Let’s start with the early seasons, where ten episodes meant breathing room. You had time to learn the names of all the Stark children (RIP, but you know what I mean) and to fall in love with Tyrion’s witty one-liners. Ten episodes allowed for slow burns, epic battles, and those long, uncomfortable dinner scenes at King’s Landing. Remember when you thought Ned Stark would survive? Yeah, me neither.
But here’s the thing: ten episodes also meant filler. Not boring filler, but the kind of filler that lets you appreciate a character’s new beard or a raven delivery service. Seasons 2 and 3, for example, had entire episodes dedicated to Arya hanging out with Tywin—and honestly, those are golden. You can’t rush chemistry like that.
The Shortened Seasons: When “Less is More” Gets Complicated
Then came Season 7 with 7 episodes, and the internet collectively gasped. People were excited at first—shorter seasons mean tighter storytelling, right? Ha. Instead, we got teleporting characters, rushed alliances, and a wight hunt that felt like a budget road trip. Seven episodes meant no time for side quests, no time for Daenerys to actually contemplate burning the Tarlys—she just did it. You, me, and everyone else felt that whiplash.
TV Charts : un site pour découvrir les notes des épisodes des séries
And then Season 8, with its 6 episodes, became the ultimate test of patience. Look, I’m not here to re-litigate the finale, but six episodes for the final season? That’s like showing up to a wedding wearing only one shoe. You just knew something was off. The pacing went from “let’s savor every word” to “let’s cram three major character arcs into one scene.” Dany’s descent felt less like a tragedy and more like a PowerPoint slide of her bad decisions.
