Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones
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Game of Thrones

"Winter is coming."

8.5
Yr 2011
Status Ended
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Drama Action & Adventure
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Series Brief

Overview

Seven noble families fight for control of the mythical land of Westeros. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the farthest north. Amidst the war, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night's Watch, is all that stands between the realms of men and icy horrors beyond.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 85 /100

Game of Thrones earned significant acclaim for its immersive world-building, complex moral characterizations, and cinematic production values that redefined the scope of television fantasy. Critics praised its daring, multi-stranded narrative structure and its ability to elicit deep emotional investment in a vast ensemble cast, often drawing comparisons to high-prestige dramas like The Sopranos.

However, the show remains polarized by its relentless reliance on graphic violence and explicit sexual content. While some reviewers viewed this through the lens of a gritty, realistic dark fantasy, others questioned whether the show offered truly novel material or if it leaned too heavily on established tropes of the genre. Ultimately, it is recognized as a technically impressive and genre-shifting achievement that challenged viewers' expectations.

“A daring story, filled to the absolute brim with audience contempt, Game of Thrones made us all feel the miseries, ambitions and loves of its entire ensemble.”

“The complex and multilayered storylines, the depiction in shocking scenes of violence and sex and the total disregard for the characters’ lives. The use of epic scenes and immense battlefields, typical of cinema, had never been seen on a TV show before.”

“Game of Thrones has all the elements that lure viewers to shows like The Sopranos.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

HBO Max Amazon Channel
US • UK
HBO Max
US • UK
Crave Amazon Channel
CA
Show 1 more
Crave
CA
Why fans love it

Game of Thrones turns the familiar tropes of fantasy into a brutal study of power and consequence. The series grounds its sprawling world in the harsh choices of its characters, where a misplaced word or a tactical error in the kingdom often results in lethal ramifications. Peter Dinklage anchors the drama among a vast ensemble cast, portraying the internal and external cost of navigating these political minefields.

Beyond the shifting allegiances and royal maneuvering, the show leans into the friction between human ambition and encroaching existential threats. The looming presence of dragons and northern horrors provides a stark contrast to the grounded, often cynical nature of the petty squabbles occurring in the south. This friction between the mundane corruption of rulers and the awakening of ancient, magical forces defines the stakes of the series, shifting the focus from simple kingdom building to the sheer struggle for survival.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 24
Longest run 73 eps
Peter Dinklage
Peter Dinklage
as Tyrion 'The Halfman' Lannister
73 episodes
Kit Harington
Kit Harington
as Jon Snow
73 episodes
Richard Madden
Richard Madden
as Robb Stark
30 episodes
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
as Sir Jaime 'Kingslayer' Lannister
73 episodes
Lena Headey
Lena Headey
as Cersei Lannister
73 episodes
Michelle Fairley
Michelle Fairley
as Catelyn Stark
30 episodes
Emilia Clarke
Emilia Clarke
as Daenerys Targaryen
73 episodes
Liam Cunningham
Liam Cunningham
as Davos Seaworth
63 episodes
Show 67 more
Maisie Williams as Arya Stark 73 episodes Iain Glen as Sir Jorah Mormont 70 episodes Isaac Hempstead Wright as Brandon 'Bran' Stark 73 episodes Aidan Gillen as Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish 60 episodes Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister 35 episodes Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark 73 episodes Jerome Flynn as Bronn 56 episodes John Bradley as Samwell 'Sam' Tarly 68 episodes Rory McCann as Sandor 'The Hound' Clegane 59 episodes Joe Dempsie as Gendry 27 episodes Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy 63 episodes Conleth Hill as Lord Varys 56 episodes Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon 32 episodes Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth 49 episodes Stephen Dillane as Stannis Baratheon 40 episodes Jacob Anderson as Grey Worm 53 episodes Sibel Kekilli as Shae 32 episodes Michiel Huisman as Daario Naharis 25 episodes Jonathan Pryce as High Sparrow 15 episodes Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Snow 19 episodes Rosabell Laurenti Sellers as Tyene Sand 27 episodes Jessica Henwick as Nymeria Sand 27 episodes Keisha Castle-Hughes as Obara Sand 27 episodes Brenock O'Connor as Olly 30 episodes Rupert Vansittart as Yohn Royce 12 episodes Anton Lesser as Qyburn 22 episodes Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson as Gregor 'The Mountain' Clegane 17 episodes Deobia Oparei as Areo Hotah 20 episodes Alexander Siddig as Doran Martell 20 episodes Charlotte Hope as Myranda 40 episodes Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Mace Tyrell 13 episodes Josef Altin as Pypar 13 episodes Owen Teale as Alliser Thorne 19 episodes James Cosmo as Jeor Mormont 18 episodes Carice van Houten as Melisandre 47 episodes Dominic Carter as Janos Slynt 15 episodes Hannah Murray as Gilly 36 episodes Eugene Simon as Lancel Lannister 16 episodes Finn Jones as Sir Loras Tyrell 21 episodes Natalia Tena as Osha 16 episodes Rose Leslie as Ygritte 24 episodes Tom Wlaschiha as Jaqen H'ghar 26 episodes Gemma Whelan as Yara Greyjoy 14 episodes Mark Stanley as Grenn 22 episodes Michael McElhatton as Roose Bolton 25 episodes Ben Crompton as Eddison Tollett 34 episodes Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell 44 episodes Art Parkinson as Rickon Stark 14 episodes Kristian Nairn as Hodor 23 episodes Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne 35 episodes Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell 18 episodes Kristofer Hivju as Tormund Giantsbane 49 episodes Richard Dormer as Beric Dondarrion 13 episodes Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei 46 episodes Ellie Kendrick as Meera Reed 16 episodes Indira Varma as Ellaria Sand 23 episodes Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle 31 episodes Dean-Charles Chapman as Tommen Baratheon 19 episodes Ian Whyte as Wun Wun 14 episodes Ian McElhinney as Barristan Selmy 25 episodes Brian Fortune as Othell Yarwyck 14 episodes Donald Sumpter as Maester Luwin 14 episodes Ron Donachie as Rodrik Cassel 13 episodes Ian Beattie as Meryn Trant 18 episodes Esmé Bianco as Ros 14 episodes Amrita Acharia as Irri 13 episodes Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo 20 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Director of Photography
P.J. Dillon Matthew Jensen Alik Sakharov Jonathan Freeman Marco Pontecorvo Robert McLachlan David Katznelson
Set Decoration
Richard Roberts Tina Jones
Art Department Coordinator
Joanne Hall
Supervising Art Director
Paul Ghirardani
Production Design
Gemma Jackson
Art Direction
Thomas Brown Tom McCullagh Simon McGuire Ashleigh Jeffers Hauke Richter Philip Elton Heather Greenlees
Graphic Designer
Liz Colbert
Assistant Art Director
Max Berman
Still Photographer
Paul Schiraldi
Additional Director of Photography
Kate Reid
"C" Camera Operator
Simon Finney
Art Department Assistant
Haukur Karlsson
Concept Artist
Steve Summersgill Kimberly Pope
Additional Photography
Fabian Wagner
Assistant Set Decoration
Gordon Grant
Standby Art Director
Mark Lowry
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Game of Thrones overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

based on novel or book kingdom dragon king intrigue fantasy world
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
April 17, 2011
Status
Ended
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
27,527