How cool is it that Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead are two of the most popular shows on TV? Here are two genres – fantasy and zombie – that would have been relegated to just us geeks and nerds only a few years ago. But instead they’re cultural phenomenons! This is an exciting time to be a geek, that’s for damn sure.  Of the two, Game of Thrones is definitely the better show. Thanks in no small part to the power of HBO, Game of Thrones is an epic, world-spanning story of power, intrigue, war, sex and dragons.

I am not a full Game of Thrones geek like some of my friends. I’m up to date on the TV show – and am currently watching the third season like the rest of the world – but I’ve only read the first two books. I’ve decided to go show-first, book-second. They make great companion pieces. The books provide further detail and depth to the show’s characters and world, while the show turns the characters into flesh and blood people, giving you a better visual understanding and experience that you can take back to the reading. I’m all for letting our imaginations run wild, but sometimes it really does enhance the experience to know what people and places look like when reading a book.

Dun dun Dunna dun dun!

I wanted to do something Game of Thronesy for my List of Six this week, so I’ve decided to run down my top 6 favorite characters in the series, often forged from a combination of show and book. I put ‘so far’ in the title, because Game of Thrones is, first of all, a long way from being over, and second, notorious for killing popular characters. I’m more than a little nervous that some of my favorites won’t live to see a happy ending. But such is the risk you take when you fall in love with such an amazing series!

I’m going to do my best to avoid any major SPOILERS, but even still, you should be warned. Join me after the jump!

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