Even though it’s technically summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the Seven Kingdoms of “Game of Thrones” are about to face a terrifying blizzard. If you’re all caught up on the beloved HBO series, you know that the story is no longer following the books, as author George R.R. Martin is still writing them, and that the forces of good and evil are descending on the mythical land of Westeros for an epic showdown.
But being able to afford access to this amazing show is a luxury, and if you’re looking to keep your budget tight and clean, you might not be able to swing it. That’s OK. You don’t need to shell out the cash for the HBO channel or app to immerse yourself in the magic of this world. Here are some cheap, or even free, ways to get lost in Westeros. (Warning: This article may contain some light spoilers up to season six.)
[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]
Cook up a “Game of Thrones” feast. Many key scenes of this show take place at weddings and parties, and the food served at these events is amazing. Whip up your own feast from the North, including beef and bacon pie, honeyed chicken or baked apples. Or cook a dinner fit for Cersei at King’s Landing with lemon cakes, quails drowned in butter and iced milk with honey. Find those recipes and more in “A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook.”
Attend a weekly viewing party. You already know “Game of Thrones” is wildly popular, which means you may know one or two people in your circle who are fans — and who subscribe to HBO. Perhaps someone you know may already host a weekly viewing party you can attend. If they don’t, maybe they were waiting for someone like you to organize it. Offer to bring appropriately themed snacks. If the people in your circle don’t know their Westeros from their Walkers, check in with local comic book stores and bars, which may host their own viewing events.
Read the books. If you’ve followed the series at all, then you know how hard it is to track all the characters across the realm. There are so many, but once you put a face to a name by watching the show, it’ll be even easier to identify each character in the books. And even though the showrunners are no longer using Martin’s series as source material, it’s still the basis of the show itself, so you can bank on discovering some wondrous little Easter eggs hidden within the pages.
[Read: 7 Best Inexpensive Netflix Alternatives.]
Let podcasts guide you. You can relive every episode, dig deep into fan theories and compare obscure book details to what’s currently happening on the show with the help of podcasts. ” Game of Owns” on iTunes interweaves plot discussions, interviews and speculation into high-energy episodes that make you excited to be a member of this fandom. ” Binge Mode: Game of Thrones” on SoundCloud does an hour-long podcast episode dissecting each episode of the show. You get to relive the moments you cheered for and glimpse some of the subtle things you may have missed. However, make sure you are very careful when downloading any podcasts. While many podcasts are great at labeling spoiler information, sometimes even the title or description of certain podcasts may give away key plotlines.
Try similar shows. This series has set the tone for what makes great TV during the last seven years and has inspired the creation of similar shows. If you can’t find out what Jon Snow is currently up to, get acquainted with other noble, unwavering warriors on “Vikings,” “The Last Kingdom,” “The White Princess,” “Outlander” or “Spartacus.”
You could also get caught up on the other work by your favorite characters. With the show’s worldwide success, these actors are now household names and are more prominent than ever. For example, check out Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister, in “The Station Agent,” Natalie Dormer, who plays Margaery Tyrell, in “The Tudors” or Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark, in “X-Men: Apocalypse.”
Of course, you can always watch previous “Game of Thrones” seasons for free on DVDs borrowed from friends, family or even the library. You might score some for cheap at a yard sale, thrift store or online store such as eBay.
[Read: 7 Ways to Save Money on Your Internet Bill.]
Keep an eye out for free trials. HBO has a lot of wonderful television shows to offer and will occasionally offer free trials to lure in new customers. As long as you pay attention to the deals it’s offering, you can jump into a free trial, get all caught up on the latest episodes, and jump back out before you owe any money.
Watch the Cons. “Game of Thrones” has been a huge part of Comic-Cons across the country since the series first aired. Stars of the show will attend, along with the writers and creators, and you’ll often get some killer clues as to what they have planned for the coming season. While you will have to be wary of spoilers, you can get in on the fandom by following each city’s Comic-Con on Twitter and Instagram for the latest. Plus, it’s always fun to see babies dressed as the Mother of Dragons.
Learn Dothraki. Penguin Random House has developed an iTunes app that teaches you to have full conversations in Dothraki, the native language of the nomadic horse warriors of Essos. And if Daenerys Targaryen does eventually end up on the Iron Throne, it could become the dominant language of the Seven Kingdoms. Might as well bone up now, right? Her reign has just begun, after all.
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8 Ways to Get Your ‘Game of Thrones’ Fix Without HBO originally appeared on usnews.com
