Game of Thrones pilot

Despite a persuasive social situation and my inflated perception of its maturity, I was chilly toward this pilot almost eight years ago. Now, without the social influence (it's negative if anything), while identifying its trashy elements, I feel tempted.

I wasn't critical of it as television, eight years ago -- I was critical of television. I still am, but somehow I feel this pilot's tug. It's not as mature as I remember thinking, which reflects well on my development. I was technically a teenager at the time, so my evolving taste shouldn't be surprising, but it's refreshing to observe among all my other plateaus. I'm continuously peaking in some crucial ways, and riding decades-long plateaus in others. My artistic taste continuously matures, hence my subtler perception of the episode; yet I probably peaked in deliberate living during high school or college, hence my prior rebuff and my present quickening.

Eight years ago I thought the episode was good (I rated it 3/4) but I didn't even consider slipping into the series. I think this is remarkable, knowing my partner and the whole world around me wanted me involved. I remember it just felt like TV, and TV was never justified like movies were. TV always delivered less artistic value per hour invested. I was really interested in movies, and not interested in any digital entertainment that couldn't stand on its own after just a few hours. For that we have books. I thought Game of Thrones looked respectable, but sprawling, and addiction-driven like all TV.

Presently, this episode was really stimulating, and I want to know what happens next. It hooked me as it should. But there's no way I can let myself continue... right?