The numbers from last Sunday are in and, though the Game of Thrones episode “Blood of My Blood” outstripped its competition, the ratings could still be better.
Ratings for “Blood of My Blood” outranked the episodes of The Carmichael Show, Silicon Valley, Veep, Penny Dreadful, House of Lies and The Girlfriend Experience that aired the same night. The episode nonetheless marks a low point in viewership for the season thus far. With only 6.71 million views, it’s the first time live viewership for season 6 has fallen below 7 million.
However, the reason for this dip may have less to do with the episode itself and more with the fact that “Blood of My Blood” aired on Memorial Day weekend. As we’ve previously noted, ratings have a tendency to slump during that holiday and we can remain optimistic that next week’s episode, “The Broken Man” will see an upturn.
Hold the Door
Yeah not really worried considering it was Memorial Weekend. Expected a six pointer, really. Good post, though.
Memorial day, nothing you could to about this.
I still think it’s bigger then EP7 had last year.
The title of next week’s episode ensures all book readers will be watching. GET HYPE. Swedgin, Wu, heng dai.
ep 7 last year got 5.4
A Man Grown,
Another boring episode for non bookreaders/casual viewers?
(Definately not me but others )
“the reason for this dip may have less to do with the episode itself and more with the fact that “Blood of My Blood” aired on Memorial Day weekend”.
Indeed, I think it’s a safe wager that the dip has absolutely nothing to do with the episode itself, as viewers have no idea what the episode will be like before they watch it.
Plus episode 5 was huge and very well received, so the reason that fewer people watched episode 6 isn’t linked to the quality of the show. It’s just the Memorial Day thing. Which I still can’t believe is huge enough to cause a 1,18 million drop.
I guess as someone living in Europe I can’t really comprehend the importance of Memorial Day.
Dee,
I doubt it. Apart from anything I may have been referring to, we know Jon, Sansa, and Davos will be in this coming episode, so it can’t be too boring.
The Bran story in episode 3 and The Door is the first time since the beginning of season 5 that any other plotline has come close to challenging Jon’s plotline as the best on the show.
Dee,
As far as I can guess, it will definitely NOT be boring 😀
A Man Grown,
“Jansavos”, Riverlands, “The Broken Man” thing, Theon and Yara heading for Dany, and trouble brewing between Arya and the Waif, yeah I don’t think it’ll be slow.
Plus we may get some Sons of the Harpy action, cause something big needs to happen with that plotline soon.
I just hope we get more Bran and Benjen, though honestly it doesn’t seem too likely for this week.
Dee,
Madness has had its day!!!!
Tim of House Deddings,
So 1,3 million more people watched this episode on Memorial day, then last year.
I think that’s a good number after all.
Also expect the numbers to rise starting next week, before people were excited for EP9 but Hardhome changed this.
Matthew The Dragon Knight,
Is it wrong that I loved that speech so much?
Markus Stark,
Ooo do we know for sure that Theon and Yara will be in the episode? I’m very interested to see what’s brewing there.
It was also a filler episode, might have contributed to it
Markus Stark,
Its not just Memorial Day as a time to remember those who died, its also the first long weekend of the summer season. Kids getting out of school, graduating, ready to go play, families going on quick holiday, family get togethers, that sort of thing. And the fact that its so easy to watch it later makes people not worry about missing it when it is aired.
Ace Ventura,
There is no such thing as freakin “filler” in GoT, only character development and well-paced storytelling. Enough with the f word already.
Ace Ventura,
That’s interesting, I don’t believe HBO sends out emails informing people of the quality of an episode before they watch it.
I guess people must be able to see the future like Bran and they saw it would be a “filler” episode so they knew not to put it on.
It was Memorial Day.
My entire family and friends were shit faced hammered out in the boat all weekend.
That’s like 10 people that didn’t watch until Monday night.
I will say, it was almost impossible all day Monday to not visit this site out of habit.
A Man Grown,
Yeah, they’re in the preview.
A Man Grown,
Rhaenys Stark,
HYPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I LOVE THIS SHOW
Westerosi Cocksuka!
Rhaenys Stark,
Craster’s keep and the whole Locke story in Season 4 was as close to filler as the show ever came.
Aside from that, everything is important to the characters, and to the story.
People don’t really know what filler means.
Ace Ventura,
Whats a filler episode?
For them to put “ratings could still be better” is kinda dumb since as mentioned it was mem wknd.
double
http://comment-cdn.9gag.com/image?ref=9gag.com#http://img-comment-fun.9cache.com/media/344a7f66143012202280153713_700wa_0.gif
Dee,
Shouldn’t be, unless one is really not into the Starks/Tully and a beautiful contemplation about Broken Men. That speech, if it takes place, is really great writing by GRRM, that is why many book readers would probably be excited by the title.
Markus Stark,
I lived in the US and I really don’t see how Memorial Day can have such an effect on the ratings. But, then again, I’m not incredibly patriotic compared to other people.
ash,
We actually have May 24 weekend here in Canada, Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday before May 25, in honour of Queen Victoria’s birthday, this usually occurs the week before memorial day. Many people go on mini long weekend vacations or go to cottages or even just do stuff on a Sunday night (as opposed to staying in since Mondays are usually a work day). So it does make sense that LESS people watch the show live.
Though, I, always plan around it 😉 unless I go away.
Markus Stark,
Sons of the Harpy are not likely too. I assume that they will show up in ep8. This episode has too much to cover. Both the North and Riverlands will be full of actions and interactions. Riverlands will probably include Brienne etc. And Arya’s runaway sequence should be in this episode too. Plus Ramsay may show up his face for the North to be reminded. Plus Kings Landing. So there is no time for Sons of the Harpy. However, some short scene from Meereen would be good to have.
clouddragon,
its not about being patriotic. its about the less likely chance people are staying in on a Sunday night since Monday is a day off… people go out, make plans, or go away for a long weekend.
Rhaenys Stark,
I wholeheartedly agree.
Markus Stark,
LMAO
How would anybody know that before it aired? How can any episodes content effect the initial rating since people are watching it for the first time?
Rhaenys Stark,
You’re very welcome 😉
Danny,
its a book thing?
ah I fear the backlash if it doesn’t go their way.
Inga,
and only 51 mins 🙁
Plus Greyjoys in Volantis. On top of all that, this is the shortest episode of the season (besides the premiere) at 51 minutes.
We still have to see a Rickon/Ramsay scene, so maybe this episode.
Jack Bauer 24,
I know many people can’t stand/ are sick of Ramsay, but I feel like they need to have him in a couple episodes before his downfall (or what I hope will be his downfall), especially since he sat out episodes 5 and 6.
His presence should be felt as a threat and as an ominous entity, to reinforce the importance of taking back Winterfell.
Basically I just hope there will be enough build up so that the Battle of the Bastards is as satisfying as it can be.
It would be interesting to get the numbers of those who watched the show via HBO Go etc. There is a good chance that the drop of TV viewership was largely compensated by online viewership.
I think given the ‘big’ moments that have occurred this season, there’s an expectation for a contingent of viewers (and some reviewers) for thrills every subsequent episode. It grates on me because one thing this show isn’t, is redundant. Ep 6 had some nice developments for Sam, Arya and Margeary, which I was wanting given how they had been sidelined up until then.
God forbid every episode doesn’t feature White Walkers.
Ace Ventura,
How would people know ahead of time what’s ‘filler’ and what’s not? Besides which, it wasn’t filler…it was full of plot progression which is the exact opposite of ‘filler’. It’s not filler just because it didn’t contain a lot of action.
We need Rickon and Ramsay urgently. Hope they appear in the next episode.
Dee,
It won’t please everybody for sure because the speech is too long for TV so if they do it, and given the title they probably will, they’ll have a shorter version. But if you ever get a chance to read it in its entirety, you should. It talks about what war does to men in a very eloquent way.
Dee,
True; we take lots of mini vacations during the summer and do not drive the week of Memorial Day, Father’s Day and Independence Day so are usually home at those times.
clouddragon,
Yeah, possibly. Not that I am worried about the number; don’t think there is any danger of this show being canceled or anything 🙂
Wow, Canadians seem to take Victoria more seriously than the Brits do.
Dee,
Yes, its from the book and its quite wonderful. However, it is several paragraphs long; I really doubt they will include it all; probably hit the best parts. I hope Im wrong but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is condensed
ETA
great minds think a like 🙂 But I agree, read the whole thing, its well worth it (and you can ind it on the net if you don’t want to try to scan through the books. Google ‘Broken Man Speech’
The Monday was a Bank Holiday (a sort of generic name for a public holiday in the UK) and a number of people were on holiday (vacation) in the UK. I know that doesn’t affect USA viewing figures of course. I quite liked Sunday’s episode. I think some of the events may pay off later in the series. I can’t see Sam’s fond papa being a happy bunny about the fact that the family Valeryan sword has developed legs and disappeared in the night and if we are being set up for Dany going to Westeros I don’t mind – I worked my way through five books expecting her to make some progress in that direction and, well, she didn’t and after five and a half series I’m glad to see the White Walkers (or “Others”) make some movement.
Valaquen,
haha we do! 🙂
Dee,
We take any warm weather holiday serious! We know better than most that winter is coming!
I’m a long suffering book reader who is fine with differences between sources.
I love this year…especially since the SS have been limited. I’m not a fan of how the SS were handled in general. Another short episode though and apparently no SS…so maybe they did just try to write them out after last year didn’t go so well?
OT:
I saw X-men last night and I liked it…and I’m a comic book reader for that series as well. It looks to be a set up movie for future movies again. Singer didn’t mess it up…and he even took a jab at X-men 3…lol
rhymeswithweak,
hahaha so true!
rhymeswithweak,
Im going to see that soon! I heard bad things about it so I was worried.
How was our Sophie 🙂
Also, I saw Captain America last night – loved it!
Dee,
Funny, I just didn’t get a chance to see Captain America yet and I chose Xmen instead last night.
Critics are complaining somewhat for originality I think…but I think they did a good job…these are mostly the same characters. Basically ,they re-established the characters from DOFP quite well. They had another slow-mo Quicksilver scene which is just awesome.
Sophie I think did well for her part…but I personally don’t yet think of her as a Jean grey…and not because I think of her as Sansa…I just really liked Famke Janssen.
I like how they set up Jean for a future movie better than how 3 went. They even had a Mister Sinister reference post-credits…I cant ruin it for you but it could be very good.
I thought Scott sucked again though…argh…I liked Cyclops in the comics.
Dee,
Yes, as others have already said, it is a book-thing, and it is a beautiful speech. I would, however, recommend waiting until the episode airs to read it.
As far as any backlash, of course there is going to be backlash from a certain sector. That’s just how it goes, unfortunately. If a phrase is cut, it will be one of the most important phrases in the whole speech (according to some thinking, and it won’t matter which phrase it is, mind you). If some words are changed, again, according to some thinking, it will ruin the whole thing. Hell, if they do the entire speech, word-for-word, there will be backlash for that, too, because, “how dare they use that speech in tact, when they’ve changed so many other things. It’s just complete disrespect…” or some such drivel.
just curious: there are a lot of re-broadcasts of the episodes. Are they counted? I know it’s Wednesday, but there are still re-broadcasts to come. Basing viewers on Sunday night’s show (one showing) is so 1990’s. I may watch the same episode, on HBO TV, not the internet a couple of times.
So last year, it was Sansa’s wedding night… What is this year’s reason? Terrible Kingsmoot? Filler episode?
Side note: I’m perfectly aware that Memorial day is the reason, but sometimes hate-watchers are really funny. I remember last year, when those on westeros.org were sure that the show would get cancelled.
If they wanted to write them out, they would have been killed instead of Doran and Areo. I’m sure they have a role to play in future. But yes, I think the writers intentionally limited Dorne this year.
thorne garnet,
I don’t believe they’re counted in the initial numbers, no.
Lord Parramandas,
It a shame the “No one is taking our histrionics over the show seriously enough…it must be a conspiracy” documentary didn’t come out when it was supposed to. They could then credit that as causing many to choose not to watch the show. teehee
Lord Parramandas,
Dude, Memorial Day, as everyone said.
And I hope the HBO execs realize that too.
Nymeria Warrior Queen,
Lol! Thank you for the warning!
Of course I would never read it first.
I’m still your spoiler free friend
Unfortunately when the episode titles got released someone spoiled me in the comments by referencing a
– so I’m expecting that.
But Have no idea what about or whom!!
Dee,
I figured you wouldn’t read it, but I’d rather caution you needlessly, than not caution you, as I saw other people saying it’s worth a read…and it is, just not yet…hahaha.
Actually, I’d say be extra careful, this week. I’ve already seen folks kind of openly discussing it, not ’cause they’re being assholes and trying to spoil people, just ’cause it’s, well…you’ll see on Sunday. Sue did remind people to use spoiler code, but even the most considerate can get carried away (I know even as hard as I try to be careful, I’ve slipped up…not on this particular thing, but on other things, just ’cause I wasn’t being 150% mindful/vigilant).
Markus Stark,
This is the first time GOT has had an episode on a holiday weekend.
The previous seasons they did not show an episode on Memorial Day weekend.
rhymeswithweak,
Awesome.
Sounds really good
Thanks for that 🙂 I’ll definately be checking it out!!!
Nymeria Warrior Queen,
You’re awesome!
Thank you
Haha I did see some but I quickly scroll past
But I’ll definately be careful
It’s hard cause I want to participate in the conversation – for example discussing the photos , but some people forget like you say
It’s hard to not be involved though. I hope that when we do the “preview thread” people are more vigilant
I’m probably in minority with this but I never found that speech really intriguing. Yes, it’s a nice speech but it more concerns world-building than the actual story, unlike the one we got from Jaime in book 3/Kissed by Fire. And I’m sure that if it is included into TV series, it will be much shorter.
Markus Stark,
“Living in Europe … not understanding the importance of Memorial Day.” A few things about life here on the other side of that ocean thing : First Memorial Day is a big day for military remembrances here in the U.S., patriotism (the flagrant sort) has made something of a come back in the U.S., so its parades, speeches and picnics. Second, primarily Memorial Day traces back to the American Civil War so its pretty emotional about all that race stuff. I try to watch the film Patton (even though it doesn’t really mention the Red Ball Express, the work group of mainly African American drivers who took materiels to the front in support of Patton’s advance) or Glory about the Massachusetts Company of Black Union Soldiers (freedmen, free born and escaped slaves). Also a lot of school districts finish up the Thursday or Friday before Memorial Day and there are a lot of school graduations. And, it is also the first official weekend of summer and there is this car race thing. So television, kinda takes a back seat. After all, why else do you have DVR?
This was expected to happen because of Memorial Day. I can’t wait for next Sunday!
From all episode 6’s ever aired on GoT, this is the best watched episode 6. The same goes for all the other episodes this season except the premiere.
Nothing negative here, only positive! 🙂
Americans get far fewer holidays than do Europeans. Memorial Day is one of the few, and because it provides a long weekend, people often are out doing “Saturday evening” things on Sunday night.
I know a lot has been said about Memorial Day Weekend here in America, but it should also be mentioned it’s one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, as well as a major weekend for trade shows, conventions and other events. It’s also the end of classes for many schools, so many families go on vacation.
But it’s also important to remind people that more viewers than ever — and this is according to HBO itself — are watching the show via HBOGO/HBONOW. People who might have adjusted their viewing habits for such an event series like GoT in prior years now have the luxury to stream whenever and wherever they want. So it becomes easy to “miss” the live broadcast over Memorial Day Weekend.
rhymeswithweak,
To be fair, Singer jumped ship on X-Men 3 to make his own steaming pile of crap in Superman Returns… 😛
Haha – Nice one! I’m British, but never knew the Canadians celebrated Queen Victoria’s birthday! God Save Queen Victoria – Long live The Raj and the British Empire 🙂
Although I’m a monarchist at heart, I had to have a laugh when I saw a documentary a few years ago investigating the true ancestry of British Royalty. It was not so different from GoT back in the middle ages with bastards, murders and kingslayers plying their ways to gain the throne of England.
Its not surprising GRRM based a lot of ASOIAF from the ‘Wars of the Roses’. They were fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet, the Houses of Lancaster and York in several sporadic episodes between 1455 and 1487. Those houses roughly equating to the Lannisters and Starks in GoT.
What was a real eye opener was the rightful King of England (and whose family still carries the name Plantagenet) runs a sheep farming station in Australia! Here’s the video:
Lord Parramandas,
This.
Dee,
Last night my daughter, a non-book reader, told me she thought this year was the best year of GOT yet. As I’ve said often some people are just natural born complainers and have to share their misery…lol. I’m a book reader (though I don’t expect to finish the last two before I die due to George’s writing speed..haha) and I have taken the show at face value and really enjoyed it. As to the ratings, well, I for one can never watch it on Sunday night due to the fact I have to get up for work at 3:30 a.m. but with it being a long, holiday weekend in so many places I’m sure the numbers were down and as someone already said, you don’t need to worry about sitting in front of the tv on Sunday night when you can watch it Monday.
I am so hype for this week!!!!