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{{about|the TV series|the novel|A Game of Thrones|other works of the same name|A Game of Thrones (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox television
|show_name = Game of Thrones
|image = ]
|genre = ]<br />]<br />]
|format = ]
|creator = ]<br />]
|starring = <!--Do not add cast without consensus on the talk page-->see ]
|composer = ]
|country = United States
|language = English
|num_seasons = 3 <!-- Only update after a new season begins -->
|num_episodes = 25 <!-- Only update after a new episode airs -->
|list_episodes = List of Game of Thrones episodes
|executive_producer = David Benioff<br />D. B. Weiss<br />Frank Doelger<br />]<br />]<br />]
|editor = Oral Norrey Ottey<br />Frances Parker<br />Martin Nicholson<br />Katie Weiland
|location = <!-- Per ] we do not wikilink the names of countries. -->Northern Ireland<br />Malta<br />Croatia<br />Iceland<br />Morocco<br />Scotland<br />United States<ref name="USA Today March 30, 2012">{{cite web |url=http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/story/2012-04-01/Where-the-HBO-hit-Game-of-Thrones-was-filmed/53876876/1 |title=Where HBO's hit 'Game of Thrones' was filmed |work=USA Today |first=Josh |last=Roberts |date=April 1, 2012 |accessdate=March 8, 2013}}</ref><ref name="gotfactsheet"/><ref name="gotlosangeles">{{cite web |title='Game of Thrones' casts a bear and shoots in Los Angeles for major Season 3 scene |last=Schwartz |first=Terri |date=January 28, 2013 |work=Zap2it |publisher=Tribune Media Services, Inc. |url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2013/01/game-of-thrones-casts-a-bear-and-shoots-in-los-angeles-for-major-season-3-scene.html |accessdate=March 8, 2013}}</ref>
|camera = ]
|runtime = 51–63 minutes
|channel = ]
|picture_format = ] (])<br />] (])
|audio_format = ] 5.1
|first_aired = {{Start date|2011|4|17}}
|last_aired = present
|website = http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones
|production_website = http://www.makinggameofthrones.com/
}}
'''''Game of Thrones''''' is an American <!--Awards/nominations do not go here--> ] television drama series created for ] by ] and ]. It is an adaptation of '']'', ]'s series of fantasy novels, the first of which is titled '']''. Filmed in a ] studio and on location elsewhere in Northern Ireland, Malta, Croatia, Iceland, and Morocco, it premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011. The series has been renewed for a fourth season, to air in 2014.<ref name="season 4 renewal">{{Cite web|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/04/02/game-of-thrones-renewed-4-season/|work=Entertainment Weekly|title='Game of Thrones' renewed for season 4|last=Hibberd|first=James|date=April 2, 2013|accessdate=April 2, 2013}}</ref>

The series, set on the fictional continents of ] at the end of a decade-long summer, interweaves several plot lines. The first follows the members of several noble houses in a civil war for the ] of the Seven Kingdoms; the second covers the rising threat of the impending winter and the mythical creatures of the North; the third chronicles the attempts of the exiled last scion of the realm's deposed dynasty to reclaim the throne. Through its morally ambiguous characters, the series explores issues of social hierarchy, religion, civil war, sexuality, crime, and punishment. It is the most recent big-budget work to have contributed to the popularity of the fantasy genre in mainstream media.

''Game of Thrones'' has obtained an exceptionally broad and active international ]. It received widespread acclaim by critics, although its use of nudity has been criticized.<!-- See the "critical reception" section for references. The lead is a summary and as such is normally not footnoted. --> The series won numerous awards and nominations — including two ], a ], a ] in Long Form, and a ]. Among the ensemble cast, ] won the ] and the ] for his role as ].

==Plot==
{{main|List of Game of Thrones episodes}}
{{See also|A Song of Ice and Fire#Plot_synopsis|l1=Synopsis of A Song of Ice and Fire}}
The series roughly follows the multiple storylines of the ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' series.<ref name="grrmhbooptions">{{cite web| title=HBO options Ice & Fire | last=Martin | first=George R. R. |date=January 18, 2007 |publisher=GeorgeRRMartin.com | url=http://www.georgerrmartin.com/hbo-options-ice-fire/ |accessdate=March 31, 2013}}</ref> Set in the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, ''Game of Thrones'' chronicles the violent dynastic struggles among the realm's noble families for control of the Iron Throne. As the series opens, additional threats are beginning to rise in the icy North and in the eastern continent of Essos.<ref name="gotfactsheet">{{cite web |title=From HBO | last=Martin | first=George R. R. | date=July 16, 2010 | work=Not a Blog | publisher=LiveJournal| url=http://grrm.livejournal.com/164794.html |accessdate=March 14, 2013}}</ref>

The settings, characters and plot elements of the novels and the TV series are derived from a very broad range of periods in European history.<ref name="The Guardian 24 March 2013">{{cite news|last=Holland|first=Tom|title='Game of Thrones is more brutally realistic than most historical novels'|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2013/mar/24/game-of-thrones-realistic-history|accessdate=March 24, 2013|newspaper=]|date=March 24, 2013}}</ref> A principal inspiration for the novels was the English ]<ref>{{cite news|last=Orr|first=David|title=Dragons Ascendant: George R. R. Martin and the Rise of Fantasy|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/books/review/george-r-r-martin-and-the-rise-of-fantasy.html?pagewanted=all|accessdate=March 24, 2013|newspaper=New York Times|date=August 12, 2011|quote=Martin’s books are essentially the War of the Roses with magic}}</ref> (1455–85) between the houses of ] and ], reflected in Martin's houses of ] and ]. Most of Westeros, with its castles and knightly tournaments, is based on ] Western Europe. The scheming Cersei, for instance, calls to mind ] (1295–1358), the "she-wolf of France".<ref name="The Guardian 24 March 2013" /> But the series also combines such varied inspirations as ] (which became Martin's great Wall), the ] and the legend of ] (ancient ]), Byzantine "]" ("wildfire"), Icelandic ]s of the ] (the ]) and the ] hordes (the ]), as well as elements from the ] (1337–1453) and the ] (c. 1400–1500). The series' great popularity has in part been attributed to Martin's skill at fusing these disparate elements into a seamless whole that appears credible on its own terms as an alternative history.<ref name="The Guardian 24 March 2013" />

==Cast and characters==
{{main|List of Game of Thrones characters}}
] (Ned Stark) received top ] in the first season.]]
] (Tyrion Lannister) led the principal cast in seasons 2 and 3.]]
Like the novels it adapts, ''Game of Thrones'' has a sprawling ensemble cast, estimated to be the largest on television.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hibberd|first=James|title='Game of Thrones' scoop: Season 3 character list revealed -- EXCLUSIVE|work=Entertainment Weekly|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/05/29/game-of-throne-season-3-cast/|accessdate=March 5, 2013|date=May 29, 2012}}</ref> During the production of the third season, 257 cast names were recorded.<ref name="Making Game of Thrones 2 November 2012">{{cite web|title=Season 3: By the Numbers|url=http://www.makinggameofthrones.com/production-diary/2012/11/2/season-3-by-the-numbers.html|work=Making Game of Thrones|publisher=HBO|accessdate=November 3, 2012|date=November 2, 2012}}</ref> The following overview reduces the ] to those played by the actors credited as part of the main cast.<ref>{{cite press|title=More Details on the Return of ''Game of Thrones''|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=101453|publisher=HBO (via ComingSoon.net)|accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref>

Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark (]) is the head of the Stark family whose members are involved in most of the series's intertwined plot lines. He and his wife Catelyn Tully (]) have five children which include the eldest, Robb (]), the dainty Sansa (]), the tomboy Arya (]), the adventurous Bran (]) and the youngest, Rickon. Among the family's outsiders are Ned's hostage and ward Theon Greyjoy (]), Robb's lover, the healer Talisa Maegyr (]), and Arya's friend, blacksmith's apprentice Gendry (]).

Ned's ] son Jon Snow (]) and his friend Samwell Tarly (]) serve in the Night's Watch under Lord Commander Jeor Mormont (]). The red-haired Ygritte (]) is one of the Wildling foes that they guard the ancient northern Wall against.

Ned's old friend King Robert Baratheon (]) shares a loveless marriage with Queen Cersei Lannister (]). Cersei has taken her twin, the "Kingslayer" Ser Jaime Lannister<!-- Yes, it's spelled with an 'E'. It's Ser, not Sir --> (]) as her secret lover. She loathes her younger brother, the clever dwarf Tyrion Lannister (]), who is attended by his secret mistress Shae (]) and the sellsword Bronn (]). Her father is the fabulously wealthy Lord Tywin Lannister (]) and her oldest child is the crown prince Joffrey Baratheon (]), who is guarded by the scarfaced warrior Sandor "the Hound" Clegane (]).

The king's "Small Council" of advisors includes the crafty Master of Coin, Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish (]), the eunuch Master of Whisperers, Lord Varys (]) and Robert's brother Stannis Baratheon (]) as Master of Ships. Stannis is advised by the foreign priestess Melisandre (]) and the former smuggler Ser Davos Seaworth (]). The ambitious noblewoman ] (]) works to join with the royal family.

Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, siblings Viserys (]) and Daenerys Targaryen (]) – the exiled children of the king overthrown by Robert Baratheon – are on the run for their lives, trying to win back the throne. Daenerys has been married to Khal Drogo (]), the leader of the nomadic Dothraki, and is guarded by the exiled knight Ser Jorah Mormont (]).

==Production==
{{see also|1=Game of Thrones (season 1)|label 1=Season 1|2=Game of Thrones (season 2)|label 2=Season 2|3=Game of Thrones (season 3)|label 3=Season 3}}

===Conception and development===
The series began development in January 2007.<ref name="variety2007-01">{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Michael|title =HBO turns ''Fire'' into fantasy series|work=Variety |date =January 16, 2007|accessdate=March 2, 2010|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117957532.html?categoryid=14&cs=1|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20120516224747/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117957532?refCatId=14|archivedate=May 16, 2012}}</ref> HBO, after acquiring the rights to the novels with the intent of turning them into a cable television series, hired David Benioff and D. B. Weiss to write and executive produce the series, which would cover one novel's worth of material per season.<ref name="variety2007-01"/> Initially, it was planned that Benioff and Weiss would write every episode save one per season, which author and co-executive producer George R. R. Martin was attached to write.<ref name="variety2007-01"/><ref name="d&dlocationages">{{cite web | last =Benioff | first =David | coauthors = D. Weiss | title =Hello from Benioff and Weiss | publisher=Westeros|work= A Song of Ice and Fire | date=November 19, 2008 | url= http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/32275-hello-from-benioff-and-weiss/page__st__40__p__1593863#entry1593863}}</ref> ] and Bryan Cogman were later added to each write one episode of the first season.<ref name="gotfactsheet"/>

"'']'' in ]" is the tagline Benioff jokingly suggested for the television adaptation, referring to its intrigue-filled content and dark tone combined with a fantasy setting.<ref name="q&anymag">{{Cite news | last=Kachka | first=Boris | title=Dungeon Master: David Benioff | work=New York Magazine | publisher=New York Media| date=May 18, 2008 | url= http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/47040/ |accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> In a 2012 study, the series was listed second out of 40 recent U.S. TV drama series by deaths per episode, with an average of 14.<ref>{{cite news|title='Game of Thrones' Topped by 'Spartacus: Vengeance' as TV's Deadliest Series|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/game-thrones-spartacus-vengeance-deadliest-shows-327911|accessdate=May 23, 2012|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Funeralwise|title=2011 Fall TV Body Count Study Results: Summary, Background & Methodology|url=http://www.funeralwise.com/tv-body-count-study-results|date=May 21, 2012|accessdate=May 23, 2012}}</ref> Traditional ] is described as generally incidental to the series, with HBO programming chief Michael Lombardo finding the storytelling appealing rather than the low-key magic or the exotic milieu, in spite of the network's new developmental policy to " shots at shows that we wouldn't have taken a shot at five years ago".<ref name="tlfincidental">{{cite news| last=Hibberd |first=James |work=The Hollywood Reporter | title=HBO: 'Game of Thrones' dailies 'look fantastic' | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/hbo-game-thrones-dailies-fantastic-52924 | date=January 14, 2010| accessdate=July 24, 2010}}</ref><ref name="ewhbonewpolicy">{{Cite news |last=Rice |first=Lynette |title=A Network Gets Its Bite Back |journal=Entertainment Weekly |date=January 1, 2010 | url= http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20333840,00.html |accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref>

The budget of ''Game of Thrones'' has been compared to that of the TV series ''].''<ref name="ewhbonewpolicy"/> The pilot reportedly cost HBO between {{US$|5 and 10 million}},<ref name="tlfincidental"/> and the total budget for the first season has been estimated at {{US$|50–60 million}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/game-thrones-by-numbers-178659|title='Game of Thrones' by The Numbers|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|date=April 14, 2011|work=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=April 14, 2011}}</ref> In the second season, the show obtained a 15% increase in budget in order to be able to stage the most important battle in the "clash of kings," the civil war that is the season's focus.<ref>{{cite news|title=This Week's Cover: 'Game of Thrones,' the battle to make season 2 epic|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/03/14/game-of-thrones-ew-cover-2/|accessdate=March 18, 2012|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 14, 2012}}</ref>

The first and second drafts of the ] script, written by Benioff and Weiss, were submitted in August 2007<ref name="pwinterview">{{cite news | last =Hudson | first = Laura | title =Talking with George R. R. Martin Part 2 | publisher=Publishers Weekly | date =August 14, 2007 | url = http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6468840.html%20Publishers%20Weekly%20interview |accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> and June 2008,<ref name="notablog1">{{cite web |title=Ice & Fire on HBO | last=Martin | first=George R. R. | date=June 13, 2008 | work=Not a Blog | publisher=LiveJournal | url=http://grrm.livejournal.com/2008/06/13/}}</ref> respectively. While HBO found both drafts to their liking,<ref name="notablog1"/><ref name="ewq&a">{{cite news | last =Kirschling | first = Gregory | title =By George! |work=Entertainment Weekly | date=November 27, 2007 | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20161804,00.html |accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> a pilot was not ordered until November 2008,<ref name="THR 2008-11-11">{{cite news |title=HBO orders fantasy pilot ''Thrones'' |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Jame |last=Hibberd |date=November 11, 2008 |url=http://www.thrfeed.com/blogs/live-feed/hbo-orders-fantasy-pilot-thrones-50937 |accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref> with the ] possibly delaying the process.<ref name="ewq&a"/>

HBO hired expert language creator David J. Peterson from the ] to develop the ] – "possessing its own unique sound, extensive vocabulary of more than 1,800 words and complex grammatical structure" – to be used in the series.<ref name="timetunedin">{{cite web | title = Today in Fictional-Language News: HBO Speaks Dothraki |work=TIME |first=James |last=Poniewozik | date = April 12, 2010 | url = http://entertainment.time.com/2010/04/12/today-in-fictional-language-news-hbo-speaks-dothraki/ |accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> For season 3, Peterson also developed the ], spoken in doomed ] and its former colonies in ], based on the few words Martin invented for the novels.<ref name="Vulture 23 April 2013">{{cite news|last=Martin|first=Denise|title=Learn to Speak Dothraki and Valyrian From the Man Who Invented Them for Game of Thrones|url=http://www.vulture.com/2013/04/game-of-thrones-dothraki-language-inventor.html|accessdate=April 24, 2013|newspaper=Vulture|date=April 23, 2013}}</ref>

===Adaptation schedule===
]s ] and ] intend to adapt the entirety of the still incomplete ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' novel series, if HBO permits it. They envision the series to have a scope of some 80 hours, about eight seasons' worth of material.<ref name="Mother Jones March 2013">{{cite web | url=http://www.motherjones.com/media/2013/03/hbo-game-thrones-season-3-interview-david-benioff-dan-weiss | title="Game of Thrones" Creators on Shark, Sexposition, and Season 3 | work=] | date=March 2013 | accessdate=March 8, 2013 | author=Mechanic, Michael}}</ref> However, Benioff and Weiss have no stated intention of padding ''Game of Thrones'' out so as to wait for George R.R. Martin (who has taken up to six years to write an installment of ''A Song of Ice and Fire'') to finish writing the last two novels. Knowing the broad outlines of Martin's intended ending for ''A Song of Ice and Fire'', and concerned that extending ''Game of Thrones'' to ten seasons would kill its sense of momentum, they consider it possible (if not preferable) that the TV series ends before the last novel is published.<ref>{{cite news|last=Anders|first=Charlie Jane|title=What happens when Game of Thrones runs out of books to adapt?|url=http://io9.com/what-happens-when-em-game-of-thrones-em-runs-out-of-453871355|accessdate=March 16, 2013|newspaper=]|date=March 15, 2013}}</ref>

As of 2013, four seasons have been ordered, and three have been filmed:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Season !! Ordered !! Filming !! Premiere !! Novel adapted
|-
| ] || March 2, 2010<ref>{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Maureen|title=HBO picks up 'Game of Thrones'; first picture, cast list|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2010/03/game-of-thrones-hbo-george-rr-martin-.html|accessdate=May 15, 2012|work=Chicago Tribune|date=March 2, 2010}}</ref> || Second half of 2010 || April 17, 2011 || '']''
|-
| ] || April 19, 2011 || Second half of 2011 || April 1, 2012 || '']''
|-
| ] || April 10, 2012 || Second half of 2012 || March 31, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/13/game-of-thrones-season-3-premiere-date_n_1672521.html|title='Game of Thrones" Season 3 Premiere Date, Casting News and More Highlights from Comic-Con Panel|last=Prudom|first=Laura|work=The Huffington Post|date=July 13, 2012|accessdate=July 13, 2012}}</ref>||| About the first half of '']''<ref>{{cite news|last=Hibberd|first=James|title='Game of Thrones' showrunners on season 2, splitting Book 3 and their hope for a 70-hour epic|page=3|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/03/30/game-of-thrones-showrunners-season-2/3/|accessdate=April 10, 2012|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 30, 2012}}</ref>
|-
| Season 4 || April 2, 2013<ref name="season 4 renewal" /> || Second half of 2013 || 2014<ref name="CraveOnline">{{cite news|last=Marnell|first=Blair|title=HBO Orders ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 4|url=http://www.craveonline.com/tv/articles/472867-hbo-orders-game-of-thrones-season-4|accessdate=April 4, 2013|work=Crave Online|date=April 2, 2013}}</ref>|| About the second half of '']''<ref name="CraveOnline"></ref>
|}

Seasons 1 and 2 each adapted one novel. For the later seasons, the creators conceive of ''Game of Thrones'' as an adaptation of ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' as a whole, rather than of individual novels.<ref name="Rolling Stone 20 March 2013">{{cite news|last=Collins|first=Sean T.|title=Q&A: 'Game of Thrones' Insider Bryan Cogman on the Biggest Season Yet|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/q-a-game-of-thrones-insider-bryan-cogman-on-the-biggest-season-yet-20130320?print=true|accessdate=March 24, 2013|newspaper=Rolling Stone|date=March 20, 2013}}</ref> This gives them the liberty to move events back and forth across books according to the requirements of the screen adaptation.<ref name="EW.com March 30, 2012">{{cite news|last=Hibberd|first=James|title='Game of Thrones' showrunners on season 2, splitting Book 3 and their hope for a 70-hour epic|page=2|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/03/30/game-of-thrones-showrunners-season-2/2/|accessdate=April 10, 2012|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 30, 2012}}</ref>

The four seasons ordered so far each consist of ten episodes. Most episodes from the first and second season run for about 52 minutes, while many of the third season's episodes are 56 or 57 minutes long. The series' pilot and the second season finale run for more than an hour, as is also likely for the third season's finale.<ref name="CraveOnline"></ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hibberd|first=James|title='Game of Thrones' gets super-sized season 3|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/12/18/game-of-thrones-longer-season-3/|accessdate=December 18, 2012|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=December 18, 2012}}</ref>

===Filming===
] of ] stands in for King's Landing in Season 2]]
] was redressed as the port of Pyke on the Iron Islands]]
] in Malta used in Season 1]]
Principal photography for the first season was scheduled to begin on July 26, 2010.<ref name="gotfactsheet"/> The primary location was the ] in ], Northern Ireland.<ref name="nigov">{{cite press release | title = HBO to film TV pilot in Belfast, Northern Ireland | publisher=Northern Ireland Executive | date = April 21, 2009 | url = http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/news-ofmdfm/news-ofmdfm-210409-hbo-to-film.htm |accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> Exterior scenes in Northern Ireland were filmed at Sandy Brae in the ] (standing in for Vaes Dothrak), ] (Winterfell), Saintfield Estates (the Winterfell godswood), ] (outdoor scenes), ] (the execution site), ] quarry (Castle Black) and at ] (the tourney grounds).<ref name="USA Today March 30, 2012"/> ] in Stirling, Scotland, was also used in the original pilot episode for exterior and interior scenes at Winterfell.<ref name="BBC News October 23, 2009">{{cite news|title=Medieval keep becomes film set|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/8322843.stm|accessdate=April 11, 2012|publisher=BBC News|date=October 23, 2009}}</ref>

The first season's southern scenes were filmed in ], a change in location from the sets in ] used for the pilot episode.<ref name="gotfactsheet"/> The city of ] was used for scenes in King's Landing, and filming also took place at ] (representing the Sept of Baelor), at the ] on the island of ] (the Dothraki wedding site), and at ], ], ] and St. Dominic monastery (all used for scenes in the Red Keep).<ref name="USA Today March 30, 2012" />

For the second season, shooting of the Southern scenes shifted from Malta to ], where the city of ] and its ] allowed exterior shots of a seaside walled medieval city. Dubrovnik and ] were used for scenes in King's Landing and the Red Keep, and the island of ], St. Dominic monastery and the ] as well as the ] quarry for scenes in Qarth. Scenes set north of the Wall, in the Frostfangs and at the Fist of the First Men, were filmed in ] in November 2011, on the ] glacier and near ] and ] on ].<ref name="USA Today March 30, 2012" />

The third season returned to ], including the city of ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westeros.org/GoT/News/Entry/More_Glimpses_of_Season_3 |title=More Glimpses of Season 3 |publisher=Westeros.org |date=October 17, 2012 |accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> to film Daenerys's scenes in Essos. The production employed three units ("Dragon", "Wolf" and "Raven") filming in parallel, six directing teams, 257 cast members and 703 crew members.<ref name="Making Game of Thrones 2 November 2012" /> One scene featuring a live bear, ], was filmed in ].<ref name="gotlosangeles"/>

===Costuming===
The show's costumes are inspired by many cultures, such as ] and ]. Dothraki outfits resemble that of the ] (one was made out of fish skins to resemble dragon scales), and the Wildlings wear fur side in and skin side out like the ].{{r|wischhover20120604}} Wildling bone armor is made of molds taken of real bones and assembled with string and latex resembling ].<ref name="snead20120611">{{cite news | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/fash-track/game-thrones-michelle-clapton-costume-designer-emmy-335607 | title='Game of Thrones' Designer Michelle Clapton's Secret Source for Wildling Bones: eBay | work=The Hollywood Reporter | date=June 11, 2012 | accessdate=June 11, 2012 | author=Snead, Elizabeth}}</ref> While extras who portray Wildlings and the Night's Watch wear hats as would be normal in a cold climate, main actors usually do not so viewers can identify the characters. ]'s ] high-neckline dresses inspired Dormer's unusual funnel-neck outfit, and prostitute costumes are designed to be quickly removed.{{r|wischhover20120604}} All clothing, whether for Wildlings or for women at the royal court, is aged for two weeks to improve realism on high-definition television.{{r|snead20120611}}

About two dozen wigs are used for actors such as Headey, Dormer, Van Houten, and Clarke. Made of human hair and up to two feet in length, they cost up to $7,000 each and are washed and styled like real hair. Applying the wigs is a lengthy process; Clarke, for example, requires about two hours to style her brunette hair with a platinum-blonde wig and braids. Other actors such as Gleeson and Turner receive frequent haircoloring. For characters such as Clarke and her Dothrakis, hair, wigs, and costumes are processed so they appear as if they have not been washed in weeks.<ref name="wischhover20120604">{{cite web | url=http://fashionista.com/2012/06/game-of-thrones-hair-and-wardrobe-secrets-revealed/ | title=Game of Thrones‘ Hair and Wardrobe Secrets Revealed | work=Fashionista | date=June 4, 2012 | accessdate=June 6, 2012 | author=Wischhover, Cheryl}}</ref>

===Effect on location===
''Game of Thrones'' receives funding from ], a government agency financed by ] and the ].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Northern Ireland Screen|title=Game of Thrones season 3 to film in Northern Ireland|url=http://northernirelandscreen.co.uk/news/2919/game-of-thrones-season-3-to-film-in-northern-ireland.aspx|accessdate=April 12, 2012|date=April 12, 2012}}</ref> {{asof|2013|04}} Northern Ireland Screen has awarded the show £9.25 million and according to government estimates, benefited the Northern Ireland economy by £65 million.{{r|bradley20120412}}

Invest NI and the ]<ref name=bradley20120412>{{cite news|last=Bradley|first=Una|title=The ‘Game of Thrones’ tourists: How much is the hit HBO fantasy series worth to its home, Nothern Ireland?|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/media/the-game-of-thrones-tourists-1.1357475|accessdate=April 12, 2013|newspaper=]|date=April 12, 2013}}</ref> also expect the series to generate tourism revenue. According to a government minister, the series has given Northern Ireland the most publicity in its history outside politics and ].<ref name="mcadam20120516">{{cite news | url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/game-of-thrones-pumped-43m-into-northern-irelands-economy-and-more-could-be-on-the-way-28749710.html | title=Game of Thrones pumped £43m into Northern Ireland's economy, and more could be on the way | work=Belfast Telegraph | date=May 16, 2012 | accessdate=May 16, 2012 | author=McAdam, Noel}}</ref>

Tourism organizations in other filming locations also reported notable increases in bookings after their locations appeared in ''Game of Thrones''. Bookings through one web portal in 2012 increased by 13% in Iceland and by 28% in Dubrovnik, Croatia. In 2013, bookings increased by 100% in ], Morocco, where Daenerys's season 3 scenes were filmed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Adam|first=Shabana|title=Travel News: Game of Thrones Sparks Big Boosts in Hotel Bookings to Filming Locations|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/travel/game-of-thrones-filming-locations-288707.html|accessdate=April 18, 2013|publisher=Female First|date=April 17, 2013}}</ref>

==Availability==
===Broadcast===
The first season of ''Game of Thrones'' premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/07/game-of-thrones-premiere-date/|title='Game of Thrones' premiere date revealed|work=Entertainment Weekly|first=James|last=Hibberd|date=January 7, 2011|accessdate=February 24, 2013}}</ref> and the second season on April 1, 2012. On the same day or in the subsequent weeks or months, the series also began airing in several other countries.

Broadcasters carrying ''Game of Thrones'' include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.winter-is-coming.net/features/international-airings|title=International Game of Thrones airings|publisher=WinterIsComing.net|date=August 2, 2011|accessdate=October 2, 2011}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
|- style="white-space:nowrap;"
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Country
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Channel(s)
|-
| {{Flagu|Albania}}
| ], ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Arab League}}
| ] Series
|-
| {{Flagu|Argentina}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Australia}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Austria}}
| ], ], ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Bangladesh}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Belgium}}
| ], ], Prime, ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Bolivia}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Brazil}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Bulgaria}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Canada}}
| ], ], ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Chile}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|China}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Colombia}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Costa Rica}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Croatia}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Cyprus}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Czech Republic}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Denmark}}
| HBO Nordic, ], ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Dominican Republic}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Estonia}}
| ], ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Finland}}
| HBO Nordic, C More, ]
|-
| {{Flagu|France}}
| ], ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Germany}}
| ], ], ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Greece}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Guatemala}}
| HBO Latin America
|-
| {{Flagu|Hungary}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Hong Kong}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Iceland}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|India}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Indonesia}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Ireland}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Israel}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Italy}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Japan}}
| Star Channel
|-
| {{Flagu|Latvia}}
| ], Sony TV Baltic
|-
| {{Flagu|Lithuania}}
| ], ]
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
|- style="white-space:nowrap;"
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Country
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Channel(s)
|-
| {{Flagu|Macedonia}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Malaysia}}
| HBO Asia
|-
| {{Flagu|Mexico}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Moldova}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Montenegro}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Mozambique}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Netherlands}}
| HBO Nederland, ]
|-
| {{Flagu|New Zealand}}
| ], ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Nigeria}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Norway}}
| HBO Nordic, C More, ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Pakistan}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Panama}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Peru}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Philippines}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Poland}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Portugal}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Puerto Rico}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Romania}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Russia}}
| ], Ren-TV
|-
| {{Flagu|Serbia}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Singapore}}
| HBO Asia
|-
| {{Flagu|Slovakia}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Slovenia}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|South Africa}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Sri Lanka}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Spain}}
| ], ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Sweden}}
| HBO Nordic, C More, ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Switzerland}}
| ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Taiwan}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Thailand}}
| HBO Asia
|-
| {{Flagu|Trinidad}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Turkey}}
| ], ], ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Ukraine}}
| TET
|-
| {{Flagu|UK}}
| ], ], ]
|-
| {{Flagu|Uruguay}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Venezuela}}
| HBO
|-
| {{Flagu|Vietnam}}
| HBO Asia
|-
| {{Flagu|Zimbabwe}}
| ]
|}
{{-}}

===Home video===
The ten episodes of the first season of ''Game of Thrones'' were published as a DVD and ] ] on March 6, 2012. The set includes extra background and behind-the-scenes material, but no ]s, because almost all footage shot for the first season was used in the show.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hibberd|first=James|title='Game of Thrones' scoop: DVD release date, details, photos|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/11/30/game-of-thrones-dvd/|accessdate=December 5, 2011|work=Entertainment Weekly |date=November 30, 2011}}</ref> The box set sold 350,000 units in the first seven days of its release, the largest first-week DVD sales ever for an HBO series. The series also set an HBO series record for digital download sales.<ref>{{cite news|last=Richwine|first=Lisa|title='Game of Thrones' rules HBO's DVD sales|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/16/entertainment-us-tv-gameofthrones-idUSBRE82E1BI20120316|date=June 5, 2012 |publisher=Reuters|date=March 16, 2012|accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> A "collector’s edition" of the box set combining the DVD and Blu-ray versions, a dragon's egg paperweight and the first episode of season two was released in November 2012.

DVD/Blu-ray box sets and digital downloads of the second season were made available on February 19, 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title='Game of Thrones' season 2 DVD date and extras revealed|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/11/19/game-of-thrones-season-2-dvd/|accessdate=November 20, 2012|newspaper=Entertainment Weekly|accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> First-day sales again broke HBO records, with 241,000 box sets sold and 355,000 episodes downloaded.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/02/22/game-of-thrones-dvd-sales-breaking-hbo-records/ | title='Game of Thrones' early DVD sales breaking HBO records | work=Entertainment Weekly | date=February 22, 2013 | accessdate=February 23, 2013 | author=Hibberd, James}}</ref>

The third season was made available for purchase as a digital download on the ], in Australia only, in parallel to the U.S. premiere.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/tv-season/game-of-thrones-season-3/id611198334?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 |title=Game of Thrones season 3 on iTunes Australian Store |publisher=Apple iTunes |accessdate=March 31, 2013}}</ref>

===Piracy===
At the time new seasons are broadcast, they are available only through HBO or its affiliates, not through third-party ] services, and in many countries not at all. This delay in availability has contributed to the series being widely ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kain|first=Erik|title=International Audiences Have Few Choices To Legally Watch HBO's 'Game Of Thrones'|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/05/10/international-audiences-have-few-choices-to-legally-watch-hbos-game-of-thrones/|accessdate=May 11, 2012|publisher=Forbes|date=May 10, 2012}}</ref> The file-sharing news website '']'' estimated it to be the most-pirated TV series of 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last=Greenberg|first=Andy|title=HBO's 'Game Of Thrones' On Track To Be Crowned Most Pirated Show Of 2012|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/05/09/hbos-game-of-thrones-on-track-to-be-crowned-most-pirated-show-of-2012/|accessdate= May 9, 2012|publisher=Forbes|date=May 9, 2012}}</ref> One episode was illegally downloaded about 4,280,000 times through public ]s in 2012, about equal to the number of broadcast viewers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Game of Thrones tops TV show internet piracy chart|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20836739|accessdate=January 4, 2013|newspaper=]|date=December 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Game of Thrones Most Pirated TV-Show of 2012 |date=December 23, 2012 |work=] |url=https://torrentfreak.com/game-of-thrones-most-pirated-tv-show-of-2012-121223/ |accessdate=December 23, 2012}}</ref> Piracy rates were particularly high in Australia, where there had been a six-month delay between the U.S. and Australian premiere.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://torrentfreak.com/whos-pirating-game-of-thrones-and-why-120520/ |title=Who’s Pirating Game of Thrones, And Why? |publisher=TorrentFreak |date=May 20, 2012 |accessdate=March 31, 2013}}</ref> This led U.S. Ambassador to Australia ] to issue a public statement<ref>{{cite web|last=Bleich|first=Jeff|title=Stopping the Game of Clones|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/ambassador-bleich/stopping-the-game-of-clones/542850132425361|publisher=Facebook|date=April 23, 2013|accessdate=April 25, 2013}}</ref> condemning Australian piracy of the series in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Piotrowski|first=Daniel|title=US ambassador Jeffrey Bleich pleads: Australia, stop pirating Game of Thrones|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/us-ambassador-jeffrey-bleich-pleads-australia-stop-pirating-game-of-thrones/story-e6frg6n6-1226629324212|accessdate=April 25, 2013|newspaper=The Age|date=April 25, 2013}}</ref> One copy of the ] was the most simultaneously shared file in the history of the ] filesharing network, with over 160,000 sharers and more than a million downloads.<ref>{{cite web |title=Game of Thrones Pirates Break BitTorrent Swarm Record |date=April 1, 2013 |work=] |url=http://torrentfreak.com/game-of-thrones-pirates-break-bittorrent-swarm-record-130401/ | accessdate=April 3, 2013}}</ref>

In 2013, series director ] remarked that illegal downloads didn't hurt the series's prospects, as it benefited from the resulting "]" and social commentary.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/downloads-dont-matter-20130226-2f36r.html#ixzz2LywE7AZ2 | title=Downloads don't matter | work=] | date=February 26, 2013 | accessdate=March 2, 2013 | author=AAP}}</ref> He later clarified that he was against illegally downloading copyrighted works.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/us-tv-director-against-illegal-downloads-20130227-2f6ei.html | title=US TV director against illegal downloads | work=Sydney Morning Herald | date=February 27, 2013 | accessdate=March 2, 2013 | author=AAP}}</ref> To counteract piracy, HBO announced in 2013 that it intends to make its content more widely available worldwide within the week of the U.S. premiere, including through its digital service ], which is currently available only in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolpinchefsky/2013/03/04/how-hbo-is-protecting-game-of-thrones-from-online-piracy-in-2013/ | title=How HBO Is Protecting 'Game of Thrones' from Online Piracy in 2013 | publisher=Forbes | date=March 3, 2013 | accessdate=March 5, 2013 | author=Pinchefsky, Carol}}</ref>

==Other media and products==
===Soundtrack===
{{main|Music of Game of Thrones}}
The music for the series is composed by ]. The first season's soundtrack, written in about ten weeks before the show's premiere,<ref name=Ryan>{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Maureen|title='Game of Thrones' Changes Its Tune, Hires New Composer|url=http://www.aoltv.com/2011/02/02/game-of-thrones/|accessdate=July 20, 2011|publisher=AOL TV|date=February 2, 2011}}</ref> was published by ] in June 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2011/05/31/game-of-thrones-soundtrack-details/|title=Game of Thrones Soundtrack Details|publisher=Film Music Reporter|date=May 31, 2011|accessdate=June 15, 2011}}</ref> The second season's soundtrack album was published in June 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=‘Game of Thrones’ Season 2 Soundtrack Details|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2012/05/23/game-of-thrones-season-2-soundtrack-details/|accessdate=May 24, 2012|publisher=Film Music Reporter|date=May 23, 2012}}</ref>

===Accompanying material===
''Thronecast: The Official Guide to Game of Thrones'', a series of ]s presented by ] and produced by Koink, was available on the ] website and the UK ] store.<ref name="Thronecast">{{cite web|url=http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/thronecast-official-fan-show/id429051561|title=Thronecast: The Official Fan Show for Game of Thrones on Sky Atlantic HD|date=April 18, 2011|accessdate=April 18, 2012|work=iTunes|publisher=Apple}}</ref> It featured episode analysis and cast interviews.<ref name="Thronecast" />

A companion book, ''Inside HBO's Game of Thrones'' by series writer ] (ISBN 978-1452110103), was published on September 27, 2012. On 192 pages, illustrated with concept art and behind-the-scenes photographs, the book covers the creation of the series's first two seasons, as well as its principal characters and families.<ref>{{cite news|last=Edwards|first=Richard|title=Inside HBO’s Game Of Thrones by Bryan Cogman REVIEW|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2012/09/21/inside-hbos-game-of-thrones-by-bryan-cogman-review/|accessdate=September 27, 2012|newspaper=]|date=September 21, 2012}}</ref>

===Merchandise and exhibition===
]
HBO has licensed several companies to produce ] based on ''Game of Thrones''. ] Deluxe sells a range of ''Game of Thrones''-themed goods, such as statues and ]s.<ref>{{cite news|last=McCutcheon|first=David|title=Game of Thrones Goods in the Works: Everything from action figures to magnets coming soon|url=http://ign.com/articles/2011/11/10/game-of-thrones-goods-in-the-works|accessdate=December 5, 2011|publisher=IGN|date=November 10, 2011}}</ref> Valyrian Steel produces replicas of the weapons and armor used in the series.<ref>{{cite web|title=Replicas from HBO’s® series Game of Thrones®|url=http://www.valyriansteel.com/2012/02/02/replicas-from-hbos%C2%AE-series-game-of-thrones%C2%AE/|publisher=Valyrian Steel|accessdate=January 5, 2013}}</ref> ] sells ''Game of Thrones'' ] dolls.<ref>{{cite news|title=Giant-Headed Game of Thrones Dolls Are Coming|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/119450-Giant-Headed-Game-of-Thrones-Dolls-Are-Coming|accessdate=September 10, 2012|newspaper=]|date=September 5, 2012}}</ref> In March 2013, ] is to start selling the first of a line of beers based on the series.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kepler|first=Adam W.|title=Coming Soon: The Beer of Kings|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/coming-soon-the-beer-of-kings/|accessdate=December 17, 2012|newspaper=New York Times|date=December 17, 2012}}</ref>

In 2013, a traveling exhibition of costumes, props, armor and weapons from the series is to visit ] (March 9–16), ] (March 28 – April 3), ] (April 25–30), ] (May 19–27) and ] (June 8–17).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/about/article/exhibition.html | title=Exhibition | publisher=HBO | accessdate=February 19, 2013}}</ref>

===Other works based on the series===
{{see also|Works based on A Song of Ice and Fire}}
The series has also inspired other works. For instance, ] that are based on the TV series and the novels have been published or are in development. The strategy game '']'' ties in particularly closely with the series, making characters and settings available to players as soon as they appear on air.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fahey|first=Mike|title=Game of Thrones: Ascent is More Up-to-Date With the Show Than You Are|url=http://kotaku.com/game-of-thrones-ascent-is-more-up-to-date-with-the-sho-476864152|accessdate=April 23, 2013|publisher=]|date=April 22, 2013}}</ref>

The fall 2012 ] collection by the fashion brand ] was inspired by ''Game of Thrones''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Helmut Lang RTW Fall 2012|url=http://www.wwd.com/runway/fall-ready-to-wear-2012/review/helmut-lang|accessdate=February 12, 2012|work=Women's Wear Daily|publisher=Condé Nast|date=February 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Day|first=Patrick Kevin|title='Game of Thrones' inspires ... a high fashion line?|accessdate=February 17, 2012|work=Los Angeles Times|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/02/game-of-thrones-helmut-lang.html|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=February 16, 2012}}</ref> In March 2012, ] published ''Game of Thrones and Philosophy: Logic Cuts Deeper than the Sword'' (ISBN 978-1118161999). This entry in Blackwell's ''Pop Culture and Philosophy'' series, edited by Henry Jacoby and ], aims to highlight and discuss philosophical issues raised by the show and its source material.<ref>{{cite web|title=Game of Thrones and Philosophy|url=http://www.westeros.org/ASoWS/News/Entry/Game_of_Thrones_and_Philosophy/|work=All Sorts of Weird Stuff|publisher=Westeros Network|accessdate=February 12, 2012|date=February 12, 2012}}</ref> In 2013, ''Game of Thrones'' was notably parodied on the cover of '']'' on April 30,<ref>{{cite news|title=MAD MAGAZINE COVERS GAME OF THRONES|url=http://www.westeros.org/GoT/News/Entry/MAD_Magazine_Covers_Game_of_Thrones|accessdate=April 18, 2013|publisher=Westeros.org|date=April 17, 2013}}</ref> as well as by a ], ''School of Thrones'', which set the story in a high school whose students vie for the title of ] king and queen.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hypable.com/2013/03/10/game-of-thrones-webseries-school-of-thrones/ | title=Game of Thrones’ webseries ‘School of Thrones’ premieres: 5 reasons to watch i | publisher=Hypable | accessdate=March 11, 2013 | author=Wilken, Selina}}</ref>

==Reception==
''Game of Thrones'' was highly anticipated by fans before its premiere.<ref name="guardian">{{Cite news | url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2010/jul/22/game-of-thrones-most-anticipated |title=Is A Game of Thrones the most eagerly anticipated TV show ever? | date=July 23, 2010 |work=guardian.co.uk|publisher=Guardian News and Media| first=Mathilda | last=Gregory|accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref><ref name="LATimes">{{Cite news | last =Colins | first =Scott|title=With 'Game of Thrones,' HBO is playing for another 'True Blood' | date=August 8, 2010 |work=Los Angeles Times|url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/08/with-game-of-thrones-hbo-is-plotting-for-another-true-blood.html |accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> It has since become a critical and commercial success.

===Cultural influence===
''Game of Thrones'' has been credited with an increased popularity of fantasy themes and mainstream acceptance of the fantasy ]. "After this weekend", '']'' wrote on the eve of the second season's premiere, "you may be hard pressed to find someone who isn't a fan of some form of ]". According to ], ''Game of Thrones'' continues a trend of successful screen adaptations, beginning with ]'s 2001 ] and continuing with the ], that have established fantasy as a lucrative mass market genre and serve as "] to fantasy fan culture".<ref name="Williams">{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Joel|title=Mainstream finally believes fantasy fans|url=http://geekout.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/30/mainstream-finally-believes-fantasy-fans/|accessdate=April 5, 2012 |publisher=CNN|date=March 30, 2012}}</ref>

The series' popularity greatly boosted ], soon republished as tie-in editions, which remained at the top of bestseller lists for months on end. '']'' wrote that ''Game of Thrones'' was a particular favorite of many ] writers, and consequently the series has been referenced in many other TV series.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lacob|first=Jace|title=‘Game of Thrones’: ‘Modern Family,’ ‘Parks and Rec’ Writers on Why They Love the HBO Drama|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/21/game-of-thrones-modern-family-parks-and-rec-writers-on-why-they-love-the-hbo-drama.html|accessdate=September 27, 2012|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=September 21, 2012}}</ref> Together with other fantasy series such as '']'', ''Game of Thrones'' has been deemed responsible for a substantial increase in purchases (and abandonments) of ] and other wolf-like dogs.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Brian|first=Liam|title=Game of Thrones inspired Huskie craze goes cold as owners give up on dogs|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/game-of-thrones-inspired-huskie-craze-goes-cold-as-owners-give-up-on-dogs-8431188.html|accessdate=March 10, 2013|newspaper=]|date=December 26, 2012}}</ref>

''Game of Thrones'' has also been the basis of additions to the popular vocabulary. The first season's frequent scenes in which characters explain their motives or background while having sex with prostitutes gave rise to the term "]" to describe the practice of providing ] against a backdrop of sex and nudity.<ref name="Guardian March 11, 2012">{{cite news|last=Hann|first=Michael|title=How 'sexposition' fleshes out the story|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2012/mar/11/sexposition-story-tv-drama?newsfeed=true|accessdate=March 29, 2012|work=guardian.co.uk|publisher=Guardian News and Media|date=March 11, 2012}}</ref> "]", the name of the nomadic horsemen appearing in the series, was listed fourth in a list of words from television most used on the Internet, compiled in September 2012 by ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Steinmetz|first=Kate|title=And the Top TV Words of the Year Are...|url=http://entertainment.time.com/2012/09/25/and-the-top-television-words-of-the-year-are/|accessdate=September 27, 2012|newspaper=]|date=September 25, 2012}}</ref> After the second season, the media began using "Game of Thrones" as a figure of speech or as a comparison for situations of intense conflict and deceit, e.g., the court battles about U.S. healthcare legislation,<ref>{{cite news|last=Brescia|first=Ray|title=Game of Robes: Why Conservatives May Ultimately Praise the Roberts Switch on Health Care Reform|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ray-brescia/game-of-robes-why-conserv_b_1647678.html|accessdate=July 7, 2012|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=July 6, 2012}}</ref> the ]<ref>{{cite news|last=Varsavsky|first=Martin|title=The Game of Thrones Around Us|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-varsavsky/there-is-still-a-lot-of-g_b_1649089.html|accessdate=July 7, 2012|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=July 4, 2012}}</ref> or power struggles in the Chinese government.<ref>{{cite news|last=Garnaut|first=John|title=Strongmen of China playing a risky game of thrones|url=http://www.theage.com.au/world/strongmen-of-china-playing-a-risky-game-of-thrones-20120630-219km.html|accessdate=July 7, 2012|newspaper=]|date=July 1, 2012}}</ref>

===Critical response===
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; text-align:center; margin:10px"
|+ Average ] ratings per season
|-
|{{Line chart
| color_background = white
| width = 250
| height = 150
| padding_left = 30
| padding_right = 20
| padding_top = 10
| padding_bottom = 20
| number_of_series = 1
| number_of_x-values = 3
| label_x1 = Season 1 | label_x2 = Season 2 | label_x3 = Season 3
| y_max = 100
| y_min= 70
| scale = yes
| points = yes
| color_series_1 = red
| thickness_series1 = 1
| S01V01 = 79 | S01V02 = 88 | S01V03 = 90
}}
|-
|<!-- begin inner table -->
{| style="text-align:center;"
|-
|
! scope=col | ]
! scope=col | ]
! scope=col | ]
|-
! scope=row | Rating
| {{formatnum:79}}<ref name=MetacriticS1>{{cite web |title=Game of Thrones: Season 1 |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=March 5, 2012 |url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/game-of-thrones }}</ref>
| {{formatnum:88}}<ref name=MetacriticS2>{{cite web |title=Game of Thrones: Season 2 |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=May 31, 2012 |url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/game-of-thrones/season-2 }}</ref>
| {{formatnum:90}}<ref name=MetacriticS3>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/game-of-thrones/season-3 |title=Game of Thrones: Season 3 |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=March 28, 2013}}</ref>
|}
<!-- end inner table -->
|}
The critical response to the two aired seasons of ''Game of Thrones'' has been very positive. Both seasons were listed on several yearly "best of" lists published by U.S. media, such as the '']'' (2011), '']'' (2011 and 2012) and '']'' (2012).<ref>{{cite web|title=Thrones lands on tons of top TV shows of 2011 lists|url=http://winter-is-coming.net/2011/12/thrones-lands-on-tons-of-top-tv-shows-of-2011-lists/|publisher=WinterIsComing.net|date=December 23, 2011 | accessdate =December 23, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Martin|first=George R.R|title=Plaudits for GAME OF THRONES|url=http://grrm.livejournal.com/255830.html|accessdate=December 23, 2011|date=December 21, 2011|work=Not A Blog}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Game of Thrones: The best of 2012|url=http://winteriscoming.net/2012/12/game-of-thrones-the-best-of-2012/|accessdate=January 4, 2013|publisher=WinterIsComing.net|date=December 27, 2012}}</ref>

Reviewing the first season, critics noted the high production values, the well-realized world, compelling characters, and particularly the performance of the child actors.<ref name="TV Guide review">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Roush-Review-Thrones-1031879.aspx |title=Roush Review: Grim Thrones Is a Crowning Achievement|first=Matt |last=Roush |publisher=|work=TV Guide |date=April 15, 2011 |accessdate=May 11, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Entertainment Weekly Review">{{cite web|author=Tucker, Ken |title=Game of Thrones (2011) |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 14, 2011 |accessdate=May 11, 2011|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20481542,00.html }}</ref> ''Variety'' wrote that "there may be no show more profitable to its network than 'Game of Thrones' is to HBO. Fully produced by the pay cabler and already a global phenomenon after only one season, the fantasy skein was a gamble that has paid off handsomely."<ref name="levine20111227">{{cite news | url=http://variety.com/2011/tv/news/cablers-hit-highs-lows-pr-hurdles-in-2011-1118047923/ | title=Cablers hit highs, lows, PR hurdles in 2011 | work=Variety | date=December 27, 2011 | accessdate=December 31, 2011 | author=Levine, Stuart}}</ref>

The second season was also very well received by critics. '']'' praised the "vivid, vital, and just plain fun" storytelling,<ref>{{cite news|last=Tucker|first=Ken|title=TV Review: Game Of Thrones (2012)|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20470532_20580368,00.html|accessdate=March 25, 2012|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 21, 2012}}</ref> and '']'' wrote that the show made a "strong case for being one of TV's best series", its gravitas making it the only genre show dramatically comparable to shows such as '']'' or '']''.<ref name="Hollywood Reporter March 27, 2012">{{cite news|last=Goodman|first=Tim|title='Game of Thrones' Season 2: TV Review|url=http://edit.hollywoodreporter.com/review/Game-of-Thrones-HBO-Peter-Dinklage-George-Martin-304869|accessdate=March 28, 2012|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 27, 2012}}</ref> '']'' published the only mixed review, disapproving of the characters' lack of complexity and their confusing multitude, as well as the meandering plot.<ref>{{cite news|last=Genzlinger|first=Neil|title=Uneasy Lies the Head That Steals a Crown: ‘Game of Thrones’ on HBO|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/arts/television/game-of-thrones-on-hbo.html|accessdate=March 29, 2012|work=The New York Times |date=March 29, 2012}}</ref>

The amount of sex and nudity shown on ''Game of Thrones'', especially in scenes that are incidental to the plot, has been the focus of much of the criticism aimed at the series. ] wrote in ] that while the first season was replete with light-hearted "]", the second season appeared to focus on distasteful, exploitative and dehumanizing sex with little informational content.<ref name="io9 2 May 2012">{{cite web|last=Anders|first=Charlie Jane|title=Is Game of Thrones‘ gratuitous sex worse than the gratuitous violence?|url=http://io9.com/5906540/is-game-of-thrones-gratiutious-sex-worse-than-the-gratuitous-violence|accessdate=May 2, 2012|work=io9|date=May 2, 2012}}</ref> According to the '']'''s Anna Holmes, the nude scenes appeared to be aimed mainly at titillating heterosexual men, right down to the ]es sported by the women in the series's faux-medieval setting, which made these scenes alienating to other viewers.<ref name="Washington Post 26 April 2012">{{cite news|last=Holmes|first=Anna|title=Skin is wearing thin on HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/skin-is-wearing-thin-on-hbos-game-of-thrones/2012/04/26/gIQA4hd6jT_story_1.html|accessdate=May 2, 2012|work=The Washington Post|date=April 26, 2012}}</ref> And in the '']'', Maureen Ryan likewise noted that ''Game of Thrones'' mostly presented women naked, rather than men, and added that the excess of "random boobage" undercut any aspirations the series might have to address the oppression of women in a feudal society.<ref name="AOL TV 29 May 2011">{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Maureen|title='Game of Thrones' Season 1, Episode 7 Recap|url=http://www.aoltv.com/2011/05/29/game-of-thrones-season-1-episode-7-recap/|accessdate=May 2, 2012|publisher=Huffington Post|work=AOL TV|date=May 29, 2011}}</ref> '']'' parodied this aspect of the adaptation in a sketch that portrayed the series as having a horny thirteen-year-old boy as a consultant whose main concern was showing as many breasts per scene as possible.<ref name="io9 2 May 2012" /><ref name="Gawker 15 April 2012">{{cite news|last=Toder|first=Matt|title=SNL Explains the Nudity in Game of Thrones|url=http://gawker.com/5902076/snl-explains-the-nudity-in-game-of-thrones|accessdate=May 2, 2012|publisher= Gawker |date= April 15, 2012}}</ref>

===Fandom===
] is a popular activity at ].]]
{{main|A Song of Ice and Fire fandom}}
The novel series ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' and its TV adaptation ''Game of Thrones'' have an exceptionally broad and active international ]. In 2012, '']'' ranked the series's fandom as the most devoted in popular culture, ahead of that of ], ], '']'' or '']''.<ref name="Vulture 15 October 2012">{{cite news|title=The 25 Most Devoted Fan Bases|url=http://www.vulture.com/2012/10/25-most-devoted-fans.html?mid=nymag_press#photo=25x00014|accessdate=October 17, 2012|newspaper=Vulture|date=October 15, 2012}}</ref> In 2013, ] wrote that the "passion and the extreme devotion of fans" had brought about a phenomenon unlike anything related to other popular TV series, manifesting itself in a very broad range of ], such as ''Game of Thrones''-themed ] routines, or people naming their children after characters from the series. Writers cited by the BBC attributed this success to the rich detail, moral ambiguity, sexual explicitness and epic scale of the series and novels.<ref name="22 March 2013">{{cite news|last=de Castella|first=Tom|title=Game of Thrones: Why does it inspire such devotion among fans?|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21856915|accessdate=March 23, 2013|newspaper=BBC News Magazine|date=March 22, 2013}}</ref>

58 percents of viewers were reported to be male as of 2013, and on average 41 years old.<ref name="EW.com March 31, 2013">{{cite news|last=Hibberd|first=James|title=HBO: 'Game of Thrones' piracy is a compliment|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/03/31/hbo-thrones-piracy/|accessdate=April 3, 2013|newspaper=EW.com|date=March 31, 2013}}</ref> According to the marketing director of ], ''Game of Thrones'' has the highest fan engagement rate of any TV series known to her: 5.5% of the series's 2.9 million ] fans were talking online about the series in 2012, compared to 1.8% of the more than ten million fans of HBO's other fantasy series '']''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kellie|first=Helen|title=Social is coming of age in the marketing mix – a TV perspective|url=http://www.marketingmag.com.au/blogs/social-is-coming-of-age-in-the-marketing-mix-a-tv-perspective-25975/#.UI6FLoZX7To|accessdate=October 29, 2012|newspaper=Marketing magazine|date=October 26, 2012}}</ref>

Among the many ] dedicated to the TV and novel series, ''Vulture'' noted in particular ''Westeros.org'' and ''WinterIsComing.net'', which provide news reports and discussion forums, ''ToweroftheHand.com'', which organizes communal readings of the novels, and ''Podcastoficeandfire.com'', which produces a fan ].<ref name="Vulture 15 October 2012" />

===Viewer numbers===
According to HBO, the second season of ''Game of Thrones'' had an average gross audience (including all repeats and on-demand viewings) of 11.6 million viewers.<ref>{{cite web|title=HBO press release|url=http://www.westeros.org/GoT/News/Entry/HBO_Renews_Game_of_Thrones|publisher=Westeros.org/HBO|date=April 2, 2013|accessdate=April 3, 2013}}</ref> An earlier estimate of 10.3 million saw it become the third most-watched series in the history of HBO.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hibberd|first=James|title='Game of Thrones' ratings dip for 'Blackwater'|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/05/30/game-of-thrones-ratings-blackwater/|accessdate=May 30, 2012|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=May 30, 2012}}</ref>

The following graphic shows viewer numbers for the first airings:
{{Game of Thrones ratings}}

===Awards===
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Game of Thrones}}
The first season of ''Game of Thrones'' was nominated for thirteen of the 2011 ]s, including ]. It won two, ] and ]. ], who plays Tyrion Lannister, was named best supporting actor by the Emmys, the ], the ] and the ]. In 2012, the second season won six of the ].

{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;"
|-
! Year !! Award !! Category !! Recipient !! Ref.
|-
|rowspan="10"| 2011
|rowspan="2"|]
| ]
| ] (as Tyrion Lannister) for the episode "]"
| rowspan="2" |
|-
| ]
| ], Hameed Shaukat, Kirk Shintani and Robert Feng
|-
|rowspan="3"| ]
| Best TV Show
| ''Game of Thrones''
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spike.com/events/scream-awards-2011/ |title=SCREAM Awards 2011 |work=Spike TV|publisher=Viacom Entertainment Group |accessdate=September 7, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| Best Supporting Actor
| Peter Dinklage
|-
| Breakout Performance – Female
| ]
|-
| ]
| ]
| ''Game of Thrones''
|
|-
| ]
| ]
| Peter Dinklage
|
|-
| ]
| ]
| ''Game of Thrones''
|
|-
| ]
| ]
| Peter Dinklage
|
|-
| ]
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| ''Game of Thrones''
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web|title='Game of Thrones' and 'Homeland' among Peabody Award winners|url=http://www.hitfix.com/articles/game-of-thrones-and-homeland-among-peabody-award-winners|publisher=HitFix|first=Dave|last=Lewis|accessdate=March 13, 2013|date=April 4, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="8"| 2012
|| ]
| ]
| ''Game of Thrones''
||
|-
| ]
| ]
| ''Game of Thrones''
|
|-
|rowspan="6"| ]
| Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour)
| Matthew Waters, Onnalee Blank, Ronan Hill and Mervyn Moore for the episode "]"
|rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web|title=Complete 64th Primetime Creative Arts Emmys Winners|url=http://www.emmys.com/sites/emmys.com/files/2012-Creative-Arts-Emmys-Press-Release.pdf|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|accessdate=September 17, 2012}}</ref>
|-
| Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series
| Peter Brown, Kira Roessler, Tim Hands, Paul Aulicino, Stephen P. Robinson, Vanessa Lapato, Brett Voss, James Moriana, Jeffrey Wilhoit and David Klotz for the episode "Blackwater"
|-
| ]
| Rainer Gombos, Juri Stanossek, Sven Martin, Steve Kullback, Jan Fiedler, Chris Stenner, Tobias Mannewitz, Thilo Ewers and Adam Chazen for the episode "]"
|-
| ]
| Michele Clapton, Alexander Fordham and Chloe Aubry for the episode "]"
|-
| Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)
| Paul Engele and Melissa Lackersteen for the episode "]"
|-
| Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series
| Gemma Jackson, Frank Walsh and Tina Jones for the episodes "]", "]" and "]" (tied with '']'')
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Game of Thrones}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* Official ''Game of Thrones'' website and
*
* {{IMDb title|0944947|Game of Thrones}}
* {{tv.com show|game-of-thrones|Game of Thrones}}
* Fan sites mentioned in the article:
:*'''' – news and discussion
:*'''' – news and discussion
:*'''' – readings
:*'''' – fan podcast

{{Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form}}
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Revision as of 15:54, 1 May 2013

Arctic Kangaroo