In retrospect, Game of Thrones Season 6 represents the peak of H.264’s dominance in episodic television distribution. By the time the show concluded in 2019, the more efficient H.265 (HEVC) and VP9 codecs were gaining traction, offering the same visual quality at half the bitrate. Yet for Season 6, H.264 was the right tool for its moment. It allowed the show to be democratized across millions of devices—from 4K smart TVs down to early iPhones and laptops. While cinephiles bemoaned the loss of grain structure and the occasional artifact, the codec’s broad compatibility ensured that “The Door,” with its heartbreaking sacrifice of Hodor, could be watched, rewatched, and discussed globally within hours of broadcast.