OK... Mike's gonna be Grouchy McGrognard, here.
My problem with so many fantasy TV shows on now is that, as a Dungeons & Dragons player with 40 + years of experience, there are very few situations these TV writers can cook up that me 'n my D&D buddies haven't been in and handled a fuck of a lot better than the TV characters do.
Besieged tower? Been there, done that, and saved the civilians.
A tavern full of ruffians fucking with my Elf buddy?
Been there, done that, and got the barkeep to give everyone a free round afterward.
Dark Lord rising and/or returning?
Been there, done that, and closed off his supplies of iron ore to rebuild his armies.
Shit, me and my D&D buddies once saved a city under siege by robbing the bad guys' quartermaster/exchequer so he couldn't pay his mercenaries and they all went home.
I keep saying to myself as I watch these shows, "Why should I watch this, when I've LIVED it?"
Sooooo.... Long Story Short?
Fantasy TV writers need to PLAY MORE D&D!