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Blu-Ray : Must Own
Ranking:
Release Date: March 6th, 2012 Movie Release Year: 2011

Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season

Overview -

Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun. It will stretch from the south, where heat breeds plots, lusts and intrigues; to the vast and savage eastern lands; and all the way to the frozen north, where an 800-foot wall of ice protects the kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords, and honest men...all will play the Game of Thrones.

OVERALL:
Must Own
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
Region A
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/AVC MPEG-4
Length:
0
Aspect Ratio(s):
1:78:1
Audio Formats:
Polish DTS 2.0
Subtitles/Captions:
English SDH, French, Spanish, Castilian, Brazilian, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
Special Features:
Five behind-the-scenes featurettes
Release Date:
March 6th, 2012

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

When the initial trailers for HBO's 'Game of Thrones' first hit the airwaves, I must admit, I was fairly underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, given the cable network's prestigious track record, I fully expected the show to be good, but to me, the series looked like generic, dark fantasy material, with very little to distinguish it from other seemingly more original and successful efforts in the genre. As it turns out, however, I was wrong. I was very wrong. In fact, I could not have been more wrong. From the moment the first episode ended, I was hooked, fully and completely. I was immediately transported into another world with a past and history as storied and multifaceted as our own. I was totally sucked into an expansive, rich tapestry of feuding houses and exotic lands, of complex relationships and morally ambiguous motivations, of timeless themes, and yes, even tiny hints of magic. Episode after episode, the series simply takes hold, fully gripping its viewers as it gradually reveals an epic scope while maintaining an intimate core of character driven storytelling. Each new development, each new surprise adds to an increasingly intricate, deeply layered narrative, forged of blood and steel, of fire and ice. I was wrong, and I couldn't be happier.

Based on George R.R. Martin's novel of the same name (the first of an ongoing series of books, collectively known as "A Song of Ice and Fire"), the show focuses on the fictional, medieval land of Westeros, and the various noblemen and warriors who vie for its control. After the King's advisor dies under mysterious circumstances, the despot calls upon his old friend, the honorable Lord Eddard Stark (Sean Bean) to serve as his new "Hand." Though reluctant to leave his family, Eddard, or Ned, as his friends call him, eventually relents, fueled by grave suspicions that the King may be in danger. As Ned embraces his newfound duties, he gradually uncovers a complicated conspiracy that could send shockwaves across the Seven Kingdoms and incite an all-out war. With various houses, families, and foreign invaders all plotting for control of the Iron Throne, Ned attempts to keep the peace while the very safety of the realm hangs in the balance.

The plot is endlessly complex, with layers upon layers of scheming and intrigue, and the mythology of Westeros itself is rife with intricate back-stories and fully developed histories. Those who have read the books will surely be at home with the material, but those new to the Seven Kingdoms (like me) might be a little overwhelmed at first. Thankfully, the writers do a magnificent job of gradually introducing the show's sprawling cast of characters while revealing tiny morsels of lore throughout the season. Yes, the plot can be a little confusing and daunting at times for the uninitiated, but given the grand scope of Martin's tale, the level of cohesion and accessibility is really remarkable. Before long, it will all make sense and you'll be on the edge of your seat, fully immersed in the series' dense conflicts, patiently waiting for each new twist and turn to play out to their invariably bloody conclusions.

Beyond its epic, winding narrative of politics, betrayal, and loyalty, what really makes 'Game of Thrones' so special, is its multifaceted web of characters and the emotional relationships that develop between them. Every role, from major player to seemingly inconsequential extra, is brought to life with nuance and believability through expert writing and impeccable casting. All of the actors perfectly inhabit their characters, making it nearly impossible to imagine any other individual in their shoes. Sean Bean is inspiring as Eddard Stark, a lone, truly honorable man thrust into a sea of sharks. He is everything all heroes aspire to be, but that doesn't make him perfect, and it's his human flaws that end up fueling his greatest strengths and weaknesses. His journey and battle against corruption is the heart of the first season and Bean carries Ned's arc to an emotionally stirring conclusion that will leave viewers breathless.

As Daenerys Targaryen, the exiled, "rightful" heir to the Iron Throne, Emilia Clarke is spectacular. Her character starts out as nothing more than a submissive victim, but throughout the course of the season she slowly finds inner strength, and the actress does an amazing job of imbuing her transformation with equal parts grace and power. Emmy winner, Peter Dinklage, is also a scene stealer as the Queen's dwarf brother, Tyrion Lannister. Despite his family's despicable actions, his character always remains likeable, and Dinklage plays the role with wit, charm and insightful wisdom. The show is also home to an exceptional troupe of child actors, with Maisie Williams serving as a real standout. The young actress plays fan favorite, Arya Stark, Ned's youngest daughter, and her tomboy character is among the show's most entertaining and fun to watch. Honestly, I could go on and on extolling the great merits of every single cast member, which is a true testament to the level of skill on display here. There really is no weak link in the entire bunch.

Of course, given the story's vast scope and extensive cast, some characters are marginalized from time to time (I actually forgot the youngest Stark child even existed until he showed up again in the last few episodes) but to the writers' credit, almost everyone gets their moment to shine. Dialogue is poetic and lyrical while still remaining believable (and wonderfully crass when it wants to be). While the show is full of grand, dramatic beats, the series' quieter moments are equally memorable. Simple exchanges, like a heart to heart between the King and Queen, or a drinking game with Tyrion and his companions, prove to be just as revealing and emotionally resonant as any of the show's louder scenes. Then of course, there is the end of episode nine, "Baelor." I dare not spoil the scene for any who might be unaware of its content, but suffice to say, it ranks among the most artfully staged, beautifully realized, emotionally devastating sequences in any show, period. The writers and performers take classic archetypes and breathe new life into them, allowing the characters to become so much more than mere "Imps" or "Bastards." While many fantasy stories rely heavily on the concept of good versus evil, in Westeros there are no true heroes or villains, keeping the various conflicts cast in a morally ambiguous cloud of grey.

Like many HBO series, 'Game of Thrones' is home to lots of sex and violence. Action is wonderfully choreographed, exciting, and absolutely brutal, with a few really great (though mostly brief) sword fights peppered throughout. Despite the show's awe-inspiring production design and sets, there are a few instances where the simple budgetary realities of TV do come into play, minimizing the range of some of the later episodes' action oriented events. Still, this is easily forgivable, and while a pretty major battle is forced off-screen, fans of medieval combat should be quite pleased with what the series has to offer. On a similar note, fans of sex and nudity should also rejoice, as the show offers plenty of skin. The world of internet bloggers has even come up with a new word to describe the series' trademark blend of exposition and sexual content, dubbing these instances "sexposition" scenes. Some have criticized the show for these sequences, but I never found the racy content to be gratuitous. Hell, mixing the sex scenes with important information actually makes them less superfluous than on most shows where sex is purely meant to titillate. In 'Game of Thrones' when women start taking of their clothes you might actually learn something in the process. That's a win-win situation as far as I'm concerned.

Though technically a fantasy series, supernatural elements take a backseat to political maneuvering and character development. While I expect future seasons will feature more fantastical aspects, in this batch of episodes instances of magic are few and far between. Dragons are mentioned as having existed in the realm, but are now extinct, and while a potentially otherworldly threat is introduced in the show's very first scene, this subplot is mostly sidelined for the remainder of the season. This all lends the series a stark sense of realism while still keeping the door open for later mystical content. With that said, the season's closing moments are sure to please genre fans, as its final image is the stuff fantasy geeks' dreams are made of.

Before watching 'Game of Thrones' I couldn't tell a Stark from a Targaryen, a Lannister from a Baratheon, but now I could probably recite a pretty decent version of the "Mad King's" fall during the "Sack of King's Landing." This is the type of deep storytelling that incites rabid followings and diehard fans. This is TV at its best. Beneath all of the violence, sex, politics, scheming, and tiny bursts of magic, rests a character driven story about love and honor. Head writers D.B. Weiss and David Benioff take George R.R. Martin's novel and turn it into a masterful piece of serialized television, weaving an epic tale full of excitement, brutality, humor, gravitas, wonder, and poignant insights into the human condition. The show is so strong it almost makes me forgive Benioff for his part in writing 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine.' Almost. The series now joins the likes of 'Breaking Bad,' 'Treme,' and 'Mad Men' as one of the best shows on TV. Season two is just around the corner, so those new to the series should not hesitate to pick this up. Everyone else better grab a coat and prepare to get nice and cozy by their television sets, because on April 1st "winter is coming" yet again. I don't think I need to tell you I'll be watching.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

HBO presents 'Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season' on five BD-50 discs housed in an attractive foldout case that comes packaged in a sturdy outer case with a cardboard slipcover. After some warnings, logos and skippable trailers, the discs transition to standard menus. The packaging indicates the release is region A compatible.

Video Review

Ranking:

The show is provided with a series of 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfers in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio. In a word, these discs look stunning, gorgeous, breathtaking -- wait, that's three words. Oh well, I guess one word just isn’t enough, because this video presentation is spectacular, incredible, amazing... I think you get the point.

The show is shot digitally in high definition (with the exception of a few 35mm shots in the pilot) and the source is clean and pristine throughout. Clarity is exquisite, revealing every tiny inch of the show's painstaking production design, creating a totally believable, living, breathing medieval fantasy world. Fine textures are wonderful, especially in close-ups. From the elaborate costumes and weapons, to Sean Bean's world-weary, bearded face, or Emilia Clarke's mesmerizing eyes, every facet of the image pops and dazzles. Each location throughout the fictional land of Westeros has a distinct visual palette, giving every individual setting a unique on screen look. Whether we're in the grey/blue halls of Winterfell, or the red/orange courts of King's Landing, or the golden deserts across the Narrow Sea, each land features rich colors or appropriately subdued hues that enhance the mood and atmosphere. Contrast is high without overpowering the picture, and black levels remain deep and inky. The sharp detail, bold colors, and intense contrast all lead to a remarkable sense of depth and dimension. The only small flaws I noticed were a fleeting instance of banding during a fade in transition, and some extremely negligible noise, but these miniscule, virtually nonexistent blemishes are not enough to chink the transfer's otherwise immaculate armor. This is a five star video presentation, through and through.

When the series first aired on HBOHD I remember being very impressed, as it was easily one of the best looking shows on TV. This Blu-ray release takes the video one step further, improving upon its compressed broadcast quality in every conceivable way. Simply put, 'Game of Thrones' absolutely sparkles in a reference quality, jaw dropping transfer.

Audio Review

Ranking:

The series is presented with English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound, along with a few additional foreign language tracks and subtitle options. Like the video, these mixes are exceptional and essentially flawless, providing an immersive, seamless auditory experience that literally transports the listener into the world of the show.

Dialogue, whether spoken normally, whispered, or screamed, always comes through crisp and clear. Every scene features a wide and enveloping soundstage that litters the room with activity, both subtle and overt. Flowing wind, galloping horses, crackling fire, cawing ravens, and other ambient effects bring life to the various villages, castles, and forests with strong rear speaker use that never overpowers the storytelling. Directionality is precise and distinct, and each tiny and aggressive sound is perfectly balanced. No matter what the location is, the mix always makes it seem like an entire world continues to exist just out of frame, extending far off into the horizon. Imaging between the speakers is natural and spacious as characters and objects move around the room. Action scenes ramp things up considerably, assaulting the listener with the harsh, metal clanging of swords against armor and the unsavory splash of gushing blood. Bass activity is deep and full, giving each slash, gallop, or piercing arrow a resounding thud. Dynamic range is wide and distortion free, and the series' grandiose score and memorable theme all come through with striking fidelity.

Much like the video, the audio totally immerses the audience in a believable reality, lending the fictional world of Westeros a remarkable sense of authenticity. Every episode is teeming with dense auditory texture that can be delicate or aggressive when it needs to be. The technical and artistic strength of these mixes easily places them among the best that the feature film world has to offer, a feat most television shows rarely achieve.

Special Features

Ranking:

HBO has put together an extensive collection of informative supplements including some great Blu-ray exclusive special features. All of the extras are presented in 1080i with DTS 2.0 sound and several subtitle options, unless noted otherwise.

Disc One

  • Audio Commentaries - Two commentaries are provided on the first disc. Head writers and executive producers David Benioff and D.B Weiss discuss "Winter is Coming," and stars Mark Addy, Lena Heady, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau comment on "The Kingsroad." The writers offer an informative but not particularly entertaining track, focused on production details involving sets, locations, and casting. They also spend a lot of time discussing changes that were made from the show's original, unaired pilot, which was reshot after being deemed too confusing. The actors offer a livelier but far less insightful discussion on their episode. The three performers are clearly huge fans of the show themselves, and it's really fun to hear them geek out about the series just like regular viewers would.
  • Character Profiles (HD, 31 min) - Fifteen video profiles detailing the show's sprawling cast of characters are included, viewable together or separately. Each profile features on set footage and a brief interview with the actor who plays the character as they discuss their role and place within the show.

Disc Two

  • Audio Commentaries - Child actors Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, and Isaac Hempstead Wright provide commentary on "Lord Snow," and writer Bryan Cogman and star Kit Harington discuss "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things." The first track features one of my favorite commentary openings ever, as the three young stars adorably hum along to the show's opening theme. From there, the actors spend the rest of the track talking about how nice everyone is to work with and how amazing it is to be a part of the series. Due to Bran's isolated storyline, it's revealed that poor Isaac never got to meet a lot of the cast. Though fairly light on new information, the trio come across as gracious, enthusiastic, and very intelligent, while still sounding like actual, normal children. In the other track, Cogman and Harington point out changes from the book, offer details on the writing process, and discuss the challenge of condensing the source material's immense mythology.

Disc Three

  • Audio Commentary - Stars Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Harry Lloyd, and director Daniel Minahan comment on "A Golden Crown." The participants offer an entertaining and informative track, mixing in production trivia as they joke around. More changes from the book are discussed along with stories from the set, including details on Clarke's heart eating scene. Once again, the cast and crew all sound like huge fans of the show without ever coming across as self-serving.

Disc Four

  • Audio Commentary - George R.R. Martin discusses the episode he wrote, titled, "The Pointy End." Not just the author of the show's source material, Martin is actually a veteran TV writer, and talks at length about the process of adapting his own work. Big and small changes are addressed and explained, and unlike some fans of the book, Martin seems to embrace all of the alterations.

Disc Five

  • Audio Commentary - Creators D.B. Weiss & David Benioff, and director Alan Taylor provide commentary on "Fire and Blood." The three offer a solid track, detailing standard production trivia while elaborating on different scenes and various challenges they faced during the shoot.
  • Making Game of Thrones (HD, 30 min) - This is an interesting making of featurette with behind-the-scenes footage and cast and crew interviews. Casting, locations, set construction, music, SFX, stunts, and even animal training are all covered, offering a fairly compressive look at the show's massive production.
  • From the Book to the Screen (HD, 5 min) - The adaptation process is the focus here, detailing the producers' desire to stay faithful to the books' morally grey content. Though some pieces are repeated from the previous supplement, there are some new insights offered.
  • Creating the Show Open (HD, 5 min) - This featurette covers the conception and execution of the show's brilliant opening.
  • Creating the Dothraki Language (HD, 5 min) - Here we are treated to details on how the Dothraki language was actually created for the series and how the cast dealt with the challenge of learning their foreign lines.
  • The Night's Watch (HD, 8 min) - This is an in depth look at the traditions and duties of The Night's Watch as told through cast and crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

Final Thoughts

'Game of Thrones' is storytelling at its best. The characters are multifaceted, the world is full of rich, endless mythology, and the themes are timeless and universal. You don't have to be a fan of the books, or the fantasy genre at all, to easily fall in love with this addictive series. The show is a shining testament to what the medium of television has to offer, proving that the so called "small screen" can not only equal, but in some cases, even surpass the efforts of its big screen brother. Video and audio are essentially flawless, presenting a wholly immersive and jaw dropping experience. Supplements are plentiful, entertaining, and informative. I'm not usually blown away by releases, but with this set, HBO has done just that. For any fan of quality TV, or good storytelling in general, this is a must own.