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Winter is coming to a television near you - very soon

The moment we've been waiting for for ten months is coming - and a lot sooner than winter. "Game of Thrones" returns to HBO Sunday night. (And, as a bonus, we also get "Veep" and "Silicon Valley" back on the same night. So, "Mad Men" gets DVR'd to watch later and skip the commercials. Truly, my cup runneth over!)

 The television practice is to provide the first four episodes of a show to major reviewers so that they can get a head start and provide their (hopefully, positive) reviews before the show starts. Thus, this week, we've been seeing those reviewers' takes on the upcoming season of "Thrones."

 I've read three such reviews, from Slate, Salon, and The New York Times, and one thing they all agree on is that this fifth season strays pretty far from the books. That's not necessarily a bad thing. They are in A Feast for Crows (the fourth book) territory, which is the weakest of all the entries in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. It could use some punching up and apparently the showrunners have done that. In spades.

 All week we've been seeing hype for the new season. Endless stories online and in traditional publications. The show's stars appearing on various television and radio shows to talk about the new season. Of all the star turns, my favorite of the ones I've seen was the one Kit Harrington (Jon Snow) did on "Late Night With Seth Myers." 

 Oh, you haven't seen it? Well, that's what YouTube is for!     

Jon Snow should probably just be happy the dinner wasn't hosted by Walter Frey.

Comments

  1. CarmenApril 14, 2015 at 10:53 AM

    How exciting the new season is upon us! I just bought the first and second seasons digitally to watch for the first time and see what the hype is about. Last night I watched the first two episodes of the first season, and while I don't think the series is fantastic, I think it's a feast for the senses.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersApril 14, 2015 at 11:18 AM

      I read the books first and I admit I am very invested in these characters. This season promises to veer away from some of the story line of the books. Indeed, it already has in the first episode, so it'll be interesting to see where these changes take us.

      Delete
    2. CarmenApril 14, 2015 at 12:29 PM

      I hope that's not the start of a downhill trend.

      Delete
    3. Dorothy BordersApril 14, 2015 at 6:03 PM

      Me, too.

      Delete
    4. CarmenApril 16, 2015 at 1:31 PM

      Did I say I didn't think it was fantastic?! I take it back; I'm as obsessed as everyone! :-) And the series is so aptly named.

      Delete

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