I think Game Of Thrones is one of the “gateways” to fantasy for people who aren’t fans of the genre. It features a slow, gradual inclusion of the fantastic — in this case, the year-long seasons, a glimpse of the Others, one undead wight in Castle Black and the dragons hatching at the end. Show a newcomer Lord of the Rings and they might be turned off by the immersion in Elves, Wizards, Dwarves and Orcs. Even the use of language might turn them away. In Thrones, people talk plainly, deal with real issues and the politics of their time. Other elements of the genre slowly work their way in, and in the case of the TV series, it can be doled out a rate that’s easy enough for a novice to wrap his imagination around.

When you play the Game of Thrones, you win or you die. Honestly, did you think Ned could be saved? This is not a fantasy series based on romanticized notions of chivalry, and in writing the books, Martin took many tropes and turned them on their collective ears. As I said, no one is safe, but I need to emphasize something else: bad things do happen to good people.

By and large Sansa, the biggest victim of events in the books, is a passive character in that she’s led everywhere and doesn’t do anything to impact the story. It’s a sharp contrast to Arya, obviously, so I wonder if the actress is playing off that.

It seems that the writers and directors of the show have some sort of temporal rift through which they spy on me. I mentioned last week that Jason Momoa hasn’t had the chance to really act here and in this week’s episode he delivers.

The Lannister’s golden hair is a feature that’s mentioned prominently throughout the episode, and makes a couple of thoughts go “click” in Ned Stark’s brain. No doubt an astute viewer (and again I refer to those of you who haven’t read the novel) will have come to some conclusion about Joffrey, and I invite you to express your opinions about that in the comments. Please. I get lonely here, and the editor doesn’t always feed me on a daily basis.

Well, it’s on like Donkey Kong, isn’t it folks? The animosity between the Starks and the Lannisters hits a boiling point, Ned learns about some nefarious activities, King Robert calls for the death Daenerys Targaryen, and even the Imp of Lannister gets into a fight.

The series is showing strong and true yet again. I’m left to wonder how the season might look if it were filmed out to 20 episodes, more in step a typical television season.

I see a pattern forming. Each of the first three episodes of this series have covered about one tenth of the novel. I say this because I predict that there will be a very critical scene between Daenerys and Viserys in either episode five or six (I’m thinking five), and I wonder if it will fall short of its intended mark.