One of the big reasons Game of Thrones catapulted to the top of everybody's must-watch list in the 2010s was its steadfast refusal to pull punches. The show depicted its world and its characters in harsh, brutal fashion — the blend of rawness with political intrigue made Westeros instantly one of the most interesting and unpredictable places to visit every week.
Indeed, Game of Thrones became one of TV's most successful shows ever on the backs of sex, violence, backstabbing, and dragons. While the last couple of seasons of the show have been widely panned, Game of Thrones's foundation was solid enough that HBO is resurrecting Westeros for a prequel series, House of the Dragon, which apparently promises much more of the same.