Game of Thrones (HBO 2011, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington)

Game of Thrones is possibly the most popular TV series ever made. A true epic, incredibly violent and completely unmissable. The below does include some spoilery type revelations if you are still working your way through the show.

Game Of Thrones takes us to a land where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime, trouble is brewing. From the scheming south and the savage eastern lands, to the frozen north and the ancient Wall that protects the realm from the darkness beyond, two powerful families are engaged in a deadly cat-and-mouse game for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. As betrayal, lust, intrigue and supernatural forces shake the four corners of the Kingdoms, their bloody struggle for the Iron Throne will have unforeseen and far-reaching consequences.

The series follows kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and noblemen as they vie for power. As the series opens, King Robert Baratheon, who is married to Cersei Lannister of the wealthy and corrupt Lannisters, asks Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark to come south and help run his kingdom after the questionable death of his right-hand man. Meanwhile, there is a threat to the throne from the east by the exiled teenage Princess Daenerys and her brother Viserys, whose family ruled the Kingdoms for many years before their bloody ouster. And there are rumors of strange things happening at the edges of the Kingdoms, north of the Wall, where Jon Snow, Ned’s bastard son, goes to be part of the brotherhood of the Night’s Watch, which is sworn to protect the Kingdoms.

Season Two
In King’s Landing, the coveted Iron Throne is occupied by cruel young Joffrey, counseled by his conniving mother Cersei and his uncle Tyrion, who has been appointed Hand of the King.

But the Lannister hold on the Throne is under assault on many fronts. Robb Stark, son of Ned Stark, the slain Lord of Winterfell, seeks autonomy in the North and has taken Cersei’s brother Jaime prisoner in battle. Daenerys Targaryen looks to shore up her depleted power in the East with her three newborn dragons. Stannis Baratheon, brother of the late King Robert, rejects Joffrey’s legitimacy and aligns with a powerful priestess to raise a naval attack. And Renly, Stannis’ charismatic brother, has maintained his own claim since fleeing King’s Landing.

In the meantime, a new leader is rising among the wildlings North of the Wall, adding fresh perils for Jon Snow and the order of the Night’s Watch.

Season Three 
As Blackwater Bay cools, the victors consolidate their power and rebuild King’s Landing. But new challengers for the Iron Throne rise from the most unexpected places. As season three begins, the Lannisters hold absolute dominion over King’s Landing after repelling Stannis Baratheon’s forces. Yet Robb Stark, King in the North, still controls much of the South as well, and has yet to lose a battle. In the Far North, Mance Rayder has united the wildlings into the largest army Westeros has ever seen. Only the Night’s Watch stands between him and the Seven Kingdoms, but nobody knows what happened to its Lord Commander and the force he led beyond the Wall.

Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys Targaryen – reunited with her three growing dragons – ventures into Slaver’s Bay in search of ships to take her home and allies to conquer it.

Season Four
Encouraged by the Red Wedding slaughter in the Riverlands that wiped out many of their Stark nemeses, the Lannisters’ hold on the Iron Throne remains intact… but can they survive their own egos, as well as new and ongoing threats from the south, north and east? While an unbowed Stannis Baratheon continues to rebuild his army in Dragonstone, a more immediate danger comes from the south, as Oberyn Martell, the Lannister-loathing “Red Viper of Dorne,” arrives at King’s Landing to attend Joffrey’s wedding to Margaery Tyrell, and perhaps act on an ulterior agenda. In the north, a depleted Night’s Watch seems overmatched against the inexorable Wall advances of Mance Rayder’s army of wildlings, which in turn is being trailed by an even more formidable foe: the undead White Walkers. As if that weren’t enough, Daenerys Targaryen, accompanied by her menacing trio of dragons and army of Unsullied, is poised to liberate Meereen, the largest city in Slaver’s Bay, which could ultimately provide her with enough ships to sail to Westeros and reclaim the Iron Throne.

Season Five
Jon Snow is struggling to balance the demands of the Night’s Watch with those of the newly arrived Stannis Baratheon, who styles himself the rightful king of Westeros. Meanwhile, Cersei scrambles to hold on to power in King’s Landing amidst the Tyrells and the rise of a religious group led by the enigmatic High Sparrow, while Jaime embarks on a secret mission. Across the Narrow Sea, Arya seeks an old friend and a fugitive Tyrion finds a new cause. And as danger mounts in Meereen, Daenerys finds that her tenuous hold on the city requires hard sacrifices.

Season Six
Following the shocking developments at the conclusion of season five, including Jon Snow’s bloody fate at the hands of Castle Black mutineers, Daenerys’ near-demise at the fighting pits of Meereen, and Cersei’s public humiliation in the streets of King’s Landing, survivors from all parts of Westeros and Essos regroup to press forward, inexorably, towards their uncertain individual fates. Familiar faces will forge new alliances to bolster their strategic chances at survival, while new characters will emerge to challenge the balance of power in the east, west, north and south.

Season Seven
Daenerys Targaryen has finally set sail for Westeros with her armies, dragons and new Hand of the Queen, Tyrion Lannister. Jon Snow has been named King in the North after defeating Ramsay Bolton in the Battle of the Bastards and returning Winterfell to House Stark. In King’s Landing, Cersei Lannister has seized the Iron Throne by incinerating the High Sparrow, his followers and her rivals in the Sept of Baelor. But as old alliances fracture and new ones emerge, an army of dead men marches on the Wall, threatening to end the game of thrones forever.

Emmy Awards
In Sept. 2015, GAME OF THRONES received 12 Emmys(R), a record for a series in one year, garnering awards for Outstanding Drama Series; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage’s second win in the category); Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (David Nutter); Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (David Benioff and D.B. Weiss); Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More); Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series; Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series; Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic); Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series; Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour); Outstanding Special Visual Effects; and Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series, Limited Series or Movie.

The show also received four Emmys(R) in Aug. 2014; two Emmys(R) in Sept. 2013; six Emmys(R) in Sept. 2012, tied for the most of any program; and two Emmys(R) in Sept. 2011. In addition, Peter Dinklage received a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in Jan. 2012.

production details
Country: USA
Release Year: 2011

Creators and Executive Producers: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
Books: A Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin
Executive Producers: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, Ralph Vicinanza and George R.R. Martin

cast
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen
Kit Harington as Jon Snow
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark
Maisie Williams as Arya Stark
Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont
Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy
Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth
John Bradley as Samwell Tarly
Conleth Hill as Varys
Aidan Gillen as Petyr Baelish
Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth
Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Bran Stark
Kristofer Hivju as Tormund Giantsbane
Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei
Jacob Anderson as Grey Worm
Jerome Flynn as Bronn
Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane
Michael Shaeffer as Stark Soldier
Mark Lewis Jones as Shagga
Tom Hopper as Dickon Tarly
Tony Way as Dontos Hollard
Michiel Huisman as Daario Naharis
Patrick O’Kane as Jaqen’s Disguise
Oona Chaplin as Talisa Maegyr
Jefferson Hall as Hugh of the Vale
Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell
Tom Brooke as Lothar Frey
Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen
Rose Leslie as Ygritte
Karl Davies as Alton Lannister
James Cosmo as Jeor Mormont
Susan Brown as Septa Mordane
Robert Pugh as Craster
Mackenzie Crook as Orell
Kevin Eldon as Goldcloak
Anton Lesser as Qyburn
Ricky Champ as Gatins
Mark Gatiss as Tycho Nestoris
Kate Dickie as Lysa Arryn
James Faulkner as Randyll Tarly
Stuart Martin as Morgan’s Friend
Francis Magee as Yoren
Richard Dormer as Beric Dondarrion
Birgitte Hjort Sørensen as Karsi
Tobias Menzies as Lord Edmure Tully
Indira Varma as Ellaria Sand
Roger Allam as Illyrio Mopatis
Burn Gorman as Karl Tanner
Emilio Doorgasingh as Great Master #1
Ross O’Hennessy as Lord of Bones
Stephen Dillane as Stannis Baratheon
John Standing as Jon Arryn
Pedro Pascal as Peter Ballance as Farlen
Enzo Cilenti as Yezzan zo Qaggaz
Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Bolton
Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Jojen Reed
Michael Liebmann as Frey Soldier
Lucian Msamati as Salladhor Saan
Gerry O’Brien as Jonos Bracken
Leigh Gill as Bobono
Roy Dotrice as Hallyne
Mark Stanley as Grenn
Jodhi May as Maggy
Chuku Modu as Aggo
Patrick Malahide as Balon Greyjoy
Grahame Fox as Ralf Kenning
Ron Donachie as Rodrik Cassel
Dean-Charles Chapman as Jamie Sives as Jory Cassel
Yuri Kolokolnikov as Styr
Ralph Ineson as Dagmer Cleftjaw
Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle
Lalor Roddy as Catspaw Assassin
Art Parkinson as Rickon Stark
Ian Beattie as Meryn Trant
Daniel Tuite as Lothar Frey
Jody Halse as Adrack Humble
Gemita Samarra as Brea
Jim Broadbent as Archmaester Ebrose
Finn Jones as Loras Tyrell
Tom Chadbon as High Septon Maynard
Elyes Gabel as Rakharo
Andrew Wilde as Tobho Mott
Forbes KB as Black Lorren
Michael Feast as Aeron Greyjoy
Ramon Tikaram as Prendahl na Ghezn
Dean S. Jagger as Smalljon Umber
Deobia Oparei as Areo Hotah
Carice van Houten as Melisandre
Oengus MacNamara as Thin Man
Alexander Siddig as Doran Martell
Tim Plester as Black Walder Rivers
Noah Taylor as Locke
Julian Firth as Citadel Maester
Ed Sheeran as Lannister soldier
Josef Altin as Pypar
Joshua Mikel as Marco Ladera
Hannah John-Kamen as Ornela
Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon
Paul Kaye as Thoros of Myr
Ian McShane as Brother Ray
Bronson Webb as Will
Nonso Anozie as Xaro Xhoan Daxos
Finbar Lynch as Farmer Hamlet
Gerard Jordan as Biter
Roxanne McKee as Doreah
Richard Madden as Robb Stark
Tara Fitzgerald as Selyse Baratheon
Reece Noi as Mossador
Bella Ramsey as Lyanna Mormont
Samantha Spiro as Melessa Tarly
Richard Brake as The Night King
Lino Facioli as Robin Arryn
Jack Hickey as Young Braavosi
David Fynn as Rennick
Gemma Whelan as Yara Greyjoy