Game of Thrones - An Award Winning Home Production from HBO

One thing that all true lovers of great television and cinema around the world cannot deny is the priceless contribution of HBO’s home productions to the art of moving pictures. Year after year, HBO continues to churn out cinematic masterpieces in all possible genres that have gathered countless awards and accolades. And, the most impressive feature of these productions is that they do not appeal only to the classes but also to the masses which is reflected in their humongous worldwide sales and distribution.

Game of Thrones is the latest addition to that unending and already impressive list of HBO’s award winning home productions. The series is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by George RR Martin and its creators are David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Although the series was highly anticipated since its early stages of development, it still managed to take the world of television with surprise with its high production value, authenticity and life like depiction. Considering that the series is based in the Medieval Fantasy genre; it was a huge gamble of both money and reputation but it was a gamble that certainly paid off and once again outlined HBO’s commitment to producing the highest quality of content for television.

Its first season aired in April 2011, and since then has been telecast around the world earning great reviews from critics. Many critics hailed Game of Thrones as the best television series of the year 2011 and the awards and the nominations that followed certainly proved them right. Game of Thrones was nominated in a whopping 13 categories for the Emmy awards and won two of them. The Blu-ray and DVD box set sold 350,000 units in the first seven days of its release, making it the largest first-week DVD sales among all the previous HBO television productions. Banking upon the tremendous success of the series, soundtracks, official merchandise, video games etc. were launched soon after.

However, the one thing that represents the true success of a television series above all else is whether it will be continued for another season or not. Well, the fans of Game of Thrones can certainly rejoice because it isn’t going anywhere for at least a couple of years because following the tremendous success of the first season not only a second season (aired on 1st April 2012) but also 3rd and 4th seasons were ordered by HBO.

It is because of HBO’s unrelenting pursuit of excellence in original programming that it has managed to be the leader of the pack for such a long time. And, if history is anything to go by then we can be sure that the only one capable of outshining HBO is HBO itself.

Boardwalk Empire - Another Cinematic Masterpiece from HBO

No one else does Period Dramas like HBO does it. Period! HBO over a period of several decades has produced countless television movies and series in all possible genres but it’s the period dramas that have always outshined the rest. The authenticity that HBO brings to its Period dramas remains unsurpassed till date. High production value, great actors & directors, outstanding vision etc. all of this comes later. The key driving force that really enables HBO to go on producing such great shows one after the other, year after year, is its commitment to cinematic excellence and its loyal viewers, whom it never disappoints.

HBO’s award winning period drama, Boardwalk Empire is yet another feather in the cap for HBO. The show is based on a book titled Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City and is set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era. The depiction of that time period is so authentic that not only did it get overwhelming positive popular response but a critical one as well. It is estimated that a whopping 18 million dollars were spent on the very first episode. This goes to show how committed HBO is to making the experience as original as possible, whatever the cost might be. And, of course it cannot be denied that having the Oscar winner Martin Scorsese, directing and the gifted Steve Buscemi in the lead role certainly made the series a lot more popular.

However the success of this show should not come as such a big surprise as it was more or less expected because it was created by none other than Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and producer Terence Winter of The Sopranos (another award winning HBO television series). Having such great names attached to this series made it quite an anticipated event in itself and it certainly did not disappoint.

As expected, the awards and accolades that were heaped upon the show clearly made it the most popular show of the year. It gathered an astounding 26 wins and 38 nominations in Emmy’s, Golden Globes, AFI, Screen Actors Guild Awards etc., including best director, best actor and best series.

Since its first episode aired in September 2009 the season has completed 2 seasons and has been renewed for a third, which should be good news for all the fans of this series out there.

In a time of big budget, special effects Hollywood productions; HBO’s continued support for such works of art goes a long way in revealing its true value system as a network whose priority has always been to produce such content that makes the art of motion picture reach its zenith.

Game of Thrones - Season 2, 1st Episode Anticipations

As the regent queen would say: "The game of thrones is a game where you win, or you die".

Winter is coming… back to India. This May.

HBO original series reaches a turning point thanks to the second season of the fantasy saga that promises to be the best TV show of the year: back in Westeros, a whole new scenario is setting down after Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell has been executed by the new king and heir to the Iron Throne Joffrey Baratheon. But is he the righteous one who can claim to seat in King's Landing?

Five kings and four Houses are going to meet on the battlefields of Westeros for the crown and for the survival of their same fate: Lannisters, Baratheons, the Young Wolf Robb Stark and Daenerys Stormborn Targaryen second of her name will set new guidelines for the control of the Seven Kingdoms, no means or sacrifice will be put aside to gain what is due, and every past bond will be challenged.

After scoring on April 1 as much as 3.9 million viewers for the US premiere, Game of Thrones - Season 2, 1st Episode scheduled to be aired on May 28 in India, where the first season of this adaptation from G.R.R. Martin's books got a huge number of followers, especially after the show won two Emmy awards and one Golden Globe for the outstanding performance of Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister.

In the first episode, Robb Stark is gathering his troops and strengthening his alliances with the Lords of the North, to march to South to King's Landing, seeking vengeance for his father's infamous death and stating the definitive independence of Winterfell and the North from the domination of the Seven Kingdoms.

At the same time Stannis and Renly Baratheon, the two younger brothers of the late King, are setting their armies to move war against the Lannisters, but not as allies: both of them claim their right to seat on the Iron Throne, but won't allow a future reign ruled by two kings.

Far from Westeros, beyond the Narrow Sea, in the Red Waste, Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen is trying to rescue her people, or what still remains of her khalasar after the Mighty Khal Drogo died, from a desperate death in the red desert. At this juncture she will reach the wealthy city of Qarth: will it be her new safe home or the start of a new exodus for the Unburnt Mother of Dragons?

Another key character that will find himself far from the big action in Westeros will be Jon Snow of Winterfell, now a man of the Night Watch, busy to keep the Western Lands safe from what hides beyond the Wall, in the deep North, and from the raids of the Wildlings.

This is just a hint for Game of Thrones- Season 2, 1st Episode, but surely will awake the Indian viewers' curiosity.

Much more will be revealed during this season, as well as new landscapes will widen the boundaries of Westeros. Cast and crew took several shooting stages across Europe, Island for the lands beyond the Wall, Dubrovnik in Croatia lent its views for King's Landing, while Belfast and other European regions set the scene for Westeros.

This new installment for the Game of Thrones saga will not disappoint the Indian audience, more magic, more battles; more blood will be spilled for the never ending game of power.