5 reasons why Game of Thrones is the most bad@ss series to hit our screens

The seventh season of the hugely popular Game of Thrones is finally here, and fans have been waiting with bated breath to find out how the epic saga of the Iron Throne is going to unfold over the following months. In the spirit of all things GoT, we’ve decided to put together a list of reasons that explain why the show is the most captivating and watchable series to hit our screens since it first aired in 2011.

GoT carefully balances epic fantasy with candid realism

The author of the books on which GoT is based, George R. R. Martin, reportedly wanted to create a mythic world that could combine the complex human emotions and political power struggles that we experience in real-life with an alternate universe, replete with fantastic dragons and mysterious supernatural forces. In fact, much of the political intrigue takes its lead from medieval dynastic wars.

You shouldn’t expect your favourite character to survive very long

This one seems like a contradiction: who would want to watch a series that has a habit of killing off its most heroic characters? It isn’t fun when a character you respect, empathise with and root for is given an unceremonious death at the hands of someone despicable. But, this is what tragedy is all about, and tragedy is, above all, gripping stuff. As in real-life, good people sometimes suffer undeserved terrors.

It isn’t afraid to show the sex and violence that helps to move the plot forward

Some commentators have criticised the show’s bold use of violence, sex, nudity, and even sexual assault, calling it gratuitous and unnecessary. Whereas this criticism may apply in certain episodes, it remains true that in many instances the scenes are there to make you feel something important. Regarding violence and bloodshed, Martin once noted:

the true horrors of human history derive not from orcs and Dark Lords, but from ourselves.

Many of GoT’s strongest female characters are as badass as they come

We are first introduced to a timid Daenerys Targaryen (Khaleesi, the Mother of Dragons) right from the start of season 1, and it is at her forced wedding that she receives her dragon eggs as a gift. When her potential begins to bloom (symbolically, when the dragons hatch), things get really interesting. And then there are the Stark sisters, Arya and Sansa, who both find deep reserves of inner strength in the face of unspeakable hardship. GoT’s infamous female villains may, at times, even evoke admiration. Cersei Lannister, for example, is capable of any detestable crime, but it’s undeniable that she is willing to do what others would like to, if they had her balls.

How it will end is anyone’s guess, and you can still go back to the beginning

GoT is nothing if not unpredictable, and how the story will end remains a closely guarded secret. But if you’re either, a fan wanting to revisit the story to date or a newbie looking for something awesome to watch, you can catch the first 6 seasons on Showmax. Whether you binge watch or pace yourself, these are hours well spent.