Viewers of HBO’s Game of Thrones may assume that it’s the kind of show that can last forever. The show has gone through three kings of the seven kingdoms already, and it seems like the cycle could pretty much continue on indefinitely. Many characters have died, but new ones rise up and take their place, and there never seems to be any shortage of storylines to go around.
But readers of the original book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, know that thereis a timeline in place. A beginning, and an end, even if that end is still years away from being written. As such, what’s been happening in season five so far is a fascinating insight into the schedule that HBO’s showrunners have in their own heads, and it’s moving at a much more brisk pace than anyone could have possibility anticipated. What does that mean? We may see Game of Thrones end at seven seasons, even if to this point that’s seemed extremely unlikely.
Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have previously hinted that seven seasons is their dream length for the series. Though they certainly love working on the show, they don’t want it to last forever and go on so long that people are begging it to stop. This is in contrast to HBO itself, which has thrived having Thrones as its flagship prestige program the past half-decade so far, and they’ve said they would love to see at least 10 years out of the show.My idea was somewhere in the middle, ending the show at a supersized eighth season of about 13-15 episodes.
Given the events of season five so far, it’s becoming clear that seven seasons is the most realistic option, as the show is now flying through two books simultaneously.
To this point, it’s taken Game of Thrones four seasons to get through three books, splitting A Storm of Swords in half across seasons three and four. After that, getting through four books (two unwritten) in three years seemed impossible and overly ambitious.
Now I’m not so sure, as Benioff and Weiss are tearing through the plot with a hacksaw, and I don’t think they’ll stop until the series fits their schedule. What’s happening is that even though A Storm of Swords was a 1200 page book that was split into two seasons, they’re taking A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons, 1100 pages each, and turning them into essentially one season-long collection of storylines.
Impossible? No, not when you’re master editors like the pair of them. Though I said they’re taking a “hacksaw” to the plot, that’s probably an aggressive choice of words, and rather they’ve been performing rather extensive, but clean, surgery on the plot. (light spoilers only ahead).
Five of the most significant plotlines which were spread out through both books seem on track to reach the end of their book content by the end of the year based on how fast they’re moving. That includes Cersei sparring with the Sparrows, Arya training to be a Faceless Man, Jon assuming command of the Night’s Watch, Tyrion traveling to Mereen, and Daenerys having trouble keeping hold of the city. It remains to be seen just how much will be cut from each storyline in order to fit them all into a single season, but so far, all are moving at a brisk pace and will likely leave out details from the books. Fans may protest that, but the showrunners have made that work before.
I’ve been most impressed with the plotlines Benioff and Weiss are outrightcombining. Jaime has been moved from messing about in the Riverlands doing nothing of note in the books to taking over Aerys Oakheart’s Dorne plotline which will be assuredly made more interesting by his presence (and he’s bringing Bronn along for good measure). But the crowning editing “jewel” comes in the form of Sansa/Littlefinger/Roose/Ramsay/Theon/Brienne/Pod all coming together in single storyline that combines three disparate sets of the characters who never met up in the books. Brienne and Pod will try to save Sansa from the Boltons after she’s promised to Ramsay, while Littlefinger uses the union to acquire more allies and power. Sansa will have to fend off Ramsay when he inevitably turns hostile, and may have to rely on old frienemy Theon for help with that. It’s a fascinating dance that takes seven characters and stiches them all together in a way that makes a surprising amount of sense. This is a prime example of how this “four books in three seasons” idea is even possible. The showrunners have done a great job editing the books to date, but now they’re taking things to a new level.
All of this is to say that yes, it does seem likely that by the end of season five, we will see 2200 pages of two books on screen, in some form or another. This will come with causalities, of course. I predict we will never see Stoneheart or Penny the Dwarf, and I have a hunch the Iron Islands plotline will be cut, and so might Old and Young Griff’s appearance. Though some of these are major items, they seem like the kinds of things Benioff and Weiss will edit out or integrate into the show in a reduced capacity at best.
After that, the show has more freedom. George RR Martin will almost assuredly not release The Winds of Winter by the time season six has been written, and his seventh book will not be out for years after that. That means the showrunners don’t even have to cut fat anymore. They just consult with Martin for the broad strokes, and do their own “books” as seasons six and seven, and then end the show while it’s assuredly still soaring in the ratings.
As sad as that makes me (and HBO), I understand what they mean about not wanting Game of Thrones to be some eternal experience. I think it could go on forever, as lord knows the universe is rich enough to spawn stories from it forever, but I also get that it doesn’t necessarily want to be The Walking Dead either. It is working toward very specific goals, and dragging its feet is only going to hurt the story. The Walking Dead can shamble on for ten years probably and no one will bat an eyelash, but I don’t know if Game of Thrones has that luxury given that it’s an elaborate puzzle that’s been constructed from the start that does have a solid ending in mind.
I still hold out hope that HBO will throw money at Benioff, Weiss and the cast to get them to stick around until at least season eight, but right now, judging by what we’ve seen in season five, they’re absolutely on track for their “ideal” seven season run.
Learnt from Forbes
