It’s not a “Game of Thrones” episode without a hundred gears spinning like its clockwork sequence title.
There are certain television programs that become must watch every time they air. They capture the imagination of the audience and turn every weekly airing into an event you do not want to miss out on in fear of being a step behind everyone else who partakes in the show.
For senior Max Kirkpatrick and many other members of the California Lutheran University community, “Game of Thrones” has become that type of show for them.
“To me ‘Game of Thrones’ is the best show on TV because of all the twists and turns in the story and how you never know what’s going to happen until it actually does happen,” Kirkpatrick said.
For those who may not be in the loop, “Game of Thrones” is a fantasy drama series based off the series of books, “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin. The show airs Sunday nights on HBO, and on April 12 the fifth season officially began.
According to the New York Times, the fifth season opened with eight million people tuning in to see what the people of Westeros are up to this season.
The show has grown so much in popularity since it debuted in 2011, and many people plan their Sunday’s in preparation of the new episode airing that night.
“My Sunday isn’t complete until I’ve watched the latest episode of ‘Game of Thrones,’” Kirkpatrick said. “Even though I can record or stream the episode at a later time it just doesn’t feel the same watching it after the fact.”
The plot is rich with battles between different royal houses vying for control over the continent. There are complex characters each with their own motives for their actions and keeping up with all the different characters is part of the fun of the show.
“There’s what seems like 30 main characters to follow on the show which sounds like it would be a headache to try and keep up with so many characters, but you just get so hooked on the show you feel almost obligated to keep up with every character,” senior Niko Valenzuela said.
Valenzuela also said any of the characters can be killed off on a weekly basis which makes the show that much more enticing.
“No one on the show is safe from getting killed off, which can be a bad thing if one of your favorite characters gets killed off, but it makes the show exciting, and it keeps you on your toes the whole time since you don’t really know what’s going to happen,” Valenzuela said.
And the good thing about watching “Game of Thrones” is that you most likely will never have to watch it alone, as it’s one of the largest followings on television. According to Entertainment Weekly, earlier this year “Game of Thrones” surpassed the “Sopranos” as the most watched show in HBO’s history.
According to reports done on the fourth season, the show had a gross average of 18.4 million viewers across various platforms. For a network with such a history of putting out critically acclaimed series, this is a big landmark for the show.
On the night of the premiere there was a viewing party held in West Hall where fans of the program could gather together to watch the show.
“I usually get together with my friends to watch it because a show like this is better when watching it with company,” freshman Trevor Roe said. “They can really help you deal with the surprises that come along when watching.”
If you want to check out “Game of Thrones” it airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on HBO. If you do not have HBO as part of your cable or satellite package HBO now offers a streaming service online where you can access “Game of Thrones” and all of their other series and movies at the price of $15 a month.
After the horrors of the Mad King, the self-centeredness of Robert Baratheon and the complacent, merciless cruelty of Joffery, it’s easy to be cynical about the future of Westeros. However, for the first time in awhile, the major players in “Game of Thrones” are moving closer together.
Spring may be upon us in Westeros, but brace yourself because winter is coming.
Alix Moise
Staff Writer
Published April 22nd, 2015