Diehard Game of Thrones fans are likely familiar with HBO’s exhibition of the show, as it has been going on for a couple of years now. Filled with costumes and props from the hit fantasy series, the exhibition tours once a year to various cities across the world, giving fans the chance get a closer look at materials taken straight from the set. Whether it be Joffrey’s famous crossbow, Daenerys’ dragon eggs, Oberyn Martell’s robes or the Kingslayer’s severed hand, just about every prop imaginable is on display here.
I was fortunate enough to check out the exhibition earlier this week when it arrived in Toronto and admittedly, I walked away extremely pleased. Though not enormous in size (all you’ll need is a good half hour to take everything in), as a fan of the show, I found the whole thing to be quite exciting and of course, full of great photo opportunities.
Truthfully, what fascinated me the most about all this was how much detail goes into the props and costumes on Game of Thrones. There’s only so much that you can notice on TV, and thanks to a guided tour that I was taken on, I learnt a lot about what goes into making everything and how a lot of these items are a lot more elaborate and thought-out than they seem.
While the various weapons, costumes and props were all a great thrill to see up close and in person, the two highlights were the Oculus Rift 4D experience and the Iron Throne. The latter is exactly what you think it is, a replica Iron Throne (the only item not taken from the set) that you can take photos on. Sure to be a fan favorite, almost everyone at the exhibit was lining up to get their picture taken here.
The Oculus Rift 4D experience also came with a line-up, and quite a long one. After about 15-20 minutes, I finally got the chance to experience this 90 second demo, which plugs you into the virtual reality system and transports you to The Wall. After taking you up in an elevator of sorts, you’re pushed out onto the edge facing North. It is here that you see the Wildlings start to attack. It’s a 360 degree, 4D experience made all the more realistic thanks to the impressive technology powering the Oculus Rift. It’s a ton of fun and a real rush. It’s a bit tough to fully convey how it felt simply by describing it, but it’s well worth checking out and is sure to get your blood pumping.
Overall, I found a lot to like about HBO’s Game of Thrones exhibit. Aside from some nice photo ops and a thrilling 4D experience, the exhibit gives people a chance to get up close and personal with some of the show’s most memorable props, which is a real treat. Whether you’re a diehard fan of this epic television series or simply find yourself intrigued by the current fascination surrounding it, I highly recommend checking out the exhibition before it leaves Toronto (it runs from May 14-18th).