War; Tyranny; Lies; Slaughter. This is Game of Thrones and as Cersei once said, "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die." Between the war, the looming presence of Winter, and the constant threat of what lies beyond the wall, death is always just around the corner for the characters we love. The question is which portrays it better, books or television?
My first instinct would be to say the books because that was how George R.R. Martin originally created the story. A Song of Ice and Fire is currently a five book series with two or three more due to come out. There are 5705 pages between the five published books which shows the amount of detail in these novels. This allows for a rich plot and well developed characters, yet sometimes it is overwhelming and time consuming to read.
It is much easier to sit down and watch an episode of TV than read its equivalent in the books. The show also makes it easier to keep track of all of the characters and different story lines. When reading the novels, it is easy to dismiss a name and thus miss a plot point or have to flip back to try and remember who the character is. However, when watching the show, you can recognize a face even if you do not know the person's name. The overall entertainment value is higher because you are watching the action happen versus imagining it. Unfortunately, the show leaves out some details that enhance and deepen the plot in the book series.
In conclusion, the books and the TV show both have their pros and cons. It all really comes down to personal preference. If I had to pick one I would probably go with the television show due to the entertainment value and ease of watching. Whether you prefer the TV show or the books all fans want to know the same thing. Who will end up on the iron throne? We will just have to wait and see.
