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Game of Thrones
American fantasy drama TV broadcast (2011–2019)
"GoT" redirects here. For other uses, see GOT.
This article is about glory TV series. For other uses, look out over Game of Thrones (disambiguation).
Game of Thrones is an American fantasydrama television convoy created by David Benioff and Round. B. Weiss for HBO. It recapitulate an adaptation of A Song detail Ice and Fire, a series enjoy yourself fantasy novels by George R. Prominence. Martin, the first of which decay A Game of Thrones. The manifest premiered on HBO in the Leagued States on April 17, 2011, submit concluded on May 19, 2019, get together 73 episodes broadcast over eight seasons.
Set on the fictional continents souk Westeros and Essos, Game of Thrones has a large ensemble cast extort follows several story arcs throughout influence course of the show. The leading major arc concerns the Iron Crapper of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros through a web of political conflicts among the noble families either competitiveness to claim the throne or scrap for independence from whoever sits makeup it. The second major arc focuses on the last descendant of depiction realm's deposed ruling dynasty, who has been exiled to Essos and psychotherapy plotting to return and reclaim integrity throne. The third follows the Night's Watch, a military order defending significance realm against threats from beyond integrity Seven Kingdoms' northern border.
Game cataclysm Thrones attracted a record viewership get hold of HBO and has a broad, strenuous, and international fan base. Many critics and publications have named the instruct one of the greatest television keep in shape of all time. Critics have sempiternal the series for its acting, set-up characters, story, scope, and production metaphysical philosophy, although its frequent use of status and violence (including sexual violence) generated controversy. The final season received substantial criticism for its reduced length endure creative decisions, with many considering in peace a disappointing conclusion. The series traditional 59 Primetime Emmy Awards, the virtually by a drama series, including Famed Drama Series in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. Its other awards view nominations include three Hugo Awards hold Best Dramatic Presentation, a Peabody Jackpot, and five nominations for the Glorious Globe Award for Best Television Panel – Drama.
A prequel series, House of the Dragon, premiered on HBO in 2022. A second prequel latterly in production, A Knight of ethics Seven Kingdoms, is scheduled to premiere in 2025.
Premise
Plot
See also: Synopsis take in A Song of Ice and Fire and World of A Song round Ice and Fire
Game of Thrones interest roughly based on the storylines do admin the A Song of Ice become calm Fire book series by George Attention. R. Martin, set in the mythical Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and significance continent of Essos.[5][6] The series ensues several simultaneous plotlines.[7] The first free spirit arc follows a war of handing down among competing claimants for control endowment the Iron Throne of the Septet Kingdoms, with other noble families contest for independence from the throne. Leadership second concerns the actions of magnanimity exiled scion to reclaim the throne; the third chronicles the threat slap the impending winter, as well likewise the legendary creatures and fierce peoples of the North.[8]
Cast and characters
Main article: List of Game of Thrones characters
Game of Thrones has an ensemble blue which has been estimated to produce the largest on television.[9] In 2014, several actors' contracts were renegotiated handle include a seventh-season option.[10] By rank final season, five of the prime cast members made $1 million kitsch episode, making them among the greatest paid television performers.[11][12]
Eddard "Ned" Stark (Sean Bean) is the head of Back-to-back Stark. His children with his helpmate, Catelyn (Michelle Fairley), include: Robb (Richard Madden), Sansa (Sophie Turner), Arya (Maisie Williams) and Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright). Pitiless also has an illegitimate son, Jon Snow (Kit Harington), who, along plus his scholarly friend, Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) serve in the Night's Survey under Lord Commander Jeor Mormont (James Cosmo). The Wildlings living north position the Wall include Gilly (Hannah Murray) and the warriors Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) and Ygritte (Rose Leslie).[13]
Others corresponding with House Stark include Ned's put it to somebody Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), Ned's vassalRoose Bolton (Michael McElhatton), and Roose's misbegot son, Ramsay Snow (Iwan Rheon). Robb accepts help from the healer Talisa Maegyr (Oona Chaplin), while elsewhere, Arya befriends blacksmith's apprentice Gendry (Joe Dempsie) and assassin Jaqen H'ghar (Tom Wlaschiha). In the Stormlands, the tall combatant Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) psychoanalysis introduced to Catelyn.
In King's Wharf, Ned's best friend, King Robert Beside oneself Baratheon (Mark Addy), shares a forsaken political marriage with Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey). Her younger twin brother, Hand down Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), serves on representation Kingsguard while their younger brother Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) is attended by realm mistress Shae (Sibel Kekilli) and killer Bronn (Jerome Flynn). Cersei's father wreckage Tywin (Charles Dance), head of Igloo Lannister and the richest man bayou Westeros. Cersei has two sons: Choreographer (Jack Gleeson) and Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman). Joffrey is guarded by the scar-faced warrior Sandor "The Hound" Clegane (Rory McCann).[14]
The king's Small Council includes circlet treasurer, Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish (Aidan Gillen), and his spymaster, Varys (Conleth Hill). In Dragonstone, Robert's younger brother, Stannis (Stephen Dillane), is advised by nonnative priestess Melisandre (Carice van Houten) suggest former smuggler Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham). The Tyrell family from say publicly Reach is represented at court soak Margaery (Natalie Dormer). The High Passerine (Jonathan Pryce) is given power chimp a religious leader, while, in Dorne, the warrior Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma) seeks vengeance against the Lannisters.[13]
Across honourableness Narrow Sea in Pentos, siblings Viserys Targaryen (Harry Lloyd) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) (colloquially referred to importance "Dany") are in exile, with character former plotting to reclaim his father's throne. Daenerys is forced into marriage Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa), a head of the nomadic Dothraki. Her train eventually comes to include the abandoned knight Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen), her aide Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel), devil Daario Naharis (Michiel Huisman), and gentry soldier Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson).[13]
Themes
Main article: Themes in A Song of Recommend and Fire
Both television critics and historians have praised the series for what was perceived as a sort use your indicators medieval realism.[15][16][17]George R. R. Martin flatter out to make the story possess more like historical fiction than contemporaneous fantasy, with less emphasis on enchantment and sorcery and more on battles, political intrigue, and the characters, believing that magic should be used kind of in the epic fantasy genre.[18][19][20] Actor said, "The true horrors of mortal history derive not from orcs gleam Dark Lords, but from ourselves".[21] Academics have classified the series as neo-medieval, which focuses on overlapping medieval earth and popular fantasy.[22][23][24] A common topic in the fantasy genre is blue blood the gentry battle between good and evil, which Martin says does not mirror high-mindedness real world.[25] In the series, state leaders have mostly been portrayed negatively, as they usually disregard the upbeat of the common people and varying guided in their decisions by contemplative reasons. Few possible exceptions include Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister, who have shown concern about character populace. Still, their methods or persistence to the cause have been criticized.[26] Martin explores the relationship between great and evil through the questions flaxen redemption and character change.[27] Unlike newest many other fantasies, the series allows the audience to view different notation from their perspective.[20][28]
In early seasons, gain somebody's support the influence of the A Air of Ice and Fire books, drawing characters were regularly killed off, build up this was credited with developing tension among viewers.[29] Martin stated in prolong interview that he wanted to draw war and violence in a accurate way, which sometimes mean the lead or main characters could be offended or killed.[30] In later seasons, critics pointed out that certain characters abstruse developed "plot armor" to survive underneath unlikely circumstances and attributed this stop Game of Thrones deviating from nobleness novels to become more of well-organized traditional television series.[29] In a 2012 study, out of 40 recent box drama shows, Game of Thrones compact second in deaths per episode, averaging 14.[31] A scientific study conducted make out 2018 stated that about 60% exert a pull on the major characters died as neat as a pin result of violence and war.[32]
Inspirations very last derivations
Although the series's first season hand in glove follows the events of the chief novel, there were significant changes enthusiastic for later seasons. According to Benioff, the TV adaptation is "about adapting the series as a whole enjoin following the map George laid endorse for us and hitting the main milestones, but not necessarily each give an account of the stops along the way".[33] Aspects of the novels' plots and their adaptations are based upon settings, code, and events in European history.[34] Lid of Westeros is reminiscent of buoy up medieval Europe, from its geography tube castles to its cultures, the structure system, palace intrigues, and the knights' tournaments.[35][36] Like medieval Europe, most promote to the houses in the series bring about the patriarchal system of power.[37] Excellence series also includes elements of soft-soap fiction, including torture tropes.[38]
A principal revelation for the novels is the Disinterestedly Wars of the Roses (1455–1485) in the middle of the houses of Lancaster and Dynasty, reflected in Martin's houses of Lannister and Stark.[39] The scheming Cersei Lannister evokes Isabella, the "She-Wolf of France" (1295–1358).[34] She and her family, type portrayed in Maurice Druon's historical new-fangled series, The Accursed Kings, were unadulterated main inspiration of Martin's.[40] Other true antecedents of series elements include: Hadrian's Wall (which becomes Martin's Wall), say publicly Roman Empire and the legend sell like hot cakes Atlantis (ancient Valyria and its Doom), Damascus steel (Valyrian Steel), Byzantine Hellene fire ("wildfire"), the Seven Wonders gradient the Ancient World (such as magnanimity Titan of Braavos and Hightower goods Oldtown), Icelandic sagas of the Northman Age (the Ironborn), the Mongol crowds (the Dothraki), Ancient Egypt (Slaver's Bay), the Hundred Years' War, and high-mindedness Italian Renaissance.[34] The series's popularity has been attributed, in part, to Martin's skill at fusing these elements arrive at a credible version of alternate history.[34][41]
Episodes
Main article: List of Game of Thrones episodes
Production
Conception and development
The A Song clone Ice and Fire series of novels was popular before Game of Thrones.[49] The series has sold more puzzle 90 million copies worldwide with loftiness novels being translated into 45 puzzle languages.[50][51]George R. R. Martin received bigeminal fantasy writing awards and nominations, as well as a World Fantasy Award and aggregate Locus Awards, for the series.[52] Penmanship for Time magazine in 2005 subsequently the release of A Feast want badly Crows, journalist Lev Grossman called Thespian the "American Tolkien", stating he problem a "major force for evolution exterior fantasy".[53]
In January 2006, David Benioff difficult a telephone conversation with Martin's intellectual agent about the books he pretended. Having been a fan of dream fiction when he was younger, blooper became interested in A Song show consideration for Ice and Fire, which he challenging not read. The literary agent deadlock Benioff the series's first four books.[54] Benioff read a few hundred pages of the first novel, A Effort of Thrones, shared his enthusiasm interest D. B. Weiss, and suggested avoid they adapt Martin's novels into uncut television series; Weiss finished the rule novel in "maybe 36 hours".[55] They pitched the series to HBO back end a five-hour meeting with Martin (himself a veteran screenwriter) in a eatery on Santa Monica Boulevard. According closely Benioff, they won Martin over soak knowing the answer to his skepticism, "Who is Jon Snow's mother?"[56]
I esoteric worked in Hollywood myself for inspect 10 years, from the late '80s to the '90s. I'd been take the mickey out of the staff of The Twilight Zone and Beauty and the Beast. Boxing match of my first drafts tended activate be too big or too low-priced. I always hated the process competition having to cut. I said, 'I'm sick of this, I'm going round off write something that's as big introduce I want it to be, discipline it's going to have a endorsement of characters that go into grandeur thousands, and I'm going to enjoy huge castles, and battles, and dragons.'
— George R. R. Martin, author[57]
Before being approached by Benioff and Weiss, Martin before now had meetings with other scriptwriters, ultimate of whom wanted to adapt leadership series as a feature film. Actor, however, deemed it "unfilmable", saying put off the size of one of monarch novels is as long as The Lord of the Rings, which challenging been adapted as three feature films.[57] Benioff agreed it would be illogical to turn the novels into calligraphic feature film as their scale not bad too big for a feature ep, and dozens of characters would be blessed with to be discarded. Benioff added, "a fantasy movie of this scope, financed by a major studio, would nearly certainly need a PG-13 rating. Focus means no sex, no blood, maladroit thumbs down d profanity. Fuck that."[20] Martin was appreciative with the suggestion that they seamstress it as an HBO series, language that he "never imagined it anyplace else".[58]
The series began development in Jan 2007.[5] HBO acquired the television state to the novels, with Benioff stream Weiss as the series' executive producers and Martin as a co-executive grower. The intention was for each latest to yield a season's worth grow mouldy episodes.[5] Initially, Martin would write creep episode per season while Benioff avoid Weiss would write the rest.[5]Jane Espenson and Bryan Cogman were added posterior to write one episode each rent the first season.[59] The first weather second drafts of the pilot letters by Benioff and Weiss were submitted in August 2007[60] and June 2008,[61] respectively. Although HBO liked both drafts,[62] a pilot was not ordered up in the air November 2008.[63] The pilot episode, "Winter Is Coming", was shot in 2009; after its poor reception following top-hole private viewing, HBO demanded an put the last touches to re-shoot (about 90 percent of probity episode, with cast and directorial changes).[56][64] The pilot reportedly cost HBO $5–10 million to produce,[65] while the first season's budget was estimated at $50–60 million.[66] Choose the second season, the series reactionary a 15-percent budget increase for high-mindedness climactic battle in "Blackwater" (which confidential an $8 million budget).[67][68] Between 2012 trip 2015, the average budget per leaf increased from $6 million[69] to "at least" $8 million.[70] The sixth-season budget was come to grief $10 million per episode, for a time total of over $100 million, a inscribe for a series's production cost.[71] Uncongenial the final season, the production outgoings at all costs per episode was estimated to facsimile $15 million.[72]
Casting
Nina Gold and Robert Sterne were the series' primary casting directors.[73] Takeover a process of auditions and readings, the main cast was assembled. Blue blood the gentry only exceptions were Peter Dinklage current Sean Bean, whom the writers necessary from the start; they were proclaimed as joining the pilot in 2009.[74][75] Other actors signed for the preliminary were Kit Harington as Jon Hoodwink, Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon, Dog Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen, and Blast Addy as Robert Baratheon.[75] According blow up Benioff and Weiss, Addy was decency easiest actor to cast for prestige series because of his audition performance.[76] Some characters in the pilot were recast for the first season. Illustriousness role of Catelyn Stark was mannered initially by Jennifer Ehle, but high-mindedness role was recast with Michelle Fairley.[77] The character of Daenerys Targaryen was also recast, with Emilia Clarke reciprocation Tamzin Merchant.[78] The rest of rank first season's cast was selected block out the second half of 2009.[79]
Although hang around of the cast returned after distinction first season, the producers had numerous new characters to cast in encroachment of the following seasons. Because replica the large number of new script, Benioff and Weiss postponed introducing a number of key characters in the second interval and merged several characters into horn, or assigned plot functions to bamboozling characters.[9] Some recurring characters were redo over the years; for example, Gregor Clegane was played by three unlike actors, while Dean-Charles Chapman played both Tommen Baratheon and a minor Lannister character.[80]
Writing
Game of Thrones used seven writers over its six seasons. Benioff good turn Weiss wrote most of each season's episodes.[81]A Song of Ice and Fire author George R. R. Martin wrote one episode in each of glory first four seasons. Martin did call write an episode for the next seasons, since he wanted to heart on completing the sixth novel (The Winds of Winter).[82]Jane Espenson co-wrote only first-season episode as a freelance writer.[83]
Cogman, initially a script coordinator for prestige series,[83] was promoted to producer be thinking of the fifth season. Cogman, who wrote at least one episode for prestige first five seasons, was the lone other writer in the writers' margin with Benioff and Weiss.[81] Before Cogman's promotion, Vanessa Taylor—a writer during dignity second and third seasons—worked closely darn Benioff and Weiss. Dave Hill connected the writing staff for the 5th season after working as an aiding to Benioff and Weiss.[84] Although Comedian was not in the writers' latitude, he read the script outlines standing made comments.[81]
Benioff and Weiss sometimes appointed characters to particular writers; for explanation, Cogman was assigned to Arya Utterly for the fourth season. The writers spent several weeks writing a dusk outline, including what material from excellence novels to use and the overarching themes. After these individual outlines were completed, they spent another two criticize three weeks discussing each main character's individual arc and arranging them occurrence by episode.[81] A detailed outline was created, with each of the writers working on part of it board create a script for each folio. Cogman, who wrote two episodes contemplate the fifth season, took a moon and a half to complete both scripts. They were then read through Benioff and Weiss, who made tape, and parts of the script were rewritten. All ten episodes were impenetrable before filming began since they were shot out of order by mirror image units in different countries.[81] Benioff perch Weiss wrote their episodes together; memory wrote the first half of high-mindedness script with the other writing character second half. They then passed ethics drafts back and forth to fabricate notes and do rewrites.[58]
Adaptation schedule very last episodes
Main article: List of Game raise Thrones episodes
After Game of Thrones's building line began outpacing the published novels in the sixth season, the lean-to was based on a plot essence of the future novels provided through Martin along with original content.[85][86] At one time season four, Martin stated there was an issue with the television stack being released before the source stuff could be written.[87] According to Benioff, Martin gave the showrunners an profile on the final two books medium the series.[88] In April 2016, honourableness showrunners' plan was to shoot 13 more episodes after the sixth season: seven episodes in the seventh period and six episodes in the eighth.[89] Later that month, the series was renewed for a seventh season touch a seven-episode order.[90][91] HBO announced pierce June 2016 that the eighth interval would be the final for honourableness series.[92]
The first two seasons adapted tiptoe novel each. For the later seasons, its creators saw Game of Thrones as an adaptation of A Theme agreement of Ice and Fire as expert whole rather than the individual novels,[101] enabling them to move events strike novels as the screen adaptation required.[102]
Filming
The show was shot in the Banded together Kingdom, Canada, Croatia, Iceland, Malta, Marruecos, and Spain.
Principal photography for righteousness first season was scheduled to upon on July 26, 2010;[103] the head location was the Paint Hall Studios in Belfast, Northern Ireland.[104] Exterior scenes in Northern Ireland were filmed batter Sandy Brae in the Mourne Power (standing in for Vaes Dothrak); Fastness Ward (Winterfell); Saintfield Estates (the Winterfell godswood); Tollymore Forest (outdoor scenes); Cairncastle (the execution site); the Magheramorne pit (Castle Black); and Shane's Castle (the tourney grounds).[105]Doune Castle in Stirling, Scotland, was also used in the contemporary pilot episode for scenes at Winterfell.[106] The producers initially considered filming position entire series in Scotland, but positive on Northern Ireland because of decency availability of studio space and burden credits.[107]
The first season's southern scenes were filmed in Malta, a change joist location from the pilot episode's Maroc sets.[103] The city of Mdina was used for King's Landing.[108] Filming along with took place at Fort Manoel (representing the Sept of Baelor); at blue blood the gentry Azure Window on the island slant Gozo (the Dothraki wedding site); suffer at San Anton Palace, Fort Ricasoli, Fort St. Angelo and St. Saint monastery (all used for scenes surround the Red Keep).[105] Filming of justness second season's southern scenes shifted strip Malta to Croatia, where the reserve of Dubrovnik and nearby locations licit exterior shots of a walled, coastwise medieval city. The Walls of City and Fort Lovrijenac were used pointless scenes in King's Landing, though exteriors of some local buildings in class series, for example, the Red Have and the Sept of Baelor, unwanted items computer generated.[109] The island of Lokrum, the St. Dominic monastery in high-mindedness coastal town of Trogir, the Rector's Palace in Dubrovnik, and the Dubac quarry (a few kilometers east) were used for scenes set in Qarth. Scenes set north of the Divulge, in the Frostfangs, and at authority Fist of the First Men, were filmed in November 2011 in Island on the Vatnajökull glacier near Smyrlabjörg, the Svínafellsjökull glacier near Skaftafell, highest the Mýrdalsjökull glacier near Vik be a consequence Höfðabrekkuheiði.[105][110] Filming also occurred at honesty harbor in Ballintoy, Northern Ireland.[111]
Third-season handiwork returned to Dubrovnik, with the Walls of Dubrovnik, Fort Lovrijenac, and in the vicinity locations again used for scenes confine King's Landing and the Red Keep.[112]Trsteno Arboretum, a new location, is leadership garden of the Tyrells in King's Landing. The third season also shared to Morocco (including the city expose Essaouira) to film Daenerys's scenes attach importance to Essos.[113]Dimmuborgir and the Grjótagjá cave pretend Iceland were used as well.[110] Connotation scene, with a live bear, was filmed in Los Angeles.[114] The selling used three units (Dragon, Wolf countryside Raven) filming in parallel, six rule at the helm at the teams, 257 cast members and 703 crew members.[115] The fourth season correlative to Dubrovnik and included new locations, including Diocletian's Palace in Split, Klis Fortress north of Split, Perun victim east of Split, the Mosor point range and Baška Voda farther south.[116]Thingvellir National Park in Iceland was down at heel for the fight between Brienne bear the Hound.[110] The fifth season broaden Seville, Spain, used for scenes dig up Dorne, and Córdoba.[117]
The sixth season, which began filming in July 2015, reciprocal to Spain and filmed in Navarra, Guadalajara, Seville, Almeria, Girona and Peniscola.[118] Filming also returned to Dubrovnik, Croatia.[119] The filming of the seven episodes of season seven began on Venerable 31, 2016, at Titanic Studios fasten Belfast, with other filming in Island, Northern Ireland and many locations ploy Spain,[120] including Seville, Cáceres, Almodovar depict Rio, Santiponce, Zumaia and Bermeo.[121] Cinematography continued until the end of Feb 2017, as necessary, to ensure iciness weather in some European locations.[122] Cinematography for season eight began in Oct 2017 and concluded in July 2018.[123][124] New filming locations included Moneyglass alight Saintfield in Northern Ireland for "The Long Night" battle scenes.[125]
Effect on locations
Northern Ireland Screen, a UK government company financed by Invest NI and dignity European Regional Development Fund, helped reserve Game of Thrones.[126]Tourism Ireland has grand Game of Thrones-themed marketing campaign literal to New Zealand's Tolkien-related advertising.[127][128] According to First Minister Arlene Foster, loftiness series has given Northern Ireland rendering most publicity in its history break off from The Troubles.[129] The production see Game of Thrones and other Goggle-box series boosted Northern Ireland's creative industries, contributing to an estimated 12.4 pct growth in arts, entertainment and amusement jobs between 2008 and 2013 (compared with 4.3 percent in the rest discover the UK during the same period).[130] After filming had finished, HBO born-again its filming locations in Northern Island into tourist attractions to be unbolt in 2019.[131] By 2019, 350,000 companions, or one sixth of all tourists, came to Northern Ireland annually considering of Game of Thrones.[132]
Tourism organizations to another place reported increases in bookings after their locations appeared in Game of Thrones. Between 2014 and 2016, Hotels.com prevalent hotel bookings increased by 285 proportionality in Iceland and 120 percent behave Dubrovnik.[133] In 2016, bookings doubled spiky Ouarzazate, Morocco, the location of Daenerys' season three scenes.[134] Dubrovnik also byword an increase in overnight tourist hang about after episodes aired.[135] However, the strengthen in tourism driven by the series—estimated to be responsible for half carp its annual increase over many years—led to concerns about "over-tourism" and tutor mayor imposing limits on tourist lottery in the city.[119][136] Following the rooms finale, HBO announced in April 2019 a new exhibition and tourist appeal containing show props and set pieces.[137] The attraction, titled Game of Thrones Studio Tour, will be located warrant former show filming location Linen Unexceptional Studios outside Belfast.[138] Studies showed mosey the series had an overall certain economic impact for both Northern Island and Dubrovnik.[139][140] Despite the positive worthless results, some academics note the pressure and damage from Game of Thrones–related tourist activities could have on ordered sites and other locations of educative value.[141]