The first four episodes of Game of Thrones Season 5 leak online

Season 5 of Game of Thrones begins tonight, and millions of fans will tune in in one way or another… but there’s a problem, and it’s a huge one.

Game of Thrones is the most pirated show in the world, and HBO has tried to counter that in the past year by making its programming accessible through additional means, which is a smart move. The only way to beat pirates is to offer an easier, and superior viewing experience. But how can HBO compete with leakers who are putting out episodes well in advance?

While HBO won’t be showing episode one until tonight, you can already download the first four episodes illegally via the internet. In a show that thrives on shocks and unexpected deaths, the fact that early episodes are already out there means there’s the potential for huge spoilers appearing to ruin the show for those who prefer to watch it legally on HBO.

Early episodes can, after all, have as many shocks as later ones. The Purple Wedding came in episode two of season four.

The four leaked episodes are believed to have originated from a screener sent to reviewers ahead of the show's launch. They are in 480p quality and there’s a blurred digital watermark visible in the bottom left hand corner. It’s a small disfigurement, and while the quality of the leaked episodes isn’t fantastic, they’re perfectly watchable.

HBO will be showing those four episodes in much higher quality so you'll probably want to wait and watch those, but you might need to stay off the web for the next month or so...