“Oh my gosh did you see this week’s Game of Thrones?” It’s a phrase I hear from many people nearly daily. Game of Thrones is a cultural phenomenon that many people use to connect to other humans. Now, cue the shock and awe I get when my answer is “I don’t watch Game of Thrones.” After the initial uncomfortable silence from every party, I normally get the questions like, “Why?” “Are you okay?” or my favorite “What is wrong with you?” I understand the need to defend the show you love. I consistently defend House of Cards, Grey’s Anatomy (even though it is on season 13 now), and Criminal Minds, but this obsession with Game of Thrones, I just do not quite understand it.

First of all, why is it so popular? I believe with every bone in my body that if you poll 10 people, at least 8 of them watch Game of Thrones. It’s hard not to feel left out when your friends are all discussing the latest episode and you are on your phone watching those videos of people making food in 25 seconds. However, why is it so popular? It is about dragons, Kings and Queens, and people sleeping with siblings, right? There is also a lot of bloodshed and Jon Snow’s wiener (yes, I can read article titles).

When did it get so popular? How many seasons has it been on now, 6? (I looked it up, because I had no idea.) I feel like it has only become very popular within the last 3 years or so (I can also be totally wrong). Did everyone just all of a sudden get HBO and start watching it? Is it on Netflix? Or are we all borrowing our friends (or parents) premium cable and watching it now?

What if I do not like it? I have said I will start watching it many times, but now knowing that I need to watch 6 seasons of it, I am not sure I can handle it. Now, here is a little spoiler alert for people who do not really know me: I do not like movies. I am sure many of you are like, ‘uh okay Jill, Game of Thrones is not a movie, it is a television show.’ Thanks guys, I got that. I normally prefer television shows to movies. I can binge-watch a series like it is my job. I can do this because the episodes are 22 – 43 minutes and the storyline changes every episode. I always struggle with HBO shows because they are 50-60 minutes straight and after the 45-minute mark, it is hard for me to continue to focus on what is happening.

Now, I have not ruled Game of Thrones out completely. I feel like I cannot or else I will be shunned by nearly every person I know. So please, help me figure out why it is so popular. Someone please answer the questions I have about this show. But mainly, someone tell me I’m not alone!