Violence and gore are in service only to themselves here. It seems that "shock" value is what sells the show to new generations. Violence is rather unnecessary and doesn't really help the plot or character development. It's there because someone said it needs to be there. Everything needs to be "graphic" nowadays. There is no art in this show. There is no class in it. There is no worthy plot or anything except it's "shock" value. Empty minutes filled with blood. One second of Jackson's LOTR has more class to it than this full boring show. Can't say I expected too much, but some things are better left dead in the graveyard. I just hope that Martin will do the justice to book series as it would be a huge shame that this work represents his work in novels.