Game of Thrones Season 5

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Game of Thrones Season 5 is available on and right now. The show says what it needs to say in a single season, no filler. 27,257 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Peter Dinklage's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Game of Thrones Season 5 is worth clearing space for. What makes Game of Thrones Season 5 work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. The War of the Five Kings, once thought to be drawing to a close, is instead entering a new and more chaotic phase. Westeros is on the brink of collapse, and many are seizing what they can while the realm implodes, like a corpse making a feast for crows. Peter Dinklage and Kit Harington lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2015. The rules of Game of Thrones Season 5's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give Game of Thrones Season 5 a chance. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Peter Dinklage's performance is the anchor the more ambitious moments need. The world-building pays off in ways you will not anticipate on a first watch.