50 Fun Facts About Game of Thrones Season 1

Season one of Game of Thrones premiered on HBO in which year?

The ten episodes ran from April 17 to June 19, and viewership grew from 2.2 million to over 3 million by the finale.

The title of the first episode, "Winter Is Coming", is the motto of which family?

The finale's title, "Fire and Blood", is the Targaryen motto, bookending the season with two house words.

Which position does Robert ask Ned Stark to fill after the death of Jon Arryn?

Robert also proposes betrothing Sansa to Joffrey during the same visit to Winterfell.

Ned executes a Night's Watch deserter in the premiere. What had the man seen beyond the Wall?

Ned ignores the warning, insisting the Walkers have been extinct for thousands of years.

Which two dead animals do the Starks find on the road, an omen involving both houses' sigils?

The direwolf's pups go home with the Stark children, one for each of them.

Who gives Daenerys three petrified dragon eggs as a wedding gift?

Jorah's gift was books of the Seven Kingdoms; the magister had helped arrange the marriage.

Who pushes Bran from the tower window at the end of the first episode?

In the finale he admits the deed to Catelyn but will not say why.

What does Arya name the sword Jon Snow gives her before he leaves for the Wall?

Jon's parting lesson, "Stick them with the pointy end", supplies the title of episode eight.

Which direwolf does Ned reluctantly kill himself in "The Kingsroad" after Nymeria cannot be found?

Cersei demanded a wolf die for biting Joffrey; Sansa's pet paid for her sister's.

Which sworn brother of the Night's Watch gives Jon the mocking nickname "Lord Snow"?

The master-at-arms was jabbing at Jon's highborn upbringing, and it became the title of episode three.

Who does Ned hire to teach Arya swordsmanship in King's Landing?

The Braavosi "dancing master" appears in the same episode Ned first sits on the Small Council.

According to Grand Maester Pycelle, what were Jon Arryn's last words?

Arryn had been researching the houses of the Seven Kingdoms and visiting Robert's bastard, Gendry.

Which writer scripted episode four, "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things"?

Its title comes from Tyrion's line to Bran about having a tender spot in his heart for such people.

What does Tyrion give Bran on his way south through Winterfell?

The design lets the paralysed boy ride; Tyrion is arrested by Catelyn at the Inn at the Crossroads shortly after.

Which fearful, overweight new recruit does Jon defend from the other trainees at Castle Black?

His father forced him to give up his inheritance and take the black because he judged him unworthy.

How does Ser Loras Tyrell beat The Mountain in the Tourney of the Hand?

The Mountain beheads his own horse in fury and is stopped from killing Loras by his brother, the Hound.

According to Varys, which poison was used to kill Jon Arryn?

Varys points the finger at Arryn's squire Ser Hugh of the Vale, who conveniently died at the tourney.

Why does Ned resign his office as Hand in "The Wolf and the Lion"?

The order extends to her unborn child and Viserys; Ned refuses to be part of killing a pregnant girl.

Which member of Ned's household is killed when Jaime ambushes him in the streets of King's Landing?

One of Jaime's men spears Ned through the leg from behind, and Jaime leaves him alive to demand Tyrion's return.

Where is Tyrion imprisoned in a "sky cell" while awaiting Lysa Arryn's judgment?

The same episode reveals Lysa still breastfeeds her eight-year-old son Robin.

Which sellsword volunteers to fight for Tyrion in his trial by combat at the Eyrie?

He "dishonourably" beats Lysa's champion and walks out as Tyrion's escort, to Catelyn's dismay.

What clue makes Ned realise Joffrey is not Robert's son?

Sansa's wish for golden-haired babies sends him back to Jon Arryn's genealogy research.

What does Daenerys eat during her ritual before the Dosh Khaleen?

She proclaims her unborn son Rhaego, named for her brother Rhaegar, will unite the world as one khalasar.

How does Khal Drogo give Viserys the "golden crown" he demands?

Daenerys watches unmoved: "He was no dragon. Fire cannot kill a dragon."

Which writer, best known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, co-wrote the teleplay of "A Golden Crown"?

It was also Daniel Minahan's directing debut on the show; he went on to direct three episodes that season.

Which character speaks the line "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die"?

The line comes in her confrontation with Ned and was used heavily in promoting both the books and the show.

What animal fatally wounds King Robert while he is out hunting?

Dictating his will, he names Ned regent; Ned quietly writes "my rightful heir" instead of Joffrey's name.

Who holds Ned at knifepoint in the throne room with the words "I did warn you not to trust me"?

Ned had asked him to buy the City Watch's loyalty; the gold cloaks slaughtered the Stark men instead.

Which grisly item does Ghost bring Jon after he and Sam take their vows before the heart tree?

Benjen's horse had already come back without him; the hand belongs to one of his rangers.

Which season one episode was written by George R. R. Martin himself?

Its title comes from Jon's parting sword lesson to Arya, and Sophie Turner was singled out for praise.

How does Jon destroy the wight that attacks him in Lord Commander Mormont's quarters?

The corpses of Benjen's rangers had shown no decay despite being dead for weeks; the Watch burns all the remains next morning.

Which healer treats Drogo's wound after he kills the raider Mago in a duel?

The Lhazareen woman later admits she deliberately used blood magic to avenge her destroyed village.

Which sword does Lord Commander Mormont give Jon in "Baelor"?

The Valyrian steel blade is a Mormont family heirloom; Jon is upset he cannot ride south with it to join Robb.

Maester Aemon reveals to Jon that he belongs to which family?

He is the Mad King's uncle and Daenerys's great-uncle, and warns Jon that choosing between duty and family will haunt him.

What does Walder Frey demand in exchange for letting the Stark army cross at the Twins?

The bargain, made in the ninth episode, sets up the Red Wedding two seasons later.

Which English actor made his debut as Walder Frey in "Baelor"?

The same episode introduced German actress Sibel Kekilli as Shae, whose origin was changed to foreign to suit her accent.

Where is Arya perched when she watches her father's judgment outside the Great Sept?

Ned spots her and alerts Yoren, who spirits her away before the sword falls.

Ned Stark is beheaded with what?

The greatsword Ice had opened the season taking a deserter's head; Joffrey reneges on the promised mercy after Ned's confession.

Robb defeats and captures which Lannister in his first battle, in "Baelor"?

He fooled a captured scout into telling Tywin all 20,000 northmen were coming his way, then split his forces.

In the finale, the northern lords proclaim Robb what?

They choose independence over backing either Stannis or Renly, who have both claimed the Iron Throne.

Under what alias does Arya escape King's Landing with Yoren's recruits?

Disguised as a boy, she travels north with Lommy, Hot Pie and Gendry, Robert's unknowing bastard.

How does Daenerys end Drogo's life after Mirri's spell leaves him catatonic?

She then walks into his funeral pyre with the dragon eggs and emerges at dawn with three hatchlings.

Which actress originally played Daenerys in the unaired pilot before Emilia Clarke was cast?

Catelyn was recast at the same time, with Michelle Fairley replacing Jennifer Ehle.

Which composer was brought in only ten weeks before the premiere to score the series?

The producers asked him to avoid flutes and solo vocals already used by other big fantasy productions.

Which cast member won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for season one?

The season's only other Emmy win from thirteen nominations was for its main title design.

Which Scottish castle stood in for Winterfell in the original 2009 pilot before Castle Ward took over?

The same castle had already served as Camelot in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Which Mediterranean island country provided the exterior locations for King's Landing in season one?

Filming in Mdina and on Gozo caused controversy when a subcontractor damaged a protected ecosystem.

Which episode of the season is dedicated to Margaret John (Old Nan), who died before it aired?

The 84-year-old Welsh actress died in February 2011, a few months after finishing her scenes.

Who directed the original, largely reshot Game of Thrones pilot filmed in late 2009?

The pilot was shot in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Morocco but judged unsatisfactory, and much of it was redone.

Which actress was originally announced as Catelyn Stark before Michelle Fairley took the role?

She was announced in August 2009 for the pilot; the part was recast when the season was reworked.