This Sunday, HBO will air the fourth season finale of Game of Thrones. It’s been the show’s most popular season to date and many fans of the series wish there were more than just 10 episodes a season.
Creator George R. R. Martin feels the same way. Here’s an excerpt from a new NY Times story:
As a man with an epic imagination populated by hundreds, if not thousands, of vivid characters, it would please him no end if his creation had more elbow room on HBO, where each season runs just 10 chapters.
“I wish we had more episodes,” he said, speaking from his home in Santa Fe, N.M. “I’d love to have 13 episodes. With 13 episodes, we could include smaller scenes that we had to cut, scenes that make the story deeper and richer.”
He understands the calculus of budgets, though. With its far-flung location shoots — Iceland, Northern Ireland, Malta, Croatia, Morocco — and all of those vast yet essential battles, one season of “Thrones” is reported to cost $60 million to $70 million. “Battles are expensive,” said Mr. Martin, who worked in TV in the 1980s, with a seasoned veteran’s resignation in his voice.
Though Sunday is the season finale, HBO has already renewed Game of Thrones for seasons five and six.
What do you think? Would you like more episodes, even if it meant that some production values would be sacrificed?
TWO WORDS… KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN. If even half of the fans donated just $1 we could get 24 episodes per season… Have a brief message from RR and the cast at the end of each episode urging fans to donate… and it would work for sure. If you can afford HBO, you can afford to donate a buck for dozens of hours of mind blowing entertainment. Hell, I’d donate $10… and I’m a cheap *******!
I agree remember Star Trek in the ’80’s used to run for 26 episodes a season which would
make up 3 seasons of Game of Thrones or just about.
George R R Martin is a wise man yes 13 episodes a season makes sense to me.
Don’t kill off Tyrion or Jon Snow
Game of Thrones is by far the Best TV show I have ever been privileged to enjoy! Every season gets better than the previous one. Last week’s episode (The Watchers on the Wall) was probably the best hour of TV I’ve ever witnessed (& I’m 65 years old)!!!!
Ten episodes are far too few for me, and no amount would be too many. Please keep them coming HBO and Mr. Martin!!!!
I agree! I Love Lucy had what, 52 episodes per year? Now we’re lucky if we can get actors (puppets) to act (dance) for 10 full episodes every year. Yes, up it to 13.
In fact, make it 18 episodes per season. Let them know they’re working. The show is FANTASTIC and the story has at least 4 – 6 more seasons left. Give the fans more depth and less fluff (filming someone walking down a trail without a word for 3 full minutes..wth?)