Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

Game of Thrones is a medieval science fiction epic written by George R. R. Martin and adapted for HBO by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. The tale is full of heroism, heartbreak, and corruption, follows over a dozen characters, and spans over 7 years! Let’s consider the pros and cons of Game of Thrones…

Pros: Firstly, is the source material, which is compelling, thrilling, and contains a fantastic balance of drama and action! George R. R. Martin crafted an extremely original narrative, but David Benioff and D. B. Weiss also deserve credit for adapting this for the big screen. And with HBO backing the project, there is no shortage of production value here! Secondly, are the countless performances which add a considerable amount of depth and heart to the story and characters. Peter Dinklage and Emilia Clarke especially steal each scene they’re in, which makes their scenes together all the more exhilarating!

Cons: It’s no secret that the show surpassed George R. R. Martin’s novels and had to go “off script” so to speak. The final 2 seasons, while still loosely based on the unfinished books, are missing the intricate story lines and subplots that made this show so special. By season 8, it was apparent that both the actors and showrunners had run out of steam. Not completely unreasonable considering the grueling film schedule, requiring everyone to be on location for months at a time. Unfortunately, real life got in the way of production and resulted in a noticeable dip in quality.

I give Game of Thrones a solid A! Although it loses momentum in the final seasons, it’s still one of my all time favorite shows! Grab some popcorn and buckle in, this marathon will last 70 hours! Happy Watching!

“Winter is coming…”