Saturday, December 31, 2016

Your Favorite WotW Posts of 2016!

GOT609_091715_HS_DSC_7712[1]

It’s the last day of 2016, and good riddance to you, ya great big bastard of a year! Even George R.R. Martin is completely done with 2016, and we know how much he loves random slaughter.

We thought it would be fun to look back at the year that was for Watchers on the Wall, sharing with our readers 2016’s most popular posts, based on views. So without further ado, let’s get to it: your favorite posts of 2016!

Surprising probably no one, the most popular posts are the ones presenting lots of new Game of Thrones photos. In fact, seven of the top ten biggest posts this year were our weekly articles containing official pics from the new season six episodes. That makes sense because, in addition to fans being excited to check out the latest photos, our readers always have a lot to say about them.

Top Ten Most Viewed Posts of the Year

1. New photos from Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 9 “Battle of The Bastards”

The Battle of the Bastards winning something- big shocker, right?

2. New photos from Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 7 “The Broken Man”

The return of the Blackfish, Ian McShane’s appearance, and the anticipated return of the Hound had fans excited this week.

3. New photos from Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 6 “Blood of My Blood”

For episode 6, readers were stoked about Jaime Lannister and the Tyrells marching on the sept, and speculating about Arya Stark’s next move with the theater troupe in Braavos.

4. New photos from Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 8 “No One”

In one preview, a quick glance of an extra in a Braavos scene convinced some fans that Syrio Forel was returning in season 6. That led to some fun discussions for a week!

5. New photos from Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 5 “The Door”

The preview photos for episode 5 teased Bran Stark’s visions but fans had no idea what was really in store for them, with the terrifying cave attack and Hodor’s devastating death. GoT did a great job at hinting something big for the episode while not spoiling the ending or ruining its emotional impact.

6. New photos from the Game of Thrones Season 6 Finale “The Winds of Winter”

There’s over a thousand comments on this season finale photo post, so I’m guessing you all were pretty psyched for “The Winds of Winter,” and rightly so.

7. Jon Snow filming with main characters in Basque Country! MAJOR SPOILERS!

Our first non-season-6 post to make the true top 10! This post is packed with massive spoilers for season 7, and photos giving us a sneak peek at what Jon Snow is up to next year. Click with caution!

8. New photos from Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 3 “Oathbreaker”

The aftermath of Jon’s resurrection and the Tower of Joy’s rumored placement in episode 3 had fans buzzing about “Oathbreaker.” The photos officially confirmed Bran and the Three-Eyed Raven’s presence there in this episode.

9. The latest Belfast sightings, and an exclusive Game of Thrones season 7 spoiler report!

Another season 7 post! Some cast sightings from this September, and in the lower half of the post, exclusive WotW spoilers concerning Euron Greyjoy and a few other characters.

10. Game of Thrones spoiler report: Daenerys in season 7

Our exclusive Daenerys Targaryen spoilers from August take the number ten spot this year. Filming spoilers have since confirmed this report.


23If we exclude the season six photo articles from our top ten, the list shakes out like this:

1. Jon Snow filming with main characters in Basque Country! MAJOR SPOILERS!

2. The latest Belfast sightings, and an exclusive Game of Thrones season 7 spoiler report!

3. Game of Thrones spoiler report: Daenerys in season 7

4. The First Shots of Game of Thrones Season 7 Have Arrived!

5. HBO releases new info about Game of Thrones episodes 606 and 607

6. Game of Thrones season 7 casting has begun!

7.  Another season 3 cast member confirmed to return for Game of Thrones season 6

8. First images of a monumental meeting between major Game of Thrones characters! (A season 7 post- beware of major spoilers!)

9. HBO confirms episode 608 title, reveals synopsis

10.  Game of Thrones chaos in Seville, plus major Italica spoilers! (Season 7 Spoilers!)

Comments-wise, the most popular posts are usually the photo posts and the in-season Open Chat posts. The weekly free-for-alls during new episodes of Game of Thrones rack up hundreds of comments easily, with the “The Winds of Winter” post nearing 1200 comments. So I think the lesson here is that every post is the sum of its commenters, the community that creates the discussion and energy.

Happy New Year to all you watchers on the wall, and we look forward to another year with you!

The post Your Favorite WotW Posts of 2016! appeared first on Watchers on the Wall.


Via http://watchersonthewall.com

Sansa, Lyanna Mormont, and Game of Thrones Season 6 appear on more Best-of-2016 lists

Friday, December 30, 2016

More Characters Are Overlapping In Season Seven, Says Iain Glen

13

Iain Glen talked to Radio Times this week to promote his new Sky drama Delicious and shared a few words about the new season of Game of Thrones. The actor reassures viewers about the shortened seventh season but is evasive about his character Jorah Mormont’s future on the show. We last saw Mormont taking leave of Daenerys in season six, with her commanding him to seek out a cure for his deadly case of greyscale.

“They are taking the length of time it takes to shoot ten episodes to shoot just seven this year and six next year. There are fifteen more hours left in Thrones as we understand it, but that may change, but that’s as far as we know,” Glen says.

He tells RT, “I think the scale and size of the set pieces, the world that is being created it’s just getting more and more extraordinary and they feel they need that time to shoot seven hours as opposed to ten.”

Speaking of those “fifteen hours left,” Radio Times reports that Glen claims he doesn’t know if Jorah will make it to season eight. The actor says, “I don’t know of course if I am going to make the last one. I am sort of doing a head count, but I think it’s certainly under ten people who were in the original pilot and have been in every season since. I have grown very attached to it. I love the people involved. Dan [Weiss] and David [Benioff] are very benign showrunners and very good people.”

We can take Glen’s teasing with a grain of salt, however. Given that season seven is within two months of completing filming, and Glen has seen all of his scripts by now, it’s safe to say he knows whether or not his character survives and will be making it to the eighth and final season.

As for the show’s endgame, Glen wraps it up by sharing a nice tease with RT. “This season you feel that the drama is moving towards its end game, more characters are overlapping so we are seeing a lot more of each other, than perhaps in the past. In the same scenes and we are going to the same places.”

There you go- a juicy hint for those of you who like to skip hardcore spoilers but still want a taste. What are your hopes for Jorah in season seven?

The post More Characters Are Overlapping In Season Seven, Says Iain Glen appeared first on Watchers on the Wall.


Via http://watchersonthewall.com

Game of Thrones’ Melisandre compared to the Arthurian Morgan Le Fay

Morgan Le Fay is a great enchantress of Arthurian legend with the complex and ever-evolving characteristics typical of mythological figures, and it is easy to see parallels between Morgan and Melisandre’s character in Game of Thrones. George R. R. Martin may or may not have had Morgan Le Fay in mind when he was creating Melisandre, but he would have been familiar with her, and there is no doubt that both characters spring from similar founts in the Celtic mythic tradition.

Morgan Le Fay by Frederick Sandys (1864)

Morgan Le Fay by Frederick Sandys (1864)

Where does Morgan Le Fay first come from? The character first appears in a small role in the medieval Vita Merlini (‘The Life of Merlin,’ 1150 AD) by the Norman-Welsh cleric Geoffrey of Monmouth, as a sorceress attached to the The Isle of Apples (in latin: “Insula Pomorum,” which eventually becomes “Avalon.”) Morgan Le Fay appears to be a mishmash of mythic figures including the Welsh goddess Modron (‘mother.’) The first spelling of her name is ‘Morgen,’ derived from an Old Welsh/old Breton word meaning “sea-born,” later possibly transforming into the Old Irish/Christian Muirgein, a female saint who was a shapeshifter from the sea. Morgan’s epithet ‘Le Fay,’ is from the French la fee, or ‘fairy.’ Her genesis is most likely founded in the old goddesses of Welsh mythology, including the Welsh and Briton water spirits called ‘Morgens.’

In the early chivalric romances by Christian de Troyes (late 12th century), Morgan takes on the talents of a healer. Her role steadily increases through the Post-Vulgate Cycle and in Sir Thomas Malory‘s classic Le Morte d’Arthur (‘The Death of Arthur,’ 1485 AD), Morgan Le Fay has become a much larger, and much more sinister, part of the Arthurian legend: Morgan is now a half-sister to King Arthur and a former apprentice/lover of Merlin’s, and a dark nemesis to both; she also hates the Knights of the Round table and Arthur’s queen, Guinevere.

melisandre-game-thrones-predictions

So where do we see the parallels between the characters of Melisandre and Morgan Le Fay? In Le Morte d’Arthur, Morgan is a highly sexual creature, having had affairs with Merlin himself, among others. On Game of Thrones we are familiar with Melisandre’s strategic use of her sexual attractiveness (or, her appearance of such) to try to manipulate the men (Stannis Baratheon, Jon Snow) she has an interest in.

Melisandre is akin to a shapeshifter, or at least, she uses a glamour device (necklace-spell) to radically change her physical appearance. In the early Vita Merlini, Geoffrey of Monmouth describes Morgan Le Fay and her sisters as able to shapeshift and fly, though at this point they are creatures who only do good works.

morgan-le-fay-by-john-r-spencer-stanhope-1880

Morgan Le Fay by John R. Spencer Stanhope (1880)

The dark and evil aspects of Morgan Le Fay bubble up in tangential forms early on. The Arthurian tale Geraint son of Erbin (based on Chretien’s Erec and Enide) supplies King Arthur with a chief physician named Morgan Tud. Arthurian scholars have long debated the roots of the male character of Morgan Tud, whom many suspect is derived from Morgan Le Fay. The epithet Tud could be sourced from the Old Irish tuath, which means “sinister, wicked,” and “fairy (fay), elf.” The 12th century knight and poet Hartmann von Aue wrote his own version of Erec and Enide, and in it he introduces an undead sorceress named Famurgan (Feimurgan, Fairy Murgan) who exists “in the defiance of god” and can raise the dead.

We have seen Melisandre resurrect Jon Snow through her powers associated with R’hllor, and it is believed that Morgan Le Fay carried King Arthur’s body to Avalon in order to resurrect him at a time when England was in need of its greatest hero. In both instances, the duplicitous but powerful sorceresses eventually (and finally) prove loyal to their hero and guard him with their healing powers.

1280px-frank_william_warwick_topham_voyage_of_king_arthur_and_morgan_le_fay_to_the_isle_of_avalon_1888

Voyage of King Arthur and Morgan le Fay to the Isle of Avalon by Frank William Warwick (1888).

As we can see, there are a number of similarities between the characters of Melisandre and various versions of Morgan Le Fay: they’re both sexually powerful, have command of shape-shifting/illusion, operate in dark magics and have the ability to resurrect the dead. And while it is fun to look at the parallels in their mythological roots, is it possible to intuit something about the future of Melisandre’s character from the mythological story arc of Morgan Le Fay? Is Melisandre to Jon Snow as Morgan Le Fay is to King Arthur?

It is interesting to note that Morgan Le Fay is partly responsible for King Arthur’s death: she deprives the king of Excalibur’s protective scabbard and without it he is killed by Mordred at the Battle of Camlann. Morgan somewhat redeems herself in the end, by returning to Arthur as he is dying and assisting the other black-hooded sorcerer queens as they take him on his final voyage to Avalon. Morgan will keep Arthur under her protection and, when the time comes, she will use her powers to resurrect him.

Melisandre and Jon Snow Official

If Melisandre’s story follows Morgan Le Fay’s lead, then the Red Woman will once again figure large in Jon Snow’s life. Jon and Melisandre are essentially enemies now (with the harsh terms of her exile), as King Arthur and Morgan Le Fay became enemies. But, in the end of the Arthurian tale, Morgan returns to help King Arthur move into (and possibly out of) the realm of death. As obsessed as Melisandre is with her faith, it seems impossible that she is going to be able to remain apart from The Prince that was Promised for long. Could Melisandre’s fate be entwined with the heroic death of Jon Snow in the final struggle, as is Morgan Le Fay to King Arthur, and is it her destiny to help her hero embark upon his final journey into the Otherworld?

It’s all speculation, of course, but it’s lots of fun. What do you guys think?


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/30/game-of-thrones-melisandre-compared-to-the-arthurian-morgan-le-fay/

Game of Thrones round robin: A year in review

As 2016 draws to a close, there comes a time for us to reflect on the year that has been. The year has garnered a reputation for being less than cheerful, but how did 2016 fare for the residents of Westeros? Which characters ended the year on a triumphant note, and which characters will be hoping for better luck next year? We take a look back at Game of Thrones Season 6 and find out.

It was a bad year for…

Grand Maester Pycelle: “Sure, this looks official,” said Pycelle to himself, as he followed a random child to a dark cellar where death awaited him.

The High Sparrow: Jonathan Pryce’s High Sparrow exploded on our screens this year. That’s it. He literally exploded. It wasn’t a figure of speech.

Roose Bolton: It took Roose Bolton approximately ten seconds to die from a stab wound that Arya Stark shook off like a fly. Weak.

Ramsay Bolton: Ramsay was left red-faced when he introduced a cost-cutting initiative of feeding human flesh to his hounds, only for the dogs to respond to it a little too enthusiastically.

Brandon Stark: Young Bran was catfished by the Three-Eyed Raven, the world’s worst mentor. Determined to teach Bran to stop trying to catch glimpses of his family members in his visions, he manipulated his young student into ruining the life of his best friend in the past. Then he psyched out and died, leaving Bran to face a barrage of misplaced hatred from half the fandom.

Rickon Stark: Poor baby Rickon. The legacy of the youngest Stark will forever be tainted by his inability to zig-zag.

ramsay-rickon

Meera Reed: Although she became a member of the exclusive Sam and Jon club for awesome people who kill White Walkers, Meera will now have to live with the fact that her voice broke Hodor’s brain. She also has to drag Bran to the Wall without any assistance, thanks to Uncle Benjen, who dropped them about a mile away from their destination and took his horse with him.

Osha: I mean, at least Osha got some dialogue, which is more than I can say for Rickon. You were tragically underused, Osha. RIP.

Hodor: Hodor actually had a bad year decades ago, it just happened to catch up with him recently.

Summer and Shaggydog: The Starks are such irresponsible pet owners.

Lady Crane: Those of us who wanted to see Cersei Lannister die in Season 6 were left with a pale imitation of it when the delightful Lady Crane was finished off by the Waif. Her crime? Being talented. In Game of Thrones, the cutthroat world of show business is literally that.

Are you bringing me spoilers?

The Waif: The Waif decided to channel Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator this year, but unbeknownst to her, Arya had decided to channel Matt Murdock, AKA Marvel’s DaredevilShe got what was damn well coming to her.

Brynden ‘Blackfish’ Tully: Brynden’s eyes welled up as he read the letter he had received from Sansa Stark. “She’s exactly like her mother,” he said, overcome with emotion as he thought of his beloved niece, Catelyn. “Screw her, though.”

Smug Cousin Lancel Lannister: He’s not so smug now, is he?

Tommen Baratheon: We say our goodbyes to Tommen of the House Baratheon, first of his name, offshoot of incest and lover of cats. Sadly, the only thing he’ll be remembered for in Westeros is the number of ‘King’s Landing’ jokes his death will inevitably inspire.

Olenna Tyrell: As if losing her son, grandson and granddaughter wasn’t heartbreaking enough, Olenna then had to travel to Dorne and talk to the Sand Snakes. The punishment seems gratuitous at this stage.

olenna-mourning

Loras Tyrell: He got his forehead engraved with that seven-pointed star for nothing and didn’t even get to show it off.

Margaery Tyrell: Forced to die surrounded by fools, and in an unflattering outfit, the most beautiful rose in Highgarden is no longer growing strong. Now, her remains are blowing strong. In the wind.

Trystane Martell: He died as he lived, uneventfully.

Doran Martell: Poor Doran was shockingly killed off this year as part of D. B. Weiss and David Benioff’s Dornish damage control initiative. Now he’ll have to return to dining out on Star Trek.

Walder Frey: When Walder Frey told his two favorite sons to come for lunch, he didn’t expect Arya Stark to take that invitation literally. The prickly patriarch of House Frey died with terror in his eyes and his children in his belly.

The Winds of Winter

The year could have been better for…

Jaime Lannister: Jaime secured a great personal victory when he took Riverrun without bloodshed, but when he returned to King’s Landing and saw that his sister had reduced the Sept of Baelor to a smoldering pile of ash, he may have regretted not chasing Brienne of Tarth for that rom-com ending we all know he’s dreaming of.

Cersei Lannister: Terrified that the prophecy concerning the deaths of her three children would come true, Cersei did everything she possibly could to help it along. She also looks set to become a terribly profligate queen, as we saw when she wasted several liters of expensive wine whilst waterboarding a nun.

Cersei Coronation Gown Game of Thrones

Daario Naharis: Just when Daario thought it was safe to change his relationship status on Facebook to ‘In a Relationship with Daenerys Targaryen’, he got dumped by the object of his affections. “It’s not you,” the Mother of Dragons assured him. “Well, actually, it definitely is you.” On the upside, Daenerys still wants him to do her bidding in Meereen, which is proof that every cloud has an even crappier lining.

Jorah Mormont: Jorah was finally forgiven by his beloved queen, Daenerys, only for her to immediately order him to get lost. He has now been tasked with finding a doctor who will be willing to treat him with no health insurance.

Jaqen H’ghar: This year, Jaqen lost two valued employees from the House of Black and White, along with any semblance of his personality.

Sandor ‘the Hound’ Clegane: In an epic reveal, Sandor Clegane turned up alive and working construction. He also made a new best friend. Septon Ray was kind, generous and dead by the end of the episode. Bummer. Now Sandor and his trusty axe are on their way north in search of further redemption.

Petyr Baelish: Petyr got to play the hero when the Knights of the Vale swooped in and saved Jon Snow’s army from certain death. Unfortunately for Petyr, declaring for the Starks has left his house of cards swaying in the wind, and his littlest finger was rejected by a stone cold Sansa Stark, who hasn’t been charmed by his worrisome impression of a leprechaun.

Edmure Tully: See below

edmure-meme

Bronn: He’s been promoted to a cushy position as Jaime Lannister’s right-hand man (pun not intended), but we all know that Bronn would rather be hanging out with Tyrion.

Theon Greyjoy: Do you hate spending time with your family during the holidays? Spare a thought for Theon Greyjoy, who finally got to go home after years of torture and servitude, only to find that his uncle wanted to murder him.

Yara Greyjoy: The Hillary Clinton of Westeros.

Jon Snow: Jon just wanted a nice vacation this year, but fate had other plans for him. It wasn’t all bad, though. He achieved some of his greatest successes when he came back from the dead and reclaimed Winterfell for his family, and he also continued his trend of being given jobs that he didn’t apply for when he was declared King in the North. However, he’s Jon Snow, so he’s always got to be miserable about something.

Melisandre: Melisandre’s year started well when she learned that resurrection of the dead is yet another skill that she can add to her resume. She also knows a few tricks about accessorizing to draw attention away from gray hairs and wrinkles. However, her year took a downturn when she realized too late that she should have served chicken wings, not Shireen, at the Baratheon family barbecue.

Davos Seaworth: He wanted the chicken wings.

Melisandre and Davos

It was a good year for…

Tyrion Lannister: Tyrion Lannister spent his year productively, bringing trade and prosperity to Meereen while his boss was out of town, as well as free healthcare, high-speed internet access and a Cheesecake Factory (probably).

Arya Stark: This year, Arya quit her grueling summer job and discovered that not only is she immune to leptospirosis, she also possesses the superhuman ability to recover completely from fatal stab wounds.

Arya

Sansa Stark: The true Queen in the North, Sansa Stark cleverly held back information that, if revealed early, might have seen Jon lead the entire eastern forces into a trap laid by Ramsay Bolton. Then she coolly saved the day like a pro. And she created some fabulous outfits. Take that, haters.

Brienne of Tarth: Following the long-awaited execution of Stannis Baratheon, Brienne leveled up again when she rescued Sansa Stark from the Bolton guards, another objective complete! She also gained more suitors than Cleopatra, with Bronn and Tormund making their interest known, and Jaime Lannister gazing moony-eyed at her from afar as she rowed away from Riverrun. They truly are the Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey of Westeros.

Podrick Payne: Who puts the ‘pain’ in Payne? Podrick does. The most loyal squire in Westeros displayed his fighting prowess this year when he fought the Bolton guards alongside Brienne.

Tormund Giantsbane: It was a banner year in the Giantsbane household. Tormund emerged victorious in the famed Battle of the Beards when he ate Smalljon Umber’s beard clean off his face. His fate in the upcoming Battle for Brienne is yet to be decided.

tormund-chicken

Lyanna Mormont: Lyanna Mormont showed us all who was boss this year when she single-handedly intimidated a hall full of grown men into appointing a monarch of her choosing. Three cheers for a kid so scary that Santa’s afraid to come down her chimney.

Gregor ‘the Mountain’ Clegane: Christmas came early for Ser Gregor, as Cersei allowed him to smash heads, tear off heads, and generally cause head-related injures. This more than makes up for his cosmetic difficulties.

Qyburn: Cersei’s new best friend and biggest enabler earned himself a major promotion when he assisted her in blowing up the sept and taught a bunch of traumatized street children how to murder for sweeties.

Daenerys Targaryen: Daenerys took on the patriarchy in a unique way this year. She obliterated Khal Moro, Khal Forzo, Khal Rhalko, Khal Oreo, Khal Rambo, Khal YOLO, Khal Hippo, Khal Wakemeupbeforeyougogo (some of these names may be made up) and countless others when she burned down the temple of the Dosh Khaleen. Then she returned to Meereen just in time to save the city from attack and engaged her colleagues in a fun game of musical statues on board her ship.

Daenerys in the fire

Grey Worm: The Unsullied captain pulled off the slickest double murder in Game of Thrones history, and is well on his way to becoming a fully developed character. Rumor has it that he may crack a smile in Season 7.

Missandei: See Missandei in Madison Square Garden as she brings her sell-out stand-up comedy tour, Narth to do but Laugh, to the general public. Coming soon in a language you speak.

Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal: After being unfairly grounded by their mother at the end of Season 4, Viserion and Rhaegal were finally allowed out of their bedrooms and into the skies. They took care to conceal their burning resentment towards Drogon, who remains his mother’s favorite child in spite of his bad behavior.

Ellaria Sand: Yes, Ellaria, I’m sure you killed Doran and Trystane because your only motivation was revenge. It wasn’t like the idea of seizing control of an entire kingdom appealed to you or anything like that. Nope.

The Sand Snakes: One of them probably did something useful at some point. Does anyone care? I can’t believe we lost Natalie Dormer and two direwolves but kept these three.

Lord Varys: The Master of Whisperers narrowly beats Petyr Baelish to claim the title of ‘fastest traveler’ this year, as he speedily crossed oceans to secure an alliance with Olenna Tyrell and the Dornish disasters. His frequent flyer miles must be through the roof.

Has anyone seen our spoilers?

Samwell Tarly: Sam’s father is the kind of guy who wants their kid to go to college on a full football scholarship, rather than good grades and an exemplary personal essay. Sam struck a blow for intellectuals everywhere when he stole his father’s beloved Valyrian steel sword, Heartsbane, to use as a bookmark in the Citadel of Oldtown. Right on.

Gilly: This year, Gilly managed to win over every girlfriend’s worst fear, the mother-in-law, and bravely stood up to Randyll Tarly when he berated his son for challenging his fragile masculinity. She also got some stylish new threads.

Euron Greyjoy: Euron benefited greatly from a poor voter turnout on the Iron Islands, and from the voting system itself, which comprises of a bunch of dudes yelling and isn’t in any way measurable.

It was an excellent year for…

That guy who lead the Knights of the Vale into battle: Just look at him go! This is his moment!

knight-of-the-vale1

Ride on, friend. Ride on.


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/30/game-of-thrones-round-robin-a-year-in-review/

Humor: Mindy Kailing goes on Game of Thrones Twitter rant, Kaitlin Olson throws shade, and more

2016 can’t seem to come to a close fast enough, with more of our heroes and icons passing away each and every day, so perhaps a bit of Game of Thrones humor is just the thing we all need. Yes? Good. First up we have the always hilarious Mindy Kaling. Kaling recently went on a bit of Twitter spree talking all things Game of Thrones, and as one would expect, the results were downright hilarious. Thanks to Bustle, we give you Kaling’s deeply emotional reaction to the death of Rickon Stark.

Sadly, this was the reaction of many of fan, many of whom we assume have never visited WiCnet (we’re all a bit obsessed around here). But if she doesn’t know Rickon Stark from Jojen Reed, who does she know and love?

RIP Shireen. We all loved you and your obsession with books. Too bad your father didn’t send you to Valyria with the rest of the stone men. You’d still be alive. Kaling also is not above using her celebrity status to learn secrets of the show.

We aren’t sure we buy HBO co-show runner David Benioff spilling Game of Thrones secrets on a “secret email chain.” He’d use texts for sure. And last but not least, Kaling compares Casey Affleck’s role in Manchester by the Sea to Cersei Lannister (which we assume is a bad thing).

Next up, we have the musings of one Hunter Boyle, an unpublished author who recorded her initial reactions to all of your favorite Game of Thrones moments. As you would expect, her reaction to the Red Wedding is particularly noteworthy.

And to go out on a high note, actress Kaitlin Olson was recently interviewed by Entertainment Weekly for her upcoming show The Mick. The actress, best known for her role on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, was asked which show she would most like to guest-star on, and what her line would be if cast. We’ll just leave her answer here for you. “Game of Thrones. And I would say, ‘Winter is never coming, is it?'”


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/30/celeb-roundup-mindy-kailing-tweets-about-got-kaitlin-olson-and-ser-jorah-leaves-the-friendzone/

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Check out this Game of Thrones Interactive Map of Westeros and Essos

Have you ever wondered where your favorite spot in Game of Thrones is located in comparison to other famous landmarks in the world of Westeros and Essos? Well, thanks to the folks at Quarter Maester, you won’t have to wonder anymore as the Maesters running the site have put together a very neat interactive map of Westeros and Essos. The interactive map, found here, was built through Google Maps and allows Game of Thrones fans to zoom in and out on particular areas of interest.

Map of Westeros and Essos

Game of Thrones fans using the map can click on a particular character, from the sidebar, and then follow that character’s movements throughout the story. For instance, if one were to choose Ned Stark, a pin would be dropped in Winterfell, and after using the slider on the sidebar, Lord Stark’s pin becomes a skull in King’s Landing. Clever, that.

In case you are an Unsullied and are concerned about spoilers, the map has a fix for that. The team at Quarter Maester made sure to include notes on cities that have been heavily explored, as well as notes on areas that haven’t been explored at all. Fans also have the option to set parameters on what information will be shown on the map and if that fan is not fully caught up with the series, then those areas will remain hidden until they are up to that point.

This map really is a fun way to help pass the time during the long wait from the end of Season 6 to the premiere of Season 7, and hey, even the most diehard of Game of Thrones fans might learn a thing or two about George R.R. Martin’s rich and developed world.

H/T – Polygon


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/29/check-game-thrones-interactive-map-westeros-essos/

Game of Thrones Actors: Then and Now

Now that we’ve experienced six full seasons of Game of Thrones, and in some cases, literally watching some members of the cast grow up right in front of our eyes, perhaps it’s time to take a look back at each one of the major players from the show, to see what they looked like before becoming household names, with international fame. Sadly, some of the cast members have seen their last day on Game of Thrones, but it will be fun to gaze upon the visage of each one of these now superstars who are recognizable around the globe.  The photos come via a Reddit thread posted some months ago, and thanks to imgur user , we’ve got a plethora of photos to look through.

The “GoT” cast: Then and Now.

As you can see, while scrolling through the 16-page slide show, some the Game of Thrones cast have changed their appearance a great deal. You could chalk it up to simply growing up, good living, or the need to reinvent one’s self. I think one my favorite of the cast photos is Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont), as he looks like he could be a body double for David Bowie (may he rest in peace), or at the very least, the lead singer in a Bowie cover band.

Iain Glen

Sean Bean (Ned Stark) gives off a punk rock vibe in his then and now photo. I mean, just look at the earring!

Sean Bean

Lena Heady looks like an extra on Beverly Hills, 90210, in her photo. I wonder if she were on that show, and had an affair with Dylan behind Brenda’s back if they would have made her do a walk of shame down Rodeo drive, with Donna walking behind her, ringing a bell, shouting, “Shame!”

Lena Headey

EMGN.com also put together a few then and now photos of Game of Thrones cast members, which you can see the entire layout by clicking the link provided. However, we chose a few of the better ones from imgur to show you. For instance look at a young Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister).

Game of Thrones Actors: Then and Now

What really stands out in these photos, is the great beauty of Diana Rigg (Lady Olenna Tyrell).

And, the frosted tips of Aidan Gillen (Littlefinger).

These actors sure have changed over the years, and for some, the change was definitely for the better. It’s fun to look back at the cast of Game of Thrones before they were stars, and we probably shouldn’t get too attached, as there is sure to be a culling of characters in both Season 7 and Season 8. Who stands out the most, in regards to a completely new look? Let’s discuss in the comments.


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/29/game-thrones-actors-now/

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Game of Thrones fans deliver more Season 7 posters

Game of Thrones, The Best of 2016: Part 3

Jon rides

The year is almost over; we have just enough time for one more rounding up of the annual lists where Game of Thrones has made the cut!

Game of Thrones has already appeared on dozens on lists in Part 1 and Part 2 of this post series. New additions this week salute the show’s strength in music, major episodes, and a particular scene-stealer.

io9 put together their Best and Worst Television Moments of 2016, and admit they “had a lot of trouble narrowing down our favorite Game of Thrones moments to even just two or three.” They highlight five major moments from the season, including the Battle of the Bastards, the death of Hodor, Sansa’s execution of Ramsay, Lyanna Mormont’s speech to the Northern lords, and “Cersei drinking wine as the world burns,” after she blows up the sept.

Over in radio-land, Game of Thrones lands at number nine on NPR critic David Bianculli’s list of the Best TV of 2016. Check out the podcast to hear Bianculli’s discussion of his favorites this year.

“Battle of the Bastards” is one of the Best TV Episodes of 2016 according to Collider, who call it “a thrilling hour of television that contained some well-earned and genuine triumph.” Collider’s Allison Keener says the episode “was exciting, uplifting (even in its horror), and just in terms of choreography and payoff, probably the most outstanding hour of TV this year.”

Collider has also put together the 28 Best Songs on TV in 2016, creating one handy Spotify playlist. The list includes music such as”Heaven is a Place on Earth,” revived for Black Mirror‘s 80’s daydream “San Junipero” and the instrumental rendition of “Exit Music (For a Film)” from the Westworld finale. Capping off the selections is “Light of the Seven,” composed by Ramin Djawadi.

Vulture highlights their own 10 Best Musical TV Moments of 2016, saluting the best use of music this year. Making the cut naturally is “Light of the Seven,” the stunning piano-centered piece that scored the explosive trial in the season finale “The Winds of Winter.” As writer Sean T. Collins notes, “The instrument had never been prominently featured in Djawadi’s score before, let alone given a solo spotlight of this magnitude. The implication was clear: Something unprecedented was about to go down.”

Included in Vulture‘s 17 Breakthrough TV Performances of 2016 is the biggest scene-stealer of season 6, Bella Ramsey. Jen Chaney of Vulture says, “Ramsey may be young, but she infuses Lyanna with an astonishing amount of bravado, not to mention a commendable ability to shame grown men into doing the right thing. Frankly, we could use Lyanna on the U.S. political stage right now.”

Game of Thrones grabs the number ten spot on MTV‘s list of their top shows this year. Inkoo Kang also chooses the final two episodes of season 6 for her best episodes list, saying “Among the final two installments’ highlights were Jon Snow’s (Kit Harington) very relatable paralysis amid war, the Stark sisters’ (Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams) long-awaited revenge on their respective torturers, and Cersei’s (Lena Headey) nuclear-level move for the crown. ‘Battle of the Bastards’ and ‘The Winds of Winter’ are Game of Thrones at its most ruthless, grand, maybe even inspirational — no other show comes close to being so epic.”

Keith Uhlich for the BBC places Game of Thrones at number eight on his list of the 10 Best TV Shows of 2016. Uhlich says, “Season six felt, in many ways, like a cresting and then initial crashing of the wave, satisfyingly tying up certain plot threads…while offering up the kind of vividly violent spectacle at which the show excels.”

The New York Post chooses GoT‘s second episode of the season, “Home” (featuring the resurrection of Jon Snow) as their best episode of the year. The Post says, “Jon opened his eyes and breathed. Vindicated, the fans went nuts. And the season was off to a running start.”

Salon has their own choices for the Best TV moments of 2016, and includes a little lady that won many people’s hearts this year. “We loved watching Lyanna Mormont flaunt her righteous indignation on Game of Thrones,” writes Melanie McFarland. Salon applauds all of Lady Mormont’s scenes in season 6, but especially the season finale moment when Lyanna faced the Northern lords and “surgically read them for filth.”

It’s been an incredible year for Game of Thrones, with season 6 surpassing season 5, and maybe all the years before. What do you think, readers?

The post Game of Thrones, The Best of 2016: Part 3 appeared first on Watchers on the Wall.


Via http://watchersonthewall.com

Video: CNET reviews and explains Game of Thrones: Hand of the King card game

“Lord Varys knows all,” Petyr said with a sly smile. “He will be joining us shortly.”
–George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

Hand of the King is an all-new Game of Thrones card game that was announced by Fantasy Flight Games, back in August. The card game is for two to four players, and the game is won through the use of cunning deals and clever maneuvering. Lord Varys, the Master of Whispers, is used to gain influence over the Great Houses of Westeros, and the player with the most influence at the end of the game becomes the next Hand of the King. Hand of the King is all about making alliances while learning to know when to betray your former allies, at the same time. We haven’t had a chance to play the game, yet, but CNET has, and the site posted a fun tutorial video featuring actual Hand of the King gameplay. Check it out:

CNET describes Hand of the King as a tabletop game that works more like a “competitive sliding puzzle.” Players move the Lord Varys tile around a 6×6 grid, gathering members of the Great Houses of Westeros. “Whoever has the most members of a given House controls it, and whoever controls the most Houses wins.” According to the site, Hand of the King is easy to play, but it is also fun and mentally challenging, as players will have to make short-lived alliances, in order to block their opponents, all the while, thinking as many moves ahead as possible, without losing the plot of the game.

Game of Thrones: Hand of the King is available for purchase through the Fantasy Flight Games website, and it won’t break your bank at a price of $12.95. Fantasy Flight also makes A Game of Thrones: The Card Game, which we have played and reviewed, previously. If you are a diehard Game of Thrones fan, and you like board games, then we highly recommend you give Fantasy Flight a look, as they have games for just about every type of table top gamer.


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/28/video-cnet-reviews-explains-hand-king-game-thrones-strategy-card-game/

George R.R. Martin Laments the Loss of Carrie Fisher and Richard Adams

(Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

2016 has been a no good awful year, in terms of celebrity deaths. With the deaths of beloved musicians like David Bowie and Prince, and actors such as Alan Rickman, Anton Yelchin, Gene Wilder, and Alan Thicke, as well as astronaut John Glenn, boxing icon Mohamed Ali, and golf legend Arnold Palmer, it seems as if 2016 has been the year that we’ve lost everyone. Now, with Tuesday’s tragic news that Star Wars actress, Carrie Fisher passed away from complications after suffering a massive heart attack on her flight from London to Los Angeles last week, 2016 will go down as the year the Grim Reaper had its way with Hollywood.

Many celebrities have taken to social media to express their grief over the loss of these great entertainers, and George R.R. Martin is no different, as he published a new post on his Not a Blog expressing his sadness over not only the loss of Carrie Fisher but Watership Down author, Richard Adams, as well.

There is not much I can say about the death of Carrie Fisher that a thousand other people have not said already. She was way too young. A bright, beautiful, talented actress, and a strong, witty, outspoken woman. Princess Leia will live as long as STAR WARS does… probably forever…

Martin then talked, at length, about Richard Adams, and what the author’s work meant to him:

Adams was a wonderful writer. Yes, WATERSHIP DOWN was his masterpiece, but it was by no means his only great book. He wrote two terrific epic fantasies with human characters, SHARDIK and MAIA, both of which I think are criminally underrated, as well as an erotic ghost story, THE GIRL ON A SWING. His other “animal book,” THE PLAGUE DOGS, also has some wonderful sections… though it is such a dark, depressing, angry, gut-punch of a novel that I can’t say I ‘enjoyed’ it.

In a year filled with unexpected celebrity deaths, Adams passed away at the age of 96, peacefully and surrounded by his family. Fisher, on the other hand, passed away in the ICU at Ronal Reagan  UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

While Richard Adams may not have been considered a celebrity, his books helped shape the minds of young readers and writers the world over. In fact, Watership Down is being made into a four part mini-series to be aired on BBC One and streamed by Netflix in 2017, with Star Wars: The Force Awakens star, John Boyega voicing the character of Bigwig.

Carrie Fisher recently finished her scenes for Star Wars: Episode VIII, so we know that we will get to see her on the big screen at least one last time when the film premieres worldwide in December of 2017. What we don’t know is if General Leia will make it through Episode VIII, and if she does, then Colin Trevorrow, the director of Episode IX, will have to use the same CGI work that Rogue One director Gareth Edwards used in bringing the late Peter Cushing’s Star Wars character, Grand Moff Tarkin, back to life. Here’s to hoping we don’t lose anyone else, this year, and that 2017 is much easier on our beloved celebrities.


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/28/george-r-r-martin-laments-loss-carrie-fisher-richard-adams/

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

The rich visual history of Medieval and fantasy sigils in Game of Thrones

The enhanced edition of George R.R. Martin’s A Storm of Swords has been released on ibooks, and along with new annotations, interactive maps and family trees, it also explores the delightful and complex symbolism of the sigils Martin assigned to each one of his story’s houses. Martin didn’t just invent his sigils in a vacuum: he understands the ancient visual history of these images and how they have been used in the Medieval era and in more modern fantasy settings.

Ramsay Bolton and army official

Martin has often talked about how his story is partly inspired by The Wars of the Roses, where the House of Lancaster (the winners who would produce the Tudor ruling line) used the red rose as its sigil in opposition to the white rose of the House of York. Martin knows the device of the sigil immediately applies a certain type of identity to characters, and since the images carry multiple and sometime nebulous meanings, they fit perfectly into the complex world of A Song of Ice and Fire.

Let’s look at the the Stark direwolf, for example: on the practical level, the direwolf sigil acts as a signpost to mark Stark territory, identify bannermen and serve as a standard on the battlefield. The direwolf is a solitary northern creature, and the Starks are quickly split up and isolated in Game of Thrones. Martin also uses the direwolf as an otherworldly messenger and agent, specifically in Summer’s relationship to Bran. Underlying all of this is the reader’s own, often subconscious, understanding of what the wolf represents to human beings: a mysterious, dangerous beast of the wilds that also impresses us with its power, resilience and loyalty to its own pack.

Sansa Stark Official

It’s easy to pinpoint some of Martin’s inspirations for his house sigils in ASOIAF, such as the flayed man for the sadistic Boltons and the twin towers connected by the bridge as the strategic home of the of the Freys, but you can also dig deeper into history and psychology to understand, as Martin does, how much these symbols mean to the people wear them.

sigils-game-of-thrones-courtesy-ibooks

A page of Westeros’ sigils from the enhanced edition of A Storm of Swords Courtesy of iBooks

And what of those magnificent dragons? In medieval heraldry the dragons rarely breathed fire: their images represented guarding of treasure, sacred places and, of course, the strongest of all the mythical beasts. The 16th century print below shows the Ismenian Dragon from Greek mythology, who guarded an Ares-dedicated spring near Thebes. Ismenian was killed by the Theban king and first Greek hero, Cadmus, but it wasn’t easy. The primal fury of the dragon in the old print is well represented in Martin’s sigil for house Targaryen.

A dragon devouring the companions of Cadmus, Hendrick Goltzius, after Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem, 1588 Courtesy of The Rijksmuseum

A dragon devouring the companions of Cadmus, Hendrick Goltzius, after Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem, 1588 Courtesy of The Rijksmuseum

As Martin states, “Families are at the heart of the soul of A Song of Ice and Fire,” and it is fascinating to see how much care, study and multilayered meaning he has applied to the symbols of his houses.

H/T – Atlas Obscura


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/27/the-rich-history-of-sigils-in-game-of-thrones/

10 Game of Thrones prequel series ideas

GoT 609 9 dany and drogon

Raise your hand if you’ve ever talked to a Game of Thrones fan that has read all the books? We all have, and at some point the conversation always turns to just how much more information there is in George R.R. Martin’s novels compared to the show. We won’t bore you with the usual “books vs TV” argument, but we will tell you that there is a TON of information in the books that doesn’t appear on the show, or is only briefly mentioned.

Why do we bring this up? Because the words Game of Thrones prequel always seems to set the internet on fire. HBO bosses can’t seem to stop talking about it. Fans can’t seem to stop talking about it, and even Martin can’t seem to stop talking about it. Everyone loves Game of Thrones, and we all want more.

Martin has given us plenty of options in the prequel department, with Westerosi history going back almost to the dawn of creation. There are Targaryen civil wars, rebellions, little side stories like Star Wars’ Rogue One, and even Dorne is exciting the way Martin writes it (sorry HBO). There is enough material for HBO to have some sort of prequel series, for easily the next fifty years.

And so, here are the ten best prequel ideas as chosen by us. These aren’t the only ten options, and some of them could perhaps even be combined with others, but they are ten nonetheless. We tried not to spoil all the endings in case HBO produces any of these, but there are some details. Now that you’ve been warned, read on, and let us hear what you think!


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/27/10-game-of-thrones-prequel-series/

Game of Thrones is Once Again the Most Torrented Show of 2016

Website TorrentFreak has released its list of the most pirated shows of 2016, and for the fifth year in a row, Game of Thrones has taken the top spot. This news comes just two weeks after Daily Mail falsely claimed that Amazon’s Grand Tour had supplanted Thrones as the most pirated show of 2016. For five years now, Game of Thrones has been the most downloaded television show through website BitTorrent. According to the report, the number of people sharing the Season 6 finale, reached 350,000 torrent shares.

TorrentFreak continues with some statistics for pirating shows in 2016. While there wasn’t a new swarm record set, as far as traffic on the site goes, the numbers were right about the same as last year’s totals. This could be attributed to people switching from torrents to streaming, in the past few months. The amount of high-quality downloads has increased, as well, with torrents moving from 480p to both 720p, and 1080p, thanks to the availability of better broadband.

AMC’s The Walking Dead came in second, while HBO’s newcomer, Westworld, landed in the third spot, which is apparently a feat worth mentioning.

This year there’s also an important newcomer with the science-fiction western ‘Westworld.’ The new show quickly gained popularity in pirate circles and is in third spot already, which is quite an achievement.

TorrentFreak compiled a list of the most torrented television shows, across the globe, for 2016, and matched it with traditional ratings in the United States.

torrentfreak-list

With only two seasons remaining for Game of Thrones, I would expect interest in the show to increase, which should keep it in the number one spot for its final two years.


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/27/game-thrones-torrented-show-2016/

The 30 most heartwarming moments on Game of Thrones

Daenerys and Tyrion Official

Winter has officially come to the Northern Hemisphere, and while that means shorter days, longer nights and bitter chills, it also brings the holidays.

The freezing folk of Westeros don’t have it nearly as good when it comes to seasonal celebrations. To them, winter is a time to light fires, not kinaras. While we model our Christmas sweaters, they’re forced to wait out the season in heavy furs. No wonder they’re all so miserable.

But even in Westeros, not everything can be doom and gloom, and amongst all the misery there are moments that make us laugh, cheer or blink back tears of joy and pretend that we’ve just been chopping onions. Here at WiC, we’re partial to those warm and fuzzy moments. So whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or Yule, or even if you don’t celebrate at all, we cordially invite you to kick back, relax, and relive some of the scenes in Game of Thrones that left us all feeling a little bit festive.


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/27/30-moments-in-game-of-thrones-that-warmed-our-hearts/

Monday, December 26, 2016

Game Of Thrones Fan-Art Walks us Down Memory Lane

The holidays are a time for friends and family, and so via Reddit, we bring you a walk down memory lane with your Game of Thrones family. How many are alive and how many are dead? How many are mostly dead? Which we all know is slightly alive. Let’s dive in.

Oh, the memories. We have 65 characters pictured, and it appears the artist — Raymond Waskita — left off lesser characters like Rodrik Cassel and Old Nan. Those we can understand, but where are Jon Snow’s brothers in the Night’s Watch? Lord Commander Mormont, Alliser Thorne, and Dolourous Edd are all noticeably absent. Also strangely unseen, are Qyburn and Meera Reed. Surely they count as important? Either way, let’s get to the numbers.

First, the good news. We have 36 characters still alive! Six seasons of bloody mayhem and we still have over half our beloved characters still alive and breathing. (Some of them aren’t so loved, but still.) Additionally, we have two more characters that are mostly dead. The Mountain is still ripping people’s heads off, and Uncle Benjen is still riding around north of the Wall (on that horse he should have given to Bran). So we’ll count them as alive.

GoT 610 85 benjen leaves

Now for the bad news. We have 27 characters that have perished after six seasons. This is perhaps less than one would initially think, right off the bat. Many and more of the Starks are up there, as are all of House Baratheon (minus half Baratheon Gendry). House Lannister hasn’t fared so well over the past six seasons, and House Tyrell lost most of its house in one explosive episode.

As we sit and enjoy our presents and family, let’s all take a moment and remember those we have lost. Is there a character here that you miss more than others? Or, is your favorite still alive? The spoiled version follows below.

Spoilers?

Spoilers?

That’s a lot of red.


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/26/game-thrones-fan-art-walks-us-memory-lane/

Game of Thrones Casting Director Nina Gold Explains the Lack of Diversity Among the Cast

(Photo by Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images)

Nina Gold, director of casting for Game of Thrones, recently spoke during a Bafta masterclass at the Academy of Performing Arts in Hong Kong, and among other topics, discussed the lack of diversity among the Game of Thrones cast. As the South China Morning Post explains, Gold, who has been in the casting business for 20 years, spends a lot of time at drama schools, as well as watching films and television shows, and going to the theater, to scout new talent. Gold’s process in finding the right talent for a certain part is very detailed, as she researches each actor’s background, and tests them multiple times to make sure they are right for the part, for which she is scouting.

As to how Gold became the casting director for Game of Thrones, she wasn’t interested in the job, at first, saying, “It wasn’t really my cup of tea.” Speaking to the lack of diversity for which the show has come under fire for, lately, Gold refers to the fact that Game of Thrones is based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, where the appearance of each character is described in very specific detail. This means it is probably difficult to cast a non-white actor in a role based on a white character.

We are more aware that to not take diverse casting seriously is uncreative and silly. We’re all trying to do castings that reflect real life, and real life is full of all sorts of different people. We’ve got to have them all.

game-of-thrones-season-5-deobia-oparei-hbo

I can only imagine the pressure Gold must be under when she casts an actor in a role for Game of Thrones, who looks nothing like their counterpart in the books. Fans of the books are notorious for raging against the show, when a character is changed, for whatever reason. A great example of this is Areo Hotah, who in the books, was described as a caucasian male with white hair, but on the show, DeObia Oparei, a black actor, was cast in the role.

It is a good thing to see casting directors who aren’t afraid to mix diversity into shows that are largely made up of white actors. Hopefully, we will see this trend continue, especially with visionary leaders in the industry, like Nina Gold.

H/T – Watchers on the Wall


Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/26/game-thrones-casting-director-nina-gold-discusses-lack-diversity-among-cast/

Game of Thrones is named most pirated TV show of 2016

Yara and Theon Greyjoy in the Winds of Winter Game of ThronesGame of Thrones has once again taken the award for Most Pirated TV Show on the Internet, for the fifth year in a row.  TorrentFreak reports steady numbers of illegal downloads, proving that even half a decade on,  Thrones continues to hold its own.

According to statistics compiled via BitTorrent, Game of Thrones remains the most pirated TV show on the internet, with The Walking Dead in second place, and newcomer Westworld coming third.

The numbers have remained steady, with no significant growth on last year, but this doesn’t mean there hasn’t been any increase in piracy.  TorrentFreak comments these numbers are likely due to the fact more people have been switching from torrents to streaming sites over the past few months.  There has also been a continuation in the trend of downloaders increasingly preferring high-quality video.  In recent years, many torrenters have made the move from 480p to 720p and 1080p videos, thanks to better broadband availability.

The highest number of people actively sharing an episode of Game of Thrones was 350,000, just after the season finale became available online.  It seems that the number of fans willing to pay the Iron Price for the episodes isn’t going to drop any time soon!

For a full list of the most downloaded TV shows of 2016, check out the TorrentFreak article.

The post Game of Thrones is named most pirated TV show of 2016 appeared first on Watchers on the Wall.


Via http://watchersonthewall.com

We review all the commentaries on the Game of Thrones Season 6 home boxset

Game of Thrones Season 6 DVD/Blu-ray

The Game of Thrones Season 6 DVD and Blu-ray box sets feature 13 audio commentaries, more than any Game of Thrones home video release yet. We bring you the highlights of each.

Episode 601, “The Red Woman.” Commentary by director Jeremy Podeswa, director of photography Greg Middleton, and Daniel Portman (Podrick Payne).

Game of Thrones

  • The opening shot, where the camera comes off the Wall and slowly moves closer to Jon Snow’s dead body, was scripted by writers David Benioff and Dan Weiss, who’re also the showrunners and creators.
  • At least two of the other Night’s Watchmen who defend Jon Snow’s body along with Davos and Dolorous Edd appeared in prior episodes, although they were never featured prominently. Podeswa deems these people “the French resistance.”
  • The French resistance takes Jon Snow’s body into the Lord Commander’s chamber. Because of the large number of people this chamber now had to accommodate (plus Ghost), the production rebuilt it much bigger, and even moved the door. Podeswa was afraid people would notice, but no one did.
  • For the shots when everyone is standing around Jon Snow’s body, Podeswa took inspiration from a painting by Rembrandt: The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp.
  • Podeswa read “on the internet” that Olly was the most hated person on television. So someone on the production reads the online commentary!
  • We knew this, but it bears repeating: it is really, really hard to shoot Ghost. The production shoots a wolf separately in another part of the damn world, then sizes him up and inserts him into the scene with digital wizardry.
  • The first thing shot for the season was Sansa and Theon running through a snowy forest during their escape from Winterfell. It was summer in Northern Ireland at the time, and when they shot the scene, it was around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The special effects team is rather amazing.
  • There’s a funny moment where the trio wonders exactly how much of Theon’s genitalia Ramsay cut off, before quickly moving on…
  • Movie magic: In the scene where Cersei sees Jaime sailing into Blackwater Bay with Myrcella’s body in tow, Lena Headey is reacting to nothing. She filmed her part of that scene in Dubrovnik, while Nikolaj Coster-Waldau filmed his in a quarry in Northern Ireland.
  • We know that Game of Thrones didn’t return to the Alcázar of Seville, which stood in for the Water Gardens of Dorne in Season 5, to shoot scenes in Dorne for Season 6. Why didn’t it go back? According to Podeswa, “for logistical reasons.” Glad to have that cleared up.
  • If you were wondering why Doran Martell was walking for his final scene, it ends up that the production did built him a wheelchair, but it wasn’t working on the rocky path they were using, so they had him hobble along with Ellaria’s help instead.
  • Incidentally, no one comments much on the (ridiculous) events that transpire in the Dornish scenes, except to say that they “propel the Sand Snakes’ story forward.” Also, they laugh when Obara stabs Trystane through the face, because what else are you gonna do?
  • Podeswa compares the chemistry between Tyrion and Varys to that between Humphrey Bogart and Claude Rains in Casablanca. “Cool, yeah,” Portman chimes in.
  • Maisie Williams, badass that she is, does “all [her] own stunts.” That might not be true of the entire season, but it’s apparently true of the fight between Blind Arya and the Waif in this episode.
  • Podeswa on the final Melisandre scene: “It really is all about character. It’s not really about just doing something for shock value, but seeing who Melisandre really is. This revelation is so important to her character and understanding her retrospectively, what she’s done in the past and what she’s about to do in the future.” He’s clearly proud of this sequence.
Episode 602, “Home.” Commentary by writer Dave Hill, Michael McElhatton (Roose Bolton), Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Bolton), Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth), and Ben Crompton (Dolorous Edd).

Game of Thrones

This commentary is fun, but pretty lightweight. Commentaries with actors tend to be like that. The group pokes a lot of fun at each other, and they all bitch about having to lie about Jon Snow’s resurrection during the off-season, but there’s not a ton of juice here.

With that said, here’re the highlights…

  • This isn’t important at all, but when I heard it, I laughed. At the very top of the commentary, all the actors say who they are and who they play. And then, “And I’m Dave Hill, and I play a writer.” Then there’s a long pause, and an incredibly insincere laugh from one of the actors. They’re humoring the unfunny writer!
  • Everyone agrees that Max von Sydow was wonderful to work with, and Hill helpfully adds that he has “the biggest hands you’ve ever seen on anyone.” Kay.
  • By the sound of it, the group recorded this commentary on the day that “The Door” leaked prematurely. Cunningham comment about “the idiot spoilers” and Hill remarks that “people seem to like the new season.” It’s a moment in time.
  • During filming on Season 6, we heard that a rockslide delayed shooting in Magheramorne Quarry. According to the people on this commentary, the sequence that got delayed was the one where the wildlings invade Castle Black.
  • So far as Rheon is concerned, the Mountain is like “Shredder from the Turtles.”
  • Dave Hill notes that the idea behind the High Sparrow was to present a character who is “very much about what he says he’s about…He says, ‘I’m here to tear everything down.’ And that’s what he’s here for.” In a world where everyone has an ulterior motive, that makes the High Sparrow unique.
  • Hill says that Tyrion’s speech to the dragons, about how he asked for a dragon when he was young and cried himself to sleep when he found out they were extinct, was taken from the first book.
  • How smart are dragons? According to Dave Hill, they’re “dolphin-clever.” “They’re like big, winged, fire-breathing dolphins.”
  • By the sound of it, the official line from director Jeremy Podeswa is that Ramsay’s decision to kill Roose was a spur-of-the-moment thing. Dave Hill: “It was always an option, but…he didn’t know this was the moment he was gonna kill his father.”
  • Iwan Rheon, who plays Ramsay Bolton, to Walda Bolton, who’s being escorted to her death by Ramsay Bolton: “Run away. Run away!” It’s a weird irony loop.
  • Hill during the scene when Sansa and Theon say goodbye: “We wanted Sansa to acknowledge that he’s changed, that he’s not the same Theon that she hated for so long.”
  • Cunningham points out that he and Carice van Houten (Melisandre) once shot a movie called Black Butterflies together. They played lovers. It’s weird.

  • Per Dave Hill, during the resurrection scene, Melisandre intones “a Valyrian chant that I just made up…Very traditional.”

Via http://winteriscoming.net/2016/12/26/we-review-all-the-commentaries-on-the-game-of-thrones-season-6-home-boxset/