So why is Game of Thrones so popular?

So we’re now a good way through Season Four of HBO’s most successful series to date. With a wealth of loveable (and not so loveable) characters and personalities plus the most gory scenes (*cough* the Red and Purple Weddings *cough*) Game of Thrones seems to have found its way into most people’s living rooms.

Game of Thrones (Image: HBO)

Most of us have our favourite House and some of us secretly loved Joffrey (nah, you can’t deny it) but it’s the constant mystery, violence and bed hopping is what get us all tuning in via television or somehow online. So why is this show so popular? I decided to do a little bit of digging into the reasons, and also to hide from the Mountain who is scaring the crap out of me at the moment!

First let’s take a look at the casting which definitely consists of some of the most talented actors and actresses that we see in modern television. Most of them originated on the stage so it’s no wonder they know how to pull a good face, shout or act out a good death! Characters which stand out for me have to be Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon) and Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy). I especially respect Alfie Allen; poor mite who insists his name is ‘Reek’ and is convinced he should be helping to murder his own people. Such amazing acting!

Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon) (Image: zap2it.com)

The stories themselves are so clever and complex that in my opinion they rival the greats like JRR Tolkien and Philip Pullman. Obviously the book series and  even more so, the television show pushes the boundaries a great deal more than Tolkien or Pullman but the plot twists and turns conjoured up by Martin, to me completely overshadow any violence or nudity portrayed. Many viewers may comment and seem to focus on these elements but it most definitely has to be the relationships, dynamics and what each character is going to do next that keeps us going back for more.

And who doesn’t love Tyrion Lannister; he just makes the show. Each word he utters keeps us on the edge of our seats and seems to make members of his family extremely nervous. He never fails to make the audience laugh or make them think about key past moments – Tyrion successfully puts his own unique spin on everything. I haven’t spoken to a single person who doesn’t love his wit and philosophical mind.

(Image: tickld.com)

And if that doesn’t convince you of Game of Thrones’ popularity then I point you in the direction of the Hollywood Reporter who revealed some important statistics for the show:

“(Season Four’s) premiere garnered 6.6 million viewers during its 9 p.m. broadcast. That’s up 2.2 from last year’s then-record 4.4 million premiere—and up 900,000 from the latest record, 5.5 million, achieved in week six of the third season. The episode now ranks as HBO’s most watched telecast since the 2007 series finale of The Sopranos.”

Well, I shall say no more other than ask one question: who do you want to finally sit on the Iron Throne in Kings Landing?

The Iron Throne (Image: sciencefiction.com)

Go Daenerys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ahem.