Game of Thrones is clearly a big deal for HBO. So much so that you will see a couple tweaks to the formula this March that will extend and amplify the Westeros experience.
You may have noticed that previous episodes of Game of Thrones have run somewhere between 50 and 55 minutes in length each on average. HBO has the entire 60-minute block to work with, but the episodes have come up at least five minutes short with the extra time filled out by promotions for other HBO series and specials.
Starting with Game of Thrones: Season 3, showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss have added between four and five extra minutes on to each episode per EW. Accumulate those extra minutes over a course of the third season and its the equivalent of getting a bonus 11th episode. The only difference is the extra episode has been chopped up and split amongst the rest.
The third season is based off roughly the first half of the Storm of Swords book that clocks in at 973 pages. There’s more than enough material in even half the book to work with, so those extra minutes are certainly warranted and appreciated.
Thanks to Ommegang brewery, you will be able to sit down and watch the Game of Thrones: Season 3 premiere on March 31 with a botth of Iron Throne Blonde Ale. This GoT-themed beer gets its name from the Lannister’s sitting on the Iron Throne, and will be complimented by a second offering this fall and two more beers for each additional season. Iron Throne Blonde Ale will be available on draft and in 750ml bottles for $8.50 a pop.
HBO is no stranger to licensing a property for a liquid refreshment. You can go out and buy a blood orange flavored soda under the guise of Tru Blood right now.
Source: EW
