“Game of Thrones”
“Game of Thrones” is arguably the most popular television show to have aired this decade. In its first season, the show averaged 2.5 million views per week and ended season eight with an average of 11.9 million. During its fourth season, “Game of Thrones” passed “The Sopranos” record for total viewers with 18.6 million.
The show had a point of interest for everyone—action, politics and romance to name a few. The story of Westeros and Essos was introduced in 2011, and finished its eight season run in May of 2019. It stirred controversy because of its portrayals of nudity and graphic and sexual violence, especially against women.
Based on the book “A Song of Fire and Ice,” by George R. R. Martin, the story focused on the battle for control of the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms. It featured iconic characters like Daenerys Targaryean, Jon Snow and Arya Stark, who had deep and complex storylines that made one root for them. The villains kept viewers glued to the screen including Ramsay Snow, Joffrey Baratheon and the sinister Cersei Lannister, who managed to pull off assault after assault on her enemies. The story arcs had so many twists and turns that it was unclear what the fate of the characters would be and the plots would be unexpected.
“Game of Thrones” won 58 Primetime Emmy Awards and five Screen Actors Guild Awards, and holds the Emmy record for most wins for a scripted television series and most nominations for a drama series with 161. Peter Dinklage, who played Tyrion Lannister, won four Emmy awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
“Game of Thrones” was a prominent show, and was praised internationally. It has inspired the spin-off, “House of the Dragon,” which has been picked up for a ten episode run on HBO.
-Madeleine Chinery
“BoJack Horseman”
“BoJack Horseman” is an animated, tragicomedy sitcom. The show stars BoJack Horseman, a once successful actor in a 90s sitcom show, who is now bitter, depressed and alone. The show follows his slow and bumpy progression through addiction, self-destructive behavior, trauma and satirizing the ills of Hollywood.
The flawed nature of the human experience is a major theme throughout the show. The second half of the last season airs in January 2020. BoJack’s sister show, “Tuca and Bertie,” ran from May 2019 until late July 2019, when it was not renewed for a second season and cancelled.
-Jayme Sileo
“Succession”
Both hilarious and deeply cynical, “Succession” feels like the perfect show to usher in the end of this particular decade.
The series, now in its second season, follows an ultra wealthy family who runs a propaganda-spewing media conglomerate. It straddles the line between bleak drama and dark comedy with finesse—allowing the audience to hate the characters without ever wanting to leave them.
Combining all the scheming, backstabbing and character drama of “Game of Thrones” with all the bizarre family antics of “Arrested Development,” “Succession” feels destined to be the next mega-hit viewers will eagerly watch their calendar in anticipation for its return.
-Vincent Rendon
“Letterkenny”
Either you love it or you hate it, there is no in-between when it comes to the Candian hit show, “Letterkenny.”
A show about a group of friends running a produce stand on the side of a dirt road, “Letterkenny” never fails to deliver a smile despite how mundane the premise may seem. If you’ve never seen one of the show’s cold openings, give episode one of season one a glance. The two and a half minute segment shows the great comedic timing in the writing. If that scene doesn’t sell you on the show, nothing will.
Hulu just announced season eight will begin streaming on Dec. 27, so now is a perfect time to give it a chance.
-Ryan Freeberg
The Sagebrush Staff can be reached at ryleejackson@sagebrush.unr.edu or on Twitter @NevadaSagebrush.
