HBO’s game-changing fantasy series, Game of Thrones, is still among the most-pirated TV shows worldwide in 2021. George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire began in 1996, and while fans still await the novelist’s final two books, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, HBO’s adaptation ended in 2019. The network and fans are hardly done with Westeros.
Despite The Long Night’s cancellation, several other Game of Thrones spinoffs have been announced and are in development at HBO. The most talked-about of these upcoming spinoffs is this year’s House of the Dragon, which is inspired by Martin’s Fire & Blood and focuses on the Targaryen dynasty 300 years before Game of Thrones. Other shows include the Tales of Dunk and Egg, 9 Voyages, Flea Bottom, 10,000 Ships (likely temporary titles), and an untitled animation—all of which will take place before the flagship series. As audiences await those shows (and Martin’s books to better conclude Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen’s story), it would seem they are still watching Game of Thrones.
Akamai (via The Wrap) gathered the data regarding the most pirated TV shows of 2021. Following a history of fans pirating the series (especially during 2020 when it came in at number 1 on a similar list), Game of Thrones comes in at number 6. In 2017, Game of Thrones was the most pirated show of the year for the sixth time in a row—which led HBO to ask Internet providers to warn customers who were caught pirating the series. The full list of 2021’s most pirated shows can be found below:
1. “Loki” Season 1
2. “WandaVision” Season 1
3. “Rick and Morty” Season 5
4. “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” Season 1
5. “The Walking Dead” Season 10
6. “Game of Thrones” Season 8
7. “The Flash” Season 7
8. “Vikings” Season 6
9. “True Beauty” Season 1
10. “Superman & Lois” Season 1
Game of Thrones’ final season remains incredibly divisive, or rather, loathed among fans due to its overall rushed feeling—from its plot points to character development. The series was clearly at its best when it had published source material to fall back on during its first four seasons. That being said, Game of Thrones is one of the most acclaimed and influential fantasy shows of all time. As people like Jonah Hill watch it for the Red Wedding for first time and long-time fans revisit their favorite episodes (and debate the end), other streamers attempt to replicate its success with shows like Netflix’s The Witcher and Amazon Prime Video’s Wheel of Time.
Game of Thrones will remain relevant thanks to Martin’s long-awaited books and HBO’s litany of spinoffs, which will essentially build a Westerosi universe for the network. The top 2 shows of 2021, Loki and WandaVision, arguably rank so high thanks to the fandom’s investment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Other shows like Rick and Morty remain a light-hearted, comedic staple and The Walking Dead is on the verge of meeting its end on AMC. While none of this bodes well for streaming services and paid subscribers, the above list offers a fascinating snapshot at some of last year’s most talked about and, in turn, pirated shows.
Source: Akamai (via The Wrap)