Honestly, I think these are the best stories in GRRM's Westerosi fiction, and I hope HBO does them justice. I really like the "zoomed in" focus on a few key characters and seeing the "real" world, not just the machinations of nobility. The trailer is pretty promising.
Behind it all are huge implications for the future of Westeros, but you don't need to recognize or understand any of that to enjoy the stories.
I wish GRMM would write more of these stories -- in fact if he could only finish one thing, I'd take more Dunk & Egg over TWOW.