• Synopsis
  • Reviews
  • Awards
  • Credits
  • Synopsis

    Season 3 spans several months on a world where the seasons can last for years at a time.

    Autumn has fallen across the world, with winter not far behind. The people should be preparing for years of snow and ice, but the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros instead remain gripped by civil war. Would-be king Renly Baratheon has been assassinated, altering the alliances in the war. The cruel boy-king Joffrey Baratheon has won a great victory by securing an alliance with House Tyrell, with his supporters defeating his uncle Stannis in an epic battle. Joffrey now commands the largest armies in the realm and his triumph appears inevitable.

    King Robb Stark remains in the field, however his homeland, the North, is partially under ironborn occupation. Robb needs to decide on a course of action to win an overall victory. He must also win back the allegiance of House Frey, whom he has offended by breaking his marriage pact to them. King Robb has won every battle he has fought, but as with old King Robert, the Starks will have to see if good soldiers make good kings.

    Stannis Baratheon may be defeated and most of his army destroyed or scattered, but he is not out of the fight yet. Having retreated to his headquarters on Dragonstone island with his handful of surviving soldiers, Stannis’ status as the last legitimate heir to his older brother Robert still casts a shadow over Joffrey’s claim to the throne. With the priestess Melisandre at his side, Stannis can still influence the course of the war by striking where least expected.

    The lives of many others still hang in the balance. Bran Stark and his protectors must cross the frozen wastelands of the North to reach the Wall, whilst Arya must brave the war-torn Riverlands in search of her mother and brother. Brienne also has the thankless task of taking the captive Jaime Lannister home across hundreds of miles of battlefields and carnage. Theon Greyjoy must face the consequences of his actions at Winterfell. And in King’s Landing both Tyrion Lannister and Sansa Stark must brave the currents of a much more dangerous court in order to survive.

    On the eastern continent, Daenerys Targaryen has fled the political viper-pit of Qarth. Her dragons are growing and her fame is spreading, but to take the Iron Throne she will need supporters and an army. Both may be found in the corrupt cities of Slaver’s Bay… for a price.

    Beyond the Wall, the White Walkers are on the move, threatening both the Seven Kingdoms and the lands of the Free Folk. While the Night’s Watch faces the threat of the White Walkers in the field, Jon Snow must infiltrate the wildling army of Mance Rayder and discover the King-Beyond-the-Wall’s plans.

  • Reviews

    Based on the novels of George R R Martin, the great brilliance of Game of Thrones ( as opposed to the little brilliances, which are the shagging and the sword fights) is twofold. First, there’s the way that anyone can die, even the main characters. One moment you’re invested in them, utterly. The next, their heads are off. Better than that, though, is the way that the magic is in the background. Nothing even vaguely wizardish happens in the first series until the very closing minutes. Damn, but it’s good. This is where it has been going, the whole genre of big budget US drama. This is as good as it gets. As lavish as a movie , but so much richer, deeper and more engrossing. It’s the third season now, though, and you don’t have a hope of picking it up from here. Go back and start from the beginning. Unless you’re still at primary school. Then don’t.

    The Times, Hugo Rifkind

    It has gone from the realm of geeky fandom to a worldwide cult TV hit in the time it takes to swing a mighty broadsword. Yet when the latest instalment of Game of Thrones, the acclaimed sword and sorcery adventure series, hits British screens tomorrow night there is a good chance that the keenest fans will have already seen the first episode. Based on George R R Martin’s best-selling series of novels, the show has become a victim of its own success and is now one of the most illegally downloaded TV series of all time, with one episode having been shared more than four million times – roughly equal to the number of legal viewers it now attracts. Taking place in the fictional, war-ravaged realm of Westeros, the epic tale – sometimes jokingly referred to as The Sopranos in Middle Earth – is loosely based on the Wars of the Roses and features X-rated levels of sex and violence. But critics have fallen over themselves to sing the praises of the series, with its Hollywood-style big budget and an intelligent and complex script. The predominately European cast, including Sean Bean and Charles Dance, is one of the largest ever gathered for a TV series.

    Filmed predominately in Northern Ireland and Malta, the lavishly produced drama – the producer HBO spent $60m (£39m) on the first season alone – pivots around the competing royal ambitions of two powerful dynasties, the Lannisters and the Starks.

    The anti-piracy group Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact), the UK’s leading trade organisation protecting intellectual property rights, described this trend as not only damaging to companies investing in the series, but detrimental to local economies benefiting from the show. “HBO has helped create hundreds of jobs in Northern Ireland where parts of Game of Thrones were filmed, and has a direct positive impact on the people who live there.”
    However, the show’s director, David Petrarca, downplays the effects of piracy, saying Game of Thrones has actually “thrived from the cultural buzz” generated by more people having access to the programme.

    Independent On Sunday, Tom Alvarez

    As the saga of swords , secret sigils and random sex acts returns, we find the house of Westeros variously licking their wounds and plotting revenge. This episode ia about the aftermath of the Battle of Blackwater and its function is to set the scene for an exciting third season. In King’s Landing brat-king Joffrey’s head is turned by Margaery Tyrell and, unwisely, King’s hand Tywin Lannister incurs the wrath of his son Tyrion. Jon Snow tries to earn the trust of the King Betond the Wall. Danerys Targaryen dices with a nipple-slicing barbarian and some new players enter the game. Wickedly irresistible.

    The Observer

  • Awards

    Game of Thrones was one of the most celebrated dramas of the year.

    The awards are too numerous to list but include…

    • Sixteen Emmy Wins or Nominations including Nomination for Outstanding
    • Drama Series and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for David Benioff and Dan Weiss
    • Screen Actors Guild Awards : Nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
    • Won the BAFTA audience award.
  • Credits

    Peter Dinklage
    Tyrion Lannister
    Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
    Jaime Lannister
    Lena Headey
    Cersei Lannister
    Emilia Clarke
    Daenerys Targaryen
    Kit Harington
    Jon Snow
    Richard Madden
    Robb Stark
    Iain Glen
    Jorah Mormont
    Michelle Fairley
    Catelyn Stark
    Aidan Gillen
    Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish
    Charles Dance
    Tywin Lannister
    Liam Cunningham
    Davos Seaworth
    Stephen Dillane
    Stannis Baratheon
    Carice van Houten
    Melisandre
    Natalie Dormer
    Margaery Tyrell
    Isaac Hempstead-Wright
    Brandon “Bran” Stark
    Sophie Turner
    Sansa Stark
    Maisie Williams
    Arya Stark
    Alfie Allen
    Theon Greyjoy
    Jack Gleeson
    Joffrey Baratheon
    John Bradley
    Samwell Tarly
    Oona Chaplin
    Talisa Maegyr
    Joe Dempsie
    Gendry
    Rose Leslie
    Ygritte
    Sibel Kekilli
    Shae
    Rory McCann
    The Hound
    Conleth Hill
    Varys
    Jerome Flynn
    Bronn
    James Cosmo
    Jeor Mormont
    Ciarán Hinds
    Mance Rayder
    Robert Pugh
    Craster
    Mackenzie Crook
    Orell Skinchanger
    Kristofer Hivju
    Tormund Giantsbane
    Mark Stanley
    Grenn
    Ben Crompton
    Dolorous
    Luke McEwan
    Rast
    Hannah Murray
    Gilly
    Edward Dogliani
    Lord of Bones
    Natalia Tena
    Osha
    Iwan Rheon
    Ramsay Snow
    Thomas Sangster
    Jojen Reed
    Ellie Kendrick
    Meera Reed
    Kristian Nairn
    Hodor
    Art Parkinson
    Rickon Stark
    Peter Vaughan
    Maester Aemon
    Josef Altin
    Pypar
    Patrick Malahide
    Balon Greyjoy
    Gemma Whelan
    Yara Greyjoy
    David Bradley
    Lord Walder Frey
    Gwendoline Christie
    Brienne of Tarth
    Richard Dormer
    Beric Dondarrion
    Paul Kaye
    Thoros of Myr
    Clive Russell
    Brynden Tully
    Tobias Menzies
    Edmure Tully
    Noah Taylor
    Locke
    Michael McElhatton
    Lord Roose Bolton
    Anton Lesser
    Qyburn
    Ben Hawkey
    Hot Pie
    John Stahl
    Lord Rickard Karstark
    Philip McGinley
    Anguy
    Diana Rigg
    Olenna Tyrell
    Julian Glover
    Grand Maester Pycelle
    Finn Jones
    Ser Loras Tyrell
    Esmé Bianco
    Ros
    Daniel Portman
    Podrick Payne
    Ian Beattie
    Ser Meryn Trant
    Ian McElhinney
    Ser Barristan Selmy
    Dan Hildebrand
    Kraznys mo Nakloz
    Nathalie Emmanuel
    Missandei
    Jacob Anderson
    Grey Worm
    Ed Skrein
    Daario Naharis
    Lucian Msamati
    Salladhor Saan
    Tara Fitzgerald
    Selyse Baratheon
    Kerry Ingram
    Shireen Baratheon

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