Game of Thrones is one of the most popular television series drama. A Song of Ice and Fire, penned down by the author George R.R. Martin, is the inspiration and baseline of the show. David Benioff and D.B. Weiss did the television adaption of the show. It premiered on HBO in 2011 and concluded with its final season in 2019. The show garnered immense popularity and had a huge fan following throughout its run. The storyline kept its viewers on the hook and it attained critical acclaim as well. However, many fans did not like how the show ended. Nevertheless, it is one of the best dramas of television and is worth watching. For all those interested in learning more about the show or simply recapping its plot, here is Game of Thrones in brief from the beginning:
Game of Thrones in brief from the beginning
Table of Contents
The series Game of Thrones has a complex plot with many intersecting storylines as well as a plethora of characters. The story begins in the fictional lands of Westeros and Essos. The main plot is of the noble families vying for the throne in order to rule the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The secondary plots focus on Essos and the Night’s Watch and the mystery that lies Beyond the Wall. The lives of all the characters interconnect and form different story arcs. Let us begin with Season 1 in order to understand Game of Thrones in brief from the beginning.
Season 1
Kings Landing and Winterfell
This season mainly focuses on Eddard “Ned” Stark of Winterfell and his family – his wife Catelyn and their children Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Ned’s bastard Jon Snow. When King Robert Baratheon’s Hand Jon Arryn dies unexpectedly, he offers Ned to be his Hand. Cersei Lannister, Robert’s wife, is in an incestuous relationship with her twin Jaime and it is ultimately revealed that all 3 children of Cersei’s are Jaime’s. When Bran catches Cersei and Jaime having sex, Jaime pushes him down the window. This starts the conflict between the Starks and the Lannisters leading to a series of events. Catelyn arrests Tyrion Lannister, Cersei’s dwarf brother, for attacking Bran. King Robert dies during a hunting trip, and thereafter, Joffrey, Cersei’s eldest son and next in line to become king, beheads Ned for treason. Tyrion escapes with the help of mercenary Bronn. Robb and Catelyn march towards Kings Landing and succeed in capturing Jaime. Tywin, Cersei’s father, names Tyrion the Hand to King Joffrey. Sansa remains in Kings Landing as Joffrey’s betrothed while Arya escapes by posing as a boy.
Night’s Watch
Jon Snow decides to join the Night’s Watch, a brotherhood that protects the kingdoms from the wildlings and supernatural beings that lurk Beyond the Wall. At the beginning of the show, a soldier of the Night’s Watch claims to have seen the White Walkers but nobody believes him. Jon meets Samwell Tarly at the Night’s Watch and they work under Lord Commander Mormont. When Benjen Stark, Jon’s uncle, disappears beyond the Wall, a group of soldiers set out in search of him.
Essos
In the continent of Essos, Viserys Targaryen plans to reclaim the Iron Throne as the heir of the rightful king. He arranges his sister Daenerys’ marriage to Khal Drogo, the leader of Dothraki, in exchange for their army. When Viserys threatens to kill their unborn child, Drogo pours boiling gold over Viserys, instantly killing him. He vows to lead Daenerys to Westeros and claim the Seven Kingdoms for her. But he is fatally injured in a battle. When Drogo and their unborn child die due to blood magic, Daenerys lights a pyre and ties the witch responsible along with Drogo’s body. She steps into the fire with her 3 dragon eggs and comes out unaffected with 3 baby dragons.
This concludes the Game of Thrones Summary Season 1.
Season 2
Let us continue with season 2 to understand Game of Thrones in brief from the beginning.
The Five Kings
This season mainly deals with the Fight of the Five Kings. Joffrey, Stannis Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Robb Stark, and Balon Greyjoy fight amongst themselves to claim the Iron Throne or to gain independence as a separate kingdom. Many new Game of Thrones characters emerge in this season. A shadowy creature sent by Melisandre, Stannis’ aide, kills Renly. Catelyn asks Brienne of Tarth’s help to find Arya and Sansa in exchange for freeing Jaime. Joffrey chooses Margaery Tyrell to be his wife instead of Sansa and gains the Tyrells as his ally. Theon Greyjoy, who used to live with the Starks, betrays Robb to reunite with his family. He seizes Winterfell and claims that Bran and Rickon Stark are dead. Stannis’ fleet, led by Ser Davos, attacks Kings Landing but the Lannisters manage to defeat him.
Beyond the Wall
The soldiers of the Night’s Watch seek shelter beyond the Wall and discover that Craster marries his daughters and sacrifices his sons to the White Walkers. Jon and his group capture some wildlings but while looking after Ygritte, Jon separates from his men. Wildlings end up capturing Jon. Halfland, Jon’s leader, sacrifices himself so that Jon gains favor with the wildlings.
Daenerys Targaryen and Arya Stark
Daenerys marches forth with her 3 dragons and her Dothraki tribe in search of resources. She visits the city of Qarth and is ultimately able to gain fleets and gold with the help of Ser Jorah. Meanwhile, Arya manages to stay disguised as a boy and meets Gendry, Robert’s last bastard alive. After being captured by Lannister forces, Arya finds a way to rescue her friends and some prisoners. Jaqen H’ghar helps Arya kill 3 of her enemies and gives her a coin in exchange for freeing him.
Season 3
Let’s proceed to understand the third season of Game of Thrones in a nutshell.
This season has many twists and turns. Robb, Catelyn, and the Stark army all die in a master plan orchestrated by Tywin Lannister with the help of Walder Frey and Roose Bolton. By Tywin’s command, Sansa marries Tyrion while Cersei has to marry Loras Tyrell. Ramsay Bolton captures Theon and tortures him. Bolton castrates Theon and Yara Greyjoy sets out to rescue him. Brienne and Jaime are able to escape various attacks and arrive at Kings Landing. Hound captures Arya while Melisandre captures Gendry and uses Gendry’s blood for a ritual but Davos helps Gendry escape. Bran, Hodor, Osha, and Rickon meet Jojen and Meera Reed. Jojen tells Bran that he is a warg and should head beyond the Wall to find the Three-Eyed Raven.
White Walkers attack Samwell Tarly but he is able to escape by killing one of them with dragon glass. Along with Gilly and her newborn son, he returns to the Wall to warn the Seven Kingdoms of the upcoming threat. Jon joins the wildlings headed by Mance Rayder and falls for Ygritte. When he is unable to kill an innocent, Jon escapes and returns to the Wall. In Essos, Daenerys plans on winning more cities and freeing the slaves. She frees the Unsullied and they pledge loyalty to her. Stannis heads to the Wall to aid the Night’s Watch with the threat of White Walkers and wildlings.
Season 4
Let us proceed with Game of Thrones show summary for season 4.
Margaery and Joffrey marry each other but Joffrey dies at the Royal Feast due to poisoned wine. Sansa is able to escape with the help of Littlefinger while Cersei accuses Tyrion of murdering Joffrey. Sansa and Littlefinger reach the Vale where Littlefinger kills Lysa Arryn and grooms her son to be the ruler. Jaime sends Brienne to search for Sansa and protect her but Brienne comes across Arya and the Hound. Brienne injures Hound critically and Arya leaves to Braavos to find Jaqen H’ghar. Tywin makes Tommen the King. Tyrion is sentenced to death but Jaime helps him escape with the help of Varys. Tyrion kills Tywin while leaving from Westeros.
At the Wall, wildlings attack the Night’s Watch but are eventually defeated with the help of Stannis and his army. Mance Rayder and Tormund Giantsbane are held as prisoners. Bran finds the Three-Eyed Raven and learns more about his powers.
Continuing from the last season, Daenerys lays siege to Meereen and becomes Queen. She worries about the growing powers and killings of her dragons and chains Viserion and Rhaegal in a cave. Drogon continues to hunt by himself.
Season 5
Let us now move on to season 5 to continue the Game of Thrones synopsis and understanding it in brief from the beginning.
Margaery is set to marry Tommen and tries to influence him to keep Cersei away. Jaime and Bronn leave for Dorne to retrieve Myrcella but Ellaria Sand ends up poisoning her. Littlefinger arranges for Sansa to wed Ramsay and they travel to Winterfell. When Ramsay rapes and tortures Sansa, Theon saves Sansa and they both escape Winterfell.
Stannis asks the wildlings to help him defeat the Boltons but Mance refuses and Stannis kills him. Jon is made the Lord Commander and he reaches an agreement with Tormund. Jon and Tormund travel beyond the Wall to meet the other wildlings but the Night King and his army attack them. Sam leaves with Gilly to become a Maester. Meanwhile, Stannis burns his daughter Shireen at the order of Melisandre in order to defeat the Boltons. The Boltons ambush the Baratheon army, defeating Stannis, who is eventually executed by Brienne. Jon returns to the Night’s Watch where some of the men turn against him and stab him.
Arya reaches Braavos and trains to become “no one” under Jaqen. When she disobeys him, Jaqen turns her blind. Tyrion and Varys pledge allegiance to Daenerys. Daenerys’ enemies attack her but she manages to escape with Drogon. Later, a Dothraki tribe captures her.
The High Sparrow arrests Loras, Margaery, and Cersei for their sins. Cersei atones for her sins and the High Sparrow allows her to reinstate to the council.
Season 6
As we proceed to the remaining seasons, the storylines get interconnected and it becomes easier to understand Game of Thrones in brief from the beginning.
Cersei blows the Sept of Baelor during her trial which kills hundreds of people including the High Sparrow, Margaery, and Loras. Tommen commits suicide on hearing about the death of Margaery and Cersei becomes the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Jon comes back to life when Melisandre uses her magic on him and he decides to leave the Night’s Watch. Sansa reunites with Jon and they plan to attack Winterfell to save Rickon. With the help of the wildlings and their Northern allies, Jon is able to defeat the Boltons but Rickon is killed. Sansa feeds Ramsay to his dogs and the Northern rules crown Jon the King in the North.
Daenerys is able to defeat the Dothraki tribe and reunites with her army. She orders Jorah to find a cure for his greyscale and sets Varys to gain the allegiance of Dorne and Olenna Tyrell. Theon and Yara form an alliance with Daenerys as well after their uncle Euron kills Balon. Arya completes her training and informs Jaqen that she is going back to Winterfell. She kills Walder Frey and his family to avenge Robb and Catelyn’s death.
The Revelation about Jon Snow
Through his visions, Bran comes to know that Jon is Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark’s trueborn son Aegon Targaryen, the rightful heir to the Seven Kingdoms. The Night King finds Bran through his visions and succeeds in killing the Three-Eyed Raven, Hodor, and several Children of the Forest. Bran is able to escape with the help of Meera.
Season 7
We are nearing the Game of Thrones ending as we reach the season 7 where the storylines converge to form the main plot.
Daenerys sails to Westeros and holds the fort at Dragonstone. Jon asks for Daenerys’ help in fighting the Night King. Jon pledges loyalty to Daenerys and she saves him from the Night King’s army, sacrificing Viserion in the process. The Night King resurrects Viserion for his army. Cersei forms an alliance with Euron when he defeats Dorne and offers her his fleet. Jaime attacks Highgarden and poisons Olenna.
Bran and Arya reach Winterfell where Jon has left Sansa in charge. Littlefinger attempts to create conflict between the siblings but they execute him for murder and treason. Sam returns to Winterfell and talks to Bran about Jon’s true parentage.
Jon, Daenerys, Cersei, Tyrion, and Jaime hold a meeting attended by several others where Jon provides proof of White Walkers. Cersei claims that she will support them but later reveals to Jaime that she plans on doing nothing. Jaime leaves for Winterfell to help the others fight against the Night King.
Season 8
The Game of Thrones season 8 comprises of two main events – the battle between the living and the Night King, and the final battle to win the throne.
Barring Cersei and her army, everyone sets out to fight against the Night King and his army of undead. The Night King sets out to kill Bran, who is now the Three-Eyed Raven. Theon dies protecting Bran and at the last minute, Arya dives in and stabs the Night King with her Valyrian steel dagger.
When Jon comes to know of his heritage, he informs Daenerys who pleads him to keep it a secret. But the word gets out and Varys starts doubting Daenerys’ ability as a ruler. Daenerys executes Varys for betraying her. Daenerys sets out to attack Kings Landing but Euron’s fleet ends up killing Rhaegal and the Lannister army captures Daenerys’ confidante Missandei.
When Cersei refuses to surrender and beheads Missandei, Daenerys attacks Kings Landing, destroying the entire city. In a rage, Daenerys continues to attack surrendered soldiers as well as civilians which shocks Jon and Tyrion. Jaime runs to save Cersei but they both die beneath the Red Keep.
After the Final War
Daenerys vows to free the kingdoms and the Unsullied cheer for her. However, Jon decides to put an end to her madness and kills her sorrowfully. Drogon sets fire to the Iron Throne and carries away Daenerys’ body. In the end, Bran The Broken becomes King of the Six Kingdoms and Sansa regains independence as the ruler of the North. Bran appoints Tyrion as his Hand and Jon has to head back to the Night’s Watch for killing Daenerys. Arya decided to travel beyond Westeros.
The viewers criticized the last season for being too rushed and for making some drastic changes to the storyline. However, this show remains one of the best drama shows of the television and is worth watching for the brilliant performances, direction, music, and production value.
If you want to know anything about this show, search Game of Thrones wiki and you will find all your answers. If you wish to know more about the plot of the show but don’t have the time to watch the entire series, search Game of Thrones in brief from the beginning to get an idea of the plot.
