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Winter is here and the world’s greatest show is coming back.
Millions of devoted fans, 38 Emmy Awards, 7 Kingdoms, 6 Seasons to watch on Sky Box Sets, 3 dragons, 1 Iron Throne and an unlimited army of White Walkers.
Simply put, Game of Thrones is a cultural phenomenon that has swept through the world like wildfire. Not only is it critically adored, but audiences on every continent are absolutely addicted to the fates of House Stark, Lannister, Baratheon, Targaryen etc. as they all fight to control Westeros.
With such an exciting, gripping and action-packed plot, we’ve distilled all the major points for fans of the show, both returning and new, ahead of the Season 7 premiere on Sky Atlantic on 17 July.
OK, what’s it about?
Set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, Game of Thrones follows a dynastic conflict among competing Houses for succession to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, with other noble families fighting for independence from the throne.
Trust us, you’ll be immersed in the gripping plot and epic action but there’s far more to it than that. Jaw-dropping battles, superb characters, great acting and wonderful writing are all on offer.
See, there’s so much more to it than massive dragons… although the dragons are fantastic!
While everyone in the Seven Kingdoms fights for the Iron Throne, an army of the undead is slowly gathering its numbers as their unstoppable bid to conquer mankind gathers pace. All that stands in their way is the Night’s Watch and our fearless hero, Jon Snow.
No word of a lie, this is storytelling on the most epic scale because the storytelling, scenery and special effects are unlike anything that you’ve ever seen before.
If you haven’t seen it yet on Sky Box Sets then now is the perfect time.
Where does it start?
As the show begins, we learn that Lord Eddard Stark, the Warden of The North, which is the biggest kingdom in Westeros, is asked by his friend, King Robert Baratheon, to be his right-hand man. The two men have a long history together as they fought side by side during a war which saw Robert usurp the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen.
It’s during this conflict that the battlelines, alliances and grudges in Game of Thrones were created.
After deciding to move his entire family to King’s Landing, Ned realises that there’s deceit and danger at every turn. Trust us, you’ll be gripped from the very first moment!
That’s the beauty of Game of Thrones, the plot is incredibly addictive and there’s rarely a dull moment because you’re constantly being kept on your toes.
The real fun of watching the show is that there isn’t a wasted scene because even the smallest phrase, detail or look will keep you guessing for hours.
There’s a reason why Game of Thrones has inspired such passionate and frenzied discussion. Within moments of watching, you’ll definitely have a favourite character but this viewpoint could shift very easily. This show will consume your life like no other!
Back in King’s Landing, after Ned discovers that King Robert Baratheon is at the centre of a shocking secret involving his Queen, Cersei Lannister, Ned threatens to expose the scandal that could topple Queen Cersei and her family.
As Cersei says: “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die,” and by the end of Season 1 you’ll know why.
Thankfully, every season is available on Sky Box Sets so you won’t have to wait long to binge on the world’s greatest show.
Cheers to that!
Ok, what about the Targaryens?
After threatening to burn all of his enemies with wildfire, the Mad King made plenty of enemies, which is why Robert Baratheon did his very best to kill all the Targaryen heirs to the throne.
Robert failed because the children of House Targaryen were bundled to safety and lived in exile at Essos. After being raised in this safe location, Daenerys and her brother Viserys Targaryen, start their bid to reclaim the Iron Throne.
How can they do this without an army, support and finances though?
With the help of a fierce and nomadic army called the Dothraki, Daenerys slowly begins to amass an army, but the real turning point comes in the form of her wedding gift, three dragons eggs.
Intelligent, inspirational, fearless and fiery, it’s easy to see why the Mother of Dragons has become one of the most beloved characters in TV history.
The Starks
Ok, without giving too much away for Game of Thrones newbies, the Stark children are all forced to go their own way. Here’s what you do need to know about everyone’s favourite family in Game of Thrones.
Robb Stark – The oldest boy and beloved by all. Strong, intelligent and loyal, a cruel twist of fate ultimately forces him to lead the rebellion against the treacherous Lannisters/Baratheons.
Arya Stark – Tough, independent and vengeful. Unlike her sister Sansa, Arya absolutely loves to fight and is driven by her thirst for revenge.
Sansa Stark – At the beginning of the show, Sansa is the quintessential little girl that’s only dreaming about her impending marriage to a Prince, Joffrey Baratheon. It’s not long before her dreams turn into a nightmare though, and despite a torturous and abusive journey, Sansa finally takes control and emerges as one of the most fierce and bad-ass characters.
If you haven’t watched Game of Thrones yet then you’ll be hooked by the first episode, especially given the cliffhanger ending.
This being said, one of the most shocking, controversial and jaw-dropping episodes of TV revolves around the fate of House Stark. There’s a reason why The Red Wedding has taken on such a stature in pop-culture; see for yourself on Sky Box Sets.
Jon Snow
The illegitimate son of Ned Stark, Jon constantly has to fight for everything that he gets in this world.
Skilled, clever and fiercely loyal, Jon decides to sacrifice his happiness by serving in the Night’s Watch – an ancient order of soldiers who guard the far northern borders from the wildlings who live beyond The Wall. This being said, there’s an even bigger evil that lurks beyond The Wall as a mysterious army of the undead threaten to destroy the worlds of men.
Jon’s leadership, strength and bravery sees him rising very quickly in the Night’s Watch order, but a trip beyond The Wall proves to be fateful, in more than one way.
After being captured by the wildlings, he falls in love with a wildling named Ygritte and eventually earns their trust. Given that he’s loyal to the Night’s Watch, Jon is ultimately torn as he gets set to defend Castle Black from a formidable siege by the wildlings.
Still though, Jon is one of the few characters that knows the terrible truth. The army of the dead are coming and the realms of men will need to unify and fight against them. This point was famously hammered home in the remarkable episode, Hardhome.
If you want to see battles, characters and drama that’s unlike any other TV show, Game of Thrones is definitely for you.
All these remarkable moments without mentioning…
Tyrion Lannister – Arguably the funniest character in the show because his one-liners and quick wit are sharper than any sword. This being said, you’ll be absolutely hooked by Tyrion’s frayed relationship with the other members of his entire family. Sure, who doesn’t love dealings with their family?!
Jamie Lannister – The man who killed the Mad King – forever known as the Kingslayer – has one of the best arcs throughout the show as his character evolves from outright villain to something of an anti-hero. Like so many characters in Game of Thrones, you’ll never fully understand what’s going on in his mind and that’s why you’ll be glued to every minute.
Whatever happens in Season 7, one thing is guaranteed. In all of the Seven Kingdoms, peace is no longer an option.
You can now catch up on Games of Thrones Seasons 1-6 on Sky Box Sets, with Season 7 arriving on 17 July, exclusively on Sky Atlantic. Sky is currently offering new or existing customers half price Sky Box Sets for 6 months, when you join or upgrade for a limited time.
You can also enjoy over 350 box sets and a great range of exclusive shows you can’t get anywhere else. Visit the Sky website for more information.Â
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