Trey, you make some great points and I certainly do like stories that are more realistic. But, there are times when I want a happy ending, I want love to win, even if it is not realistic. I may still be too young or not cynical enough or what have you, but things like Monsters Inc, Star Wars and Rapunzel-those are movies I love because of the simplistic message.
Not saying there isn't a room for realism because I enjoy it to, but I get enough of it in work and real life. I guess I need it in smaller doses than others
As I said, I may read the books and get into Game of Thrones but the pilot didn't give me anyone I felt I could relate to. The books could change that.

What I get out of Game of Thrones is that sometimes you think the story is going one way and you're planing on it and expecting it and you can see it all working out and then it doesn't and I go GRRRRRRRRRRRR(M). But then it goes on and something else happens and it's not what you planned but it's interesting too and it's going to be ok. I think it's a metaphor.

As for the show, I'm with Spork that I watch it mostly to see how they adapt the books.

*sigh* I so miss Deadwood. Damn it, I'm going to have to watch them all again. What a tragedy 

Still, I do get to enjoy Timothy Elephant in Justified, where I like to think that his Raylan Givens character is a descedent of Seth Bullock.

Oh, and the last shot of this season will likely be the hateful eyes of a certain lady.

Oh that thing! The books all tend to blur into each other. Which one is basically all sand politics?