‘Game Of Thrones: The Complete Collection’ 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – A Stunning Presentation For One Of The All-Time Best

Game of Thrones takes a victory lap as one of the greatest narrative achievements of all time in this new 4K UHD Blu-Ray Collection that gathers all eight seasons of the show in one collection along with a slew of special features that will keep you busy for quite a while. Read on to learn why this set should be an essential part of any Game of Thrones fan’s collection. 

The following show critique portion of this review was written by my colleague Cainan Myracle. 

While the final season of Game of Thrones might have left a terrible taste in the mouth of hardcore fans who lived and breathed the show, all in all the series was a masterpiece. Having won numerous awards, there is no denying the series is one of the best TV shows ever made. Game of Thrones gave us beautiful set pieces, iconic characters, and tons of great memories. Each week fans waited with anticipation to hear the opening theme and see what fate awaited their favorite characters. The series boasted a top tier cast from Peter Dinklage and Charles Dance to Sean Bean and Lena Headey. The show also introduced us to Emilia Clarke, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner and Kit Harington.

*Spoiler Alert for the following paragraph* 

The series did its best storytelling when it was adapting the work of author George R. R. Martin. The later seasons fell flat without his input, but it still told a great story. Sure, there were moments we did not agree with but that is life. Not everything goes the way we want it to. The series did give us some epic moments though including the Red Wedding, The Mountain vs The Viper, the Death of Joffrey (we all wanted him to die), Hodor’s sacrifice, the Battle of Hardhome and the Battle of the Bastards. There are so many epic moments from this show and that does not even cover the moments we got with Daenerys and her dragons. You never knew what to expect each week and the show did a great job of keeping its fanbase on their toes.

My only real complaint with the series was the overuse of sex and nudity. At times I felt the series relied too much on it when they had enough there story wise to keep fans entertained. Game of Thrones did a good job building the characters and giving them plenty of screen time. I do wish we could see a spin off regarding Arya, and I like that we are getting the Targaryen spin off series. GoT gave us some of the best battle scenes and beautiful cinematography. I am amazed what that show could do year in and year out with its budget. A lot of time and effort went into making the show and overall, it paid off. Unless you are the fan who refuses to ever watch the show again because of the way it ended, you are going to be watching Game of Thrones repeatedly for a long time. With the series now complete and in UHD, now is the perfect time to revisit some of your favorite moments.

Video Quality

Game of Thrones improves on its already impressive Blu-Ray presentations with a stunning 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade in 1.78:1. The series is one that benefits more and more from the format as it progresses from season to season. As technology evolved and more money was put into maintaining this juggernaut, the look of the series got stronger and stronger. When you watch the first season, you may not notice a substantial difference from the Blu-Ray, but things pick up in subsequent seasons with the series really soaring in the last half of its run from a visual standpoint. Even in the first season, the improvement to image stability and deeper black levels make it a recommended upgrade. There was a notable outcry that a pivotal episode of the final season was impossible to see due to it being too dark, but those who spin this disc will find this claim utterly ridiculous. These are the types of episodes that they format was made to improve. The High Dynamic Range is pretty eyeball melting from small aspects like torches to huge explosions such as Wildfire. The white wintery landscapes remain stable and never suffer from banding or blooming. . 

The clarity and detail present here is simply phenomenal, exposing details previously lost due to the limitations of the format. Everything looks more natural from the skin tones to the colors of the clothing and the landscapes. As you view this series now, you get a deeper appreciation for the intricate costumes and settings. Subtle details in the production design that previously blended in with the background are now incredibly clear. Many elements have a greater sense of texture that was lacking previously. Some of the early CGI does not hold up as well as what would appear later in the run, but nothing truly distracting rears its head. A great amount of depth is gained with this transfer, both in close-up and long shots. This 4K UHD transfer brings richness to the series that you did not know you were lacking until you see it for yourself. This is a reference level presentation from HBO that stays true to the source material. It is worth noting that unlike many 4K releases, this set does not come with accompanying Blu-Ray discs for those who desire them, outside of the three special features discs. 

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray set offers a major upgrade in the form of a lively Dolby Atmos presentation that handles the action incredibly well. The track offers expert level immersion into the various lands so that even the subtlest elements are represented. The Atmos presentation takes full advantage of the expanded channel allotment. During the scenes with the dragons flying around, you could be forgiven if you ducked thinking they were right overhead in the height channels. It is not just the obvious aspects that impress; weather sounds from rain to wind bring a fully realized world to your living room. All of the sounds are balanced well during the action sequences from hand-to-hand combat to explosions. The many battles and other such kinetic moments provide an incredible amount of activity in the low end. Take any major battles such as Blackwater, Hardhome or Battle of the Bastards and just marvel at the sonic assault on display. This track is not just impressive because it is loud or busy, what truly impresses is the nuance that is employed in the sound design. Directionality of sound is never an issue with this series, and dialogue is reproduced with supreme clarity. Speakers remain remarkably engaged throughout the series, eventually getting more and more active as the series progresses. The show has a gift for establishing an impressive room tone that makes you feel like you are right there beside the characters. The audio presentation is a wonderful experience from start to finish. 

Special Features

Season One

• Audio Commentaries: 

• • Winter Is Coming: A commentary track is provided by Executive Producers/Writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

• • The Kingsroad: A commentary track is provided by Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Mark Addy (Robert Baratheon), and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister). 

• • Lord Snow: A commentary track is provided by Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark), and Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark). 

• • Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things: A commentary track is provided by writer Bryan Cogman and Kit Harington (Jon Snow).

• • A Golden Crown: A commentary track is provided by director Daniel Minahan, Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) and Harry Lloyd (Viserys Targaryen).

• • The Pointy End: A commentary track is provided by co-executive producer/author George R.R. Martin.

• • Fire and Blood: A commentary track is provided by Benioff, Weiss and director Alan Taylor.

• Character Profiles: Fifteen character breakdowns totaling 31 minutes are included here detailing Ned, Robb, Arya, Bran, Sansa and Catelyn Stark; Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion Lannister; Daenerys and Viserys Targaryen; and Jon Snow, Khal Drago, Petyr Baelish and Robert Baratheon. These are not super in depth, but it is fun to hear the actors talk about their characters. 

• Anatomy Of An Episode: An hour-long look at episode six “A Golden Crown” in which the participants discuss why this episode was a turning point for the season, where the characters are at this point in the season, why they made certain creative choices, offer a dive into the costumes and production design and more. The episode plays in full while the boxes pop up to showcase interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. This is really informative. 

• Making of Game of Thrones: A 30-minute making-of featurette which dives into the show as a whole, adapting the books, casting the series, creating the world, the visual effects and more. This is well done and covers a lot of ground in a half-hour. 

• From The Book To The Screen: A five-minute look at bringing the show from the novels to the screen with an emphasis on interviews with George R.R. Martin. This repeats some things from the previous feature, but there are some new moments provided. 

• Creating the Show Open: A five-minute look at the creation of the show open as a means of acclimating the audience to the world of Game of Thrones. You gain a new appreciation for how much effort goes into the credits. 

• Creating the Dothraki Language: A five-minute look at how the creative team developed a completely new language for this race of people.  

• The Night’s Watch: An eight-minute overview of the brotherhood at The Wall in which Martin and the other creatives discuss the basic aspects of The Night’s Watch and their overall purpose. 

• Histories and Lore: An essential collection of videos totaling 1 hour and 9 minutes which provides crucial family histories and tales from the early days of Westeros. If you are a fan of the series, you should view this as if it is another episode that delves into the mythology of the story.

• Cast Auditions: Six audition tapes totaling eleven minutes are provided here which give a fun peek at the actors before they landed the roles. Included here are tapes from Harry Lloyd (Viserys Targaryen), Rory McCann (Sandor Clegane), Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) and Miltos Yerolemou (Syrio Forel).

Season Two

• Audio Commentaries: 

• • The North Remembers: A commentary track is provided by Executive Producers/Writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

• • The Night Lands: A commentary track is provided by Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy) and Gemma Whelan (Yara Greyjoy).

• • What Is Dead May Never Die: A commentary track is provided by writer Bryan Cogman and director Alik Sakharov.

• • What Is Dead May Never Die: A commentary track is provided by Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark), and Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark). 

• • Garden of Bones: A commentary track is provided by actors Carice Van Houten (Melisandre) and Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth).

• • The Old Gods and the New: A commentary track is provided by co-executive producer/writer Vanessa Taylor and actors Kit Harington (Jon Snow) and Rose Leslie (Ygritte).

• • A Man Without Honor: A commentary track is provided by Executive Producers/Writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

• • The Prince of Winterfell: A commentary track is provided by actors Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jamie Lannister) and Michelle Fairley (Catelyn Stark).

• • Blackwater: A commentary track is provided by co-executive producer/author George R.R. Martin.

• • Blackwater: A commentary track is provided by director Neil Marshall and actors Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) and Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister).

• • Valar Morghulis: A commentary track is provided by Rainer Gombos and Steve Kullback of the Visual Effects team. 

• • Valar Morghulis: A commentary track is provided by co-executive producer/director Alan Taylor and actor Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen).

• Histories and Lore: An essential collection of videos totaling 1 hour and 5 minutes which this time details The Greyjoy’s Rebellion, Robert’s Rebellion, some new houses and lands that were introduced this season and more. 

• Deleted Scenes: Four scenes totaling six minutes are provided here featuring a death that was previously off-screen, a confrontation between The Hound and Sansa, some verbal sparring between Littlefinger and Varys and more. 

• Creating The Battle of Blackwater Bay: A 31-minute look at one of the biggest battles of the series which required meticulous planning and crafting to do this pivotal moment justice. The scale of this battle is staggering, and it is so much fun getting a look behind the scenes production elements. 

• Game of Thrones – Inner Circle: An excellent 24-minute roundtable discussion with actors Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Michelle Fairley and Liam Cunningham, along with executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss in which they have a lively discussion about the story and their characters which sheds a lot of insight into how they are portrayed on the show. This is one of my favorite features of the season. 

• The Religions of Westeros: A nearly eight-minute look at the religions featured in the show and how they tie into the history of the seven kingdoms. This is a helpful breakdown of character motivations if you find yourself getting mixed up with who believes in what practices and why. 

• Character Profiles:  Seven character breakdowns totaling 16 minutes are included here detailing Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, Robb Stark, Joffrey Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon and Theon Greyjoy. This does a good job of getting you into the headspace of each character this season. 

Season Three

• Audio Commentaries: 

• • Dark Wings, Dark Words: A commentary track is provided by writer Vanessa Taylor, director Daniel Minahan, and actors Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon) and Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell).

• • Walk of Punishment: A commentary track is provided by Executive Producers/Writers/Directors David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

• • Walk of Punishment: A commentary track is provided by production designer Gemma Jackson and costume designer Michele Clapton.

• • And Now His Watch Is Ended: A commentary track is provided by director Alex Graves and actors Lena Headey and Diana Rigg.

• • Kissed By Fire: A commentary track is provided by writer Bryan Cogman and actors Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Gwendoline Christie.

• • The Climb: A commentary track is provided by director Alik Sakharov and actors Kit Harington and Rose Leslie.

• • The Climb: A commentary track is provided by actors Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams and Isaac Hempstead Wright.

• • The Bear And The Maiden Fair: A commentary track is provided by co-executive producer/author George R.R. Martin and director Michelle MacLaren.

• • Second Sons: A commentary track is provided by director Michelle MacLaren and actors John Bradley and Hannah Murray.

• • The Rains of Castamere: A commentary track is provided by director David Nutter and actors Richard Madden and Michelle Fairley.

• • The Rains of Castamere: A commentary track is provided by weapons master Tommy Dunne, stunt coordinator Paul Herbert, assistant stunt coordinator David Forman and swordmaster C.C. Smiff.

• • Mhysa: A commentary track is provided by actors Emilia Clarke, Iain Glen and Iwan Rheon.

• Histories and Lore:  An essential collection of videos totaling 1 hour and 3 minutes which this time details some houses that play an important part this season, the Lord of Light, some new areas of interest such as The Reach and The Riverlands and more. 

• Deleted/Extended Scenes: Five scenes totaling fourteen minutes are provided here featuring Jon considering an escape attempt, the small council discussing the Wildling threat, a scene between Tywin and Pyecell and more. 

• Inside The Wildlings: A six-minute featurette in which the cast and crew members delve into the notable aspects of the Wildlings, how they are portrayed in the series, their lifestyle and more. 

• The Politics of Marriage: A nine-minute featurette that takes a look at the often transactional nature of love in Westeros. 

• New Characters: A ten-minute look at some of the fresh faces on the show including Olenna Tyrell, Missandel, Mance Rayder, Tormund Giantsbane, Orell, Jojen and Meera Reed, Blackfish and Edmure Tully, Thoros of Myr and Beric Dondarrion.

• A Gathering Storm: A 14-minute catch-up guide of sorts in which the cast and crew take you on a detailed overview of the series up until the events of season three. This is good if you take a significant break between seasons. 

Season Four

• Audio Commentaries: 

• • Two Swords: A commentary track is provided by showrunners David Benioff & D.B. Weiss and actor Pedro Pascal (Oberyn Martell).

• • The Lion and The Rose: A commentary track is provided by author/co- executive producer George R.R. Martin, director Alex Graves, and actors Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon) and Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell).

• • Oathkeeper: A commentary track is provided by director Michelle MacLaren and director of photography Robert McLachlan.

• • First of His Name: A commentary track is provided by actors Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) and Maisie Williams (Arya Stark).

• • The Laws of Gods and Men: A commentary track is provided by director Alik Sakharov and writer/co-producer Bryan Cogman.
  • Mockingbird: A commentary track is provided by executive producer Bernadette Caulfield, producer Chris Newman, and actors Aidan Gillen (Littlefinger) and Kate Dickie (Lysa Arryn).

• • The Mountain and The Viper: A commentary track is provided by production designer Deborah Riley, costume designer Michele Clapton and director of photography Anette Haellmigk.

• • The Watchers On The Wall: A commentary track is provided by actors Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Rose Leslie (Ygritte) and John Bradley (Samwell Tarly).

• • The Watchers On The Wall: A commentary track is provided by VFX producer Steve Kullback and VFX supervisor Joe Bauer.

• • The Children: A commentary track is provided by director Alex Graves and actors Rory McCann (The Hound) and Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth).

• • The Children: A commentary track is provided by actors Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister).

• Histories and Lore: An essential collection of videos totaling 53 minutes which this time details new houses introduced this season, the Iron Bank, the Nations of the North, Valyrian steel and more. 

• Deleted Scenes: Two scenes totaling three minutes are provided here featuring Shae being escorted away by Bronn and a really brief moment between Dany and Missandei. 

• The Fallen – A Roundtable: A really fun thirty-minute group interview with those we lost during season four. I will not list the participants to avoid spoilers, but this is a really fun and light conversation between interesting actors. 

• Behind the Battle for the Wall: A 37-minute deep dive into the epic ninth episode of the season which delves into how they pulled off the visual feast from visual effects to casting the tallest people in the country as the giants to maintain the right movements. There is so much fun behind-the-scenes footage. 

• The Politics of Power – A Look Back At Season Three: A 25-minute catch-up guide of sorts in which the cast and crew take you on a detailed overview of season three to prepare you for season four. This is good if you take a significant break between seasons. 

• Bastards of Westeros: A seven-minute look at the role of unclaimed children in Westeros and the impact they have on their family lineage. 

• New Characters and Locations: An eight-minute overview of some of the new faces in the fourth season along with new locations we get to explore this year. 

• Season 4 Blooper Reel: A two-minute collection of flubbed and forgotten lines, giggle fits and general goofing around on set that is a real blast to watch. 

Season Five

• Audio Commentaries: 

• • The Wars to Come: A commentary track is provided by Director Michael Slovis, Director of Photography Dave Franco and Ciarán Hinds (Mance Rayder).

• • The House of Black and White: A commentary track is provided by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth) and Daniel Portman (Podrick Payne).

• • High Sparrow: A commentary track is provided by Production designer Deborah Riley, Costume Designer Michele Clapton, and Director of Photography Anette Haellmigk.

• • Sons of the Harpy: A commentary track is provided by Director Mark Mylod, Writer Dave Hill, Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell) and Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen Baratheon).

• • Kill the Boy: A commentary track is provided by Director Jeremy Podeswa, Director of Photography Greg Middleton, Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Bolton) and Michael McElhatton (Roose Bolton).

• • Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken: A commentary track is provided by Writer Bryan Cogman, Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) and Tom Wlaschiha (Jaqen H’ghar).

• • Hardhome: A commentary track is provided by Director Miguel Sapochnik, Stunt Coordinator Rowley Irlam, Kit Harington (Jon Snow), and Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane).

• • Hardhome: A commentary track is provided by Visual Effects Producer Steve Kullback, Visual Effects Supervisor Joe Bauer, and Producer Chris Newman.

• • Hardhome: A commentary track is provided by Director of Photography Fabian Wagner and Camera Operators Sean Savage and David Morgan.

• • The Dance of Dragons: A commentary track is provided by Director David Nutter, Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) and Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont).

• • The Dance of Dragons: A commentary track is provided by Executive producer Bernadette Caulfield, Director of Photography Rob McLachlan, and Camera Operators Ben Wilson and David Worley.

• • Mother’s Mercy: A commentary track is provided by Executive Producers/Writers David Benioff and D.B Weiss, Director David Nutter, and Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister).

• Histories and Lore: An essential collection of videos totaling 51 minutes which this time details the Faith Militant, the Faceless Men, the fighting pits of Meereen, the Stone Men and more. 

• New Characters and Locations: An eight-minute look at some of the new aspects of the season including Dorne and the Martells. The participants give you a sense of the cultural values, fighting styles, character motivations and more. 

• Anatomy of an Episode – Mother’s Mercy: A 30-minute deep dive into the season finale which takes you through major character developments, the construction of the sets, the visual effects and more. There are some great insights from cast members and writers provided in this. 

• The Real History Behind Game of Thrones: A two-part forty-minute look at how George R.R. Martin used real-world history such as The War of the Roses as inspiration for Game of Thrones. This is an incredibly fascinating way to look at the series that should be very interesting for history buffs. 

• A Day In The Life: A 26-minute look at three different crews in Croatia, Northern Ireland and Spain over the course of one day that gives you a fascinating look at what goes into making this incredible show. One of the most enjoyable aspects of this one is being able to see the beauty of the cities where the series shoots. 

• Deleted Scenes: Four scenes totaling eight minutes are provided here featuring a lovely scene between Missandei and Grey Worm, Jaime and Bronn having a conversation about the benefits of a life of leisure and more. 

• The Dance of Dragons: A nearly 21-minute recitation of the story of the Targaryen civil war provided in animated form. This is really fun supplemental mythology to the main story. 

Season Six

• Audio Commentaries: 

• • The Red Woman: A commentary track is provided by Director Jeremy Podeswa, Director of Photography Greg Middleton and Daniel Portman (Podrick Payne).

• • Home: A commentary track is provided by Writer Dave Hill, Michael McElhatton (Roose Bolton), Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Bolton), Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth) and Ben Crompton (Dolorous Edd).

• • Oathbreaker: A commentary track is provided by Director Daniel Sackheim, Production Designer Deborah Riley, and Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen Baratheon).

• • Book of the Stranger: A commentary track is provided by Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei), Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont), and Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm).

• • The Door: A commentary track is provided by Gemma Whelan (Yara Greyjoy), Pilou Asbaek (Euron Greyjoy), Ellie Kendrick (Meera Reed) and Kristian Nairn (Hodor).

• • The Door: A commentary track is provided by Prosthetics Supervisor Barrie Gower, Camera Operators Chris Plevin and Ben Wilson and Executive Producer Bernadette Caulfield.

• • Blood Of My Blood: A commentary track is provided by Director Jack Bender, Director of Photography Jonathan Freeman, John Bradley (Samwell Tarly) and Hannah Murray (Gilly).

• • The Broken Man: A commentary track is provided by Producer/Writer Bryan Cogman, Ian McShane (Septon Ray), and Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell).

• • No One: A commentary track is provided by Mark Mylod, Essie Davis (Lady Crane) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister).

• • Battles of the Bastards: A commentary track is provided by Director Miguel Sapochnik, Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), and Kit Harington (Jon Snow).

• • Battles of the Bastards: A commentary track is provided by Director of Photography Fabian Wagner, Visual Effects Producer Steve Kullback, and Visual Effects Supervisor Joe Bauer.

• • The Winds of Winter: A commentary track is provided by Executive Producers/Writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), and Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister)

• • The Winds of Winter: A commentary track is provided by Special Effects Supervisor Sam Conway, Camera Operator Sean Savage and Producer Chris Newman.

• Histories and Lore: An essential collection of videos totaling 1 hour and 21 minutes which this time details the Kingsmoot, the War of the Ninepenny Kings, the Dothraki, the Brotherhood Without Banners and more. 

• The Battle of the Bastards – An In-Depth Look: A 30-minute look at one of the most epic battles that the series has accomplished yet with the cast and crew. The participants talk about how they went about capturing the battle, the narrative implications of the story, logistical challenges, shooting in the daylight and more. 

• 18 Hours at the Paint Hall: A 28-minute special which details what a day on the set looks like for the creative team, especially when they employ three different crews shooting concurrently. This specifically delves into a day when all three crews were shooting at the same production facility and the challenges that arose from that. 

• Recreating the Dothraki World: A 20-minute look at how the cast and creative team revisited the Dothraki world in a way that was even more substantial than what they accomplished in season one. They really were able to delve into the customs and homeland of these people. 

• Deleted Scenes: Three deleted scenes totaling eleven minutes are provided here including Edd & Throne being frustrated at the Wall, an extended version of the play Arya watches this season and more. 

Season Seven

• Audio Commentaries: 

• • Dragonstone: A commentary track is provided by Director Jeremy Podeswa, Gwedolyne Christie (Brienne of Tarth), and John Bradley (Samwell Tarly).

• • Stormborn: A commentary track is provided by Gemma Whelan (Yara Greyjoy), Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm), and Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei).

• • Stormborn: A commentary track is provided by Co-Executive Producer / Writer Bryan Cogman, Prosthetics Supervisor Barrie Gower, Stunt Coordinator Rowley Irlam, and Pilou Asbaek (Euron Greyjoy).

• • The Queen’s Justice: A commentary track is provided by Executive Producer Bernadette Caulfield, Production Designer Deborah Riley, and Costume Designer Michele Clapton.

• • The Spoils of War: A commentary track is provided by Director Matt Shakman, Director of Photography Rob McLachlan, Special Effects Supervisor Sam Conway, and Camera Operator Chris Plevin.

• • The Spoils of War: A commentary track is provided by  Producer Chris Newman, Visual Effects Supervisor Joe Bauer, and Visual Effects Producer Steve Kullback.

• • Eastwatch: A commentary track is provided by Writer Dave Hill, Director Matt Shakman, and Director of Photography Rob McLachlan.

• • Eastwatch: A commentary track is provided by Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth) and Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont).

• • Beyond the Wall: A commentary track is provided by Director Alan Taylor, Director of Photography Jonathan Freeman, and Camera Operators Sean Savage and David Morgan.

• • The Dragon and The Wall: A commentary track is provided by Executive Producers / Writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), and Kit Harington (Jon Snow).

• • The Dragon and The Wall: A commentary track is provided by Director Jeremy Podeswa and Director of Photography Greg Middleton.

• Histories and Lore: An essential collection of videos totaling 30 minutes which this time details the Dragonpit, the Citadel, Casterly Rock, the Golden Company and more. 

• From Imagination To Reality – Inside the Art Department: A two-part documentary totaling 46 minutes which gives a detailed behind-the-scenes look at all of the work that the art departments puts into creating the world of the show. Production Designer Deborah Riley and her crew do everything from creating worlds through computers to literally sculpting out sets. This piece delves into Dragonstone, the map room, the sea battle and more. 

• Fire & Steel – Creating the Invasion of Westeros: A 30-minute in-depth look at the epic battles featured throughout the season both on land and on the sea. Every single one of them was a massive undertaking that has a rich story behind it. 

Season Eight

• Audio Commentaries: 

• • Winterfell: A commentary track is provided by Co-Producer/Writer Dave Hill and Production Designer Deborah Riley.

• • A Knight of Seven Kingdoms: A commentary track is provided by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Bryan Cogman and Daniel Portman (Podrick Payne).

• • The Long Night: A commentary track is provided by Director Miguel Sapochnik, Director of Photography Fabian Wagner and Camera Operator Sean Savage.

• • The Long Night: A commentary track is provided by Executive Producer Bernadette Caulfield, Visual Effects Producer Steve Kullback, and Visual Effects Supervisor Joe Bauer

• • The Long Night: A commentary track is provided by Stunt Coordinator Rowley Irlam and Richard Dormer (Beric Dondarrion).

• • The Last of the Starks: A commentary track is provided by Director of Photography David Franco, Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm), Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandel) and Pilou Asbaek (Euron Greyjoy).

• • The Bells: A commentary track is provided by Director Miguel Sapochnik, Director of Photography Fabian Wagner and Conleth Hill (Varys).

• • The Bells: A commentary track is provided by Producer Chris Newman, Special Effects Supervisor Sam Conway, and Visual Effects Supervisor Joe Bauer.

• • The Iron Throne: A commentary track is provided by Executive Producers / Writers / Directors David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, and Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen).

• • The Iron Throne: A commentary track is provided by Director of Photography Jonathan Freeman and Camera Operator Ben Wilson.

• Histories and Lore: An essential collection of videos totaling 27 minutes which this time details the Greyjoy rebellion, the Blackfyre rebellion, Maegor the Cruel and more. 

• When Winter Falls: A 29-minute look at the Battle of Winterfell which details how the creative team tried to avoid battle fatigue, the massive undertaking that with filming everything, the construction of the sets and more. 

• Duty Is The Death of Love: A 32-minute look at the final episode of the series and how the team tried to bring together all of the elements that had been set up throughout the series. There is some insightful input from the crew members here. 

• Game of Thrones – The Last Watch: A 1 hour and 53 minute documentary that is basically a love letter to the series which features all manner of behind-the-scenes moments with the cast and crew. Some of the most moving moments are with the cast at their final read-through together. The cast getting emotional makes you a bit emotional. This is the type of extensive piece that you wish all of your favorite series could get. 

• Deleted Scenes: Five scenes totaling eight minutes are included here featuring Dany at the trenches, Alys Karstark, Tyrion and Sansa in the crypts and more. 

Bonus Disc One

• Game of Thrones Reunion Special – Part 1: The 57-minute first half of the Conan O’Brien hosted reunion special in Belfast which features a hilarious monologue at the top of the show before being joined by Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Conleth Hill, Mark Addy, Sean Bean, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Kristian Nairn, John Bradley, Rory McCann and Liam Cunningham. One of the best parts of this is watching the reactions of the cast members that are not on stage. They appear to have such a love for one another that is great to witness. 

• Game of Thrones Reunion Special – Part 2: The 42-minute second half of the reunion special which finds O’Brien joined by Emilia Clarke, Iain Glen, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jacob Anderson, Jason Mamoa and members of the cast from the first half. It is all capped off by a moving farewell from Benioff and Weiss. Such a great supplement to the series. 

• Anatomy of Scenes:

• • Season Four – Planning A Royal Wedding: A 23-minute deep dive into the pivotal season four episode in which we say goodbye to one of the primary villains of the series. 

• • Season Five – The Massacre At Hardhome: A 28-minute look at what it took to create the epic battle in season five with the cast and crew. 

• • Season Six – Inside The Fight For Meereen: A 24-minute behind-the-scenes look at the Dany’s last hurrah in Essos before heading west. 

• • Season Seven – Ice, Fire & Dragons – Creating the Frozen Lake: A 27-minute featurette which delves into the journey beyond the wall in season seven which changed everything in the series. 

Bonus Disc Two

• Behind The Scenes: 

• • Season One – House of the Seven Kingdoms: A nearly 16-minute exploration of the kingdoms of Westeros with George R.R. Martin in which he explains more about his world. 

• • Season Two – Westeros At War With George R.R. Martin: A 19-minute featurette in which Martin discusses the state of power in Westeros in the second season. 

• • Season Four – Silk, Leather, and Chain Mail – The Costumes of Season Four: A 19-minute look at the intricate costumes in the fourth season of the show with the cast and crew. It’s nice to get insights from Costume Designer Michele Clapton. 

• • Season Five – The Final Step: A 26-minute look at the post-production process in which you get a look at the visual and sound effers, the editing, the score and more. 

• Inside The Visual Effects: You get 2-hours-and-47-minutes of visual effects breakdowns from seven seasons which reveals how they pulled off some of the most impressive shots of the series. 

• Season Seven Deleted Scenes: Three scenes totaling five minutes of unused material are provided here featuring an extended moment between Sam and Gilley, a conversation between Dany and Tyrion and Varys talking to Trella in King’s Landing. 

Bonus Disc Three: 

• Conquest and Rebellion: A 45-minute animated film that fills in some of the history of the Seven Kingdoms with the help of some of the actors from the series providing voice over narration. These are visually interesting and narratively very enlightening. Worth checking out for fans of the show. 

Final Thoughts

Game of Thrones will go down in history as one of the greatest television shows of all time. The level of spectacle and pure emotion it was able to bring to the screen brought about experiences that fans will never be able to forget. This was a show that got you invested in these characters in a way that only the best can do. HBO has done what fans have been dreaming about for years by releasing the entire series in an amazing 4K UHD Blu-Ray collection. The A/V presentation here is absolutely stunning and presents the series as it was intended to be seen. This set offers up an intense amount of special features that will prolong your journey with the series for a long time. If you are a fan of the show and have the setup to support this, the 4K UHD Blu-Ray set should be a crown jewel in your collection. Essential 

Game of Thrones: The Complete Collection is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: HBO and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment have supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.

Dillon Gonzales

Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.