34/14
Martin’s wife once said she would leave him if he killed Arya or Sansa
Plot
Nine noble families fight for control of the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns from its millennia of dormancy. George R. R. Tywin Lannister: Any man who has to say “I am the king” is not the true king. During the opening credits, each cast member’s name is displayed along with his/her character’s family insignia.
What’s the consensus?
Appears in the Top 10 Hollywood: Critics Choice Award Nominations: Drama (2011). Main Title (uncredited) Written and Performed by Ramin Djawadi. Let’s assume you’re reading these reviews and you haven’t watched GoT yet, but now that it’s over, you’re considering a marathon. In this case, the consensus is spot on, namely: Seasons 1-6: Outstanding. Deep world building, intelligent dialogue, epic Hollywood scenes, masterful acting, detailed plot, genuine surprises, great soundtrack used sparingly.
GoT is definitely worth watching for these seasons
Season 7: Suddenly you notice that the quality of the writing and plotting has taken a nosedive. There are inexplicable ideas, inconsistent characterization, and soap opera drama. But at least the entertainment value is still very high, so it gets a pass. Season 8: This decline plunges into an abyss you didn’t think was possible. The writing has become so amateurish that the still fantastic production values are no longer enough to save it.
Fatal for fiction
If you’ve ever enjoyed Lost but were amazed at how bad the last season was, then you’re in familiar territory here. The biggest problem with the last season was that it took us out of the story and forced us to think about its many weaknesses. We lost our suspension of disbelief. It also ruined the series arcs to the point where rewatching the entire series is pointless. So can I recommend a GoT marathon for newcomers?
Yes, the first 6 seasons are worth the disappointments later on
But it is not the greatest show of all time. It could be, but dropping the ball in the final stretch puts it behind the following better shows that are more deserving of your marathon: Battlestar Galactica (2003-2008) Twin Peaks (all 3 seasons, plus the movie) Breaking Bad