“Game of Thrones” starts back up again this spring and will continue to attract a diverse audience.

“Thrones” has become one of the most popular series on television with only “The Sopranos” outranking it on HBO. Time has reported it to be number four on its top shows of 2013.

So why does this show have such a mass appeal?

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First of all, let’s be honest here and say “Game of Thrones” has a strong dungeons and dragons vibe to it that usually would make a number of people avoid it like the plague. What is amazing about this show is that it has broken past the stereotypical nerd’s daydream and broken into mainstream appealing to people who do not like fantasy genres.

People who watch shows such as “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” are even taking a peek at what is going on with “Thrones.”

“Game of Thrones” has reached its popularity because of the character development so many shows lack.

“A Song of Ice and Fire,” the book series the show is adapted after, gets much acclaim for its female characters. Author George R.R. Martin, when interviewed, has simply said he sees women as people.

His simple response questions why it is so hard for other writers to create women characters in their stories.

Anyone who reads the series, whether or not the plot or writing style is up your alley, will realize how complex every single character is. The book shifts from many different perspectives, many which are women.

In many fantasy books, women are rarely protagonists and are not given a strong role.

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Every character George R.R. Martin writes about is so multi-faceted the readers feel as if their character is someone they have known their whole life.

In comparison, take the show “Supernatural,” for example. Most female characters do not extend past a few episodes and usually take the role of being love interests, victims or demons.

In the first season, watchers see Sam, one of the main characters, a mom and girlfriend die. Needless to say, the first season sets a trend for forgettable, short-lasting female characters.

There is a trend that women are either angels or demons in this show and many other shows. They fit this constricted, one-dimensional role that is neither realistic nor enjoyable to watch.

In “Game of Thrones,” the women you meet will not always be likeable but you will hate them because of their character, and not because they are underdeveloped.

One of the female characters Martin writes about is Brienne of Tarth, a 6’3 knight who is shunned because she is not conventionally attractive. Brienne could not care less about what others think and is loyal to fault, all while sword fighting as well or better than most of the male characters.

Another character, Cersei, is a beautiful queen who sleeps around and lies, but will still do anything to protect her children.

“Male or female, I believe in painting in shades of grey,” Martin said in an interview with The Telegraph. “‘All of the characters should be flawed; they should all have good and bad, because that’s what I see. Yes, it’s fantasy, but the characters still need to be real.”

Real is what you get in “Game of Thrones.” No character is safe from being killed off. Betrayal, blood, violence and sex are common themes within the show.

One minute you wish a character would be decapitated and the next you will find yourself sympathizing with them.

Regardless, if all that appeals to you, the books and show are worth a try.

“Game of Thrones” airs its fourth season on April 6 at 9 P.M.

Elizabeth can be reached at [email protected], on twitter at @ElizabethZ_DE, or by phone as 536-3311 ext. 256.