Television

questions next.

The Washington Post has counted 1,243 deaths of named characters over the six years. The series even brought in the esteemed British actor Ian McShane last year for one episode — just to kill him off.

In a quick perusal, I found at least 20 cast members of who dies who had arcs of 10 episodes or more who died, mostly horrible, deaths.

This doesn’t even count Robb Stark’s very pregnant wife, Talisa (Oona Chaplin, who only appeared in nine episodes). She was repeatedly stabbed in the stomachat the infamous “Red Wedding.”

The savageness of the scene set the internet ablaze as did Ned Stark’s beheading in the first season. So some may find it ironic that we first meet Ned chopping off a head.

There is a nihilistic streak that runs through “GOT.” Even those who begin in the light end in darkness. The contenders fight and live their lives in a world above the common folk, who none of them have any interest in really helping. Daenerys frees slaves but then uses them for war.

The series has drawn criticism for its unrestrained use of female nudity, sexual abuse and scenes of torture. A number of fans have been turned off by these aspects and stopped watching, but the series still draws around 23 million viewers an episode, not to mention the many more who watch it later.

(Meanwhile, HBO is pondering as many as five prequels.)

Now that “GOT” is getting down to the nittygritty, it’s likely some who left will return expecting to see a winner.

But will there even be an Iron Throne at the end?

Think of it like climate change, rising oceans and Florida — the landscape may be altered forever. And right on cue Wednesday, an iceberg the size of Delaware broke off from Antarctica, not enough yet to raise the oceans, but scientists — who first warned about this in 1978 — are worried that the event may unleash even larger bergs that could.

There is one wildcard in all this “GOT” speculation in that it’s Weiss and Benioff who control the storyline. So no one knows if the duo’s intentions coincide with Martin’s.

Still, as writers will tell you, there is an importance to any opening scene, foreshadowing something bigger. So don’t get too fixated on the games being played this year without keeping an eye on the far north.