Extras:
• Audio Commentaries (Discs 1-5): Seven commentaries are available, each one worth listening to. Still, it's author George RR Martin's solo track that will be of greatest interest to most fans. "Winter is Coming" with executive producers/writers David Benioff & DB Weiss; "The Kingsroad" with Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Mark Addy (Robert Baratheon) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister); "Lord Snow" with Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) and Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark); "Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things" with writer Bryan Cogman and Kit Harington (Jon Snow); "A Golden Crown" with director Daniel Minahan, Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) and Harry Lloyd (Viserys Targaryen); "The Pointy End" with co-executive producer/author George RR Martin; and "Fire and Blood" with Benioff, Weiss and director Alan Taylor. The only relative disappointment is that Sean Bean is MIA, although with the lineup of talent HBO has arranged, his absence doesn't sting too badly.
• In-Episode Guides (Discs 1-5, HD): Each episode offers an interactive guide that provides on-screen pop-up facts about the characters, locations, and histories featured in Game of Thrones. It isn't anything special... at least upon first glance. Click on the "Complete Guide" button and dig a little deeper, though, and you'll pause the episode you're viewing and gain access to "The Complete Guide to Westeros" and a wealth of magnificently produced content. What awaits? Read on...
• The Complete Guide to Westeros (Discs 1-5, HD): The "Complete Guide," also accessible from the disc's main menu, includes interactive maps, family histories and, most importantly, twenty-four mini-featurettes (well over an hour's worth, all presented in HD) that explore the mythologies, lore, religious beliefs, warring factions, lands, ancestors and monumental events alluded to, referenced in or more fully examined by the series itself. The striking artwork and extensive information in each one are worth the price of admission alone; the fact that the videos are narrated by various members of the cast (narrating in character no less) is just icing on an already irresistible cake.
• Character Profiles (Disc 1, HD, 31 minutes): Profiles of fifteen characters -- 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 -- as described by the actors themselves.
• Anatomy of an Episode: A Golden Crown (Disc 3, HD, 61 minutes): Thrones' sixth episode, "A Golden Crown," boasts a Maximum Movie Mode-esque Picture-in-Picture track, complete with cast and crew interviews , behind-the-scene footage and plenty more. An "Anatomy" of each episode would have been a godsend, of course, but with so many other extras on tap, I'm not complaining.
• Making Game of Thrones (Disc 5, HD, 30 minutes): Join Martin, the cast and key members of the crew, yet again, for this comprehensive Season One documentary. Chances are you'll be running out of burning questions by the time you reach Disc Five, but that doesn't make this little must-watch gem any less captivating.
• From the Book to the Screen (Disc 5, HD, 5 minutes): Martin and executive producers David Benioff and DB Weiss discuss the challenges of adapting the original text. Unfortunately, much of this short EPK has been culled from the "Making Game of Thrones" documentary, meaning it's one of the few wastes of time in the set.
• The Night's Watch (Disc 5, HD, 8 minutes): Meet the soldiers of the Night's Watch, tour the Wall, and learn about the Wild from Martin and the cast and crew.
• Creating the Show Open (Disc 5, HD, 5 minutes): An overview of the development and creation of the series' Emmy-winning title sequence.
• Creating the Dothraki Language (Disc 5, HD, 5 minutes): A language is born.
• Hidden Dragon Eggs: Search for hidden dragon egg icons, all of which lead to more exclusive content.
