Arkngthand — There is a Game of Thrones Concept Album?!

Um… this is awesome.  In trying to find the Game of Thrones HBO show available to watch online, we have turned up what appears to be a Dutch metal band with an unpronounceable name — Arkngthand — that has released an entire concept album devoted to the Song of Ice and Fire series.  It’s available on iTunes.

Has anyone else ever heard of this?  It’s hilarious.  In this video they seem to just be saying “dire wolves” over and over again.  I wish it was an actual music video; not just an audio clip, but the pic is pretty great itself.  Second from the left is my fave, but the guy on the far left looks like a reject from House Frey, am I right?  Who’s coming with me?  Yeah, I made a joke about House Frey.

Omar Comin’, Yo.

My roommate Amelia has been trying to get me to start watching The Wire for as long as I’ve lived with her. I’ve always demurred; after all, my old TV show DVD-watching dance card was terrifically full with both Deadwood and True Blood. Finally, I gave in and CJ and I rented the first season from the library.

Sheeeeet, yo. The Wire is basically the best show ever.

So why is it the best? Basically, it has all the characteristics that make HBO dramas so great: smart writing, characters you care about, skilled actors who can play characters who are both deeply flawed and empathetic.  But isn’t that true of Deadwood, you say?

True, yes. But The Wire has Omar.

Omar, Omar, Omar. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love that he is one of the more defiantly uncategorizable characters in television, a hustler, a gay man, a self-serving Robin Hood, a good guy, a bad guy, totally brutal but noble when the occasion calls for it. However, my words alone serve as paltry praise for Mr. Little. Check out this AMAZING and lovingly detailed Dickensian Wire spoof, complete with pen and ink illustrations.