This past weekend, “Game of Thrones” (2011 - present) enthusiasts were thrown a curveball: The first four episodes of the fifth season of the wildly popular HBO show were leaked online. Fans were subsequently forced to answer the question -- to watch or not to watch the leaked episodes? The moral answer is clear: The leak was illegal, and consuming the leaked material is undeniably illegal as well. Lawfulness aside, as Paul Tassi for Forbes.com argues, “As one of the last true 'event' shows on TV, the best way to consume 'Game of Thrones' is to watch weekly and discuss each episode as it happens.”
HBO has not fully revealed the source of the leak; all indications, however, point to the fact that the episodes were leaked from press copies distributed to reviewers prior to the season’s television premiere. Christopher Hooton for The Independent notes that “season previews tend to consist of the first four episodes, so [viewers should not] expect episodes 5 through 10 to pop-up anytime soon.” Keeping this in mind adds even more reason for fans to wait for each weekly release. Besides the fact that friendships may be lost by inadvertently spoiling the secrets of the leaked episodes, Tassi adds, “If fans binge-watched the first four episodes now, they would have to wait a full month before any more were released." Despite the temptation, it seems clear that the moral answer remains the right choice for fans. So sit back, relax and enjoy each episode as it airs at its rightful time on HBO on Sundays at 9 p.m.
Game of Thrones leak puts fans in awkward position
While "Game of Thrones" fans may be tempted to binge-watch the leaked first four episodes, TV critics urge viewers to watch content as it airs each week.
