Not many television shows inspire such a cultural phenomenon as Game of Thrones, with only Breaking Bad and maybe Lost really comparing to the sheer amount of social cacophony that greets the latest episode. Twitter regularly explodes with #OMG's and other hyperbolic declarations whilst fiercely hysterical discussions wage between fans, as their friends and family members who haven't yet seen the episode take cover from the inevitable barrage of spoilers. There's no doubt about it that Game of Thrones has something almost primally affecting that connects with the masses. But what makes the show so essential? Is it the characters? The gore? The twists? The thing is, there's not really all that much going for Game of Thrones at all; it's more of an illusion than anything else - a magician's trick of misdirection and slight of hand designed to surprise and delight. But that's all it is: scratch beneath the surface and you won't find much, just excruciating amounts of posturing and pages and pages of inane dialogue. So how does the show create this illusion of perfection? How are David Benioff and D. B. Weiss managing to fool so many people into thinking that they're creating a brilliant show? It goes without saying that the following will include spoilers. So if you aren't completely up to date with the latest episode, look away now.
