The TV series is great on it's own, but if you've ever read any novel then seen the film adaptation, the novel is always better. Imagination trumps manmade visuals/constraints every time. But the series is it's own beast and will follow it's own unique, corner-cutting path eventually. This isn't a Song of Ice and Fire thread, it's for the show, which is doing a phenomenal job in my opinion. The human stories are the backbone of this series, and the mythology is a strong supporting aspect, and the actors/casting have been nailing it.