I still remember my Game of Thrones baptism as clear as day.
Lord Eddard Stark, Hand of the Late King Robert Baratheon, gazed in horror at the crowd spread out before him. All hope of salvation had just evaporated. Arya closed her eyes, as the executioner swung his axe. Off came Ned Stark’s head. Sansa screamed (as I am sure did many in the audience).
Many, many deaths have followed since then. With over 2,300 deaths on camera, Game of Thrones is perhaps the most brutal show on television this side of World War 2. However, what started as an engaging, gripping story full of intrigue and politics, has slowly morphed into something so much more. It has become a global cultural phenomenon.
In Bangladesh, it has become an integral part of the youth’s zeitgeist.
From memes to local artworks (and unauthorized marketing promotions), Game of Thrones has seeped into the DNA of Bangladeshi millennials.
We have seen people fawn over Khaleesi, and then we have seen them mourn for Jaime after hearing his tortured past. We have cheered as Arya bonded with the Hound, and cried when Jon Snow was betrayed by his own men.
A new Game of Thrones season is perhaps as big as any Eid for many Bangladeshis (perhaps, even bigger). But is this the last show that we watch together?
How We Reached the End of Peak TV
The last show which had nearly as much momentum was Breaking Bad, and even that pales in comparison to the hype Game of Thrones generates. Everyone, from Barack Obama to Beyonce, is onboard the GoT hype train. What happens, however, when it ends and we have to get off?
While cable TV is still here to stay, streaming services are rapidly taking over. While the likes of House of Cards, Narcos and Stranger Things have captured the audience’s imagination, they still fall short of the level of mainstream appeal that Game of Thrones has reached by now. When we watch Game of Thrones, we experience it together, when it airs live on HBO (or at least, within a few hours of it airing live). We are equally wary about spoilers in the next few days, and then we rush to discuss the latest happenings after we finally watch the latest episode.
Of course, some of the magic has been last over the years. As Game of Thrones ran out of source material, it slowly morphed into a more traditional show aimed at creating large moments, with lots of fanservice in between. ‘Battle of the Bastards’ and ‘Hardhome’ are great stand alone episodes, featuring the biggest battles yet put on the silver screen. Yet many lament the passing of the show’s original, wittier take.
“When George R.R. Martin sat down to write this saga nearly three decades ago, he did so with a bigger vision,” wrote Matt Miller for Esquire. “The only fan he was servicing was himself, one who took great care to build complex narratives that fit together immaculately over thousands of pages built by hundreds of characters and interwoven storylines…
If writing a season of television worthy of the story Martin began can be considered success, then Game of Thrones’ seventh season was a failure.”
While some critics may have soured on Game of Thrones’ populist turn, the fans remain as invested as ever. This is as big a tentpole event in storytelling as they come. George R.R. Martin may never finish his epic tale- he is still two doorstoppers away from the saga’s conclusion. In its absence, this adaptation by Benioff and Weiss may as well be the next best thing.
All’s Well that Ends Well
Will Game of Thrones’ ending be satisfying? That remains to be seen. The eighth season opened with a modest but effective premiere last Sunday. The upcoming Battle of Winterfell is set to be the show’s bloodiest battle yet. And of course, we can safely assume that several main characters will be eating dirt before their stories are over.
Is Game of Thrones ultimately a boon or a bane? That too, remains to be seen. The Harry Potter fandom comes to mind, where legions of fans are still trapped in that pre-pubescent fantasy of attending Hogwarts long after we said goodbye to Radcliffe and co. Will Game of Thrones’ legions be also trapped in the R+L= J triangles and wondering what dragon riding feels like, some three, five, ten years from now?
I would hope not. The Lord of the Rings is one fandom that has aged gracefully. As has the Star Wars fandom in many respects. However, it won’t be too bad if Game of Thrones were to indeed become ‘potterized’. At least, we will probably have two actual books to look forward to (along with several planned prequels from HBO) so people won’t suffer from a dearth of content.
What’s next for Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke and the others? Probably smaller roles as they transition into the next stages of their careers. Daniel Radcliffe is still on TV, and Emma Watson is a bona fide movie star, but so far the transition hasn’t been as smooth for GoT costars. Most of them have appeared in multiple TV and movie spots, but so far the biggest splash has to be from Richard Madden, who starred in his own hit BBC show, The Bodyguard, last year.
Of course, Jason Momoa is a big, big star and will headline his own slate of movies, but that’s more due to his own innate charisma and screen presence than his season one stint as Khal Drogo.
As for the prequels, while Robert Baratheon’s rebellion against the Targaryens is the most likely story to receive the greenlight, an onscreen adaptation of Fire and Blood couldn’t hurt either. Let’s see what GRRM and HBO cook up for us, once the fire and dust from GoT has settled. And of course, let’s hope that GoT ends fittingly with grace, delivering justice and joy where needed.