vs.             

Coincidentally, I started reading Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic and Civil War about the same time I started watching Game of Thrones. In that context, Game of Thrones comes across as a PBS dramatic re-enactment of history, except for the dragons and boobs. All the most ridiculous aspects of Game of Thrones are there in Caesar’s memoirs: the daily backstabbing and plotting, the wars fought between clans at the drop of a hat, the shifting alliances, the exotically contrasting cultures. Add in the later legends of the sexual politics of Cleopatra, and betrayal by Brutus and his cohorts, and there’s not much missing. It makes the characters, the evil, of Game of Thrones that much more real: we did behave that way once.

I’m about a third of the way through each, and I can’t say I’m as wild about Game of Thrones as I hoped from the hype. A few of the actors are phenomenal. A few are duds. The sly subterfuge scenes with Spider or Little Finger are lame and cheesy. It’s kissing cousin to soap operas and pro wrestling. But it’s addictive. And, from what I gather from Caesar, based on true events. Except for the dragons.

p.s. I’ll just kill comments on this to avoid spoilers or Game of Throne fanatic backlash.

p.p.s. This calls for an Epic Rap Battle of History. Easter Bunny. Genghis Khan. GO!