Game of Thrones (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Game of Thrones is an American medieval fantasy
television series created for HBO by David Benioff
and D. B. Weiss
. Based on author George R. R. Martin
's best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire
series of fantasy novels, the first of which is called A Game of Thrones
, the television series debuted in the U.S. on April 17, 2011. The production is based in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, with additional locations elsewhere in Europe also being used. The show's cast is mainly British and Irish.
Highly-anticipated since its early stages of development, Game of Thrones was very well received by fans and critics. The series was picked up for a second season on April 19, 2011, two days after its premiere. On July 14, 2011 the nominations for the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards
were announced, with Game of Thrones being nominated for 13 categories, including Outstanding Drama Series
, Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Peter Dinklage
, which he won. The series also won an Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Design the weekend before, at the Academy's non-televised technical Emmy awards presentation.
leads the first season cast as Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark, patriarch of the protagonistic family of the series, the Starks. His wife, Catelyn Stark née Tully, is played by Michelle Fairley
. Their children are Robb (Richard Madden
), Sansa (Sophie Turner
), Arya (Maisie Williams
), Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and Rickon (Art Parkinson). Kit Harington
plays Ned's bastard
, Jon Snow, and Alfie Allen plays Theon Greyjoy, political hostage and ward of Lord Stark. King Robert Baratheon is played by Mark Addy
, and his wife, Queen Cersei Lannister, is played by Lena Headey
. Cersei has two brothers; her twin, Ser Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), and the clever dwarf Tyrion (Peter Dinklage
). Cersei's oldest child is Prince Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson), and his bodyguard is Sandor "The Hound" Clegane (Rory McCann
). Aidan Gillen
plays Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, Master of Coin for King Robert's Small Council.
Across the Narrow Sea are Viserys (Harry Lloyd
) and Daenerys "Dany" Targaryen (Emilia Clarke
), exiled children of the previous king that King Robert overthrew, on the run for their lives and trying to win back the throne. Dany is married to Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa
), the leader of the Dothraki, for the promise of an army for Viserys. Iain Glen
plays exiled knight Ser Jorah Mormont, who is sworn to help and protect the siblings.
and Bryan Cogman were later added to each write one episode of the first season.
"The Sopranos
in Middle-earth
" is the tagline Benioff jokingly suggested for the television adaptation, referring to its intrigue-filled content and dark tone set in a fantasy world setting. Traditional high fantasy
is described as generally incidental to the series, with HBO programming chief Michael Lombardo finding the storytelling appealing rather than the low-key magic or the exotic milieu, in spite of the network's new developmental policy to "[take] shots at shows that we wouldn't have taken a shot at five years ago."
The Game of Thrones budget has been compared to that of Rome
. The pilot reportedly cost HBO between , and the total budget for the first season has been estimated at .
HBO hired expert language creator David J. Peterson from the Language Creation Society
to develop the Dothraki language
– "possessing its own unique sound, extensive vocabulary of more than 1,800 words and complex grammatical structure" – to be used in the series. The first and second drafts of the pilot script, written by Benioff and Weiss, were submitted in August 2007 and June 2008, respectively. While HBO found both drafts to their liking, a pilot was not ordered until November 2008, with the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
possibly delaying the process.
had been signed on to star as Tyrion Lannister in the pilot, and that Tom McCarthy
was set to direct. On July 19, 2009, a number of further casting decisions were announced, including Sean Bean
being given the role of Ned Stark, thus confirming a rumour first reported a couple of days before. Other actors signed on for the pilot were Kit Harington
in the role of Jon Snow, Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon, Harry Lloyd
as Viserys Targaryen, and Mark Addy
as Robert Baratheon.
In the beginning of August 2009, it was revealed that Catelyn Stark would be portrayed by Jennifer Ehle
. On August 20, more casting announcements were made, including Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister and Tamzin Merchant
as Daenerys Targaryen, as well as Richard Madden
in the role of Robb Stark, Iain Glen
as Ser Jorah Mormont, Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy, and Sophie Turner
and Maisie Williams
as Sansa and Arya Stark, respectively. On September 1 Lena Headey
was announced as Cersei Lannister. On September 23, Martin confirmed that Rory McCann
had been cast as Sandor Clegane. Isaac Hempstead-Wright
was confirmed as Bran Stark on October 14, followed by an announcement of Jason Momoa
as Khal Drogo three days later.
After the pilot was shot and the series picked up, it was announced that the role of Catelyn had been recast, with Michelle Fairley
replacing Ehle. Later, it was also confirmed that Emilia Clarke
would replace Tamzin Merchant
as Daenerys. The rest of the cast was filled out in the second half of the year, and included Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister, Aidan Gillen as Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish, and Conleth Hill as Varys.
as the female warrior Brienne of Tarth, Liam Cunningham as the former smuggler Ser Davos Seaworth, Oliver Ford Davies
as Maester Cressen, Stephen Dillane
as would-be king and Robert's brother, Stannis Baratheon, Natalie Dormer
as Lady Margaery Tyrell, betrothed of Renly Baratheon, Carice van Houten as Melisandre of Asshai, Gemma Whelan
as Yara Greyjoy ("Asha" in the novels; her name was changed to avoid confusion with the Wildling Osha), Nonso Anozie
as Xaro Xhoan Daxos, Tom Wlaschiha
as Jaqen H'ghar, Kerr Logan as Matthos Seaworth, Roy Dotrice
as Pyromancer Hallyne, Hannah Murray
as Gilly, Karl Davies
as Alton Lannister (a character who does not appear in the books), Ben Crompton
as "Dolorous Edd" Tollet, Michael McElhatton
as Roose Bolton, Robert Pugh
as Craster, Patrick Malahide
as Balon Greyjoy, Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne, Ian Hanmore
as Pyat Pree Fintan McKeown as Ser Amory Lorch, and Rose Leslie
as Ygritte.
Like the first season, the second will consist of ten episodes. The premiere date will occur in April 2012.
of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the city of Mdina
, Malta, a change in location from Morocco. The filming in Malta resulted in controversy when a protected ecosystem was damaged by a subcontractor. For the initial shooting of the pilot in 2009, additional filming locations included Cairncastle, Shane's Castle
, Castle Ward
, Magheramorne
Quarry, and Tollymore Forest Park
, all in Northern Ireland. Doune Castle
in central Scotland was also used.
For the second season, the city of Dubrovnik
, Croatia
, was used instead of Malta for scenes in King's Landing and elsewhere. Scenes set north of the Wall are set to be filmed in Iceland, on the Vatnajökull
glacier, in November 2011. New shooting locations in Northern Ireland include The Linen Mill Film & Television Studios, Banbridge, Ballintoy
Harbour in County Antrim
, Gosford Castle
, outside Markethill in County Armagh
and also at Downhill Strand
in County Londonderry
.
in Britain and Ireland on April 18, 2011. The series was aired on Canal+
in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden on May 4, 2011, and in Spain on May 9, 2011, and on April 18, 2011, on HBO Central Europe. It will also air in Greece, South Africa, Portugal, Estonia, and Russia on Novacinema 1, M-Net
, Syfy
, Fox Life
on October 2011 and also aired in the Arab world on OSN Series on April 20, 2011, and in Israel on Yes Action on April 21, 2011. The series started airing in France on June 5, 2011, on Orange Cinéma Séries
, and is expected to begin in Australia on July 17, 2011, on showcase
, in Italy in November 2011 on Sky Cinema 1
, and in Germany and Austria in November 2011 on the TNT Serie
channel. The first episode of the series premiered in Brazil on Sunday May 8, 2011, on the local HBO channel. The series is scheduled to begin broadcasting in Quebec
, Canada, on Sunday, August 7, 2011, on the Super Écran
network. In India, it premiered with a double-episode special - the first
two
- on the "local" HBO channel, on 22 August 2011 (Monday) at 1830 IST;
Broadcasters carrying the show include:
- OSN Series – HBO – showcase
– TNT Serie
– HBO – RTBF
, Prime - HBO – HBO – HBO – HBO – HBO Canada
,
Quebec – Super Écran
– HBO – HBO – HBO – HBO – Canal+ – HBO – Fox Life
– Canal+ & YLE (2012) – Orange Cinéma Séries
– TNT Serie
– Nova Cinema – HBO – HBO – Stöð 2 – HBO – Sky Atlantic
– Yes Action – Sky Cinema 1
- Fox Life
– HBO - HBO Asia - HBO – HBO – HBO – Ziggo
or HBO Netherlands - SoHo – Canal+ – HBO – HBO – HBO – Syfy
– HBO – Fox Life
– HBO – HBO Asia – HBO – HBO – M-Net
– Canal+ – Canal+ – SF zwei, TSR1 – HBO - HBO Asia – CNBC-e
– Sky Atlantic
– HBO – HBO – HBO Asia
by composer Ramin Djawadi
was released in June 2011, and had been written within about ten weeks of the show's premiere.
An extension series called Thronecast: The Official Guide to Game of Thrones, presented by Geoff Lloyd
and produced by Koink is made available on the Sky Atlantic
website as well as through the UK iTunes
store. Each episode features episode analysis and a cast interview.
The majority of reviews for the show were very positive, with critics noting the high production value, the well-realized world, compelling characters, and giving particular note to the strength of the child actors. Tim Goodman's review for The Hollywood Reporter
stated, "a few minutes into HBO's epic Game of Thrones series, it's clear that the hype was right and the wait was worth it". Mary McNamara from the Los Angeles Times
called it "...a great and thundering series of political and psychological intrigue bristling with vivid characters, cross-hatched with tantalizing plotlines and seasoned with a splash of fantasy". New York Posts Linda Stasi gave Thrones 3.5/4 stars stating, "The art direction, acting and incredible sets are as breathtaking as the massive scope of the series". Many critics praised Peter Dinklage
for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister, with Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly
stating, "...if Dinklage doesn't get an Emmy for his clever, rude Tyrion Lannister, I'll be gobsmacked" and Mary McNamara from the Los Angeles Times stating, "If the man doesn't win an Emmy, heads should certainly roll".
, Game of Thrones has a Metacritic
average of 79 out of 100 based on 28 critic reviews, categorized as "generally favorable", with a user score of 9.0 termed "universal acclaim".
s that included Outstanding Drama Series
, Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage as Tyrion). While the series lost to Mad Men
, Dinklage won in his category.
On September 10, 2011, the year's Creative Arts Emmy Awards were announced. Game of Thrones won Main Title Design
Emilia Clarke
won the EWwy Award for "Best Supporting Actress in a Drama".
Medieval fantasy
Medieval fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that encompasses medieval era high fantasy and sometimes simply represents fictitious versions of historic events. This subgenre is common among role-playing games, text-based roleplaying, and high-fantasy literature....
television series created for HBO by David Benioff
David Benioff
-Early life:Born David Friedman in New York City, he changed his name to David Benioff, his mother's maiden name. He is the youngest of three children....
and D. B. Weiss
D. B. Weiss
Daniel B. Weiss is an American author. His debut novel Lucky Wander Boy was themed around video games and has since been linked with the screen adaptations of various science-fiction and fantasy stories...
. Based on author George R. R. Martin
George R. R. Martin
George Raymond Richard Martin , sometimes referred to as GRRM, is an American author and screenwriter of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for A Song of Ice and Fire, his bestselling series of epic fantasy novels that HBO adapted for their dramatic pay-cable series Game of...
's best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire
A Song of Ice and Fire
A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of epic fantasy novels by American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin. Martin began writing the series in 1991 and the first volume was published in 1996. Originally planned as a trilogy, the series now consists of five published volumes; a further two...
series of fantasy novels, the first of which is called A Game of Thrones
A Game of Thrones
A Game of Thrones is the first book in A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of epic fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin. It was first published on 6 August 1996. The novel won the 1997 Locus Award, and was nominated for both the 1998 Nebula Award and the 1997 World Fantasy Award...
, the television series debuted in the U.S. on April 17, 2011. The production is based in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, with additional locations elsewhere in Europe also being used. The show's cast is mainly British and Irish.
Highly-anticipated since its early stages of development, Game of Thrones was very well received by fans and critics. The series was picked up for a second season on April 19, 2011, two days after its premiere. On July 14, 2011 the nominations for the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards
63rd Primetime Emmy Awards
The 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, honoring the best in primetime television programming from June 1, 2010 until May 31, 2011, was held on September 18, 2011, at the Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, California. Fox televised the ceremony within the United States. Actress Jane Lynch hosted...
were announced, with Game of Thrones being nominated for 13 categories, including Outstanding Drama Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series
This page lists the winners and nominees for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, since its institution in 1951. The award is often cited as one of the "main awards" at the Emmys ceremonies, and has changed names many times in its history. It was first called Best Dramatic Show...
, Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Peter Dinklage
Peter Dinklage
Peter Dinklage is an American film, television and theater actor. Since his breakout role in the 2003 film The Station Agent, he has acted in Elf, Underdog, Find Me Guilty, the 2007 film Death at a Funeral and its 2010 remake, and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian...
, which he won. The series also won an Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Design the weekend before, at the Academy's non-televised technical Emmy awards presentation.
Plot
The cable television series closely follows the multiple storylines of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, and author Martin has stated that the show's pilot script was very faithful to his work. Set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, where "summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime," Game of Thrones chronicles the violent dynastic struggles among the kingdom's noble families for control of the Iron Throne; as the series opens, additional threats from the snow and ice covered region north of Westeros and from the eastern continent across a narrow sea are simultaneously beginning to rise.Cast and characters
Sean BeanSean Bean
Shaun Mark "Sean" Bean is an English film and stage actor. Bean is best known for playing Boromir in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and, previously, British Colonel Richard Sharpe in the ITV television series Sharpe...
leads the first season cast as Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark, patriarch of the protagonistic family of the series, the Starks. His wife, Catelyn Stark née Tully, is played by Michelle Fairley
Michelle Fairley
Michelle Fairley is an Northern Irish actress of film, stage and television.-Life and career:Born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland to well known publicans Teresa and Brian Fairley, she grew up in Ballycastle, Northern Ireland she appeared in a range of British television shows including The Bill,...
. Their children are Robb (Richard Madden
Richard Madden
Richard Madden is a Scottish stage, film, and television actor, known for his work in theatre and for his roles in both film and television.- Background :...
), Sansa (Sophie Turner
Sophie Turner (actress)
Sophie Turner is a British child actress.For her first role in front of the camera, Turner currently stars as Sansa Stark, the eldest daughter of House Stark in the 2011 HBO fantasy TV series Game of Thrones. The natural blonde actress dyes her hair red for the role, which she says lets her avoid...
), Arya (Maisie Williams
Maisie Williams
Maisie Williams is a British child actress.Her first and so far only role is that of Arya Stark, a tomboyish young girl from a noble family, in the 2011 HBO fantasy TV series Game of Thrones. Williams received acclaim for her performance in the supporting role, with Zap2it calling her...
), Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and Rickon (Art Parkinson). Kit Harington
Kit Harington
Christopher "Kit" Harington is an English film, television and theatre actor.-Early life and education:Harington attended Southfield Primary School between 1992 and 1998. Harington then went on to attend the Chantry High School, in Martley between 1998 and 2003...
plays Ned's bastard
Bastard
Bastard may refer to:* A child whose birth lacks legal legitimacy—that is, one born to a woman and a man who are not legally married* Bastard , illegitimacy in English law* Bastard , a blackletter typeface...
, Jon Snow, and Alfie Allen plays Theon Greyjoy, political hostage and ward of Lord Stark. King Robert Baratheon is played by Mark Addy
Mark Addy
Mark Addy Johnson is an English actor, best known for his roles as Detective Constable Gary Boyle in the UK sitcom The Thin Blue Line, Dave in the British film The Full Monty, father Bill Miller in the U.S...
, and his wife, Queen Cersei Lannister, is played by Lena Headey
Lena Headey
Lena Headey is an English actress. Headey's performance in a one-off show when she was 17 caught the attention of a casting agent, who took a photo and asked her to audition and eventually she got a supporting role alongside Jeremy Irons and Ethan Hawke in the 1992 British drama film Waterland and...
. Cersei has two brothers; her twin, Ser Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), and the clever dwarf Tyrion (Peter Dinklage
Peter Dinklage
Peter Dinklage is an American film, television and theater actor. Since his breakout role in the 2003 film The Station Agent, he has acted in Elf, Underdog, Find Me Guilty, the 2007 film Death at a Funeral and its 2010 remake, and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian...
). Cersei's oldest child is Prince Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson), and his bodyguard is Sandor "The Hound" Clegane (Rory McCann
Rory McCann
Rory McCann is a Scottish film and television actor.-Career:McCann's first acting work came in an advert for Scott's Porage Oats dressed in a vest and kilt. He was next seen in the 2002 television comedy-drama The Book Group playing a disabled personal trainer, for which he won a Scottish BAFTA...
). Aidan Gillen
Aidan Gillen
Aidan Gillen is an Irish stage and screen actor and television presenter. He is known in Ireland for his role in Love/Hate, in the UK for his role in Queer as Folk and in the US for his role in HBO's television series The Wire in which he plays Tommy Carcetti and for his role in Game of Thrones as...
plays Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, Master of Coin for King Robert's Small Council.
Across the Narrow Sea are Viserys (Harry Lloyd
Harry Lloyd
Harry Lloyd is an English actor. He played Will Scarlet in the first two seasons of the BBC drama Robin Hood which began in 2006...
) and Daenerys "Dany" Targaryen (Emilia Clarke
Emilia Clarke
Emilia Clarke is an English actress best known for the role of Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO medieval-fantasy series Game of Thrones.-Biography:...
), exiled children of the previous king that King Robert overthrew, on the run for their lives and trying to win back the throne. Dany is married to Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa is an American actor and model.He is known for his role as Ronon Dex on military science fiction television series Stargate: Atlantis . Most recently, he became recognized for his role as the title character in the sword and sorcery film Conan the Barbarian...
), the leader of the Dothraki, for the promise of an army for Viserys. Iain Glen
Iain Glen
Iain Glen is a Scottish film and stage actor.Iain Glen was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and trained at RADA where he won the Bancroft Gold Medal. He was married to Susannah Harker from 1993 to 2004; they have one son, Finlay...
plays exiled knight Ser Jorah Mormont, who is sworn to help and protect the siblings.
Conception and development
The series began development in January 2007. HBO, after acquiring the rights to the novels with the intent of turning them into an international cable television series, hired David Benioff and D. B. Weiss to write and executive produce the series, which would cover one novel's worth of material per season. Initially, it was planned that Benioff and Weiss would write every episode save one per season, which author and co-executive producer George R. R. Martin was attached to write. However, Jane EspensonJane Espenson
Jane Espenson is an American script writer and television producer who has worked on both situation comedies and serial dramas. She had a five-year stint as a writer and producer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and shared a Hugo Award for her writing on the episode "Conversations with Dead People"...
and Bryan Cogman were later added to each write one episode of the first season.
"The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
in Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
" is the tagline Benioff jokingly suggested for the television adaptation, referring to its intrigue-filled content and dark tone set in a fantasy world setting. Traditional high fantasy
High fantasy
High fantasy or epic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that is set in invented or parallel worlds. High fantasy was brought to fruition through the work of authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, whose major fantasy works were published in the 1950s...
is described as generally incidental to the series, with HBO programming chief Michael Lombardo finding the storytelling appealing rather than the low-key magic or the exotic milieu, in spite of the network's new developmental policy to "[take] shots at shows that we wouldn't have taken a shot at five years ago."
The Game of Thrones budget has been compared to that of Rome
Rome (TV series)
Rome is a British-American–Italian historical drama television series created by Bruno Heller, John Milius and William J. MacDonald. The show's two seasons premiered in 2005 and 2007, and were later released on DVD. Rome is set in the 1st century BC, during Ancient Rome's transition from Republic...
. The pilot reportedly cost HBO between , and the total budget for the first season has been estimated at .
HBO hired expert language creator David J. Peterson from the Language Creation Society
Language Creation Society
The Language Creation Society is a non-profit organization formed to promote constructed languages , support makers of constructed languages , and inform the general public about conlangs and the conlanger community...
to develop the Dothraki language
Dothraki language
The Dothraki language is the constructed language of the Dothraki, the indigenous inhabitants of the Dothraki Sea in the series A Song of Ice and Fire written by George R. R. Martin. It was created by David J. Peterson, a member of the Language Creation Society, for HBO's television series Game of...
– "possessing its own unique sound, extensive vocabulary of more than 1,800 words and complex grammatical structure" – to be used in the series. The first and second drafts of the pilot script, written by Benioff and Weiss, were submitted in August 2007 and June 2008, respectively. While HBO found both drafts to their liking, a pilot was not ordered until November 2008, with the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
The 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, more commonly referred to as simply the Writers' Strike, was a strike by the Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, West ....
possibly delaying the process.
Season 1
On May 5, 2009, it was announced that Peter DinklagePeter Dinklage
Peter Dinklage is an American film, television and theater actor. Since his breakout role in the 2003 film The Station Agent, he has acted in Elf, Underdog, Find Me Guilty, the 2007 film Death at a Funeral and its 2010 remake, and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian...
had been signed on to star as Tyrion Lannister in the pilot, and that Tom McCarthy
Thomas McCarthy (actor)
Thomas Joseph McCarthy is an American actor, writer, and film director who has appeared in several movies, including Meet the Parents and Good Night, and Good Luck, and television shows such as The Wire, Boston Public, Law & Order, and the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of Saint Maybe...
was set to direct. On July 19, 2009, a number of further casting decisions were announced, including Sean Bean
Sean Bean
Shaun Mark "Sean" Bean is an English film and stage actor. Bean is best known for playing Boromir in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and, previously, British Colonel Richard Sharpe in the ITV television series Sharpe...
being given the role of Ned Stark, thus confirming a rumour first reported a couple of days before. Other actors signed on for the pilot were Kit Harington
Kit Harington
Christopher "Kit" Harington is an English film, television and theatre actor.-Early life and education:Harington attended Southfield Primary School between 1992 and 1998. Harington then went on to attend the Chantry High School, in Martley between 1998 and 2003...
in the role of Jon Snow, Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon, Harry Lloyd
Harry Lloyd
Harry Lloyd is an English actor. He played Will Scarlet in the first two seasons of the BBC drama Robin Hood which began in 2006...
as Viserys Targaryen, and Mark Addy
Mark Addy
Mark Addy Johnson is an English actor, best known for his roles as Detective Constable Gary Boyle in the UK sitcom The Thin Blue Line, Dave in the British film The Full Monty, father Bill Miller in the U.S...
as Robert Baratheon.
In the beginning of August 2009, it was revealed that Catelyn Stark would be portrayed by Jennifer Ehle
Jennifer Ehle
Jennifer Ehle is an American actress of stage and screen. She is known for her BAFTA winning role as Elizabeth Bennet in the 1995 mini-series Pride and Prejudice.-Early life:...
. On August 20, more casting announcements were made, including Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister and Tamzin Merchant
Tamzin Merchant
Tamzin Merchant is an English actress. She is known for her role as Georgiana Darcy in Pride & Prejudice and for her role as the ill-fated Queen Catherine Howard in The Tudors.-Career:...
as Daenerys Targaryen, as well as Richard Madden
Richard Madden
Richard Madden is a Scottish stage, film, and television actor, known for his work in theatre and for his roles in both film and television.- Background :...
in the role of Robb Stark, Iain Glen
Iain Glen
Iain Glen is a Scottish film and stage actor.Iain Glen was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and trained at RADA where he won the Bancroft Gold Medal. He was married to Susannah Harker from 1993 to 2004; they have one son, Finlay...
as Ser Jorah Mormont, Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy, and Sophie Turner
Sophie Turner (actress)
Sophie Turner is a British child actress.For her first role in front of the camera, Turner currently stars as Sansa Stark, the eldest daughter of House Stark in the 2011 HBO fantasy TV series Game of Thrones. The natural blonde actress dyes her hair red for the role, which she says lets her avoid...
and Maisie Williams
Maisie Williams
Maisie Williams is a British child actress.Her first and so far only role is that of Arya Stark, a tomboyish young girl from a noble family, in the 2011 HBO fantasy TV series Game of Thrones. Williams received acclaim for her performance in the supporting role, with Zap2it calling her...
as Sansa and Arya Stark, respectively. On September 1 Lena Headey
Lena Headey
Lena Headey is an English actress. Headey's performance in a one-off show when she was 17 caught the attention of a casting agent, who took a photo and asked her to audition and eventually she got a supporting role alongside Jeremy Irons and Ethan Hawke in the 1992 British drama film Waterland and...
was announced as Cersei Lannister. On September 23, Martin confirmed that Rory McCann
Rory McCann
Rory McCann is a Scottish film and television actor.-Career:McCann's first acting work came in an advert for Scott's Porage Oats dressed in a vest and kilt. He was next seen in the 2002 television comedy-drama The Book Group playing a disabled personal trainer, for which he won a Scottish BAFTA...
had been cast as Sandor Clegane. Isaac Hempstead-Wright
Isaac Hempstead-Wright
Isaac Hempstead-Wright is an English child actor. He is known for his role as Bran Stark in the HBO series Game of Thrones.- Filmography :- External links :...
was confirmed as Bran Stark on October 14, followed by an announcement of Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa is an American actor and model.He is known for his role as Ronon Dex on military science fiction television series Stargate: Atlantis . Most recently, he became recognized for his role as the title character in the sword and sorcery film Conan the Barbarian...
as Khal Drogo three days later.
After the pilot was shot and the series picked up, it was announced that the role of Catelyn had been recast, with Michelle Fairley
Michelle Fairley
Michelle Fairley is an Northern Irish actress of film, stage and television.-Life and career:Born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland to well known publicans Teresa and Brian Fairley, she grew up in Ballycastle, Northern Ireland she appeared in a range of British television shows including The Bill,...
replacing Ehle. Later, it was also confirmed that Emilia Clarke
Emilia Clarke
Emilia Clarke is an English actress best known for the role of Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO medieval-fantasy series Game of Thrones.-Biography:...
would replace Tamzin Merchant
Tamzin Merchant
Tamzin Merchant is an English actress. She is known for her role as Georgiana Darcy in Pride & Prejudice and for her role as the ill-fated Queen Catherine Howard in The Tudors.-Career:...
as Daenerys. The rest of the cast was filled out in the second half of the year, and included Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister, Aidan Gillen as Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish, and Conleth Hill as Varys.
Season 2
The series was picked up for a second season on April 19, 2011, two days after its premiere. Casting for the second season began in May 2011. New cast members include Gwendoline ChristieGwendoline Christie
Gwendoline Christie is a British actress.She graduated from drama school in 2005 and lives in London. Her striking height, , motivated photographer Polly Borland to make her the subject of a noted series of photographs....
as the female warrior Brienne of Tarth, Liam Cunningham as the former smuggler Ser Davos Seaworth, Oliver Ford Davies
Oliver Ford Davies
-Biography:From the King's School, Canterbury, he won a scholarship to Merton College, Oxford, where he read History and became President of the Oxford University Dramatic Society . He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award in 1990 for Best Actor in a New Play for Racing Demon...
as Maester Cressen, Stephen Dillane
Stephen Dillane
Stephen J. Dillane is an English actor. He won a Tony Award for his lead performance in Tom Stoppard's play The Real Thing.-Early life:...
as would-be king and Robert's brother, Stannis Baratheon, Natalie Dormer
Natalie Dormer
Natalie Dormer is an English actress. She is best known for her roles as Victoria in Casanova and as the ill-fated queen Anne Boleyn in the Showtime series The Tudors.-Early life and current lifestyle:...
as Lady Margaery Tyrell, betrothed of Renly Baratheon, Carice van Houten as Melisandre of Asshai, Gemma Whelan
Gemma Whelan
Gemma Whelan is a comedian and actress who lives in London.As a comedian, she won the 2010 Funny Women Variety award for stand-up comedy.On screen, she played supporting roles in several films and TV shows since 2006, including in the 2010 films Gulliver's Travels and The Wolfman...
as Yara Greyjoy ("Asha" in the novels; her name was changed to avoid confusion with the Wildling Osha), Nonso Anozie
Nonso Anozie
Nonso Anozie is a British actor who has appeared in several stage plays and four films to date.In the summer of 2002 he became the youngest person in history to play William Shakespeare's "King Lear" and won the Ian Charleson Award in 2005 for his performance as Othello.Anozie was hired in 2006 to...
as Xaro Xhoan Daxos, Tom Wlaschiha
Tom Wlaschiha
- Biography :Born in Dohna , Wlaschiha followed his Abitur with acting training at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig from 1992 to 1996, and attended the Conservatoire pour les Arts Liège in 1994....
as Jaqen H'ghar, Kerr Logan as Matthos Seaworth, Roy Dotrice
Roy Dotrice
Roy Dotrice, OBE is a British actor known for his Tony Award-winning Broadway performance in the revival of A Moon for the Misbegotten.-Life and career:...
as Pyromancer Hallyne, Hannah Murray
Hannah Murray
Hannah Murray is an English actress, best known for playing Cassie Ainsworth in the E4 teen drama Skins from 2007 to 2008.-Career:...
as Gilly, Karl Davies
Karl Davies
Karl Davies is an English actor, who portrayed Lyle Anderson in the TV series Kingdom. Previously he had portrayed Robert Sugden in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale.- Biography :...
as Alton Lannister (a character who does not appear in the books), Ben Crompton
Ben Crompton
Ben Crompton is an English actor, best known as one of the stars of the BBC sketch show Man Stroke Woman. In addition he appears as Colin in the BBC Three sitcom Ideal with Johnny Vegas. He also appeared in the 2002 film All or Nothing , the TV series Clocking Off, and the TV movie Housewife, 49...
as "Dolorous Edd" Tollet, Michael McElhatton
Michael McElhatton
Michael McElhatton is an Irish actor and writer.-Selected filmography:* A Tiger's Tail* Spin the Bottle* Intermission* The Actors* Blow Dry* Saltwater* Crushproof* I Went Down* Perrier's Bounty-Selected Stage Career:...
as Roose Bolton, Robert Pugh
Robert Pugh
Robert Pugh is a Welsh film and television actor.Pugh was born in Cilfynydd and graduated from Rose Bruford College in 1976. In 2007, he co-starred alongside Genevieve O'Reilly and Geraldine James in ITV1 drama The Time of Your Life, where he played a parent whose 36-year-old daughter was...
as Craster, Patrick Malahide
Patrick Malahide
Patrick Malahide is a British actor, who has played many major film and television roles.-Personal life:Malahide, real name Patrick Gerald Duggan, was born in Reading, Berkshire, the son of Irish immigrants, a cook mother and a school secretary father...
as Balon Greyjoy, Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne, Ian Hanmore
Ian Hanmore
Ian Hanmore is a Scottish actor who has played key supporting roles in various British television shows.Hanmore was born in Edinburgh. He is best-known for his role as Father Angelo in the 2006 Doctor Who episode "Tooth and Claw". He is currently starring as the main antagonist, Polus, in the new...
as Pyat Pree Fintan McKeown as Ser Amory Lorch, and Rose Leslie
Rose Leslie
Rose Eleanor Arbuthnot-Leslie is a Scottish actress. She was born in Aberdeen, and attended Millfield School before spending three years at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art graduating with a BA Honours degree....
as Ygritte.
Like the first season, the second will consist of ten episodes. The premiere date will occur in April 2012.
Filming locations
Principal photography for the first season of the series was scheduled to begin on July 26, 2010, with the primary locations being the Paint Hall Studio in the Titanic QuarterTitanic Quarter, Belfast
The Titanic Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland is a waterfront regeneration project, including apartments, a riverside entertainment district, and a major Titanic-themed attraction under development on reclaimed land in Belfast Harbour, known until recently as Queen's Island...
of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the city of Mdina
Mdina
Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, is the old capital of Malta. Mdina is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Punic remains uncovered beyond the city’s walls suggest the importance of the general region to Malta’s Phoenician settlers. Mdina is commonly...
, Malta, a change in location from Morocco. The filming in Malta resulted in controversy when a protected ecosystem was damaged by a subcontractor. For the initial shooting of the pilot in 2009, additional filming locations included Cairncastle, Shane's Castle
Shane's Castle
Shane's Castle is a ruined castle near Randalstown in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The castle is on the north-east shores of Lough Neagh. Built in 1345 by a member of the O'Neill dynasty, it was originally called Eden-duff-carrick...
, Castle Ward
Castle Ward
Castle Ward is an 18th century National Trust property located near the village of Strangford, in County Down, Northern Ireland. It overlooks Strangford Lough and is 7 miles from Downpatrick and 1.5 miles from Strangford....
, Magheramorne
Magheramorne
Magheramorne is a hamlet in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is about 5 miles south of Larne on the shores of Larne Lough. It had a population of 75 people in the 2001 Census. It is within the Larne Borough Council area....
Quarry, and Tollymore Forest Park
Tollymore Forest Park
Tollymore Forest Park was the first state forest park in Northern Ireland, established on the 2 June 1955. It is located at Bryansford, near the town of Newcastle. Covering an area of at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, the forest park offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the...
, all in Northern Ireland. Doune Castle
Doune Castle
Doune Castle is a medieval stronghold near the village of Doune, in the Stirling district of central Scotland. The castle is sited on a wooded bend where the Ardoch Burn flows into the River Teith. It lies north-west of Stirling, where the Teith flows into the River Forth...
in central Scotland was also used.
For the second season, the city of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, was used instead of Malta for scenes in King's Landing and elsewhere. Scenes set north of the Wall are set to be filmed in Iceland, on the Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Iceland. It is located in the south-east of the island, covering more than 8% of the country.-Size:With an area of 8,100 km², Vatnajökull is the largest ice cap in Europe by volume and the second largest in area Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in...
glacier, in November 2011. New shooting locations in Northern Ireland include The Linen Mill Film & Television Studios, Banbridge, Ballintoy
Ballintoy
Ballintoy is a small village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located alongside the B15 coast road, north-east of Coleraine, west of Ballycastle and between it and Bushmills...
Harbour in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Gosford Castle
Gosford Castle
Gosford Castle is situated in Gosford, a townland of Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, close to the border with County Down. Construction of the castle began in 1819 and finished in the 1850s. It was commissioned by Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford and the architect was Thomas...
, outside Markethill in County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
and also at Downhill Strand
Downhill Strand
Downhill Strand is a beach in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with the A2 and the Derry to Coleraine railway line next to it....
in County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
.
Broadcast
Game of Thrones premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011, and on Sky AtlanticSky Atlantic
Sky Atlantic is a television channel owned by British Sky Broadcasting, which launched on 1 February 2011 on Sky in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland....
in Britain and Ireland on April 18, 2011. The series was aired on Canal+
Canal+
Canal+ is a French premium pay television channel launched in 1984. It is 80% owned by the Canal+ Group, which in turn is owned by Vivendi SA. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming, mostly encrypted...
in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden on May 4, 2011, and in Spain on May 9, 2011, and on April 18, 2011, on HBO Central Europe. It will also air in Greece, South Africa, Portugal, Estonia, and Russia on Novacinema 1, M-Net
M-Net
M-Net is a subscription-funded television channel in South Africa, established in 1986 by Naspers....
, Syfy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
, Fox Life
Fox Life
Fox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions...
on October 2011 and also aired in the Arab world on OSN Series on April 20, 2011, and in Israel on Yes Action on April 21, 2011. The series started airing in France on June 5, 2011, on Orange Cinéma Séries
Orange Cinéma Séries
Orange cinéma séries is a series of dedicated movie channels operated by France Telecom. The five channels launched on November 13, 2008 as a part of the company's new direct-to-home satellite service Orange TV.The five channels are:...
, and is expected to begin in Australia on July 17, 2011, on showcase
Showcase (Australian TV channel)
Showcase is an Australian premium cable and satellite television channel. It is owned and operated by the Premium Movie Partnership and is a sister network to the Showtime networks. Showcase is managed by Showtime's Chief Executive Officer Peter Rose...
, in Italy in November 2011 on Sky Cinema 1
Sky Cinema (Italy)
Sky Cinema is an Italian set of movie channel owned by Sky Italia.The Sky Cinema package includes ten Sky-branded channels:*Sky Cinema 1 HD;*Sky Cinema +1 HD, Sky Cinema 1 HD with 1 hour delay;...
, and in Germany and Austria in November 2011 on the TNT Serie
TNT Serie
TNT Serie is a German television channel dedicated to television series.The station is operated by Turner Broadcasting System and launched on 28 January, 2009. Since 1 June, 2009 the channel is broadcasting around the clock...
channel. The first episode of the series premiered in Brazil on Sunday May 8, 2011, on the local HBO channel. The series is scheduled to begin broadcasting in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada, on Sunday, August 7, 2011, on the Super Écran
Super Écran
Super Écran is a Canadian French language Category A premium television service that broadcasts nationally via satellite or cable subscribers. The network is owned by Astral Media...
network. In India, it premiered with a double-episode special - the first
Winter Is Coming
"Winter Is Coming" is the first episode of the HBO medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones. Running 63 mins long, it premiered April 17, 2011....
two
The Kingsroad
"The Kingsroad" is the second episode of the HBO medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, first aired on April 24, 2011. It was written by the show creators David Benioff and D. B...
- on the "local" HBO channel, on 22 August 2011 (Monday) at 1830 IST;
Broadcasters carrying the show include:
- OSN Series – HBO – showcase
Showcase (Australian TV channel)
Showcase is an Australian premium cable and satellite television channel. It is owned and operated by the Premium Movie Partnership and is a sister network to the Showtime networks. Showcase is managed by Showtime's Chief Executive Officer Peter Rose...
– TNT Serie
TNT Serie
TNT Serie is a German television channel dedicated to television series.The station is operated by Turner Broadcasting System and launched on 28 January, 2009. Since 1 June, 2009 the channel is broadcasting around the clock...
– HBO – RTBF
RTBF
Radio Télévision Belge Francophone is the public broadcasting organization of the French Community of Belgium, the southern, French-speaking part of Belgium...
, Prime - HBO – HBO – HBO – HBO – HBO Canada
HBO Canada
HBO Canada is a Canadian television channel, which airs programming sourced from the HBO subscription service in the United States. HBO Canada is not available as a standalone channel, but as one channel within the TMN and Movie Central multiplexes....
,
Quebec – Super ÉcranSuper Écran
Super Écran is a Canadian French language Category A premium television service that broadcasts nationally via satellite or cable subscribers. The network is owned by Astral Media...
– HBO – HBO – HBO – HBO – Canal+ – HBO – Fox Life
Fox Life
Fox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions...
– Canal+ & YLE (2012) – Orange Cinéma Séries
Orange Cinéma Séries
Orange cinéma séries is a series of dedicated movie channels operated by France Telecom. The five channels launched on November 13, 2008 as a part of the company's new direct-to-home satellite service Orange TV.The five channels are:...
– TNT Serie
TNT Serie
TNT Serie is a German television channel dedicated to television series.The station is operated by Turner Broadcasting System and launched on 28 January, 2009. Since 1 June, 2009 the channel is broadcasting around the clock...
– Nova Cinema – HBO – HBO – Stöð 2 – HBO – Sky Atlantic
Sky Atlantic
Sky Atlantic is a television channel owned by British Sky Broadcasting, which launched on 1 February 2011 on Sky in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland....
– Yes Action – Sky Cinema 1
Sky Cinema (Italy)
Sky Cinema is an Italian set of movie channel owned by Sky Italia.The Sky Cinema package includes ten Sky-branded channels:*Sky Cinema 1 HD;*Sky Cinema +1 HD, Sky Cinema 1 HD with 1 hour delay;...
- Fox Life
Fox Life
Fox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions...
– HBO - HBO Asia - HBO – HBO – HBO – Ziggo
Ziggo
Ziggo is the largest cable operator in the Netherlands, providing cable television , broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers....
or HBO Netherlands - SoHo – Canal+ – HBO – HBO – HBO – Syfy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
– HBO – Fox Life
Fox Life
Fox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions...
– HBO – HBO Asia – HBO – HBO – M-Net
M-Net
M-Net is a subscription-funded television channel in South Africa, established in 1986 by Naspers....
– Canal+ – Canal+ – SF zwei, TSR1 – HBO - HBO Asia – CNBC-e
CNBC-e
CNBC-e is a hybrid business/financial and entertainment channel operated in Turkey by CNBC Europe and the NTV Group.The channel shares its name with a co-owned magazine about CNBC-e....
– Sky Atlantic
Sky Atlantic
Sky Atlantic is a television channel owned by British Sky Broadcasting, which launched on 1 February 2011 on Sky in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland....
– HBO – HBO – HBO Asia
Other media
The first season's soundtrackGame of Thrones (soundtrack)
Game of Thrones is the soundtrack album for the first season of the eponymous fantasy TV show by the U.S. cable channel HBO. The album was composed by the German composer Ramin Djawadi and published by Varèse Sarabande in June 2011....
by composer Ramin Djawadi
Ramin Djawadi
Ramin Djawadi is a German composer of orchestral music for film and television. He was born in Duisburg, Germany to an Iranian father and German mother...
was released in June 2011, and had been written within about ten weeks of the show's premiere.
An extension series called Thronecast: The Official Guide to Game of Thrones, presented by Geoff Lloyd
Geoff Lloyd
Geoff Lloyd is a British radio presenter. Lloyd presents Geoff Lloyd's Hometime Show, Monday-Friday, 5pm-8pm on Absolute Radio...
and produced by Koink is made available on the Sky Atlantic
Sky Atlantic
Sky Atlantic is a television channel owned by British Sky Broadcasting, which launched on 1 February 2011 on Sky in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland....
website as well as through the UK iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
store. Each episode features episode analysis and a cast interview.
Reception
Anticipation for the series was described by various media outlets as extremely high, with a dedicated fan base closely following the show's development. By April 2011, multiple entertainment news outlets had put it at the top of their lists of television events to look forward to in 2011.The majority of reviews for the show were very positive, with critics noting the high production value, the well-realized world, compelling characters, and giving particular note to the strength of the child actors. Tim Goodman's review for The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
stated, "a few minutes into HBO's epic Game of Thrones series, it's clear that the hype was right and the wait was worth it". Mary McNamara from the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
called it "...a great and thundering series of political and psychological intrigue bristling with vivid characters, cross-hatched with tantalizing plotlines and seasoned with a splash of fantasy". New York Posts Linda Stasi gave Thrones 3.5/4 stars stating, "The art direction, acting and incredible sets are as breathtaking as the massive scope of the series". Many critics praised Peter Dinklage
Peter Dinklage
Peter Dinklage is an American film, television and theater actor. Since his breakout role in the 2003 film The Station Agent, he has acted in Elf, Underdog, Find Me Guilty, the 2007 film Death at a Funeral and its 2010 remake, and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian...
for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister, with Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
stating, "...if Dinklage doesn't get an Emmy for his clever, rude Tyrion Lannister, I'll be gobsmacked" and Mary McNamara from the Los Angeles Times stating, "If the man doesn't win an Emmy, heads should certainly roll".
, Game of Thrones has a Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
average of 79 out of 100 based on 28 critic reviews, categorized as "generally favorable", with a user score of 9.0 termed "universal acclaim".
Ratings
The premiere episode attracted 2.2 million viewers its initial airing on April 17 in the U.S., and totalled 5.4 million viewers across multiple Sunday and Monday night airings. It averaged 743,000 and reached a peak 823,000 in UK and Ireland on its April 18 premiere. HBO announced that they would be commissioning a second season on the strength of the reception of the premiere episode. By the final episode of the season, which aired June 20, the ratings had climbed to over 3 million.U.S. Nielsen Ratings
| Season | Timeslot (ET/PT Pacific Time Zone The Pacific Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time . The clock time in this zone is based on the mean solar time of the 120th meridian west of the Greenwich Observatory. During daylight saving time, its time offset is UTC-7.In the United States... ) |
# Ep. | Premiere | Finale | Aired | Viewers (in millions) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Premiere Viewers (in millions) |
Date | Finale Viewers (in millions) |
|||||
| Season 1 | |
10 | 2.22 | 3.04 | 2011 | 2.51 | ||
| Season 2 | 10 | - | - | 2012 | - | |||
Awards and nominations
On July 14, 2011 Game of Thrones was nominated for 13 Emmy AwardEmmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s that included Outstanding Drama Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series
This page lists the winners and nominees for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, since its institution in 1951. The award is often cited as one of the "main awards" at the Emmys ceremonies, and has changed names many times in its history. It was first called Best Dramatic Show...
, Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage as Tyrion). While the series lost to Mad Men
Mad Men
Mad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
, Dinklage won in his category.
On September 10, 2011, the year's Creative Arts Emmy Awards were announced. Game of Thrones won Main Title Design
Emilia Clarke
Emilia Clarke
Emilia Clarke is an English actress best known for the role of Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO medieval-fantasy series Game of Thrones.-Biography:...
won the EWwy Award for "Best Supporting Actress in a Drama".
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 2011 in film The year 2011 is notable for containing the release of the most film sequels in a single year, at 27 sequels. The following tables list films that are in production or have completed production and will be released in the United States and Canada at some point in 2011.- Highest-grossing films :... |
Artios Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Pilot - Drama | Nina Gold | |
| Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Series - Drama | ||||
| EWwy Awards | Best Actor | Sean Bean Sean Bean Shaun Mark "Sean" Bean is an English film and stage actor. Bean is best known for playing Boromir in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and, previously, British Colonel Richard Sharpe in the ITV television series Sharpe... |
||
| Best Supporting Actress | Emilia Clarke Emilia Clarke Emilia Clarke is an English actress best known for the role of Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO medieval-fantasy series Game of Thrones.-Biography:... |
|||
| Emmy Awards 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards The 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, honoring the best in primetime television programming from June 1, 2010 until May 31, 2011, was held on September 18, 2011, at the Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, California. Fox televised the ceremony within the United States. Actress Jane Lynch hosted... |
Outstanding Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series This page lists the winners and nominees for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, since its institution in 1951. The award is often cited as one of the "main awards" at the Emmys ceremonies, and has changed names many times in its history. It was first called Best Dramatic Show... |
Vince Gerardis, Frank Doelger, Ralph Vicinanza, Mark Huffam, David Benioff David Benioff -Early life:Born David Friedman in New York City, he changed his name to David Benioff, his mother's maiden name. He is the youngest of three children.... , Carolyn Strauss Carolyn Strauss Carolyn Strauss is an American television executive and producer. She was the president of the Home Box Office network's entertainment division until 2008 and was responsible for commissioning highly successful series like The Sopranos, The Wire, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Sex and the City... , George R.R. Martin, Guymon Casady and D.B. Weiss |
||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Peter Dinklage Peter Dinklage Peter Dinklage is an American film, television and theater actor. Since his breakout role in the 2003 film The Station Agent, he has acted in Elf, Underdog, Find Me Guilty, the 2007 film Death at a Funeral and its 2010 remake, and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian... for "Tyrion" |
|||
| Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series The Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series is awarded to one television episode each year at the Primetime Emmy Awards. Often regarded as the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an individual episode of television, the nominees and winners often reflect outstanding achievement in... |
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss for "Baelor" | |||
| Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series is an Emmy presented to the best directing of a television drama series.-Best Direction of a Single Program of a Drama Series:*1959: Jack Smight – Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre ... |
Tim Van Patten Tim Van Patten Tim Van Patten is an American television director, actor, screenwriter, and producer. As a director, Van Patten has directed episodes of The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Boardwalk Empire, Rome, The Pacific, Game of Thrones, Ed, and Sex and the City. Van Patten is perhaps best known for portraying... for "Winter Is Coming Winter Is Coming "Winter Is Coming" is the first episode of the HBO medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones. Running 63 mins long, it premiered April 17, 2011.... " |
|||
| Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series | Nina Gold and Robert Sterne | |||
| Outstanding Costumes for a Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Series This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Series.-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:- External links :*, Information Please Database, Pearson PLC... |
Michele Clapton and Rachael Webb-Crozier for "The Pointy End The Pointy End "The Pointy End" is the eighth episode of the HBO medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, first aired on June 5, 2011. The episode is significant in that it was written by George R. R. Martin, the author of the book series the tv show is based on. It was directed by Daniel Minahan.The... " |
|||
| Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series | Kevin Alexander and Candice Banks for "A Golden Crown A Golden Crown "A Golden Crown" is the sixth episode of the HBO medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, first aired on May 22, 2011. The teleplay was written by Jane Espenson, David Benioff and D.B... " |
|||
| Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic) | Paul Engelen and Melissa Lackersteen for "Winter is Coming" | |||
| Outstanding Main Title Design | Angus Wall Angus Wall Angus Wall is a film editor and film title designer. His editing, with Kirk Baxter, of the film The Social Network won the Academy Award for Film Editing... , Hameed Shaukat, Kirk Shintani and Robert Feng |
|||
| Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Paul Engelen and Conor O'Sullivan for "A Golden Crown" | |||
| Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series | Robin Quinn, Steve Fanagan, Eoghan McDonnell, Jon Stevenson, Tim Hands, Stefan Henrix, Caoimhe Doyle, Michelle McCormack and Andy Kennedy for "A Golden Crown" | |||
| Outstanding Special Visual Effects | Rafael Morant, Adam McInnes, Graham Hills, Lucy Ainsworth-Taylor, Stuart Brisdon, Damien Macé, Henry Badgett and Angela Barson for "Fire and Blood Fire and Blood (Game of Thrones) "Fire and Blood" is the tenth and final episode of season one of the HBO medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, first aired on June 19, 2011. It was written by the show creators and executive producers David Benioff and D. B... " |
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| Outstanding Stunt Coordination | Paul Jennings for "The Wolf and the Lion The Wolf and the Lion "The Wolf and the Lion" is the fifth episode of the HBO medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, first aired on May 15, 2011. It was written by the show creators and executive producers David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, and directed by Brian Kirk.... " |
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| Scream Awards 2011 Scream Awards The 2011 Scream Awards was the name of the sixth annual Scream Awards, an award show dedicated to the horror, sci-fi, and fantasy genres of feature films, television and comic books... |
The Ultimate Scream | |||
| Best TV Show | ||||
| Best Fantasy Actor | Sean Bean | |||
| Best Fantasy Actress | Lena Headey Lena Headey Lena Headey is an English actress. Headey's performance in a one-off show when she was 17 caught the attention of a casting agent, who took a photo and asked her to audition and eventually she got a supporting role alongside Jeremy Irons and Ethan Hawke in the 1992 British drama film Waterland and... |
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| Best Supporting Actor | Peter Dinklage | |||
| Breakout Performance - Female | Emilia Clarke | |||
| Best Ensemble | ||||
| Television Critics Association Awards TCA Awards The TCA Awards are awards presented by the Television Critics Association in recognition of excellence in television excellence. There are eleven categories, which are presented every summer.-Categories:... |
Program of the Year TCA Award for Program of the Year The TCA Award for Program of the Year is an award given by the Television Critics Association.-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:-External links:*... |
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| Individual Achievement in Drama TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama The TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama is an award given by the Television Critics Association.-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:-External links:*... |
Peter Dinklage | |||
| Outstanding New Program TCA Award for Outstanding New Program The TCA Award for Outstanding New Program is an award given by the Television Critics Association.-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:-External links:*... |
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| Outstanding Achievement in Drama TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama The TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama is an award given by the Television Critics Association.-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:... |
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| People's Choice Awards People's Choice Awards The People's Choice Awards is an American awards show recognizing the people and the work of popular culture. The show has been held annually since 1975 and is voted on by the general public. The People's Choice Awards air on CBS and are produced by Procter & Gamble and Survivor magnate Mark Burnett... |
Favorite Cable TV Drama | Pending | ||