I wanted to wait until the first season of Game of Thrones was complete until I downloaded it entirely... and I just did so about a week ago!
I read the first book a long, long time ago. thankfully I forgot most of what was going on with it
what a great season, though! they really played up the whole "Sopranos meets the Hobbit" premise that I was looking for, in dealing with a bunch of conniving royalty
the characters are so awesome. I really despised most of the Lannisters in Jaime (I think that's the tall blonds name) and his incest twin Cesari. however, despite all inclinations, I found myself really really liking and rooting for the Half-Man Lannister. in a world where you are judged by how much better you can kill the man next to you, it's nice to see a man (or half-man

) get by on just wits alone
since most of the royal families lacked morals or any sort of sympathy towards the common man; I found myself liking characters who had respect for people (even if they were lower than them on the feudal totem pole). for this reason, I found myself enjoying the character of Lord Stark. Stark was forced to be judgmental due to him being a lord, but I felt like he could sift through the bullshit better than most. I also liked how this main character interacted with his children "daughters are more difficult than wars!" or something like that
Jon Snow and the Night Watch team were very entertaining as well. I found the character of Snow to be commendable
the Dragon Queen was perhaps the most kind-hearted. I hope now she can resurrect an empire to follow her due to the most recent events in the last episode of the first season
my favorite "houses" were the Northernmost House, led by Stark (I believe it was Winterfell). I also liked the "house" of the Nightwatch, if one could even call them that. but as far as my favorite house in the first season, I would have to go with the Dothraki people. they didn't have to deal with the bullshit of nobility, and all the mess that sort of stuff brings. their society was the most impressive because it didn't deal with money, and the nobility had to earn their position of power instead of having said power vested in them. Khal Drogo was freakin' awesome! I wish I could have learned more about his character before what happened to him
all in all, a great first season. I read voraciously, but when I'm done with my long list of books-to-read, I suppose I will check out the rest of this series. unlike most in this thread, I presume, I usually find fantasy and dragons worthless, unimaginative, and too much of the same (I'm more of a sci-fi nerd). however, if the fantasy is well done, like the Lord of the Rings series, then it's well done. and the novels seem to be just that