As we leave winter behind us, we look forward to spring — and season five of “Game of Thrones.”
Whether you’ve read the books or not, if you watch, you know that it’s a pretty awesome show that makes it hard to believe it isn’t real. From the sex scenes to the unforgettable deaths — and let’s not forget the freaking dragons — “Game of Thrones” will always leave you hankering for more. And, you should thank the gods because it returns April 12 with an episode titled “The Wars to Come.”
If you’re sick of watching the season five trailer over and over again, or you’re new to the series, here’s what you can do before the show premiers.
Catch up on HBO GO, free through your HBO subscription with your cable company, or watch with Amazon instant video through your Amazon Prime account. You can buy individual high definition episodes for $3.99 and standard definition episodes for $2.99 and entire seasons in high definition for $38.99 and in standard definition for $28.99. You should, at least, watch season four so you know what’s going on; season five will continue where it left off. Happy binge-watching.
Look into HBO NOW, an online streaming service that doesn’t require you to have cable service; all you need is an internet connection. HBO announced it is launching the service sometime in April. For $15 a month, you can stream any HBO show, including “Game of Thrones,” on your Apple devices, including the iPad, iPhone and Apple TV. You can subscribe for updates and offers at https://order.hbonow.com/?camp=NowM46.
Skim through recaps. Websites like vulture.com will refresh your memory while offering insightful and refreshing commentary and some pretty funny criticisms of the characters. What’s more, most sites that provide recaps also allow readers to post comments, offering a community of fellow-watchers a chance to talk about the show and guess what will happen next, why one character did or said something and how events will play out. Beware those who have read the books. You’ll know them when you see them.
Read the books. Yeah, they’re long. But, so what? If you’re dying for some Westeros drama, and you’ve already rewatched the first four seasons 15 times, then invest in the books. You’ll get a lot more details, and you’ll probably be able to easily follow the show without thinking, “WTF?” Season five events are pulled from books four and five, “A Feast for Crows” and “A Dance With Dragons.”
Buy or borrow “The World of Ice and Fire,” the companion to the novels. It gives an illustrated history of the fantasy world of Westeros, where the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series takes place. Take each page with a grain of salt, though; like any other collection of historical accounts, it may be misleading. In an interview, George R. R. Martin, creator and author of the series, said the sources in the book can contradict each other, like a real history book.
Do any work or homework beforehand so you can mentally prepare for the show and then process it once you’ve watched it without having to worry about assignments. Don’t take the chance that the show will be so mind-blowingly good that you won’t be able to function properly.
If your friends aren’t watching with you, tell them you’re busy. Need I say more? All that’s left is to wait.
