China refuses to show its people the uncensored finale of the world’s favourite show that recently won an Emmy for Best Drama.
It looks like India and Pakistan are not the only two countries that, in the name of political rhetoric, ban things. While Pakistani cinema houses are filled with empty seats and a ban on Bollywood films is starting to hurt owners and distributors, China has done something similar – in a cultural context – by banning HBO’s legendary television production, Game of Thrones, to its people.
It began with censoring the programme. But now people in China are not allowed to watch it at all. At least not legally.
Deadline reports: “Speaking in New York at a dinner co-hosted by the National Committee on US-China Relations and the US-China Business Council, the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said no to the airing of the already controversial end of Game of Thrones series.”
It is said that the country with more than a billion people, have had a “love-hate” relationship with the series through the years.
Noted Deadline further: “While the minister wasn’t explicitly referring to the HBO series, the Chinese have had a love-hate relationship with the fabled saga. The notoriously cautious Chinese censors don’t like explicit content or bloody battles, pretty much the mainstays of Game of Thrones episodes. HBO’s Chinese distribution partner, Tencent, had to censor versions of the episodes that they streamed online. In one particularly egregious example, six minutes of the Season 8 premiere were sliced.”
“Chinese authorities have previously blocked such media outlets and social media platforms as The New York Times, Facebook and Twitter, and frequently censor online programming. Last summer, Netflix’s Bojack Horseman was pulled from the iQiyi streaming service for ‘adjustments,’ although it has yet to return. HBO’s John Oliver also had some critical remarks erased on China leader Xi Jinping. Minister Wang Yi’s statement comes as China prepares for October negotiations on the tariff wars with the US. Ironically, Wang Yi also said in New York that he urged the US to ‘remove all unreasonable restrictions,’” Deadline noted further.
The 8 and final year of Game of Thrones recently won an Emmy for Best Drama and Best Supporting Actor for Peter Dinklage, with the latter setting a record even as fans remained critical of the final season.
With multiple programming in the making, Game of Thrones has taken its actors and turned them into big names. Richard Madden has gone on to star in The Bodyguard while Kit Harrington is starring in Marvel Cinematic Universe chapter four, The Eternals and Sophie Turner just finished a run as The Dark Phoenix in the latest installment of the X-Men franchise.
As for Alfie Allen, who essayed Theon Greyjoy, he is set to star in Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit. Waititi directed the colorful, retro and thus memorable Thor: Ragnarok. A prequel called Blood Moon, set thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones starring Naomi Watts is in the making. There is also the possibility of a show based on The Targaryens dynasty.
– With information from Deadline.com
