‘Game Of Thrones’ Graph Shows People Talk Less When Dying

Earlier this month, hit political drama Game of Thrones ended its nine-year run with the most highly-anticipated series finale in recent memory. It was also arguably the most disappointing. Now, fans are literally drawing up charts in an effort to figure out what went wrong.

Considering how large, complex and well-loved Game of Thrones is, it was inevitable that some fans would feel let down no matter how it ended.

There was only one Iron Throne, yet practically every character had a loyal following hoping they’d be the last one sitting.

However, so many fans were unhappy with the way the series ultimately ended that some even signed a petition demanding that its final season be remade. Because this is a healthy and normal way to deal with disappointment over how your favourite fictional television show ended.

why aren't there petitions to redo the last few seasons of glee

— Amanda Yeo (@amandamyeo) May 22, 2019

Others have been picking through the rubble of King’s Landing, dissecting the series’ final six episodes in an attempt to understand how such a beloved series ended on such a divisive note. One aspect under inspection is the use of dialogue, or rather the disuse.

On Twitter, Vanity Fair writer Joanna Robinson has shared a graph charting the number of words spoken per minute in each Game of Thrones episode, spanning the entire series. The graph shows a gradual but steady decline, from an average of 60 words per minute in season one to under 40 season six’s end.

a) This isn’t INHERENTLY bad, obviously. I just like the earlier dialogue-heavy stuff so much personally b) I wonder which S6 episode that is c) you don’t really need to see this lovely graph if you’ve looked at the scripts themselves—the difference is stunning.

— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) May 24, 2019

Of course, spoken dialogue isn’t the only indication that matters of import are going down. A sword through the belly can change the landscape just as much as a scathing rejoinder. Game of Thrones‘ average word count would have been pulled down by the longer battles in later seasons, during which there was less time for characters to chat. And, of course, people tend to be less talkative once dead.

However, despite its reputation for blood and fire, Game of Thrones was initially built on a foundation of secrets, lies and political manoeuvring. The slow slide from the pen to the sword may be at least one reason why a few early fans found later seasons less gratifying.