Based on the first 2 episodes...poor casting choices. Paddy Considine Is such a one-note schlub who would have easily been taken out long before due to some palace intrigue. Matt Smith is too famous and recognizable for his role. Has the UK and Ireland run out of actors? What made Game of Thrones so interesting is that we didn't know most of the leads and therefore were able to immerse ourselves in that world easier. Putting familiar actors in costume and historical series pull us out of the story too easily (eg. Ed Sheeren in GOT). The series does look amazing (except for a few of the long shot vistas) and has set up some good palace intrigue, however familiar. The jousting games were splendidly filmed and exciting and the costumes are amazing. Familiar GOT characters (like the hand of the king) help us quickly become familiar with this world and there are references to families we already know which also help draw us in. However, poor casting and a couple of supporting actors' acting skills are jarring.