TV Themes #7 & Statistics #11

Today's TV theme, at #7 in our list, belongs to a show that needs no introduction. You all watch it, or at least have heard of it, unless you're under a rock somewhere. It's currently in its 6th season, it's the most pirated TV series in the world and at #4 on imdb Top TV shows of all-time.

We are, of course, taking about Game Of Thrones. A show with production standards that belong more to a big blockbuster film than a TV show. It's set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos in a unidentified time that looks like early medieval. It interweaves several plot lines and boasts a large ensemble cast of great actors. Based on G.R.R. Martin's A Song Of Fire And Ice series of books, it occasionally strays from the books' plot and presents its own story developments. It is a show that doesn't hesitate to kill a protagonist or two, when least expected. A tale of heroic fantasy with historical references that extend to today. Also, a show with the largest and most dedicated fan base.

The characters with the most biting one-liners are: audience surrogate Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), Cersei (Lena Headey), Varys (Conleth Hill) and personal favorite Olenna (Diana Rigg). The characters with the most heroic arc, since Ned's (Sean Bean) life was cut short, are Jon (Kit Harington) and personal favorite Danerys (Emilia Clarke). The characters with the most Dickensian suffering are the Stark girls, Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Arya (Maisie Williams). The most abhorrent villain used to be Joffrey (Jack Gleeson). After his death he was rightfully replaced by Ramsay (Iwan Rheon). We shouldn't forget devious schemer Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen). The worst fathers are many, definitely Craster (Robert Pugh), Roose (Michael McElhatton), Tarly (James Faulkner) and as far as Tyrion is concerned, Tywin (Charles Dance). Finally, there's a special category of the heroes' helpers and enablers. Top among them are Brienne (Gwendoline Christie), Jorah (Iain Glen), Bron (Jerome Flynn), Davos ( Liam Cunningham), Samwell (John Bradley), Hodor (Kristian Nairn) and Podrick (Daniel Portman). Characters with magic powers include Jaqen (Tom Wlaschiha) and Melisandre (Carice Van Houten). A character that showed promise, but went nowhere was Gendry (Joe Dempsie). Finally, a storyline that showed promise but didn't really deliver was the Dorne storyline.

The title sequence changes depending on the locations visited in that particular episode. It received the 2011 Emmy award for outstanding main title design. The impressive theme is written by Ramin Djawadi, an Iranian-German composer born in 1974. He composed music for such films as Blade: Trinity, Open Season, Iron Man and Pacific Rim. Also, among his TV work, except for GoT we find Prison Break, Person Of Interest and The Strain.

Now, to this week's statistics: there were a few minor surprises in the lists. Certainly not in positions #1 & #2, the US and Greece are solid as a rock. Germany, Russia and France occupy positions 3, 4 & 5, while Portugal, having a very good presence for a 3d week in a row, is at #6. A couple more weeks like these and we'll get to see it in the all-time Top 10. In a tie at #7 two countries which, despite their ups and downs, have always had a strong presence: Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates. The Netherlands are at #9, while at #10 there's a 3-way tie between Canada, the UK and Latvia. Also gracing us with their presence are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Italy, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Thailand and Turkey. Nice to see you all!

Small changes appear in the all-time list as well: again the US is the unchallenged champion, Greece is sitting comfortably at #2 and Germany and Russia have solidified their positions #3 & #4 respectively. The UK sits alone at #5, having overtaken Ireland (#6), which is going through a long period of inactivity. Canada from #7 is now threatening to displace Ireland. France is quite stable and is still sitting pretty at #8. Also no change at #9 (Cyprus) and at #10 (Spain).

The random song choice for today is a song that will not fail to move you, unless your heart is made of stone. It belongs to an excellent singer-songwriter called Suzanne Vega (born in 1959 in Santa Monica, Ca) and it's called Luka. It deals with the sad and infuriating issue of child abuse, which is examined from the point of view of the child. It was her biggest hit in the US at #3 (1987).

Last minute addition:

Another great has left us a couple of days ago. A lot has been written about him, so let me just say this: he was the boxer that everybody knew, even those who had no idea what boxing was.

Here are three songs written about him, all during his lifetime:

Cassius Clay by Dennis Alcapone:

Cassius Clay by Tabu Ley Rochereau:

And the UK hit Black Superman by Johnny Wakelin:

Yet the was one more important loss: David Swarbrick was one of the core members of Britain's most celebrated folk group, Fairport Convention. He composed, arranged, sung, played the fiddle, the viola, the mandolin and other instruments. RIP.

Here are Fairport Convention in a traditional song that he arranged, Tam Lin:

And here is a song that he co-wrote with another great, Richard Thompson, called Sloth: