The highest rated episodes according to IMDb also happen to be when major characters die or there is an epic battle scene, according to new research.
Game of Thrones’ unpredictability has made it one of the most popular shows on television and dominates social media more than any other TV show. An errant coffee cup in a recent episode resulted in millions of pound in free advertising for Starbucks.
The carnage appearing in almost every other episode is volatile and often seemingly impulsive if not erratic, making it compulsive, unpredictable viewing for millions of fans worldwide.
The infographic below, created by famility travel blog Asher and Lyric, looks at every episode of the show, and how one key factor (character deaths) is closely linked to popularity.
*SPOILER ALERT BELOW*
![Spoiler Alert! The Game of Thrones effect- what makes it so popular? [INFOGRAPHIC]](https://www.netimperative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/game-of-thrones-infographic.png)