Could it have been better with 80? Perhaps. Could it have been worse with 50? Almost certainly. Today, Game of Thrones holds the record for most Emmy wins by a drama series (59), largely on the strength of those 73 episodes. The prequel House of the Dragon has now begun its own count, learning from its predecessor — its first season had 10 episodes, and its second will have 8, showing that the “shorter season” model is now standard for fantasy television.
But the defenders counter that 73 episodes is also a miracle of efficiency. Think of all the characters who had complete arcs in that time: Jaime Lannister from incestuous villain to broken knight. Theon Greyjoy from cocky ward to Reek to redeemed prince. Sansa Stark from dreamer to survivor to Queen in the North. Arya from tomboy to faceless assassin to explorer of the unknown. Seventy-three episodes gave us the Hound’s redemption, Brienne’s knighting, and Tyrion’s endless trial speeches. how many episodes of got
For fans doing a rewatch, the number 73 is a comfort and a commitment. It is longer than The Wire (60 episodes) but shorter than The Walking Dead (177 and counting). It is exactly long enough to make you feel the weight of winter, but short enough that the final season’s fire still feels like it ended too soon. Could it have been better with 80