As with previous seasons, each episode of the final series of Game of Thrones aired in 2019 was offered to audiences on a week-by-week basis, a practice that contributed to the cultural phenomenon of ‘thrones talk’, as workplaces, coffee shops and other public spaces were awash with people discussing the latest events and speculating on what might happen next week. 3 Yet since their adaptation by HBO as the standard bearer for notions of quality television, weekly serial dramas continue to be a popular media format amongst audiences, despite the availability of alternative distribution models set by streaming services like Netflix. The mode of serialized, long-form narration that Game of Thrones exemplifies, termed by Jason Mittell as ‘narrative complexity’ and by Michael Newman as the ‘prime-time serial, or PTS’, 2 has its origins in the open-ended storytelling practices of the soap opera. Instead of relying on the latest cinematic instalment, Game of Thrones tells it story through the long-form serial format, the conclusion of which is eagerly anticipated by fans as the culmination of a decade-long narrative set in an alternative world of high fantasy. 1 At the same time, Game of Thrones’ status as a serial television drama makes it unique amongst transmedia franchises, breaking the precedent set by other successful examples such as Conan the Barbarian (1982–85, 2011), Harry Potter (2001–11), The Lord of the Rings (1978, 2001–03), The Chronicles of Narnia (2005–10) and The Hobbit (2012–14). Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice novels, Game of Thrones sits alongside other franchises such as Star Wars (1977– ) and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008– ) that address their fans through a range of ancillary platforms, including books, websites, video games and mobile apps. ![]() Weiss to popularize the alternative secondary fantasy world in which the show’s narrative takes place. ![]() One of the key factors behind the critical and commercial success of Game of Thrones (HBO, 2011–19) has been the ability of show runners David Benioff and D.
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