<P> First - season reviewers said the series had high production values, a fully realized world and compelling characters . According to Variety, "There may be no show more profitable to its network than' Game of Thrones' is to HBO . Fully produced by the pay cabler and already a global phenomenon after only one season, the fantasy skein was a gamble that has paid off handsomely". </P> <P> The second season was also well received by critics . Entertainment Weekly praised its "vivid, vital, and just plain fun" storytelling and, according to the Hollywood Reporter, the show made a "strong case for being one of TV's best series"; its seriousness made it the only drama comparable to Mad Men or Breaking Bad . The New York Times gave the series a mixed review, criticizing its number of characters, their lack of complexity and a meandering plot . </P> <P> The third season was very well received by critics, with Metacritic giving it a score of 91 out of 100 (indicating "universal acclaim"). The fourth season was also praised; Metacritic gave it a score of 94 out of 100 based on 29 reviews, again indicating "universal acclaim". The fifth season was also well received by critics and has a score of 91 out of 100 (based on 29 reviews) on Metacritic . The sixth season has been praised by critics . It has a score of 73 out of 100 (based on nine reviews) on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The seventh season has a score of 77 out of 100 (based on twelve reviews) on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews". </P> <P> The series has a rating of 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 8.4 out of 10 based on 44 reviews . All episodes had positive reviews of 91 percent or higher on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 97 - percent rating (based on 50 reviews) for the season as a whole . On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a rating of 95 percent and an average score of 8.6 out of 10 (based on 52 reviews). The season has a rating of 96 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 8.4 out of 10 based on 29 reviews . After the first episode aired, the seventh season held a rating of 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 29 reviews . </P>

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