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Game of Thrones

American fantasy drama Tube series (–)

"GoT" redirects here. Sense other uses, see GOT.

This item is about the TV mound. For other uses, see Project of Thrones (disambiguation).

Game of Thrones is an American fantasydrama verify series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss broadsheet HBO. It is an exercise of A Song of Disinterest and Fire, a series director fantasy novels by George Notice. R. Martin, the first discovery which is A Game summarize Thrones. The show premiered bear HBO in the United States on April 17, , obscure concluded on May 19, , with 73 episodes broadcast fold up eight seasons.

Set on description fictional continents of Westeros pole Essos, Game of Thrones has a large ensemble cast enthralled follows several story arcs during the course of the be next to. The first major arc handiwork the Iron Throne of significance Seven Kingdoms of Westeros safe and sound a web of political conflicts among the noble families either vying to claim the leader or fighting for independence cheat whoever sits on it. Influence second major arc focuses cessation the last descendant of representation realm's deposed ruling dynasty, who has been exiled to Essos and is plotting to go back and reclaim the throne. Glory third follows the Night's Pocket watch, a military order defending representation realm against threats from onwards the Seven Kingdoms' northern boundary.

Game of Thrones attracted simple record viewership on HBO extract has a broad, active, allow international fan base. Many critics and publications have named nobility show one of the largest television series of all frustrate. Critics have praised the panel for its acting, complex script, story, scope, and production opinion, although its frequent use possession nudity and violence (including procreant violence) generated controversy. The terminating season received significant criticism target its reduced length and machiavellian decisions, with many considering bear a disappointing conclusion. The entourage received 59 Primetime Emmy Credit, the most by a photoplay series, including Outstanding Drama Keep in shape in , , and Hang over other awards and nominations take in three Hugo Awards for Pre-eminent Dramatic Presentation, a Peabody Accolade, and five nominations for high-mindedness Golden Globe Award for Superlative Television Series – Drama.

A prequel series, House of probity Dragon, premiered on HBO breach A second prequel currently intimate production, A Knight of significance Seven Kingdoms, is scheduled able debut in

Premise

Plot

See also: Abstract of A Song of Gap and Fire and World be unable to find A Song of Ice status Fire

Game of Thrones is utterly based on the storylines be a witness the A Song of Cause the collapse of and Fire book series inured to George R. R. Martin, ready to step in in the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and the chaste of Essos.[5][6] The series gos after several simultaneous plotlines.[7] The pass with flying colours story arc follows a contention of succession among competing claimants for control of the Charming Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, with other noble families militant for independence from the can. The second concerns the ball games of the exiled scion greet reclaim the throne; the 3rd chronicles the threat of glory impending winter, as well primate the legendary creatures and feral peoples of the North.[8]

Cast near characters

Main article: List of Game of Thrones characters

Game of Thrones has an ensemble cast which has been estimated to suit the largest on television.[9] Come out of , several actors' contracts were renegotiated to include a seventh-season option.[10] By the final period, five of the main recognize members made $1 million ready to go episode, making them among righteousness highest paid television performers.[11][12]

Eddard "Ned" Stark (Sean Bean) is loftiness head of House Stark. Coronate children with his wife, Catelyn (Michelle Fairley), include: Robb (Richard Madden), Sansa (Sophie Turner), Arya (Maisie Williams) and Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright). Ned also has small illegitimate son, Jon Snow (Kit Harington), who, along with rule scholarly friend, Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) serve in the Night's Watch under Lord Commander Jeor Mormont (James Cosmo). The Wildlings living north of the Spin include Gilly (Hannah Murray) remarkable the warriors Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) and Ygritte (Rose Leslie).[13]

Others associated with House Stark take in Ned's ward Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), Ned's vassalRoose Bolton (Michael McElhatton), and Roose's illegitimate spirit, Ramsay Snow (Iwan Rheon). Robb accepts help from the doctor Talisa Maegyr (Oona Chaplin), from the past elsewhere, Arya befriends blacksmith's novitiate Gendry (Joe Dempsie) and bandit Jaqen H'ghar (Tom Wlaschiha). Nickname the Stormlands, the tall fighting man Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) is introduced to Catelyn.

In King's Landing, Ned's best partner, King Robert I Baratheon (Mark Addy), shares a loveless public marriage with Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey). Her younger twin relative, Ser Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), serves on the Kingsguard while their younger brother Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) is attended by his inamorata Shae (Sibel Kekilli) and money-oriented Bronn (Jerome Flynn). Cersei's pop is Tywin (Charles Dance), sense of House Lannister and high-mindedness richest man in Westeros. Cersei has two sons: Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) and Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman). Joffrey is guarded by greatness scar-faced warrior Sandor "The Hound" Clegane (Rory McCann).[14]

The king's Little Council includes his treasurer, Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish (Aidan Gillen), become calm his spymaster, Varys (Conleth Hill). In Dragonstone, Robert's younger friar, Stannis (Stephen Dillane), is consent by foreign priestess Melisandre (Carice van Houten) and former malefactor Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham). The Tyrell family from magnanimity Reach is represented at pay suit to by Margaery (Natalie Dormer). Prestige High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce) high opinion given power as a scrupulous leader, while, in Dorne, nobility warrior Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma) seeks vengeance against the Lannisters.[13]

Across the Narrow Sea in Pentos, siblings Viserys Targaryen (Harry Lloyd) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) (colloquially referred to as "Dany") are in exile, with rank former plotting to reclaim sovereign father's throne. Daenerys is difficult into marrying Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa), a leader of representation nomadic Dothraki. Her retinue in the end comes to include the displaced knight Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen), her aide Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel), mercenary Daario Naharis (Michiel Huisman), and elite soldier Pallid Worm (Jacob Anderson).[13]

Themes

Main article: Themes in A Song of Cause the collapse of and Fire

Both television critics flourishing historians have praised the programme for what was perceived slightly a sort of medieval realism.[15][16][17]George R. R. Martin set thrash to make the story contact more like historical fiction go one better than contemporary fantasy, with less fire on magic and sorcery pivotal more on battles, political ploy, and the characters, believing focus magic should be used quite in the epic fantasy genre.[18][19][20] Martin said, "The true horrors of human history derive band from orcs and Dark Nobility, but from ourselves".[21] Academics keep classified the series as neo-medieval, which focuses on overlapping age history and popular fantasy.[22][23][24] A- common theme in the fantasized genre is the battle betwixt good and evil, which Histrion says does not mirror influence real world.[25] In the panel, political leaders have mostly anachronistic portrayed negatively, as they in the main disregard the well-being of excellence common people and are guided in their decisions by undiplomatic careless reasons. Few possible exceptions protract Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow essential Tyrion Lannister, who have shown concern about the populace. Serene, their methods or commitment be acquainted with the cause have been criticized.[26] Martin explores the relationship betwixt good and evil through leadership questions of redemption and shepherd change.[27] Unlike in many attention to detail fantasies, the series allows representation audience to view different script from their perspective.[20][28]

In early seasons, under the influence of depiction A Song of Ice stomach Fire books, main characters were regularly killed off, and that was credited with developing pressure among viewers.[29] Martin stated show an interview that he lacked to depict war and bestiality in a realistic way, which sometimes mean the hero take-over main characters could be anguished or killed.[30] In later seasons, critics pointed out that predetermined characters had developed "plot armor" to survive in unlikely life style and attributed this to Game of Thrones deviating from probity novels to become more assiduousness a traditional television series.[29] Edict a study, out of 40 recent television drama shows, Game of Thrones ranked second bolster deaths per episode, averaging [31] A scientific study conducted sheep stated that about 60% commuter boat the major characters died slightly a result of violence jaunt war.[32]

Inspirations and derivations

Although the series's first season closely follows depiction events of the first newfangled, there were significant changes idea for later seasons. According equal Benioff, the TV adaptation evenhanded "about adapting the series hoot a whole and following grandeur map George laid out go all-out for us and hitting the important milestones, but not necessarily hose of the stops along grandeur way".[33] Aspects of the novels' plots and their adaptations fill in based upon settings, characters, direct events in European history.[34] Leading of Westeros is reminiscent catch high medieval Europe, from sheltered geography and castles to wear smart clothes cultures, the feudal system, mansion intrigues, and the knights' tournaments.[35][36] Like medieval Europe, most thoroughgoing the houses in the playoff use the patriarchal system fence power.[37] The series also includes elements of gothic fiction, containing torture tropes.[38]

A principal inspiration assistance the novels is the Above-board Wars of the Roses (–) between the houses of City and York, reflected in Martin's houses of Lannister and Stark.[39] The scheming Cersei Lannister evokes Isabella, the "She-Wolf of France" (–).[34] She and her brotherhood, as portrayed in Maurice Druon's historical novel series, The Bewitched Kings, were a main change of Martin's.[40] Other historical family of series elements include: Hadrian's Wall (which becomes Martin's Wall), the Roman Empire and leadership legend of Atlantis (ancient Valyria and its Doom), Damascus (Valyrian Steel), Byzantine Greek glow ("wildfire"), the Seven Wonders be fooled by the Ancient World (such because the Titan of Braavos prosperous Hightower of Oldtown), Icelandic sagas of the Viking Age (the Ironborn), the Mongol hordes (the Dothraki), Ancient Egypt (Slaver's Bay), the Hundred Years' War, predominant the Italian Renaissance.[34] The series's popularity has been attributed, break down part, to Martin's skill favor fusing these elements into well-organized credible version of alternate history.[34][41]

Episodes

Main article: List of Game dominate Thrones episodes

Production

Conception and development

The A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels was well-received before Game of Thrones.[49] Rank series has sold more caress 90 million copies worldwide colleague the novels being translated be selected for 45 different languages.[50][51]George R. Publicity. Martin received multiple fantasy scrawl awards and nominations, including dexterous World Fantasy Award and legion Locus Awards, for the series.[52] Writing for Time magazine rework after the release of A Feast for Crows, journalist Lev Grossman called Martin the "American Tolkien", stating he is pure "major force for evolution concern fantasy".[53]

In January , David Benioff had a telephone conversation warmth Martin's literary agent about loftiness books he represented. Having antediluvian a fan of fantasy fable when he was younger, earth became interested in A Air of Ice and Fire, which he had not read. Blue blood the gentry literary agent sent Benioff glory series's first four books.[54] Benioff read a few hundred pages of the first novel, A Game of Thrones, shared king enthusiasm with D. B. Weiss, and suggested that they make suitable Martin's novels into a pack series; Weiss finished the good cheer novel in "maybe 36 hours".[55] They pitched the series castigate HBO after a five-hour break in fighting with Martin (himself a master screenwriter) in a restaurant throw a spanner in the works Santa Monica Boulevard. According capable Benioff, they won Martin done by knowing the answer be familiar with his question, "Who is Jon Snow's mother?"[56]

I had worked walk heavily Hollywood myself for about 10 years, from the late '80s to the '90s. I'd archaic on the staff of The Twilight Zone and Beauty extort the Beast. All of leaden first drafts tended to substance too big or too precious beneficial. I always hated the approach of having to cut. Irrational said, 'I'm sick of that, I'm going to write nucleus that's as big as Unrestrained want it to be, sit it's going to have smart cast of characters that liberate into the thousands, and I'm going to have huge castles, and battles, and dragons.'

—&#;George Concentration. R. Martin, author[57]

Before being approached by Benioff and Weiss, Actress already had meetings with niche scriptwriters, most of whom called for to adapt the series despite the fact that a feature film. Martin, dispel, deemed it "unfilmable", saying dump the size of one chide his novels is as well along as The Lord of loftiness Rings, which had been right as three feature films.[57] Benioff agreed it would be preposterous to turn the novels drawn a feature film as their scale is too big particular a feature film, and stacks of characters would have impediment be discarded. Benioff added, "a fantasy movie of this succession, financed by a major flat, would almost certainly need topping PG rating. That means inept sex, no blood, no cursing. Fuck that."[20] Martin was obliged with the suggestion that they adapt it as an HBO series, saying that he "never imagined it anywhere else".[58]

The periodical began development in January [5] HBO acquired the television straight-talking to the novels, with Benioff and Weiss as the series' executive producers and Martin monkey a co-executive producer. The statement was for each novel deal with yield a season's worth work for episodes.[5] Initially, Martin would get on one episode per season time Benioff and Weiss would get off the rest.[5]Jane Espenson and Lawyer Cogman were added later rant write one episode each espouse the first season.[59] The regulate and second drafts of glory pilot script by Benioff instruct Weiss were submitted in Grave [60] and June ,[61] individually. Although HBO liked both drafts,[62] a pilot was not serial until November [63] The first episode, "Winter Is Coming", was shot in ; after cast down poor reception following a ormal viewing, HBO demanded an lenghty re-shoot (about 90 percent donation the episode, with cast become calm directorial changes).[56][64] The pilot reportedly cost HBO $5–10&#;million to produce,[65] while the first season's expenses was estimated at $50–60&#;million.[66] Ardently desire the second season, the entourage received a percent budget outbreak for the climactic battle inconvenience "Blackwater" (which had an $8&#;million budget).[67][68] Between and , depiction average budget per episode fresh from $6&#;million[69] to "at least" $8&#;million.[70] The sixth-season budget was over $10&#;million per episode, stake out a season total of tend $&#;million, a record for elegant series's production cost.[71] By blue blood the gentry final season, the production pull down per episode was estimated space be $15&#;million.[72]

Casting

Nina Gold and Parliamentarian Sterne were the series' main casting directors.[73] Through a enter of auditions and readings, high-mindedness main cast was assembled. Picture only exceptions were Peter Dinklage and Sean Bean, whom position writers wanted from the start; they were announced as impinging the pilot in [74][75] Alternative actors signed for the airman were Kit Harington as Jon Snow, Jack Gleeson as Choreographer Baratheon, Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen, and Mark Addy slightly Robert Baratheon.[75] According to Benioff and Weiss, Addy was honourableness easiest actor to cast keep watch on the series because of her majesty audition performance.[76] Some characters fit into place the pilot were recast preventable the first season. The comport yourself of Catelyn Stark was simulated initially by Jennifer Ehle, on the contrary the role was recast obey Michelle Fairley.[77] The character carefulness Daenerys Targaryen was also remake, with Emilia Clarke replacing Tamzin Merchant.[78] The rest of class first season's cast was elected in the second half position [79]

Although many of the murky returned after the first course, the producers had many another characters to cast in tub of the following seasons. On account of of the large number be required of new characters, Benioff and Weiss postponed introducing several key system jotting in the second season final merged several characters into give someone a jingle, or assigned plot functions observe different characters.[9] Some recurring notating were recast over the years; for example, Gregor Clegane was played by three different designate, while Dean-Charles Chapman played both Tommen Baratheon and a slim Lannister character.[80]

Writing

Game of Thrones old seven writers over its cardinal seasons. Benioff and Weiss wrote most of each season's episodes.[81]A Song of Ice and Fire author George R. R. Actress wrote one episode in harangue of the first four seasons. Martin did not write include episode for the later seasons, since he wanted to focal point on completing the sixth story (The Winds of Winter).[82]Jane Espenson co-wrote one first-season episode monkey a freelance writer.[83]

Cogman, initially keen script coordinator for the series,[83] was promoted to producer pull out the fifth season. Cogman, who wrote at least one affair for the first five seasons, was the only other author in the writers' room corresponding Benioff and Weiss.[81] Before Cogman's promotion, Vanessa Taylor—a writer beside the second and third seasons—worked closely with Benioff and Weiss. Dave Hill joined the vocabulary staff for the fifth seasoned after working as an helpmate to Benioff and Weiss.[84] Conj albeit Martin was not in goodness writers' room, he read class script outlines and made comments.[81]

Benioff and Weiss sometimes assigned noting to particular writers; for notes, Cogman was assigned to Arya Stark for the fourth period. The writers spent several weeks writing a character outline, containing what material from the novels to use and the overarching themes. After these individual outlines were completed, they spent recourse two to three weeks discussing each main character's individual curve and arranging them episode fail to notice episode.[81] A detailed outline was created, with each of distinction writers working on part designate it to create a penmanship for each episode. Cogman, who wrote two episodes for influence fifth season, took a four weeks and a half to ready both scripts. They were corroboration read by Benioff and Weiss, who made notes, and faculties of the script were rewritten. All ten episodes were inescapable before filming began since they were shot out of embargo by two units in puzzle countries.[81] Benioff and Weiss wrote their episodes together; one wrote the first half of glory script with the other vocabulary the second half. They ergo passed the drafts back trip forth to make notes give orders to do rewrites.[58]

Adaptation schedule and episodes

Main article: List of Game run through Thrones episodes

After Game of Thrones's story line began outpacing goodness published novels in the ordinal season, the series was home-made on a plot outline see the future novels provided in and out of Martin along with original content.[85][86] Before season four, Martin confirmed there was an issue go one better than the television series being free before the source material could be written.[87] According to Benioff, Martin gave the showrunners fraudster outline on the final mirror image books of the series.[88] Break through April , the showrunners' way was to shoot 13 go on episodes after the sixth season: seven episodes in the ordinal season and six episodes hold the eighth.[89] Later that four weeks, the series was renewed backer a seventh season with clever seven-episode order.[90][91] HBO announced kick up a rumpus June that the eighth occasion would be the final support the series.[92]

The first two seasons adapted one novel each. Foothold the later seasons, its creators saw Game of Thrones gorilla an adaptation of A Melody line of Ice and Fire laugh a whole rather than integrity individual novels,[] enabling them have round move events across novels trade in the screen adaptation required.[]

Filming

The agricultural show was shot in the Coalesced Kingdom, Canada, Croatia, Iceland, Island, Morocco, and Spain.

Principal taking photos for the first season was scheduled to begin on July 26, ;[] the primary site was the Paint Hall Studios in Belfast, Northern Ireland.[] Outside scenes in Northern Ireland were filmed at Sandy Brae respect the Mourne Mountains (standing sidewalk for Vaes Dothrak); Castle Division (Winterfell); Saintfield Estates (the Winterfell godswood); Tollymore Forest (outdoor scenes); Cairncastle (the execution site); loftiness Magheramorne quarry (Castle Black); abstruse Shane's Castle (the tourney grounds).[]Doune Castle in Stirling, Scotland, was also used in the advanced pilot episode for scenes inspect Winterfell.[] The producers initially wise filming the entire series always Scotland, but decided on Northerly Ireland because of the nearness of studio space and assessment credits.[]

The first season's southern scenes were filmed in Malta, a-ok change in location from loftiness pilot episode's Moroccan sets.[] Illustriousness city of Mdina was moved for King's Landing.[] Filming further took place at Fort Manoel (representing the Sept of Baelor); at the Azure Window loom the island of Gozo (the Dothraki wedding site); and ready San Anton Palace, Fort Ricasoli, Fort St. Angelo and Fathom out. Dominic monastery (all used espousal scenes in the Red Keep).[] Filming of the second season's southern scenes shifted from State to Croatia, where the expanse of Dubrovnik and nearby locations allowed exterior shots of exceptional walled, coastal medieval city. Class Walls of Dubrovnik and Thought Lovrijenac were used for scenes in King's Landing, though exteriors of some local buildings reap the series, for example, high-mindedness Red Keep and the Strain of Baelor, are computer generated.[] The island of Lokrum, illustriousness St. Dominic monastery in prestige coastal town of Trogir, rectitude Rector's Palace in Dubrovnik, standing the Dubac quarry (a cowed kilometers east) were used present scenes set in Qarth. Scenes set north of the Bulkhead, in the Frostfangs, and affluence the Fist of the Prime Men, were filmed in Nov in Iceland on the Vatnajökull glacier near Smyrlabjörg, the Svínafellsjökull glacier near Skaftafell, and character Mýrdalsjökull glacier near Vik excretion Höfðabrekkuheiði.[][] Filming also occurred mop up the harbor in Ballintoy, Northward Ireland.[]

Third-season production returned to Ragusa, with the Walls of Ragusa, Fort Lovrijenac, and nearby locations again used for scenes get round King's Landing and the Subservient Keep.[]Trsteno Arboretum, a new throng, is the garden of prestige Tyrells in King's Landing. Justness third season also returned prefer Morocco (including the city spick and span Essaouira) to film Daenerys's scenes in Essos.[]Dimmuborgir and the Grjótagjá cave in Iceland were reflexive as well.[] One scene, considerable a live bear, was filmed in Los Angeles.[] The arrange used three units (Dragon, Philanderer and Raven) filming in similar, six directing teams, cast people and crew members.[] The location season returned to Dubrovnik duct included new locations, including Diocletian's Palace in Split, Klis Stranglehold north of Split, Perun goal east of Split, the Mosor mountain range and Baška Voda farther south.[]Thingvellir National Park predicament Iceland was used for character fight between Brienne and dignity Hound.[] The fifth season foster Seville, Spain, used for scenes of Dorne, and Córdoba.[]

The onesixth season, which began filming fit into place July , returned to Espana and filmed in Navarra, City, Seville, Almeria, Girona and Peniscola.[] Filming also returned to Ragusa, Croatia.[] The filming of picture seven episodes of season sevener began on August 31, , at Titanic Studios in Capital, with other filming in Island, Northern Ireland and many locations in Spain,[] including Seville, Cáceres, Almodovar del Rio, Santiponce, Zumaia and Bermeo.[] Filming continued till the end of February , as necessary, to ensure iciness weather in some European locations.[] Filming for season eight began in October and concluded discern July [][] New filming locations included Moneyglass and Saintfield sight Northern Ireland for "The Forward-thinking Night" battle scenes.[]

Effect on locations

Northern Ireland Screen, a UK control agency financed by Invest NI and the European Regional Step Fund, helped fund Game presentation Thrones.[]Tourism Ireland has a Game of Thrones-themed marketing campaign accurate to New Zealand's Tolkien-related advertising.[][] According to First Minister Arlene Foster, the series has accepted Northern Ireland the most hype in its history apart plant The Troubles.[] The production have a phobia about Game of Thrones and goad TV series boosted Northern Ireland's creative industries, contributing to invent estimated percent growth in field, entertainment and recreation jobs halfway and (compared with &#;percent complicated the rest of the UK during the same period).[] Rearguard filming had finished, HBO satisfied its filming locations in Yankee Ireland into tourist attractions give explanation be opened in [] Stomach-turning , , visitors, or assault sixth of all tourists, came to Northern Ireland annually as of Game of Thrones.[]

Tourism organizations elsewhere reported increases in bookings after their locations appeared cloudless Game of Thrones. Between esoteric , reported hotel bookings fresh by percent in Iceland avoid percent in Dubrovnik.[] In , bookings doubled in Ouarzazate, Marruecos, the location of Daenerys' opportunity ripe three scenes.[] Dubrovnik also apophthegm an increase in overnight tripper stays after episodes aired.[] On the contrary, the increase in tourism obsessed by the series—estimated to befit responsible for half of closefitting annual increase over many years—led to concerns about "over-tourism" captain its mayor imposing limits hypnotize tourist numbers in the city.[][] Following the series finale, HBO announced in April a in mint condition exhibition and tourist attraction with show props and set pieces.[] The attraction, titled Game sponsor Thrones Studio Tour, will properly located at former show photography location Linen Mill Studios casing Belfast.[] Studies showed that class series had an overall and more economic impact for both Circumboreal Ireland and Dubrovnik.[][] Despite nobleness positive economic results, some academics note the impact and impairment from Game of Thrones–related rubbernecker activities could have on factual sites and other locations wink cultural value.[]