After Rewatching Game of Thrones, I Realized the Exact Moment the Show Became a Fantasy Masterpiece md20

HBO’s Game of Thrones lured many viewers in during its first season with well-written characters and the political intrigue pulled from George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels. At first glance, aside from the appearance of the White Walkers during the cold open, Game of Thrones seemed to avoid the typical fantasy elements, leaning more into the realm of alternate historical fiction. Most of the first season unfolds like a political drama as fans are introduced to the primary houses and players in Westeros. However, Daenerys Targaryen stepped into Khal Drogo’s funeral pyre and emerged with three dragons, signaling her own rebirth and the return of magic; the fantastical elements were made prominent, and the mythic tone of the series was set.

The moment contrasted the tone that had been set through much of the first season. For nine episodes, the story relied on betrayals, alliances, and political maneuvering, immersing the audience in power struggles that felt brutally human. Westeros was quickly established as a cold place where being honorable could find one’s head on the executioner’s block. George R. R. Martin has described A Song of Ice and Fire as a low fantasy series, and that dose of realism made Game of Thrones stand out to fans. By drawing inspiration from real historical events and people and not relying heavily on magic and prophecy from the start, viewers found the characters and setting more realistic. Fans were aware of the Targaryens’ history with dragons, but doubted whether it could materialize in this current landscape. The conclusion of the first season altered Daenerys’ trajectory and the series’ tone.

HBO’s Game of Thrones Kept the Fantasy Elements Light

The presence of fantasy elements in Game of Thrones was always there, but lingering at the edges of the story rather than its center. Season 1 of the show was meticulously built on a foundation of political turmoil, family dynamics and the harsh reality of the medieval-style setting. In this way, Game of Thrones was nothing like the average fantasy series. Where others would plunge viewers into worlds of magic and spells, Game of Thrones opted for a slow-burning approach when introducing the typical fantastical aspects.

George R. R. Martin’s books, and the HBO series by association, seemed wary of fully embracing the roots of the fantasy genre. Despite the approach to navigate more towards realism, enough seeds of sorcery were planted and occasionally watered to let viewers know that there was more to Westeros and the realms beyond than meets the eye. The opening scene of the pilot episode gave fans a glimpse of the horrors that wait beyond the Wall. In the frozen wilderness, rangers of the Night’s Watch stumble across the remnants of a massacre. The men find the bodies of wildlings, arranged in a ritualistic pattern.

As they investigate the scene, a few bodies rise from the dead before one of the White Walkers steps forth and intentionally reveals itself to the rangers and the viewers. The introduction to the White Walkers is menacing and plants the seed of the looming threat of the series. As soon as the White Walkers appear on-screen, they disappear from the storyline for much of season one. While the first season continues to unfold and lure fans in as they are introduced to the cast of well-written characters, the threat of the White Walkers lingers in the back of the audience’s mind.

The deliberate restraint of HBO’s Game of Thrones regarding the White Walkers and magic was one of its greatest strengths and mirrored George R. R. Martin’s storytelling approach from A Song of Ice and Fire. In contrast to many epic fantasies that introduce magic systems right away, Martin slowly integrated sorcery and the supernatural into his world, allowing it to develop rather than overwhelming readers.

The backbone of the story is grounded in interpersonal conflicts and tenuous relationships. The occasional mention of the supernatural, hints sprinkled throughout the series, were reminders that served their purpose well. With this approach, the fantastic elements became almost like extra seasoning to a grand meal that had already been placed before viewers and readers alike. The restrained nature of the storytelling helped shape audience expectations.

Westeros was presented as a real-world setting, which conditioned viewers to expect events to unfold with logic influenced by human motivations. Characters and kingdoms succeed and fail because of ambition and betrayal. Ned Stark’s execution was perhaps the defining moment of season 1 before the finale and perfectly represented the established machinations of Westeros. His downfall was because of a flaw in his personal honor and the political maneuvering of his enemies.

Actions had severe consequences in Game of Thrones, and losing a main character drove this element home. Just when the realistic nature of the show seemed to be cemented, traces of underlying mysticism surfaced. Bran’s connection with his direwolf, the stories of Old Nan and the dragon eggs were strategically positioned to nudge viewers.

The Dragon Eggs in Game of Thrones Served as a Reminder of Magic

Image via HBO

Unless one had previously read George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, Daenerys Targaryen may have seemed to be one of the weakest and most vulnerable characters in HBO’s Game of Thrones when she was introduced. Early on, she was sold into marriage to Khal Drogo by her brother Viserys in exchange for the military might of the Dothraki, making much of her initial arc focused on survival. She was entirely detached from the political turmoil of King’s Landing and the Stark-Lannister feud, leading many viewers to see her storyline in Essos as an intriguing side plot that was separate from the main drama in Westeros. However, it was in Daenerys’ story that many of the fantastical seeds of Game of Thrones were planted.

Much like the White Walkers, her dragon eggs were introduced in the pilot episode of Game of Thrones. During her wedding to Khal Drogo, Illyrio gifted the dragon egss to Daenerys. Over the ages, they had turned to stone and were seen only as symbols of the past power of the Targaryens. Daenerys placed the dragon eggs in a chest, locking them away as ornaments, though they lingered in the audience’s mind and made them wonder what role they would play. The eggs were handled in much the same way the series dealt with the threat of the White Walkers: distant and mysterious.

As Daenerys slowly discovered her inner strength, her bond with the eggs deepened. She began handling them herself, placing them near flames. When she retrieved a fire-warmed egg unscathed, this reinforced to the viewers that Daenerys herself was different and the eggs were more than just symbols. Over the first season, Daenerys asserted her power as a Dothraki Queen, becoming much more than a pawn in her brother’s schemes. Viserys had been the driving force behind her initial uncertainty, as he constantly abused and tormented her. By the time she had grown into and embraced her role as Khaleesi, she no longer needed his approval or validation.

Viewers were watching a world that constantly dismissed the supernatural, even as hints of its return grew stronger. Perhaps the most significant moment came in the finale of season 1 when Daenerys entered the Khal’s funeral pyre and emerged with three newly hatched dragons. The scene marked a change in Daenerys from a timid pawn of her brother to a strong, central figure in the unfolding story. The dragons themselves shifted the tone of the series. Before the eggs hatched, the fantasy elements of Game of Thrones had been subtle and slow-burning. Suddenly, the realistic political machinations of Westeros were set against a backdrop of reborn magic.

Game of Thrones Perfectly Blended Realism with Fantasy

The success of Game of Thrones came from its ability to balance political realism and well-written characters with the underlying fantastical elements born from the writings in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. Despite the failures of the final season, the early years of Game of Thrones displayed a storytelling confidence that few modern television series achieve. Viewers were invited into a world that felt almost skeptical of its own mystical nature. For each betrayal that seemed politically plausible, something beneath the realism would eventually boil to the surface and leave its mark on the series.

The conclusion of season one brought the subtlety of magic to the forefront. In addition to the downfall of fan-favorite characters that could happen at any moment because of the ever-changing political landscape, introducing Daenerys’ dragons proved that the underlying sorcery elements could erupt at any moment. The moment transformed Daenerys herself and the entire series. Game of Thrones highlighted to its viewers the profound impact of human ambition and unseen influences on the course of the story, where every decision matters.