Much of season two portrayed the war between Stannis and the Lannisters, and it ended with a Lannister victory. When word of Joffrey's true parentage leaked out, Robert's younger brother, Stannis Baratheon, decided that the throne truly belonged to him. His army is made up of Lannister forces, and his lead adviser is his grandfather, Tywin Lannister - the true ruler of Westeros. To keep this from becoming known, Cersei arranged Robert's murder and crowned teenager Joffrey king. It turned out that Cersei was having an affair with her twin brother, Jaime Lannister - and that all of Robert's supposed children, including his heir, Joffrey, were actually fathered by Jaime. These are the families most involved in the battle for the Iron Throne.Īs season one began, the Baratheons and Lannisters ruled together - King Robert Baratheon was married to Queen Cersei Lannister. The most important families to know are the Baratheons, the Lannisters, and the Starks. (Courtesy of HBO)įirst, let's look at the fight to claim the Iron Throne taking place among the major families of Westeros. The lords of Westeros Joffrey Baratheon sits on the Iron Throne. To understand the important moments of the first four seasons, let's break the story into its three major plot lines: What are the basic plot points I need to know going into season five?
#Game of thrones beyond the wall cast series#
The HBO series is only one of many spinoffs from Martin's epic tale, including a comic book, video games, and many historical prequels.
Today, Martin's novels have been translated into 20 languages and have sold more than 24 million copies in the United States alone. The series started off with a small fan base, but as Martin published more books and the scope of his fantasy world grew larger, so did the popularity of his story. Martin kills off prominent favorite characters without flinching, and reveals the hidden inner workings of a society built on violence. The books are filled with blood, revenge, and sex. All five published books are more than 700 pages long, and in the course of the story Martin names more than 1,000 characters. The book was originally intended to be the first part of a trilogy, each following one of the three major plot lines, but as Martin wrote, the story expanded into what he now expects to be a seven-book series. Martin published the first book of the series, Game of Thrones, in 1996. Martin's fantasy book series A Song of Ice and Fire. The story told in Game of Thrones was adapted by series writers David Benioff and D. This explainer is littered with spoilers through the end of season 4.* Where did the show come from? It airs Sunday nights at 9 pm Eastern on HBO.Īs Queen Cersei says in season one, "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. The fifth season of Game of Thrones premiered on April 12, 2015. The show has an ensemble cast that includes Peter Dinklage - who won an Emmy for his role as Tyrion Lannister - Lena Headey, Natalie Dormer, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Aidan Gillen, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Charles Dance, and Maisie Williams. The third plot takes place in the North of Westeros among the Night's Watch, an armed unit that guards the 300-mile-long, 70-foot-tall wall that protects the rest of the continent from the mythical creatures that lurk there. The second follows the rise of Daenerys Targaryen, the last member of an exiled family as she builds an army in Essos to reclaim the throne. The first covers the battle between the lords of the continent of Westeros - most notably members of the Baratheon, Lannister, and Stark families - who are involved in the fight for the Iron Throne. The show is divided into three major plot lines. In show parlance, "sit on the Iron Throne" is a metonym equivalent to "rule Westeros." When the story begins, a decade-long summer is ending, and winter looms as characters battle to claim the "Iron Throne," the seat of the king of the Seven Kingdoms, the regime that rules all but the northern tip of Westeros. The series, which premiered in April 2011, is set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos in a world where seasons stretch on for years. Game of Thrones is an HBO series that tells the story of a medieval country's civil war. Read along to prepare yourself for the Iron Throne.
Whether you need a refresher on the insanity of the last three seasons, or haven't seen a single episode and missed every battle, we've got you covered. The fifth season is currently showing on HBO.
#Game of thrones beyond the wall cast full#
In the four years since Game of Thrones premiered, phrases like "winter is coming" and "valar morghulis" have entered the American lexicon, leaving fans eager for the Sunday-night show full of backstabbing, bloodletting, and fiery dragons.