Interesting Opening Scene on The Simpsons

About two years ago, an episode of The Simpsons started with a very interesting and very elaborate scene that seemed to be a reference to something, but I had no idea what. I little Googling revealed what show was being referenced, and that the Simpsons scene was a parody of that show's opening sequence, which apparently was very highly regarded. I tried watching it on youtube but the quality was poor. So I rented the DVD of the first episodes of the first season.

I enjoyed the opening sequence and agreed that it was excellent; maybe the best I'd ever seen. Then, before returning the disk, I thought I might as well watch the first episode on it. The Fantasy genre isn't really my cup of tea, but I was surprised at how well written and acted it was. I was intrigued enough to watch the other episode on that disk, and then to rent the next couple of disks in the season. By the time I'd watched episode 6, I knew this show was really something special; one for the ages. I believe it transcends its genre.

We rented the rest of the season, and when the 2nd season came out on disk we rented it too. The show is on HBO and we don't subscribe to that, so we see the shows 11 months later each season when the disks are released. The season 3 disks have just been released, and we just finished watching episode 4. Another disk is due tomorrow. I am impressed as ever at the high quality of the writing and acting.

I recommend it very highly, especially if you are not really into the Fantasy genre (as I am not), because in that case you might assume, as I would have, that it would not be much to your taste. Oh -- there are many scenes that are not appropriate for kids; the author is at pains to show the grisly and earthy reality of life in England's brutal "War of Roses" period, though it is set in a fictional world, and HBO is at pains to make the show titillating. The show is called "The Game of Thrones".

The author is sometimes called "The American Tolkien". I think that's misleading. What they have in common is that they write fantasy set in worlds that in some ways resemble the Middle Ages, and that they write very well. That's about it. Everything else is much different. Whether or not you like Tolkien is no indication of whether or not you will like Game of Thrones.