Risky gamble: An editorial response

There is a post over at Gawker.com that has caught our attention, triggered several responses, and will make for a good argumented discussion. Richard Lawson raises doubts that Game of Thrones is guaranteed success material, and that HBO therefore has taken a bold gamble to make an expensive series like that which may not attract the subscriber numbers they have lost in the recent years. 

He argues that people unfamiliar with the books do not know what to expect, and might not respond heartily enough to a world and mythology that is completely new to them. From the trailers he has gathered that there is a lot of political machinations, but not enough viscerity and sex to attract the masses, and the buzz is not high enough outside the fan community of readers. (Please read the entire piece by yourself, as I do not want to unfairly put any words in the author’s mouth.)

FaBihoff and HmR, the Wyknett trusty sidekicks to Lord Winter, have decided to share our thoughts on the matter with you. Read it after the break, and chip in in the comments!

Hear Me Roar: As I see it, there are two related points in Richard’s argument, and I will respond to them in turn. Firstly, people do not want to try new things, and are more easily attracted to familiar stuff they can relate to. Well … possibly true, it is easier when you can compartmentalize and sell something as ‘historical drama’, ‘crime procedural’, or ‘western’, playing it out in a familiar setting. This approach, however, gives us tonnes and tonnes of one and the same in movies and series (and other arts), playing it safe and dumbing down the audience. HBO is known not to be afraid to break new ground, and re-dress genres, however, which is what they are doing with GoT. I also strongly believe people are both tired of the same old stuff and ready to embrace quality new things.

Secondly, Richard is doubtful the series will be attractive and successful in sucking people in. As he is a non-reader, I forgive him that (smiley face). Serious fantasy has not been sold to the tv viewers yet, but I think GRRM fans and the marketing efforts will be able to provide the initial numbers. After that, I am absolutely positive more and more people are going to flock to it every week. The quality of production is there, and as us readers know, the plot is absolutely fantastic and captivating to as yet unseen degrees. In addition, the strength of the series is a host of rounded characters. From them, people pick their favourites and those they can relate to most (which varies quite widely!)–there is something and someone for everyone.

The doubts, in my opinion, are  therefore not really grounded. We all hope this line of thinking gets a confirmation during the first season.

Fire and Blood: I certainly hope Richard’s question is answered with the show’s success. I want to see the entire series – from A Game of Thrones through A Dream of Spring – all seven books of A Song of Ice and Fire. And I think that, barring some sudden financial meltdown or drastic change in leadership at Time Warner (HBO’s parent company), we will at least see season 2 get the green light. The production has already built enough sets (King’s Landing, Winterfell, Castle Black) that it would seem a waste to do nothing with them ever again. So “success” is in the eye of the beholder, really. I want to see all of it, but I would still consider, say, four seasons a moderate success. It would have to gain True Blood levels of success to ensure all seven books are covered, and even then it would be more expensive to shoot than a bunch of southern vampires in a podunk town. Cost plays a huge factor.

So Richard’s point isn’t without merit. Some people I’ve talked to are still confused by what the hell Game of Thrones is trying to do. You can’t compare it to True Blood, or to Rome, or even to Carnivale, because all of those series still take place on earth. Sure, the “swords and horses and noble banners” themes are recognizable, and this series is likely to draw the sword-and-sorcery crowd, if for no other reason than to get another fantasy fix, but that’s not the crowd that concerns me. The trick is to lure in the merely curious. It’s the same challenge Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings had, except we’re asking for more of a commitment–a subscription rather than a movie ticket. Can it make the average non-fantasy fan tune in just to see something cool? Because it needs that epic mainstream reaction. If it gets good numbers immediately, we could see season two greenlit almost right after the premiere. If not … I think, with Blu Rays and DVD sales factored in (which HBO admitted they failed to do with Rome), we still get another season. Maybe just not as quickly.

And sure, the show LOOKS really good. To the hardcore ASoIaF fan–we couldn’t be more pleased at how faithful it appears to be. We also have the advantage of knowing there’s a damned good story that’s going to be told, with twists and shocks aplenty. We’re confident that once most people start watching it they’ll be sucked in. But us knowing that doesn’t help sell the initial premise to Uncle Bud sitting on his couch with his can of Coors Light, trying to decide between plunking down extra money for HBO rather than just easing back and watching another episode of Desperate Housewives. We the fans already know it will be great. We’ve followed production from the beginning, and confidence in the quality is high. I also think people who generally tune in to HBO will tune into this show, at least for the first episode, just to see what the fuss is about. But it’s not about that. HBO has sold us (You had us at Peter Dinklage!), and has let it be known to the HBO subscriber that they need to check this out at least once. It’s everyone else they still need to sell it to. And up until the most recent trailer (the best and most concise so far), I wasn’t sure they’d done that. You can’t easily shrug off some of the things the detractors say: “Too many characters to follow,” or “It takes place in some fantasy land I’ve never heard of.” It’s possible Average Joe has not yet seen enough to want to be bothered. It’s my opinion HBO needs one more MONSTER of a preview, something exceedingly cool, something that shows direwolves on the attack, and large, sweeping, epic shots of Winterfell, King’s Landing … one last preview that punches us in the teeth. Hell, show us Natalia Tena and get the Harry Potter fans (most of those little tykes have grown up by now) abuzz.

I have plenty of reasons not to worry. I’m encouraged my the recent large spike in George R.R. Martin’s book sales, and the massive number of late teen / early twenty-something crowds I saw at George’s last signing. Diversity in a fan base carries a ton of weight, because it means the word won’t just be getting out to one small demographic. I also think Game of Thrones will play very strongly overseas, even if America’s initial reaction proves underwhelming. So all things considered, I think we will see a season two. I just want the rest as well.

• Published on 03/05/2011 at 4:00 PM CDT
• Last updated on 03/06/2011 at 9:19 AM CDT