Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is HBO's television adaptation of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, developed by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. It premiered on April 17, 2011, and ended on May 19, 2019, after eight seasons and seventy-three episodes. The drama portrays a struggle for power in Westeros while an ancient threat grows beyond the Wall. Its initial conflict is set in motion when King Robert Baratheon appoints Eddard Stark, called Ned, as Hand of the King and summons him from Winterfell to King’s Landing. Ned discovers that Robert's presumed heirs are Cersei Lannister's children with Jaime. Ned's attempt to reveal the truth ends with his public execution, and civil war follows. Robb Stark is proclaimed King in the North, but his campaign against the Lannisters ends at the Red Wedding, where Robb, Catelyn Stark, and many allies are killed. Arya Stark escapes King’s Landing and eventually trains with the Faceless Men in Braavos. Sansa Stark survives a forced marriage to Tyrion Lannister and later Ramsay Bolton. Bran Stark becomes connected to the Three-Eyed Raven. Jon Snow joins the Night’s Watch, is elected Lord Commander, and encounters the White Walkers and their army of wights during his service. Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys Targaryen is married to Khal Drogo of the Dothraki. After Drogo’s death, she walks into his funeral pyre and emerges with three newly hatched dragons: Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. Daenerys builds power in Essos, frees enslaved people in Astapor and Meereen, and gathers Unsullied and Dothraki forces before sailing to Westeros. There she allies with Tyrion, who has killed his father, Tywin Lannister, and escaped King’s Landing. The long-running conflict also includes Stannis Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Petyr Baelish, Varys, Olenna Tyrell, and the militant High Sparrow, whose influence reshapes royal politics in the capital dramatically. The show was filmed in several countries, including Northern Ireland, Croatia, Iceland, Malta, Spain, Morocco, and Scotland. Peter Dinklage won four Primetime Emmy Awards for playing Tyrion Lannister, while the series won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series four times. Its final season shows the living forces defeating the Night King at Winterfell. Daenerys then destroys much of King’s Landing after its surrender, before Jon kills her. The surviving leaders select Bran as king, Sansa becomes Queen in the North, Arya sails west of Westeros, and Jon returns north of the Wall. The finale closes this central story.