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by J. Lewit
As the Fate of a Fantasy World, George R. R. Martin doesn’t seem to spare anyone’s thread the scissors. That’s not a mark against him, Martin’s a master craftsman. His story has me plotting revenge for a family I am not related to. There are characters in the world of Game of Thrones that I’d like to kill more than my boss.
As the first season run of HBO’s adaptation of Martin’s epic novel series A Song of Ice and Fire spurts toward its presumably bloody and lusty conclusion, critics have begun to sum up the allure of the show and grant it those winsome badges called theme and relevance. The coin the realm is minting seems to be ruthlessness, but I’m not sure what that buys. The clear point that fans and critics will often repeat is that there are no clear good guys and bad guys. Nowhere is this more clear than in the character of Tyrion, played by Peter Dinklage, a master manipulator who may be consummately selfish, but so far - stops short of bothering to do anything really wrong.
If I may crack open my own dragon’s egg and make what omelet I can: “Game of Thrones” is, if anything, an indictment of the short-sightedness that often hides behind the worthier title of pragmatism. The characters are often ruthless, but that’s as easy to see as the swords and horses. The story challenges the audience to see characters who are changing – now you hate them, now you’re not sure – which makes for a story that can focus on the details of characterization more. What’s key in this critics’ eye is how justified the characters feel, how honest and practical their evil is, and how glibly they explain it: the world is a hard place, their enemies are hard people, therefore, it is merely good strategy for them to be hard – or better, harder.
When the likes of treachery, conspiracy and murder are justifiable because they are simply the most prudent course of action, then the world needs a better synonym for bad. There’s a certain turn taken in the game to control – and keep – the Iron Throne – fans of the show have just seen it last episode. Once this happens, Westeros loses the charm of a chessboard full of slightly depraved pieces and slides down into, if you will, damnation. All of the players now take on some sin for dealing truth and honor out of the game.
The world they have made themselves by doing so, the world they all claim drives them to act as they do – may yet be saved – if their creator wishes – but given the length of the novels, it may be a long time in coming. I can’t wait to see how, or if, their penance will save their world.
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