With just two weeks until the series premieres, HBO ran a fourteen minute preview for the series last night that definitely made it something different from what we’ve seen on the network before, especially in the last couple of years. Based on the novels by George R.R. Martin which are still ongoing, and could be a mild problem down the line depending on how successful the series is, the ten episode series is set to debut on April 17th with Sean Bean starring in the lead role alongside Mark Addy, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Fairley, Lena Headey, Kit Harington and Aidan Gille.
The preview covers two very distinct areas that helps to set up some of the basics of the show. The first gives us a glimpse of the scale of this fantasy world as we see the massive ice wall and the kind of brutality that can exist on the other side where people seemingly rarely go. We also see what turns out to be one of the looming evils of the world that hasn’t been around for thousands of years and is largely sent to the dustbin of history by men of this day. The flip side brings us to the castle of Winterfell where we see the rulers there overseeing their young sons training by the other sons and how they have to deal with justice, and the simple reasons why it’s so important.
I’ve long been a fan of Sean Bean so I’m particularly eager to see him in something that will let him spend some serious time being able to establish a character, a character with a very clear arc from the novels. Thankfully, HBO has put out the first fourteen minutes online so everyone can watch it, in order for them to gain a few more subscribers. The show definitely has some solid production values and the direction is spot on, though it does take a little bit to really get going and capture you. Once it does, it will get a good hold on you if you’re looking for a proper fantasy series, something that’s terribly lacking in modern entertainment.