Game of Thrones is one of the most popular as well as the most watched TV series in the world. It has won many Emmy Awards and is also one of the highest grossing TV drama series to date.
The popularity of the show is such that there are numerous websites dedicated to it and fans have created several threads discussing each episode in details and coming up with theories, some of which have come true. Based on the poplar Fantasy Novel Series, A Song of Ice and Fire by GRRM Martin, the Game of Thrones series has created a world so vast and rich that it almost seems like it is real. Like the fantasy giant Harry Potter, the Game of Thrones also has a cult like following all over the world. The book itself is one of the bestsellers of all time and has been translated into several languages all around the world.
If you truly want to know what the Game of Thrones world is like (in case you are a newbie to the series) you will have to dive right into its vast world and explore the story as it happens.
Let’s explore the world of Game of Thrones through its first six seasons. The show is running and in its seventh season.
Season 1
The story begins in the fictional continent called Westeros where summers are really long and winters are even longer lasting several years sometimes. Westeros has seven kingdoms ruled by the one King. The current king is Robert Baratheon who is marching north to his friend and warden of the North Eddard Stark. The king wishes to fill up the vacant position of King’s Hand, who has the power to act in the name of King and pass judgment in the absence of the king. Eddard Stark is initially reluctant to take the position, but when he learns that the previous Hand, Jon Arryn (also the husband of his sister-in-law) was murdered, he decides to take up position to unravel the truth. Eddard Stark’s youngest son Brandon sees Cersei and Jamie Lannister together (they are brother and sister) and he is thrown from the tower and is crippled. King Baratheon dies while hunting and Eddard discovers the truth about his wife Cersei and her brother Jamie Lannister who are in an incestuous relationship. The children are not of Robert’s and Eddard tries to prevent Joffrey from ascending the throne only to be thrown into the prison on the charges of treason. Meanwhile, the excelled children of the previous king Aerys, Viserys Targaryen and Daenerys Targaryen are living in another continent, Ethos, and plan to take the crown back. Viserys Targaryen arranges the marriage of his sister to Dokhrati head Khal Drogo in the hope that his army will help him take over Westeros.
In the North, there is an ice wall over seven hundred feet tall that protects the whole of Westeros from danger that hasn’t been seen for centuries. The season ends with the death of Eddard Stark and his children going different ways.
Season 2
The second season starts with the Westerosi world at war. Eddard Stark’s eldest son Robb Stark rises in rebellion against his father’s imprisonment and death. His sisters Sansa is taken as prisoner and Arya escapes. Theon Greyjoy a ward of Lord Eddard betrays Robb Stark when he is sent to convince his father who is planning to overtake the north, to support Robb. Meanwhile, Robert Baratheon’s brothers Renly and Stannis both make a claim to the throne. Cersei and Jamie’s younger brother Tyrion Lannister arrive in the King’s Landing as a Hand to the King. A mysterious priestess Melisandre, from the east, who believes Stannis is meant to be the rightful king helps him in the war. In the Ethos Daenerys Targaryen manages to hatch the only three dragons in the world. The khal is dead and she becomes the leader of the followers and pledges to take back Westeros with her three dragons.
In the Wall, the night brothers, who also include the bastard son of Eddard Stark, go on an expedition to find the lost brothers and discover the truth about the dead walkers.
Season 3
Westeros is gripped by civil war with several leaders claiming to be the rightful king. Renly Baratheon gets killed and changes the direction of the war games. Meanwhile Stannis declares war and attacks the king’s landing but is defeated. While Robb Stark is busy fighting the war, his home in the North is attacked and seized by the Ironborns, Theon Greyjoy. Robb breaks his promise to a marriage alliance with the House Frey by marrying someone else.
Meanwhile, Sansa is engaged to Joffrey and finds her life difficult. Arya is travelling throughout Westeros to go back to her home in the North. Brandon Stark discovers his destiny lies somewhere else now that he is a crippled. With the help of Meera and her brother, Brandon, goes on in the search of the three-eyed raven who is beckoning him to come to him since he feels down.
The dragons are growing strong and Daenerys Targaryen is on the new mission to free Ethos of slavery. In the North the White walkers are getting stronger and Jon Snow must filtrate the Wildlings (people living beyond the wall) to uncover the truth. The wildlings or the free folks are also trying to climb the wall to cross over to the other side.
Season 4
Punished for his betrayal and betrayed by his own banner men, Robb Stark is killed along with his mother Catelyn Stark. House Frey is promised the rule of Rivverrun for their contribution by the Lannisters even though Rivverrun is still under the hold of Bardyn Tully, Robb’s uncle. Ramsay Bolton defeats Theon Greyjoy and takes over the Winterfell and tortures Theon. Stannis Baratheon seething from the defeat at the Blackwater bay now turns towards North, to the Wall on the insistence of priestess Melisandre.
House Tyrel which previously rallied behind Renly Baratheon has now sided with the Lannisters and Margery is now to be married to Joffrey instead of Sansa. In the Ethos, Daenerys Targaryen is growing ever so powerful and taking over the continent with her army of unsullied and three fast growing dragons. In the wall, the war is going on between the outnumbered black bothers and blood thirsty wildlings. The common enemy the white walkers are now gathering a huge army and marching towards the wall and eventually to the Westeros. Brandon Stark with Hodor, Jojena and Meera continue their journey beyond the wall in search of the three eyed raven.
Season 5
As the war in the Westeros seems to be over, King’s Landing is preparing for the wedding of Margery and Joffrey. But, Joffrey is poisoned on his wedding day and Tyrion Lannister is accused of murdering him. Sansa runs away with the help of Petyr Baelish, childhood friend of her mother. Tyrion Lannister kills his own father while escaping and travels to Ethos. Now that Tommen Lannister is the new king, Margery is married to him. Both Cersei and Margaery Tyrell try to control Tommen and in the process, end up in the prison of the Sparrows, a radical group of people who take over the Great Sept of Baelor. Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger gets Sansa married to Ramsay Bolton so that they can take control of the North. Arya Stark arrives in Braavos in Ethos and begins training with the Faceless Men, guided by Jaqen H'ghar , who she met on her way from King’s Landing.
In the Wall Jon tries to rescue people from the White walkers no matter who they are. This does not go well with his people and they see him as a traitor and lure him and stab him to death.
Season 6
Season six starts with lot of revelations. Sansa escapes Ramsay Bolton’s rape and torture with the help of Theon Greyjoy and they start their journey towards the Wall. Jon Snow is brought back to life by the priestess Melisandre. Jon punished those who betrayed him and decides to leave the wall. Sansa is reunited with Jon in the Wall. They both plan to take over Winterfell from the Boltons.
Beyond the Wall Brandon has found the three-eyed raven, a man bound to a magical tree for hundreds of years and he can see the past and the future. He teaches Brandon how to use the vision and Brandon realizes he is destined to be the next three-eyed raven. In one of his visions he sees that Jon Snow is not the Bastard son of Lord Eddard but a legitimate son of Lyana Stark and Rhaegar Targaryan, making him the rightful king of the Westeros.
In the King’s Landing, Cersei Lannister pays for her “sins” before she is released. Margaery was to follow suit but is saved when Tommen forges an alliance with the Sparrows saving her from the humiliation. Cersei unable to deal with the defeat, plan a deadly revenge that kills everyone from Margery to the Sparrow leader. But, in her quest Cersei loses her son Tommen who commits suicide.
Daenerys Targaryen, now with a large army, and Tyrion Lannister as her advisor sails for Westeros.
Game of Thrones has such a staggering number of fans all around the world that there is no surprise that there is a wide range of merchandise to its name. You will find cool t-shirt designs of Game of Throne theme and you can choose your own favorite house.