Big audio dynamics

Sean Bean is magnetic as the brooding Lord Eddard Stark, while Mark Addy steals scenes as his corpulent King. In truth, pretty much the entire ensemble cast deserve kudos, with Peter Dinklage’s Emmy and Golden Globe winning turn a widely recognized standout. Just don’t get too attached to any of the characters, they might not be around for long.

Only Jason Momoa can pull off this look

Not only does the show look terrific on Blu-ray, it also sounds excellent thanks to a rollicking DTS-HD master Audio 5.1 mix. Traditionally, soundtracks for TV content don’t enjoy quite the attention to detail lavished on movies, because time and budget preclude it.

But you’ll not notice any economy in the sound design here, thanks to pervasive atmospherics and immersive image placement. Dialogue also benefits from the improved dynamics, important for a show that’s so wordy. 
Of course, for Thrones fans (Thronies? Throners?), perhaps the most compelling reason to bag this set is the supplemental material, of which there’s plenty. The collection makes good use of Blu-ray’s inherent interactivity.

The Perilous Persuits of Mr. Bean

Seven of the ten episodes come with rambling, entertaining commentaries from an assortment of creators and stars, including David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, George R.R. Martin, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey and Bryan Cogman.

There are also copious features, including an excellent 30 minute making-of documentary that’s tightly cut and spoiler-packed, and an interactive guide to the show’s mythology. This digital crib sheet is useful for those that haven’t immersed themselves in Martin's written world, and goes some way to explaining the animosity between the Houses of Stark and Lannister.

Fast and furriest

You also get to learn more about the Night’s Watch, bone up on key characters, and get an insight into how the opening animation of Westeros – so wonderfully spoofed recently in The Simpsons – was created.

Verdict

Overall, this lavish package comes heartily recommended. If you’re already a George RR Martin convert, you’ll need little encouragement to invest, but I’d also recommend this set to the HBO curious. If you’re more a fan of The Sopranos than swords and sorcery, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how involving the drama is. This is one box set well worth losing your head over. ®

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