We Love These Iconic TV Shows
In this diamond-encrusted—age of television, keeping up with every show has become impossible. We've distilled the iconic must-sees so you can fake it till you binge it.
By Katie Arnold-Ratliff
Game of Thrones (HBO, 2011–present)
Premise
Factions vie to rule Westeros, fantastical realm replete with dragons, sorcery, shape-shifting, gratuitous female nudity; series most closely follows Stark family's bid for dominance.
Ethos
Utter ruthlessness of both characters and writers. Beloved protagonists killed off with abandon; guys bad and good commit heinous acts (patricide, regicide, castration). No one safe, nothing sacred.
Cultural Touchstone
"Winter is coming" catchphrase refers to long-foreshadowed arrival of dark times, thanks to frigid weather, zombies who thrive in cold.
One to Watch
"Baelor" (season 1) finds hero Ned Stark desperate to evade execution. Allies race to intervene. Crunch time finally arrives, and—well, let's just say series forcefully establishes disregard for dramatic convention.
Factions vie to rule Westeros, fantastical realm replete with dragons, sorcery, shape-shifting, gratuitous female nudity; series most closely follows Stark family's bid for dominance.
Ethos
Utter ruthlessness of both characters and writers. Beloved protagonists killed off with abandon; guys bad and good commit heinous acts (patricide, regicide, castration). No one safe, nothing sacred.
Cultural Touchstone
"Winter is coming" catchphrase refers to long-foreshadowed arrival of dark times, thanks to frigid weather, zombies who thrive in cold.
One to Watch
"Baelor" (season 1) finds hero Ned Stark desperate to evade execution. Allies race to intervene. Crunch time finally arrives, and—well, let's just say series forcefully establishes disregard for dramatic convention.
From the October 2017 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine