Before I dive into a brief celebration of the Bard's birthday (Happy B-Day, Shakespeare!), I want to point out that I have not talked about "Game of Thrones" for three full posts. Please, hold your applause. Obviously that streak ends here and I will be bringing it up again, but it needed to be noted.
On the anniversary of the William Shakespeare's birth and (conveniently) death, I'd like to apologize to all those who have only experienced his work as required highschool reading. I'm guessing it was probably "Romeo and Juliet" too, and quite frankly, there's enough teenage angst in highschool without adding the Capulet and Montague fued into the mix.
No matter what T Swift might have sung, R&J is NOT a love story. IT. IS. A. TRAGEDY. End of story. End of tangent. Probably.
Just kidding...If you want real Shakespearean romance you'll have to look elsewhere. For example, there's the source of today's horribly repurposed title and one of the Bard's history plays - Henry V. Yes, after all the politics, inspirational speeches, and battles, Shakespeare snuck in a bit of romance.
Okay, so Henry just invaded France and Katherine doesn't really have a choice, but he is awkwardly charming as hell. Don't judge. It's very Game of Thrones, alright.
Ultimately, "Game of Thrones" draws a lot of its story from Shakespeare's works (I told you it would be back). There's horribly over-the-top gore - Gloucester's eye gouging in "King Lear" still haunts me. There are elements of the supernatural - "The Tempest", "Midsummer","The Winter's Tale." There's an obsession with revenge - I mean, "Hamlet", but also "Macbeth" and "Richard III." I'll even bring R&J into this with star-crossed lovers.
Really, the point is that Shakespeare does not have to be torture (although it does contain some torture), and you probably already indirectly appreciate his work. So, why not give the Bard a second chance. It is his birth/death day.
...just for fun: