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It can be read as a Game for Thrones, which is more specific about the goal of the game: to acquire power (as represented by thrones), and ultimately control of Westeros (as represented by the Iron Throne).
Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin, the first of which is A Game of Thrones.
May 12, 2017 · Because Game of Thrones basically has its own language (actually, it has a few). So whether you're new to the show or just need a refresher, here is an A-Z of Thrones terms that may be confusing...
- Emily Badiozzaman
- Overview
- Premise and plot
- Reception and cultural impact
Game of Thrones, American fantasy television series created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, based on the Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R.R. Martin. The HBO series ran for eight seasons between 2011 and 2019 and became one of the most acclaimed programs of all time. A critical darling and cultural phenomenon, the series had a profound effec...
Game of Thrones follows a large cast of characters and interwoven story arcs. It is primarily set on the fictional continent of Westeros, which is divided into the Seven Kingdoms and the lands in the far North beyond “the Wall,” an enormous wall of fortified ice. The Seven Kingdoms is a realm composed of seven once independent kingdoms that have been, to greater or lesser degrees, unified under a single monarch, who sits on the Iron Throne. The planet on which Westeros is found has seasons of variable lengths, with summers and winters often lasting for many years.
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Game of Thrones
The series focuses on several noble houses of Westeros and a complicated, multiparty war for the Iron Throne that features shifting conflicts, alliances, and betrayals. Key houses include the Starks, who rule in the North; the Lannisters, a wealthy family from the West who have married into the royal line; the Baratheons, who at the outset hold the Iron Throne; and the Targaryens, who once controlled the Iron Throne using dragons but who have been nearly wiped out by the time the story begins.
Season one of Game of Thrones premiered to positive critical reaction, which cited the rich and complex storytelling, sensational production values, and stellar cast. This acclaim became almost universal in subsequent seasons, as the show both found its feet creatively and became a cultural phenomenon. Game of Thrones won more Emmy nominations and awards than any other drama series in Emmy history. In all, it garnered 159 Emmy Award nominations and 59 wins, including 4 wins for outstanding drama series and Dinklage’s 4 wins for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series.
Ratings for the series grew throughout its run, and the final season reached an average of 46 million viewers per episode. The intense popularity of the show along with its fantasy iconography made it a merchandising juggernaut, with some estimates putting its merchandising revenue at upward of $2 billion. Names from Game of Thrones—including Daenerys, Khaleesi, Arya, Lyanna, Brienne, and Renly—became popular for babies born during the show’s run. The show’s popularity also generated scholarly interest in the fantasy genre and the medieval period that had inspired it, evidenced by the appearance of college classes dedicated to examining the show, the books, and their inspirations. Despite its popularity, the show has been criticized for its extreme and graphic violence, especially its portrayal of sexual violence. Numerous major women characters are the victims of rape or attempted rape, a plot device that many have denounced as gratuitous and exploitative.
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Despite its large viewership, the final season of Game of Thrones was less beloved by critics and audiences than the show’s earlier seasons. Critical reaction and audience ratings began to waver slightly in season five, at which point the show had begun to run out of material from Martin’s unfinished book series to adapt, but generally remained strong. Season eight, however, was widely criticized as rushed, sacrificing story and character arcs for a focus on massive set pieces. The series finale was especially controversial and unsatisfying for many viewers.
Though ending on a low note hurt the legacy of the series for some, a spin-off series, House of the Dragon, premiered on HBO in 2022 and was both critically and commercially successful.
- Stephen Eldridge
Premise. Trouble is brewing in Westeros. For the inhabitants of this world, control of the Iron Throne holds the lure of great power. But in a land where seasons can last a lifetime, winter is coming...and beyond the Great Wall that protects them, a forgotten evil has returned.
Explore the terms George R.R. Martin uses throughout the Game of Thrones realm, including characters, locations, items, and more.
Game of Thrones: Created by David Benioff, D.B. Weiss. With Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke. Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.
Recruit characters from the series. Build your base and expand your territory
