The strengths and weaknesses of Game of Thrones

The great strength of "Game of Thrones" (Season 1), like other HBO productions, particularly the British-born ones, is the no-expenses-spared way in which the show creates an entire world, visually before us - Rome did the same, but in some ways Thrones is even more impressive in that the world is medieval-inspired but also imaginary and fantastical. The jousting scenes, the village life, the castles, the roadways - all are based closely on our images of life in the middle ages in Europe; but then there's that odd barrier castle, The Wall, protecting against invasions from the North, and the kingdoms across the "Narrow Sea," based loosely on African or Arab tribes, that are unique visual creations for the show. For the first two or three episodes, I was constantly interested in the look of the series, but that interest, by the end of 5 episodes, has begun to wear thin. Unfortunately, the characters, though each a vivid type, have failed to draw me in - it's not, at least so far, a series about changing characters and their complex relations but about unchanging types and their clashes and interactions - types familiar from many other series: the vulgar king, the tough and honest old soldier (just like the centurian from Rome), the narcissistic upstart (channeling Baltar from Battlestar?), and so forth. Over the course of the series of source novels I'm sure there is some character development, but I don't see it yet in the series. There's a lot of plot material to deal with as well and though I can follow the main strands way too many elements are simply put forth in narrative rather than through dramatic action. Series with many strong elements and lots of promise, but not sure if I'll follow through multiple seasons.