Real classy! Stating the obvious. I just hope the ratings don't "sag"Not only is it the best show but those who have read these fine books know that this season is going to be the tits.
... and these may be the best trailers ever made for a TV show:
Real classy! Stating the obvious. I just hope the ratings don't "sag"
How strong will the new season open? Which way is the curve going to point? There is every indication that the Game of Thrones audience is still growing. Recently, Entertainment Weekly brought us fresh numbers concerning weekly viewers of the show. On average, 11.6 million people watched Thrones every week, accross all platforms (the previous number we had was 9.3 million). The sales of Season Two box sets broke records again, and was 44 percent higher than the first year, while digital copy downloads saw an increase of over 110 percent. Last year’s Shadow trailer was the most viewed trailer in HBO history on YouTube with over 3.5 million views. This year’s S3 trailer reached a staggering 20 million views! The traffic to our site is likewise reaching record heights, exceeding even the numbers we are used to when Thrones is actualy airing. Add to that the fact that GoT was the most pirated show in 2012, and you can see why we are optimistic about the ratings once the show returns at the end of the month.
Though the Iron Throne remains in dispute, the show itself now reigns alone; with Breaking Bad winding down and The Walking Dead still scavenging for brains, Game of Thrones is peaking at the right moment, entering its prime just as its rivaIs begin to fade. Thanks to its voluminous source material, the show is unique in the way each season is able to build directly on what came before. Freed from the vagaries of network meddling or showrunner waffling, the sheer weight of the story — a millstone in lesser hands — is now an anchor. Even in our current cultural hothouse, where hyperbolic tweets are loosed like flaming arrows, Game of Thrones feels like it has finally and legitimately arrived. There are no more casual fans; to commit to the show now is to care deeply about the intricacies of succession rights and the proper formation of a khalasar. It took time, like winters in Westeros, but Game of Thrones has become cable television's signature phenomenon.
So, how awesome was that second episode? Margaery Tyrell's grandmother (I can't remember the character name) was freaking awesome.
It also had maybe the best line in Game of Thrones history, in reference to Renly Baratheon: "If the throne was made of c*cks, they'd have never got him off of it."
I didn't start the books until after seeing the first season - there are plenty of additional details/background stories to catch, plus it helps with the names of all the characters. For the first book, I would read a little bit and then watch the corresponding episode On-Demand (or vice versa). There is a ton of subtle layering that they put in the show that you'd never notice without knowing the books.I haven't read the books either. My brother sent them to me but I just haven't had the opportunity to really dive in. Plus, when you've seen the first couple seasons it's a little tougher to dive in considering I know, generally, what's going to happen so much of it will feel a bit redundant.
To each their own, I thought episode 2 was magnificent. The Catelyn monologue was sad as hell, the Sansa/QueenOfThorns sit-down was awesome. The Reeds are friggin perfectly cast, their intro was great considering they should have been in season 2. Thoros of Myr is way better than the book version of him. The way they have Margaery brilliantly manipulating King Joffrey like he's an amateur is so fun to watch. The episode is one of those rarities on TV that actually gets better on the 2nd viewing, the little comments, subtle quips and hints are layered really well.
From what I've read from critics (who had already been given the first 4 episodes to view), episodes 3 & 4 make the first 2 pale in comparison, which I find hard to believe.
Ironically, those were two of the scenes not in the books. This season is going to be one of those that - once you realize how everything turned out - you'll want to immediately go back and rewatch it. There's so much going on with every little conversation that probably can't be appreciated without knowing why. Some deep foreshadowing going on. But I can assure you, you will not be bored for much longer. A lot will be happening this Sunday.Episode 3 was a lot of filler. Liked the scene with Tyrion at the table of the King's Hand. Also liked the scene of Tryion and Poderick. Plus the end with Jamie. Other than that I found myself pretty bored.