Why I have not (and will not) watch/read GoT

[erinwrites]

Originally published at erin-go-blog!. You can comment here or there.

Despite generally being a fan of fantasy, I really, really don’t want to experience Game of Thrones. I came upon this blog post that pretty much sums up why. Here’s one quote:

I HATED THE BOOKS. But I read EVERY SINGLE ONE. Hating it the entire way but not able to put them down.  And now with the show, I cannot stop watching.  Those who read and/or watch Games of Thrones know there is little sense of rules or mastery or fairness.  Instead, there is violence, abuse, systems of power that favor the powerful, good people dying, why are they ALWAYS dying?!  Good people die.  All the fucking time.  And no magic to save them.  Well, very little, and it is dark and scary and uncontrollable.

And another:

George R.R. Martin is such a different kind of fantasy writer.  Where is the hero(ine)?  Where is the arc of self-discovery and mastery?  Where is the MAGIC?!  I hated the books not because they weren’t well-written — Martin’s world and characters are some of the most (morally) complex I’ve seen; there is a terrible beauty to it all — but because of how they made me feel.  Constant anxiety and disappointment and rage.  And distrust!  I did not, could not, trust the writer anymore.  Horrible things could happen at any moment, betrayal and loss and trauma at every turn.  (Umm, the Red Wedding. What.The.Fuck.)  I found myself trying to disengage emotionally, trying not to care about characters as it became increasingly clear that Martin had an almost perverse interest in the exact opposite of character preservation.  But I couldn’t.  I kept reading. I’m still watching.  And I’ll await the next book, the next season, with both excitement and dread.

I would hate it. And yet I would find it compelling. And I would keep reading/watching with that sense of dread and anxiety. And I would be angry. SO VERY ANGRY.

The author ends this piece speculating about what has drawn people into this story…in particular, a sense of catharsis that comes from “loving and rooting for and mourning and even reviling these characters intensely.” And while I’m sure this (and her other points in favor) is valid, I just don’t think it’s for me. Trust me, we’re all better off this way.

You probably don’t want me to talk about my love/but mostly hate relationship with Breaking Bad either…

(Here’s a secret…I’m saying this out loud because sometimes not liking the thing everyone likes is lonely. If you feel the same way, please speak up and make me feel a little less lonely!)

Comments

[joecoustic.livejournal.com]

You have helped me feel far better for never having watched or read them either!!! Those are the kinda books/shows that drive me crazy and yet, as you say they're done so well I end up going back and doing some horrifying "masochism tango". *sigh* Funniest thing about reading this was that it instantly reminded me about my feelings about Breaking Bad! I cracked up when you mentioned your own relationship with that also. *lol* I still haven't seen the last 8 episodes of that (still waiting for it to come to Netflix) but will be glad when it's over. So no, as far as I'm concerned, you are not alone!! And thank you for the best reason I could think of for not getting sucked into this series. :)

[erinwrites.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad I helped you feel better...thanks for being a kindred spirit. ;)

I'd have walked away from Breaking Bad at multiple points...if Aaron Paul hadn't made me care so much about Jesse, if Bob Odenkirk hadn't been introduced as Saul Goodman, if Rand hadn't been compelled enough to keep watching. I watched every episode with that dread and anxiety I mentioned, wondering, "Is this really what people want?"

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean. Jan seems to love both the books and the show; I avoid the books and when the show comes on I stay for the great (if earwormy) music and the nifty mechanical map, and then go into the kitchen.

When he gets to the final volume, I'll want to know how he ended it. If all this angst and suffering and bleakness has paid for an Awesomely Good Ending with peace and prosperity for all and magical unicorns emitting rainbows from various orifices, then maybe I'll consider starting from the beginning. But it won't.

[erinwrites.livejournal.com]

Yup. If I had even the slightest bit of hope of that Awesomely Good Ending, I might be on board. :)

[gorgeousgary]

The only book in the series I read was the one that got nominated for Best Novel several years ago. It didn't do anything for me either. But then, I've never been a fan of high/epic fantasy, my preferred subgenres are space opera and urban fantasy. Also not a fan of "grimdark" either.

As for the TV show, we don't have premium channels and my Netflix list is quite long enough already.

[erinwrites.livejournal.com]

Ha..."grimdark." That's exactly it. I feel like we're being bludgeoned to death with the "grimdark" lately, and the rest of the world seems to love it. Crave it, even.