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Netflix nearly doubled its Emmy nominations from last year, and is soaring over everyone but HBO

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stranger things

Streaming services are growing fast. As Netflix and Hulu make more original shows, their recognition come awards season grows, too. And it's growing at a rapid rate. 

Netflix nearly doubled its Emmy nominations in 2017, with 91 compared to 2016's 54. Big competitors for Netflix in 2017 include "The Crown,""Master of None," and "Stranger Things."

Netflix's Emmy success this year is surely partly linked to its gargantuan budget: $6 billion for content in 2017, for reference. That compares to Amazon's estimated 2017 budget of $4.5 billion (according to JPMorgan), and HBO's budget of a "couple billion"— likely just above $2 billion.

But Netflix isn't the only streaming service on the rise.

Hulu, which had just 2 Emmy nominations last year, had a much better turnout with 18 nominations this year thanks to the critical darling "The Handmaid's Tale."

Even without "Game of Thrones" in the running this year, HBO got more nominations than last year from hits like "Westworld,""Big Little Lies," and "The Night Of." With streaming and cable shows coming up, the basic networks which once dominated are getting less shows nominated at the Emmys. But in 2017, NBC got a major boost from the critical and fan hit "This Is Us," with 11 nominations. 

Check out this graph to see how all the networks compare when it comes to Emmy nominations:

emmy nominations by network

SEE ALSO: Here are the biggest Emmy snubs of 2017 — from Justin Theroux to Winona Ryder

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NOW WATCH: Everything we know so far about season 7 of 'Game of Thrones'


The best TV show of every year since 2000, according to critics

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Mad Men

Each year in television, one show stands out from the rest as the most critically acclaimed program of the year.

Since the turn of the new century, review aggregator Metacritic has compiled an annual list of the year's most well-received TV show seasons by assigning scores based on their composite critical reception.

We selected the top show from each year starting with 2000 (and including the best program of 2017 so far). The resulting list includes repeated appearances from contemporary classics like "Breaking Bad,""The Wire," and "Mad Men" for their most notable seasons.

Check out the best TV show of every year since 2000, according to critics:

SEE ALSO: The 20 best new TV shows ranked, according to critics

2000: "The Sopranos" (Season 2)

Critic score: 97/100

User score: 9.3/10

What critics said: "It's difficult to single out any particular aspect of the show: It's just plain brilliant."— Variety



2001: "The Office: UK" (Season 1)

Critic score: 98/100

User score: 8.6/10

What critics said: "It takes a little while to get into it (episode two clinched it for me), but once you get used to the accents and dry humor, you're hooked."— The Chicago Sun-Times



2002: "The Office: UK" (Season 2)

Critic score: 93/100

User score: 8.9/10

What critics said: "The pleasure to be taken from 'Office' isn't merely that of laughter — it's the pleasure of watching a piece of entertainment so perfectly made and so delicately acted."— Entertainment Weekly



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A woman will play 'Doctor Who' for the first time ever

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jodi whittaker Thirteenth Doctor who bbc

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Jodie Whittaker will be the first woman to play the title role on "Doctor Who."
  • The casting decision was announced on Sunday, July 16.
  • Whittaker previously starred on BBC America and ITV drama's "Broadchurch."
  • "Doctor Who" has been under pressure to choose a woman for years.


Jodie Whittaker will step into the title role on "Doctor Who" on Season 11, BBC America announced on Sunday.

Whittaker is replacing the departing Peter Capaldi as the show's 13th Doctor and will be the first woman to play the iconic role.

"I'm beyond excited to begin this epic journey — with Chris and with every Whovian on this planet," Whittaker said ina a statement to press. "It's more than an honor to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can't wait."

Fans will remember Whittaker from her critically-acclaimed performance as Beth on the BBC America and ITV drama "Broadchurch." She has also appeared on "Black Mirror," in addition to many roles on other British TV hits.

Capaldi gave Whittaker his thumbs up: "Anyone who has seen Jodie Whittaker's work will know that she is a wonderful actress of great individuality and charm. She has above all the huge heart to play this most special part. She's going to be a fantastic Doctor," he said in a statement.

After three seasons, Capaldi will exit the show during its annual Christmas episode. If the drama sticks with tradition, fans will see Whittaker for at least a moment on the episode as Capaldi's Doctor transitions into his new body.

"Doctor Who" has been under pressure to choose a woman for years. The show made a similar move to choose an older actor for the role in Capaldi, which hearkens back to the series' roots. While interest in Capaldi resulted in big ratings for the show at first, but they then began to fall.

Since the show was revived in 2005, it had enjoyed big ratings with younger men in the role – Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, and Matt Smith – before going with 59-year-old Capaldi on its eighth season. It remains to be seen if choosing Whittaker can bring viewers back to the series.

Watch the video announcement of Whittaker below:

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Here's the preview for next week's episode of 'Game of Thrones'

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Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones season seven

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones."

"Game of Thrones" season seven is off to an incredible start with dozens of deaths in the first minutes of the premiere episode and tons of new details for fans to pore over.

But HBO is already hyping everyone up for episode two (including with a peek at a direwolf we think is Nymeria!). Daenerys is going to be advised to attack King's Landing immediately, while Jon Snow will be warned that Targaryens cannot be trusted.

The official synopsis is: "Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) receives an unexpected visitor. Jon (Kit Harington) faces a revolt. Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) plans the conquest of Westeros."

Watch the preview below:

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This fan favorite ‘Game of Thrones’ character just had another scene-stealing moment

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Lyanna Mormont Game of Thrones season seven episode one

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Jon Snow wants men and women to fight against the White Walkers.
  • Some of the lords are appalled by his request.
  • Lyanna Mormont gives an empowering speech about why women should fight.
  • "Game of Thrones" fans were loving it.

 Warning: Spoilers for "Game of Thrones" season seven

"Game of Thrones" returned for its seventh season July 16, and with it, there was another scene-stealing scene by a fan favorite.

Lyanna Mormont (Bella Ramsey) stands up and gives an empowering speech when men start questioning Jon Snow's (Kit Harington) wish to have both men and women train to fight against the Night King and the White Walker army. 

Everyone age 10 to 16 we’ll drill daily with spears, pikes, bow and arrow,” said Jon as the King in the North. 

Lord Glover (Tim McInnerny) responds, "It's about time we taught these boys of summer how to fight.” 

Jon isn't having it with those sexist and ignorant concerns and explains that they need everyone to defend the north from the oncoming danger.

“Not just the boys," he says. "We can’t defend the North if only half the population is fighting.” 

Lord Glover is shocked by Jon's request and says, “You expect me to put a spear in my granddaughter's hand?” 

lyanna mormont game of thrones season 7

At this, Lyanna stands up and delivers a glorious speech about women fighting with the men.

"I don't plan on knitting by the fire while men fight for me," Lyanna says. "I might be small, Lord Glover, and I might be a girl. But I am every bit as much a Northerner as you."

As Lord Glover struggles to explain his reasoning, Lyanna continues.

"And I don't need your permission to defend the North," she says. "We will begin training every man, woman, boy and girl on Bear Island."

Viewers were ecstatic by Lyanna's response.

 

 

It's safe to say to "Game of Thrones" fans are more than excited to see how Lyanna works with Jon to fight the White Walkers. She knows how to lead a small but fierce army, and we are here for it. 

Join the conversation about this story »

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6 details you might have missed in the 'Game of Thrones' season 7 premiere episode

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Ed Sheeran and Arya Stark Game of Thrones

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Sunday's episode of "Game of Thrones" season seven, including speculation of future events.

"Game of Thrones" season seven kicked off with an epic cold-open that surely had fans fist-pumping around the world. Between Arya's reverse-Red Wedding murders, Daenerys' arrival to Dragonstone, and more Tormund/Brienne eyebrow-raising, there were several significant moments you may not have caught.

Let's dive into the most important details you might have missed.

The Valyrian steel blade used in Bran's assassination attempt in season one cropped up in one of Sam's stolen Citadel books.

Sam stole several books from the Citadel library's restricted section, and while he was flipping through the pages we got a peek at a drawing of a very important weapon.

The dagger is often referred to as the "catspaw blade"— a reference to the would-be killer (or catspaw) who tried to kill Bran in season one. We knew the blade was made from Valyrian steel and had a hilt made of "dragonbone," but its origins have been a big mystery in the books and the show.

Based on Sam's book, it looks like we now know the blade is an ancient Targaryen weapon.



So who has the blade in the show now?

In the books, Littlefinger took the blade from Ned Stark when he betrayed him. But in the show, it's a bit of a mystery — one that could involve Arya Stark. Odds are very high that Littlefinger has the blade on the show, too, but we can't be sure.



Ed Sheeran's cameo featured more than just a lovely song — the ballad had a huge significance in the book series.

In the books, Tyrion keeps his lover Shae in a house in King's Landing (not inside the Red Keep as Sansa's handmaid). This meant Tyrion would travel from the keep to her manse. A singer named Symon Silver Tongue befriended Shae and tried to blackmail Tyrion into helping him sing at the royal wedding — or else he'd sing a song about Tyrion and Shae for all the world to hear.

Here are the song's lyrics, written about Tyrion and Shae:

He rode through the streets of the city,
Down from his hill on high,
O'er the wynds and the steps and the cobbles,
He rode to a woman's sigh.

For she was his secret treasure,
She was his shame and bliss.
And a chain and a keep are nothing,
Compared to a woman's kiss.

For hands of gold are always cold,
But a woman's hands are warm.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 'Game of Thrones' next episode's preview teased a beloved character

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arya game of thrones season seven premiere hbo

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season seven, including speculation of future events.

Sunday's premiere episode of "Game of Thrones" season seven started with a vicious, victorious scene for Arya Stark that left fans cheering. But it was the preview of what's to come for Arya on next week's episode that really sent fans into a tizzy.

In the preview for season seven, episode two, Arya appears to be confronted by a wolf that many fans are hoping is her former direwolf, Nymeria. And they lost their minds:

Fans haven't seen Arya with her direwolf since season one when Arya forced Nymeria to run away because she feared for her direwolf's life after she attacked Prince Joffrey. It was a heartbreaking scene that didn't bode well for the Starks or Arya on their way to King's Landing.

Arya Stark and Nymeria direwolf Game of Thrones season one

nymeria game of thrones

Though that's the last we saw of the direwolf on the show (so far), in the books, it appears as though Arya has "wolf dreams" where she is able to warg into Nymeria's body, just like what her brother Bran could do with his direwolf Summer. It's implied from those dreams, as well as in tales across Westeros, that a ravenous wolf pack is terrorizing the Riverlands, helmed by a great huge she-wolf — we assume this to be Nymeria.

Nymeria direwolf Game of Thrones season one

Obviously, fans are hoping Nymeria on next week's episode will also have a badass wolf pack. And they have reason to be excited. Time Magazine hinted at the presence of multiple wolves on the "Game of Thrones" season seven set.

"During my visit, wolves described in the script as 'skinny and mangy' showed up to the shoot looking fluffy and lustrous," Time reporter Daniel D'Addario wrote in a feature.

nymeria

Seeing Nymeria would mean a lot to direwolf fans. The only other living direwolf on the show is Ghost — Jon Snow's albino companion — after Bran's direwolf, Summer, was killed by wights at the end of season six.

Ghost

And while we do hope to see more of Ghost on season seven, the prospect of having Arya and Nymeria reunite is way, way cooler.

You can watch the preview for next week's episode here.

Join the conversation about this story »

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Everyone's favorite 'Game of Thrones' potential romance just got more flirtatious

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Tormund and Brienne

The INSIDER Summary:

  • "Game of Thrones" put Brienne and Tormund together again on Sunday's season seven premiere.
  • Brienne is not interested.
  • Fans of the series are. 


"Game of Thrones" gave fans exactly what they wanted in regard to one of the best non-couples during the season seven premiere of the HBO show Sunday.

While at Winterfell, Brienne is training Podrick, her squire, in the art of sword-fighting. She continuously bests him, but she becomes distracted by Tormund Giantsbane's stares and Podrick lands a hit on her shoulder. This brings Brienne back to her senses, and she knocks Podrick to the ground. 

"You're a lucky man," Tormund says, giving Brienne a look of admiration. 

She looks annoyed and disgusted, then finishes the training session for the afternoon.

brienne game of thrones season 7The non-existent relationship between Brienne and Tormund became one of the show's best couples — even though they aren't actually a thing — the first moment Tormund looked at Brienne. 

The two of them met back on season six, episode four. Tormund gives her an eye back at Castle Black and then again over a slab of meat during a meal. These looks launched a thousand ships — a term meaning fans hope that the relationship would come to fruition.

This recent interaction led to the same reaction. 

 

 

 

 Brienne doesn't seem at all interested in Tormund, but fans are waiting and wishing for these two to get together. 

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NOW WATCH: We did a blind taste test of popular french fries — the winner was clear


All the biggest moments from the 'Game of Thrones' season 7 premiere

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Game of Thrones season 7Warning: Huge (very huge) spoilers for "Game of Thrones" season seven. If you aren't caught up on the series, read at your own risk. 

In the long-awaited premiere of season seven of "Game of Thrones," we got to revisit most of our beloved characters after the longest break we've ever had from the series. 

And it was definitely satisfying, and moved the story forward in a way that makes us even more excited about season seven than we were before the premiere. 

Here's our recap of the the season 7 premiere of "Game of Thrones:"

SEE ALSO: The ratings for HBO's 'Game of Thrones' have exploded over its 6 seasons — these charts show how much

Winter came for House Frey.

Arya poisoned the Freys! Basically all of them, except the women. 

Arya slitting Walder Frey's throat (after baking his sons into pie) wasn't the end. Most of us assumed she fled the Twins immediately after the murders to pursue other big names on her infamous list. But turns out, she didn't. 

At first, it seemed like Walder Frey's speech was a flashback of the Red Wedding, or something similar. But as he continued talking in detail of how he was responsible for murdering the Starks, it got more obvious what was happening. Especially when Arya (as Walder Frey) said, "leave one wolf alive and the sheep are never safe."

And Arya gave a subtle but powerful smirk as she exited the hall at the Twins. 



Jaime's trust of Cersei is gone, or close to it.

After Cersei killed a huge chunk of the cast of the series in the season six finale, Jaime seems to question her power, even though she's now the Queen of Westeros. With House Frey gone and House Bolton gone, the Lannisters have no remaining allies in Westeros. 

Jaime also seems pretty upset at the fact that Cersei's decisions led their only remaining child, Tommen, to kill himself. But Cersei says that his suicide was a betrayal. 

Cersei says she has a plan, and right then Euron Greyjoy comes into King's Landing with his Iron Fleet. But Cersei denies his proposal of marriage, and Euron leaves the Red Keep, saying that he will come back with a gift that might change her mind. 

Surrounded by enemies, refusing Euron's proposal seems like a stupid move, but he still seems determined to help her. 

Cersei also somehow now knows that her brother Tyrion is alive and well, and serving as hand of the queen to Daenerys Stormborn. Perhaps Qyburn is serving her well as master of spies and getting her reliable info from across the Narrow Sea. Cersei also seems to know House Frey has been eradicated, but obviously has no idea it's coming for her as she speaks. 



In the North, Littlefinger is being creepy, as always. And Sansa says Jon needs to be smarter than Robb and Ned.

During Jon Snow's speech at Winterfell, Sansa sparred with him over his decision to leave House's Karstark and Umber to their rightful families. They betrayed the Starks and fought for Ramsay, and Sansa suggested that their houses be given to families who remained loyal to the Starks.

Jon was upset that Sansa challenged his authority in front of so many people. And after making some suspicious faces during Jon's speech, Littlefinger asked Sansa if she was happy, and what she needed to be happy. 

She didn't really give an answer, and then Brienne of Tarth came up to interrupt them. Brienne definitely knows that Littlefinger is a creep. Sansa tod Brienne that he's still in Winterfell because he saved them from Ramsay and his army, which is true. They need the Knights of the Vale. But why is Littlefinger always so creepy? Maybe we'll never know. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These 2 characters met on 'Game of Thrones' — and fans were caught off guard

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sam jump game of thrones season 7 jorah

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Sam is at the Citadel learning to become a maester.
  • He finds a surprise character as he is making his rounds.
  • Fans were caught off guard. 

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season seven.

HBO's "Game of Thrones" just found a way to connect two characters in a surprising way, shocking fans everywhere.

Samwell Tarly wound up at the Citadel at the end of season six in the hopes of becoming a maester for Castle Black. Much of the first episode of season seven followed Sam on his regular duties — and disgusting responsibilities — while he tries to train. But towards the end of the episode, Sam was confronted with a surprise character.

As he walks down a hall collecting pans, a hand shoots out and surprises him. The arm is covered in festering wounds and torn apart flesh. It's none other than Jorah Mormont suffering from the fatal greyscale. 

jorah greyscale game of thrones

"Has she come yet?" he asks. 

"Who?" asks a scared and confused Sam.

"The dragon queen," Jorah responds. "Daenerys Stormborn." 

"I haven't heard anything," Sam stammers. 

He then closes the flap and leaves Jorah back in the dark. 

Fans were surprised by this turn of events.

 

 

 

The last we saw of Jorah, Daenerys had sent him away to try and find a cure for his greyscale. So, it only makes sense that he wound up at Oldtown.

Shireen Baratheon is one of the only known survivors of the disease, and as her father, Stannis, told her, he looked for cures from every healer and maester he could after she contracted the disease as an infant. They miraculously saved her life. 

The Citadel is filled with maesters and maesters-in-training, so if there is anyone who knows how to cure Jorah of his fatal disease, it is there. Will it be Sam? Who knows? But he may be able to help. 

Join the conversation about this story »

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The 5 most talked-about moments from the 'Game of Thrones' season 7 premiere

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Arya surprised  Game of Thrones season seven first trailer

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Sunday's season seven premiere episode of "Game of Thrones,""Dragonstone."

This week's highly-anticipated return of HBO's "Game of Thrones" didn't disappoint.

On "Dragonstone," Jon Snow flexed his royal muscle to organize the defense of the North. Meanwhile, Cersei searched for allies to even the odds. In Oldtown, Samwell discovered crucial information while serving at the Citadel. And after a journey that rivals that of Odysseus, Daenerys finally arrived back home.

But which moments had fans talking the most?

Social-media monitoring platform Brandwatch found more than 1.1 million "Thrones"-related mentions on Twitter during the one-hour episode and identified the scenes when conversation peaked.

Here are the five most talked-about moments from the latest "Game of Thrones" episode:

5. Arya has the nerve to tell Lannister soldiers that she's going to kill the queen.

9:45 p.m. ET – Around 1,600 tweets.



4. The Hound sees visions of the Wall in the fire.

9:51 p.m. ET – Around 1,700 tweets



3. Lyanna Mormont, the young Lady of Bear Island, sets the men straight on girls fighting for the North.

9:14 p.m. ET – Nearly 1,900 tweets

Lyanna Mormont, played by Bella Ramsey, stood up and gave an empowering speech when men start questioning Jon Snow's wish to have both men and women train to fight against the Night King and the White Walker army. People loved it.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's everyone on Arya Stark's kill list, and why

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Game of Thrones season 7

Arya Stark has transformed a lot over the course of six seasons of "Game of Thrones." At the beginning of the HBO series, she's a spunky high-born girl who wants to learn how to fight with a sword instead of how to make a dress. But some time after witnessing her father's execution, Arya begins a list of the people she wants to kill that she repeats to herself every night.

We've known for a while that Arya would become a full-blown assassin one day, and now we're here.

She's already offed some people on her list, and some have been offed for her (something she's not very enthusiastic about). But now she's back in Westeros, reminding enemies of the Stark name who she is, while she slowly kills them. Some one at a time, and some dozens at a time in one cold open. Who will be next?

Here's everyone on Arya's kill list, who's left, and why:

SEE ALSO: All the 'Game of Thrones' deaths, ranked from least tragic to most tragic

Cersei Lannister

Why: She falsely accused Arya's father, Ned Stark, of treason and had him arrested, which led to his execution on King Joffrey's orders.

Status: Alive, and sitting on the Iron Throne. And drinking lots of wine while standing on a giant map of Westeros. She has Zombie Gregor Clegane and her brother Jaime to protect her, but from what we saw in the season seven premiere, Jaime might not be on her side for long. In the season seven premiere, Arya says that she's headed to King's Landing to kill Cersei, and at this point we totally believe she can pull it off. 



Ilyn Payne

Why: For executing Ned Stark on Joffrey's orders. 

Status: Alive. We haven't seen him in a long time. But he's not as important others on the list who are still walking around Westeros with beating hearts. 

 



Melisandre

Why: For taking Gendry away from the Brotherhood Without Banners. 

Status: Alive and really, really old, and exiled from Winterfell by Jon Snow. She's headed south, and the last time we saw Arya, she was in the Riverlands. So it's pretty likely that they'll cross paths. Maybe Arya will forgive her since she brought Jon Snow back to life. But probably not. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

All 6 times musicians sneakily appeared on 'Game of Thrones'

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Ed Sheeran Game of Thrones

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones."

The popularity of HBO's "Game of Thrones" extends to celebrities and notable figures like President Obama, so it should come as no surprise that some famous people have snuck in for cameos.

Though Ed Sheeran's appearance on the season seven premiere was anything but subtle (though the song he sang did have a hidden meaning), other musical cameos might have gone unnoticed by the average viewer.

Take a look at the six cameos from bands or musicians you might have missed:

Season seven kicked off with an epic episode featuring Ed Sheeran as a Lannister soldier.

Sheeran's character was introduced while he was singing a song to a group of fellow Lannister soldiers. And not just any song, but a ballad straight from George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire."

In the books, a singer named Symon Silver Tongue tried to blackmail Tyrion Lannister by writing a ballad about his secret affair with Shae. 

Here are the song lyrics, written about Tyrion and Shae:

He rode through the streets of the city,
Down from his hill on high,
O'er the wynds and the steps and the cobbles,
He rode to a woman's sigh.

For she was his secret treasure,
She was his shame and bliss.
And a chain and a keep are nothing,
Compared to a woman's kiss

For hands of gold are always cold
But a woman's hands are warm

Read more about the hidden meaning behind this song here.



The Hardhome massacre was a perfect cameo opportunity for Mastodon.

American metal band Mastadon suited up for the epic massacre on season five's "Hardhome." The three band mates all played wildlings who were slaughtered by White Walkers and wights, and then were re-animated into wights themselves. 

The band had a funny anecdote about being in the break tent with a man decked out in White Walker prosthetics. 

"He's saying, 'Can ya please, can someone please get me a straw for my hot cocoa? I'd like to drink it please!'" band member Brann Dailor told the Wall Street Journal. "And he's just so brutal, and he looks so scary and epic, and he's just a dude who wants some hot cocoa."

 



A member of Coldplay was present for the Red Wedding.

Coldplay drummer Will Champion played, well, a drummer on season three's gut-wrenching episode "Rains of Castamere." His role was that of a musician-turned-traitor — the band at the Red Wedding swapped instruments for crossbows and helped murder the Starks. 

That wasn't the last time Coldplay was involved with "Game of Thrones." In celebration of Red Nose Day, Coldplay teamed up with the cast to create a mock musical of the series.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The new Doctor Who is a woman – and a lot of fans aren't happy about it

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Doctor who

The INSIDER Summary:

  • BBC has announced that a woman will be playing the title role on "Doctor Who" for the first time ever. 
  • Jodie Whitaker will take up the mantle from Peter Capaldi when the Christmas special airs this December. 
  • The reactions from fans have been mixed.
  • A lot of fans feel like the Doctor should always be a man, and will be boycotting the show.

For the first time in its 54-year run, Doctor Who's titular character will be played by a woman.

The much-buzzed about announcement was made this past Sunday after the Wimbledon's men's finals. In a dramatic video, BBC revealed the 13th Doctor as Jodie Whittaker, well-known for her role with costar and former Doctor David Tennant on "Broadchurch," as well as the popular sci-fi mystery show "Black Mirror."

Although it has been confirmed by Whovian lore for some time now that the time-traveling alien known as The Doctor can regenerate into any form, regardless of race, gender, or even species (can you imagine a Dalek Doctor?), the Doctor has always been a white man since the show premiered in 1963. The announcement of the historic gender change has sent a shockwave through the fan community, and reactions are mixed, to say the least. Many are furious that the tradition of the show has shifted course and equate the change to a "liberal agenda."

 

 

  Fans are claiming that they will boycott the show, and others vow to never watch again.

 

 Others are defending the casting choice:

 

 But Whittaker wants to reassure fans of her respect for the iconic nature of the role:

"I want to tell the fans not to be scared by my gender,"Whittaker told the BBC in her first interview post-announcement. "Because this is a really exciting time, and Doctor Who represents everything that’s exciting about change. The fans have lived through so many changes, and this is only a new, different one, not a fearful one."

She already has blessings from current and former Doctor Who actors:

 

 

Although some fans are adverse to change, Doctor Who has been evolving sociopolitically for several seasons now. On the sixth season, the show depicted its first inter-species lesbian romantic relationship. And this past season, the new companion, Bill, is a lesbian character with romantic interests and dating woes.

The fandom has been loudly buzzing with speculation about a female star ever since The Doctor's nemesis, the Master, regenerated on the eighth season into a quirky, sarcastic woman nicknamed Missy.

So, the signs were there for a female Doctor. It was only a matter of time. The show is also getting a new showrunner, Chris Chibnall ("Broadchurch"), who will be replacing Steven Moffat next season. 

Join the conversation about this story »

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A hidden piece of the 'Game of Thrones' season 7 premiere script reveals how the White Walkers could invade Westeros

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The Hound Sandor Clegane Game of Thrones season seven

Warning: Spoilers ahead for HBO's "Game of Thrones," including speculation of future events.

One of the best sequences on Sunday's "Game of Thrones" season seven premiere was an extended scene featuring Sandor "The Hound" Clegane, Thoros of Myr, and Beric Dondarrion.

The slow-paced scene had Sandor confronting his past in more ways than one while also forcing him to look (literally) at the future.

Thoros asked Sandor to look into the flames of a fire to see a vision from the Lord of Light. To our surprise, Sandor did see something in the flames: the Wall.

"It's where the Wall meets the sea," Sandor said. "There's a castle there."

This is, of course, Eastwatch by the Sea, one of the Night's Watch castles and the same one Jon Snow asked Tormund to go defend with the Wildlings.

But thanks to HBO's official "Game of Thrones" season seven premiere recap, we have an additional piece of important dialogue from Sandor's fire-reading. Here's a what the "Game of Thrones" website wrote in its synopsis of the episode:

The Hound dialogue Game of Thrones season seven premiere

The HBO transcription of the scene has an added line of dialogue that was most likely cut from the final edit of the episode: "The waves are frozen."

This could be huge. Sandor specifically says he sees Eastwatch by the Sea, and we know the Night King was last seen at Hardhome, just a short distance from Eastwatch. Here's a map of that area:

Game of Thrones Eastwatch Hardhome Map

We know the Wall is imbued with magic that prevents White Walkers from passing. Fan theories suggest that Bran might ruin that soon, but in the meantime, you might have been wondering how the Night King's army could cross into Westeros.

Frozen waves could do the trick.

If the ocean near Eastwatch by the Sea freezes, then technically the Night King and his army could just walk around the far border of the Wall, right?

Night King close up hardhome Game of Thrones Helen Sloan HBO

We're curious as to why the line about frozen waves was cut from the show but remains on HBO's site. Will we get hints of the Night King's movement again in the future? Were the showrunners perhaps saving that dramatic visual for a battle later on in the season?

Another mystery from Sandor's fire-vision is the mountain he referenced.

"There's a mountain — looks like an arrowhead," he said. "The dead are marching past. Thousands of them."

So far on the show, we haven't seen a mountain that looks like an arrowhead, but this is another visual cue fans should look out for. Some think the mountain he saw was "The Mountain," the nickname of Gregor Clegane. Perhaps this is one more tie-in to the "Cleganebowl" theory, though we believe it was a reference to the geographical landmark and not Sandor's undead brother.

For more moments you might have missed, read our breakdown of six important details from the season seven premiere.

Episode two, "Stormborn," premieres Sunday at 9 p.m.

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A Real Housewife who's back on the show after leaving 4 years ago says she was shocked by how nasty the cast feuds had gotten

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lydia mclauglin real housewives of orange country bravo.JPG

Lydia McLaughlin says that the time was right for her to return to Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Orange County."

"It was actually really hard to decide to leave," McLaughlin told INSIDER of quitting the show after just one season in 2013. "I think a lot of people thought I was crazy. One of the producers actually said, 'It’s lightning in a bottle and it doesn’t happen twice,' because I told them maybe I’ll just take a break. I just felt like my kids were really young and I wanted to have another kid close in age to them. And so it was the right decision for my family, but it was hard."

Four years later, McLaughlin and her husband, Doug, have added on to her family with a third son and they've created a new high-end men's magazine called "Nobleman." With that, McLaughlin decided to end her break and continue her story on the 12th season of Bravo's longest-running "Real Housewives" show.

"I think that’s a really interesting kind of story to follow, the two of us really going out, and taking a risk, and starting a magazine, working together, just the two of us to fulfill our dreams," the 36-year-old said.

"And then obviously having the new baby being two years old, I felt like he was old enough where he literally isn’t attached to me nursing anymore, so I can be more involved and kind of have something on my own," she continued. "Those six months of taping 'Real Housewives' were great, it was much better even than last time."real housewives of orange county bravo.JPG

After the first time around, McLaughlin said she learned some important lessons about trust that she brought with her to this season.

"Last time, I was really nervous about editing or sharing something, for example, my faith is really important to me and sacred in my life, and I was nervous a lot times when I was filming and talking about that," she said. "I was scared about the way it would be portrayed or how it might be edited. And this time around, I was just more free with it. I think if you do a reality show, you really have to trust the production and trust that your story will get told."

Although she was more prepared for the rigors of production, McLaughlin was somewhat blindsided by the level of feuding between her cast mates. She hasn't caught up on the show after she left – referring to seeing what was happening on the show and with her cast mates without her as "bittersweet," so she didn't have an accurate idea of where the women's relationships stood.

"I hadn’t watched it, so I was assuming that they don’t like each other right now, but they just need to talk and it’ll be fine," the self-titled "Friendship Whisperer" told us.

"And then I quickly realized it’s not something that talking is necessarily going to help, it might make it worse. These ladies have really hurt each other and there’s a lot of pain there, so maybe they’re not ready to move on. You know, a cup of coffee and a lunch date isn’t going to help. So I kind of had to reevaluate my plan and try to figure out what the best thing is for everybody."

"The Real Housewives of Orange County" returns Monday at 9 p.m. on Bravo.

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Why the teaser for next week's 'Game of Thrones' episode may not have shown the character everyone thinks it did

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Arya Stark Game of Thrones season seven episode two teaser

Warning: Spoilers ahead for future episodes of "Game of Thrones" season seven.

"Game of Thrones" fans (rightfully) freaked out when the teaser for season seven, episode two — "Stormborn"— appeared to show Arya Stark coming face to face with a wolf.

Since Arya's reunion with her direwolf Nymeria is one of fans' most-anticipated reunions in the series, it was logical to assume that the wolf we saw in the preview for next week's episode was Nymeria.

But I really don't think it is. Now, that's not to say I don't think Nymeria will appear this season (or even on the next episode), it's just that I don't think the wolf we saw was a direwolf at all. Instead, it looks to me like one of Nymeria's wolf pack.

Wolf Nymeria Game of Thrones teaser season seven episode 2

This tweet from @OshaWildling is what made me rethink our previous Nymeria hypothesis:

The wolf in the preview looks far too small to be a full-grown direwolf, especially when compared to her brothers and sisters.

Take a look at Robb's direwolf, Grey Wind, on season two:

Grey Wind Robb Stark Game of Thrones season two

Grey Wind had grown so large that he came to Robb's waist by season two. So you're telling me that by season seven, when even more years have passed, that Nymeria looks pretty much like a regular ferocious wolf?

Then there's Ghost, Jon Snow's direwolf who was last seen on season six. He's also enormous, and clearly larger than the grey wolf seen in the "Stormborn" preview.

Game of thrones season 6 home jon snow ghost davos

True, Nymeria has presumably been out in the wild and fending for herself, which could explain the smaller stature, but the difference is too large for me to completely buy that argument.

Then there's the coloring of the wolf's fur. The last time we saw Nymeria, she was mostly white with grey markings around the top of her heard.

Arya Stark and Nymeria direwolf Game of Thrones season one

I know what you're thinking — they probably just got a new wolf to play the role of Nymeria, right? It has been ages, after all. 

This is true, but I would counter by saying that the wolves are brought to life by real animals and CGI. The show has had some inconsistencies, but they would likely take the time to match Nymeria's coloring and overall appearance. Plus I don't believe HBO would want to show Nymeria in a preview when they surely know how hyped everyone will be when she finally reappears.

I do think the wolf seen in the "Stormborn" preview is likely a part of Nymeria's wolf pack. In the books, Arya has "wolf dreams" where she appears to warg into Nymeria and see from her point-of-view. We also hear secondhand rumors of a wolf pack ravaging the Riverlands (which is where Arya is near in the season seven premiere).

Then there were the news reports that hinted at a "beautiful wolf scene" and multiple wolves being on set for season seven.

So everything is adding up for the Nymeria and Arya reunion, and it will likely happen as soon as episode two, but just know that we probably haven't seen the grown-up Nymeria yet.

SEE ALSO: 'Game of Thrones' season 7 kicked off with a vicious opening scene that left fans cheering

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The excellent new video game show on Netflix only exists because of a chance encounter

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The new Netflix show "Castlevania" is an unexpected hit. It's an animated show based on a game franchise that was most popular nearly 30 years ago. Moreover, it's a show based on a video game — and history is rife with examples of video games being horrifically adapted for TV and film.

Yet, against all odds, "Castlevania" is a surprisingly engaging, interesting, funny show.  It's got a sympathetic villain in Dracula, and a complex world in Wallachia. The art style is even pretty good!

Castlevania (Netflix)

All of this begs one question, of course: How in the world did Netflix manage to produce a good show based on a video game? 

The show's Showrunner, Adi Shankar, has a lot of answers to that question. The show's creators are fans of the game series, he says, and this show was made "outside the system, so the rules weren't the same." 

That stuff helped make the show as good as it is, no doubt, but the actual meeting that spiraled into the show that is now "Castlevania" was far less exciting. Here's Shankar's description, from an interview late last week with Business Insider:

"I was made aware that ["Castlevania"] was even a possibility in a chance encounter. I had a meeting about something else. I was actually trying to help a couple friends out, internationally, to get them a job, and I wanted to vouch for them. And [the people I was meeting with] were like, 'Oh yeah we saw your Punisher film!' And I was like, 'Oh cool.' And I got made aware then that ["Castlevania"] was even possible. I wasn't even thinking Netflix at that point in time because I didn't really know where I stood. I didn't know what was possible."

And just like that, through a chance encounter, the first good video game adaptation in years was born.

Castlevania (Netflix)

If the meeting sounds uninteresting and common, that's because it is. Shankar summarized the meeting by telling us, "The story is just so not interesting because it's not an interesting story. I was like 'yeah,' and then other people were like 'yeah,' and then it just kinda happened." Not so exciting.

The result, of course, is something much more interesting — a nuanced, adult story based on a classic video game franchise.

And that result is the product of a process Shankar described as, "No handcuffs at all." Shankar and his team, including acclaimed writer Warren Ellis, were given complete creative control from the game's original maker, Konami. "What you saw was what we intended to make," Shankar said.

Netflix likes the show so much that it's already approved a second season with double the episode count — eight in total. It won't be up to chance this time.

SEE ALSO: Netflix somehow managed to make a great TV show based on a video game

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Mindy Kaling is reportedly pregnant with her first child

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mindy kaling

The INSIDER Summary:

  • E! News reports that Mindy Kaling is pregnant, according to sources.
  • She hasn't confirmed the report.
  • The comedian and actress has said she's open to starting a family.

Mindy Kaling is reportedly going to be a mom.

According to E! News, the 38-year-old comedian is expecting her first child. Sources told the news outlet that the pregnancy comes as an "unexpected surprise" for Kaling.  

While there is little information currently available and the "Wrinkle in Time" star has not confirmed the report, she has been open about wanting kids. 

In a Yahoo! Style interview from 2015, Kaling said, "I think I've decided that unlike everything else in my life, I'm going to be fast and loose about kids. I'm going to not actively plan, but if it happens, it would happen."

"A Wrinkle in Time" is set to open March 9, 2018. 

Kaling's representatives didn't immediately respond to INSIDER's request for comment.

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A 'Real Housewives of OC' star shares 3 things she's obsessed with wearing this summer

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Getty Images lydia mclaughlin real housewives of orange county bravo

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Lydia McLaughlin is back on "The Real Housewives of Orange County" after leaving four years ago.
  • She has worked in media for years and created two high-end lifestyle magazines: Beverly Hills Lifestyle and Nobleman.
  • She shared her three favorite summer trends right now with INSIDER readers: Clear heels, lace, and crop tops paired with maxi skirts.

"The Real Housewives of Orange County" star Lydia McLaughlin has some definite style favorites for the summer.

Before she proclaimed herself to be the "friendship whisperer" on the Bravo show, McLaughlin sharpened her style as a lifestyle magazine maven. She and her husband, Doug McLaughlin, founded Beverly Hills Lifestyle magazine and recently launched a new high-end men's magazine, Nobleman. That's one reason she decided to return to the reality show.

Here are McLaughlin's favorite fashion trends this summer:

1. Clear heels

"I actually am sporting the old-school clear heels," she said. "You know, the high heels with jellies on them. I am loving those!"

2. Lace 

"I love lace, doing a lace with like a peek-a-boo in the middle or kind of like some sheer panels," McLaughlin said. "I think that is awesome and I’m loving that."

lydia mclauglin real housewives of orange country bravo.JPG

3. Crop tops paired with maxi skirts

"I’m a fan of a crop top and maxi skirt," the 36-year-old told us. "I think it’s super-summery and easy and fun. You can dress it up or dress it down."

"Those would be my go-to’s for the summer outfits I love," McLaughlin told us.

"The Real Housewives of Orange County" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on Bravo.

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