The day season 8 of Game of Thrones released, youngsters and adults alike were stuck to their screens, busy sharing Ids and passwords, discussing the connectivity of the previous season to the present one, any sale of clothes themed GoT this season and more. But there are many others who have not watched even one episode and have no desire to do so.
Anish Bhagyaraj, Arts students shares his view for not watching Game of Thrones. He says, “My preference is more of infotainment, business and travel related stuff. Drama is also my preference but Game of Throne falls into fantasy. I’d rather do other things than wait for the seasons and episodes of Game of Thrones. This fantasy world is no way my interest due to its exaggeration for no reason sometimes.” When asked about how people react yo him not watching Game of Thrones, he shared “Reactions like, ‘Oh! How come you haven’t watched or known about this yet? Do you really belong to this world?’ is quite often forced on us and GoT is no exception for that. The nature of advertising can be seen with the pop-ups I find on websites.”
Pavani Poluri, a partial hater of Game of Thrones talks about how she is the only one who hasn’t watched it amongst her circle of friends. She says “When my friends discussed GoT, I’m the only one who was wondering what is GoT? What could that be? A place in a capital city? Or a restaurant in a familiar place? Or an online platform? Or is it any video making app? What else it could be? They giggled at me and said its Game of Thrones and I again asked what is it? But I’m pretty sure they would have hit me if I ask again. Then I realised that GoT has huge number of viewers. Though I have access to the online portals, I watch Legacies, a fictional series. I like movies which involve humour, drama, fiction and some masala which I find in Indian movies. Hence I don’t wait for any episode of GoT. And I do have friends as well who do not watch Game of Thrones and that is where I feel, Yes! This is my place.”
The interest creating factors are the teasers and trailers and their interviews which ultimately raises the viewership. Season 7 of Game of Thrones averaged a viewership of 32.8 million per episode which rose from 25.7 million viewers of the previous season.
Rashmi Kondaiah, photographer and marketing assistant from Melbourne says, “I tried watching it but it really didn’t appeal to me. Even though I’m into thrillers, horror and drama shows, but the extreme violent content in this television show never grabbed my interest. I also tried watching it but I really have to find a time slot, leave all my work and sit to watch it with focus. Or else this series confuses me. One episode with an hour duration is eating all my time which I really didn’t like. I’m also glad that I know many people who do not watch GoT. But still I get to hear statements like ‘you do not belong to this world.’ I feel it because the recent Instagram stories I opened were all about GoT’s season 8 release.”
