Game of Thrones, HBO's fantasy drama series based off of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, has been voted the greatest TV show of the 21st century in a new fan poll. The (mostly) critically acclaimed series aired on HBO from April 2011 to May 2019. The shown was known for blending high concept fantasy with relatable, grounded characters, creating a mix of both elements that was surprising in the television landscape at the time. Game of Thrones become a certifiable cultural phenomenon, winning multiple Emmys during its run while also creating a devout and rabid fan base that went far beyond those who would typically be interested in fantasy.
However, Game of Thrones' last couple seasons saw a dramatic change in quality. Starting in season six, the show went past Martin's books (the author has, infamously, been slow to complete them), causing a noticeable change in the tone and quality as the creative team relied less on Martin's published books and started having to use an outline of the next book provided by the author. Game of Thrones season 8 (its last one) was met with pretty significant backlash from both critics and fans. Longtime watchers felt that the show's final season was rushed, sloppy, and betrayed certain characters' developments that had been building up over the entire series.
Now, Digital Spy is reporting that Game of Thrones was voted the greatest TV show of the 21st century via fan poll. The series beat out other critical darlings like Breaking Bad and Chernobyl, despite the fact that both of those shows had much more consistent praise throughout their respective runs. The full list also includes Stranger Things, Doctor Who, and Sherlock, all of which placed in the top five.
This isn't the only award Game of Thrones managed to grab despite the finale backlash. In 2019, the show was nominated for dozens of Emmy awards, and managed to win a couple big ones: Outstanding Supporting Actor for Peter Dinklage and even, much to the surprise of Thrones fans, Outstanding Drama Series. The show's eighth season also managed to nab awards and nominations from the American Film Institute, the Directors Guild of America, and the Screen Actors Guild. Perhaps Game of Thrones fans will be shocked by the series nabbing the top spot in this new poll, but they are far from the only group to give praise to the show despite its lackluster final season.
One thing to consider is that this Game of Thrones ranking is for the series as a whole. This brings up an interesting question: can a TV show missing the mark in its final season completely wipe all the good that came before? While its easy to get caught up in the negativity surrounding the show now, viewers can't forget it's still one of the most important shows in television history. While there are very valid criticisms about how the final season was handled, the fantasy series still changed the modern TV landscape. It opened the doors for mainstream acceptance of genre television and paved the way for more complex and nuanced storytelling within the format. Despite its shortcomings, Game of Thrones is still, unquestionably, one of the most obvious examples of the golden age of television.
Source: Digital Spy