They just seemed to choose the perfect actors and actresses for all the roles too. In the books, most of the main characters are actually children. Daenarys is supposed to be 14 I think. They still adapted it well for television. I think it also helped having Sean Bean play Ned Stark. It kind of drew everybody in.
The opening intro and the music are also spectacular. Everything just mixes together perfectly.
I've never read the books but I really want to one day, but yes I've heard this too. Aside from that when I first started watching (SPOILERS INCOMING)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I thought they took a real risk killing Ned off so early. He's introduced as the main character who you think you'll follow throughout the entire series, then poof, he's beheaded.
Yeah that's what happens in the books too. It is not your typical story that's for sure. So many unexpected twists and turns and deaths.