just a little over an hour. I felt that the final scene where Jaime Lannister pushes Bran Stark out of a window left me astounded, surprised, and yearning for more from this story. Though I am in the minority as far as those who have seen the entirety of the series, I can say that this program in one episode has enriched my television watching experience. Like an archaeologist who has stumbled upon a significant find, I have been driven to study more of the GoT philosophy.

The presence of Tyrion, as many have said, is against type and is a welcome sight to see a little person have an arrogant flair and a contemptuous gait. Ned Stark presents a quiet and stately air, and demonstrates a benevolent Lord. Though no dragons breathe fire like flames from a fireplace in this episode, the dragon eggs present both a sense of hope for the future and the frozen sense of what these beasts will one day become. So, as I sat there leaning further into my laptop screen, I became engrossed like a programmer writing thousands of lines of code. Only I was absorbing the spectacle of the initial episode.

From the books sprang sprawling, dramatic scenes replete with twists, betrayals, sexual escapades, bloody battles, and demonstrative of quiet and understanding as well. So with the only viewing of the premiere episode, I have gained a greater respect for the minds that have launched this series into the stratosphere.

Just this one episode has altered my course and how I will view the rest of the seasons, once I get around to it. It has been an exhilarating experience to witness such an epic show take off from the minds of Martin and Co. The time and effort to craft each specific detail exhibits intellectual capacity of all those involved. From the lighting to costuming, everything seems to be of superlative quality.

Given that I have viewed just the initial episode, it is only right that I applaud the series which has surged forth like a sea vessel through eight seasons. As it picked up a momentum and a loyal following, GoT has left an amazing signature on the television viewing front. The power of images is crucial. The flicker of the camera and the capture of action against the light has been the hallmark of this show, just on a grander scale. The various tugs of war for position reflect the times in which we live. While reality doesn’t always provide a way for the good to win against malice and naked evil, art has the capacity to see that the good can arise amongst the turmoil.

With my brain reeling from the moments of action including the beheading of one of the Night Watch rangers, I’m thinking, “Can it get better than this?” As I gazed upon the beauty of Daenerys and notice her frailty and strength all combined into one, I can appreciate why the production team chose to make this an opening presentation of a show which would become venerable.

It is to the credit of the actors like Sean Bean who embodies the soul of a leader, but still must bow down to King Robert Baratheon. The subtle nuances of just this first episode exploded in my mind like depth charges. Once I came upon them they ignited my thinking process.

To tackle such gory subject matter as a beheading and then juxtapose the scene with Bran chasing sister Arya who is more adept at archery makes for a show of flexibility. The integration of moments of dire brutality, passionate and forbidden sex, and levity mark this show as a product of how well a story can be imagined.

To tackle such gory subject matter as a beheading and then juxtapose the scene with Bran chasing sister Arya who is more adept at archery. The integration of moments of dire brutality, passionate and forbidden sex, and levity mark this show as a product of how well a story can be imagined.

In just one episode, I gleaned the power and grandeur of a series that sheds light on the conflict between and among human beings. The various realms that appear after the sight of what qualifies as a true dynasties. It is the best way to convey how mighty the human brain is in concerning an entire hub of characters and stories. Shocks, surprises, and intricate plots all combine to form a product of superior quality. In just one episode, I learned the consequences of how the strands of creative forces bundle together to show that greatness is possible, that it can be achieved. And so as the episode ended, I smiled a beaming smirk and applauded in an act of solitary salute to those involved.

For a beat, I took in what I just saw and felt and marked the rapidity of my heart rate. Because my mind regulates my heart, I knew that reason reigned supreme. And as a result, my intellectual and emotional capacities never clashed. I knew that with Season One, Episode One, “Winter Is Coming,” I could comprehend the fact that this show that has revolutionized popular culture has the power to shift minds for the good.

In Season One, Episode One, the table became set for a bountiful feast of ideas. The thought behind the most minute details permits the viewer to become immersed in settings that sweep him or her up not as an escape but as a full engagement in the material. Now, I know that I will receive backlash for not being a die hard fan from day one. I accept that. However, I have become a genuine supporter based on seeing what amounts to one of the best scripted series to ever appear on the tube. As I sat in my office chair with the illuminated laptop screen, I relaxed and let the words and sounds and picture wash over me. Fittingly, it seemed like an otherworldly experience to take account for the plot, theme, characters and style which sprang from the mind of Martin and Co. Inventiveness and a punishing work ethic describes the power and might of this cadre of thoughtful people.

“Winter Is Coming” represents the kick-off of the series. The consideration of the fantasy land of Westeros allows the viewer to take in both the lush and harsh aspects of an invented world. “Winter Is Coming” has even become part of the world vernacular meaning to be aware of anything rough or unpleasant or an opportunity is afoot. Martin and Co. pictured it in their minds. It is like a the human brain itself that over eight years, the torso, extremities, and central nervous system all came together to form a body of work.

But it began with this premiere episode. If it were not for this first offering, there would be no place for the body to grow. Thankfully, this seminal episode bolsters every other episode that follows it. In the almost decade that has passed since this show saw the illumination of a producer’s green light, millions of people all over the globe have cherished this series as if it remained an additional appendage. It has become part of the binge worthy shows of the DVR and On Demand era.

While I have admitted in the course of this piece that I have only watched a single episode (the first at that) I can say with full certainty that the ideas involved in GoT lift up the show to ever greater heights. So, I will not cower and hang my head low. I will march on with the knowledge that I have thoroughly enjoyed a solitary episode of GoT. I will look to the skies and contemplate how a great a show it is and how fortunate I am to have witnessed it.