I. Introduction
For those who haven’t seen it yet, Game of Thrones is an epic fantasy drama that was broadcast on HBO between 2011 and 2019. With its complex plot, unforgettable characters, and stunning production values, the show has taken the world by storm in the last decade.
One common problem that people have when they start watching Game of Thrones is figuring out how many seasons there are. Given that the show is based on a long book series by George R. R. Martin, and that it was broadcast over a period of eight years, it’s no wonder that people get confused.
The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive guide to all seven seasons of Game of Thrones, so that viewers can get the most out of this incredible series.
II. Overview of the Seven Seasons of Game of Thrones: A Comprehensive Review
The seven seasons of Game of Thrones cover a wide range of events, character arcs, and plot developments, and each season is integral to the overall story. Here is a brief overview of each season:
Season 1
In this season, viewers are introduced to the main characters of the show, including the members of the Stark family, the queen Cersei Lannister, the imp Tyrion Lannister, and the exiled princess Daenerys Targaryen. The main plot focuses on the struggle for control of Westeros, a fictional realm that is divided into several regions.
Season 2
In this season, the War of the Five Kings heats up, as rival claimants to the Iron Throne fight for supremacy. Meanwhile, events in the North of Westeros foreshadow a more significant threat to the realm: the White Walkers, an army of undead creatures that threatens to overrun all human civilization.
Season 3
This season is notable for the infamous Red Wedding, a shocking plot twist that upends many viewers’ expectations. Meanwhile, Daenerys Targaryen builds up her army and contends with conflicts in the cities she has conquered.
Season 4
In this season, the conflict between the living and the dead comes to the fore, as Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch contend with a wildling invasion and an attack by the White Walkers. Meanwhile, other characters plot against each other, leading to further betrayals and unexpected deaths.
Season 5
This season is notable for the return of some characters who were thought to be dead, as well as for the introduction of new storylines in the far-off nation of Dorne. Meanwhile, Cersei Lannister faces growing challenges to her authority, and Daenerys Targaryen tries to rule her conquered city of Meereen.
Season 6
In this season, several character arcs come to a head, most notably that of Jon Snow, who is resurrected from the dead and takes back control of his family’s ancestral home of Winterfell. Meanwhile, Daenerys Targaryen finally sets sail for Westeros, and the White Walkers push further south.
Season 7
In the final season before the series finale, Daenerys Targaryen and Cersei Lannister face off for control of the Seven Kingdoms, while Jon Snow and his allies battle the Night King and his army of the undead. Several major characters meet their demise, and the stage is set for an epic final showdown.
The overall reception of the show was overwhelmingly positive, although opinions differ on the ending. Regardless of individual opinions, Game of Thrones remains one of the most significant and influential television shows of all time and one worth watching from beginning to end.
III. A Guide to Every Episode of Game of Thrones from the First Season to the Last
If you’re planning to watch (or re-watch) all seven seasons of Game of Thrones, it can be helpful to have a guide that tells you what happens in each episode. Here is an episode guide for each season:
Season 1
Summary: In the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, a king dies, setting off a power struggle between several noble houses. Meanwhile, a wall of ice in the far north of the realm is guarded by the Night’s Watch, an order of soldiers sworn to defend against the undead.
Episodes:
- Winter Is Coming
- The Kingsroad
- Lord Snow
- Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things
- The Wolf and the Lion
- A Golden Crown
- You Win or You Die
- The Pointy End
- Baelor
- Fire and Blood
Major events: the execution of Ned Stark, Daenerys Targaryen’s hatching of dragon eggs, Jon Snow’s induction into the Night’s Watch, Tyrion Lannister’s visit to the Eyrie, and the Battle of the Blackwater.
Season 2
Summary: The War of the Five Kings continues, as Stannis Baratheon challenges the legitimacy of King Joffrey’s claim to the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, the Lannisters consolidate their power in King’s Landing, and Jon Snow infiltrates the wildling army beyond the Wall.
Episodes:
- The North Remembers
- The Night Lands
- What Is Dead May Never Die
- Garden of Bones
- The Ghost of Harrenhal
- The Old Gods and the New
- A Man Without Honor
- The Prince of Winterfell
- Blackwater
- Valar Morghulis
Major events: the Battle of Blackwater Bay, the death of Renly Baratheon, the introduction of the Brotherhood Without Banners, Daenerys Targaryen’s acquisition of the Unsullied, and Jon Snow’s infiltration of the wildlings.
Season 3
Summary: The War of the Five Kings continues, with new players joining the conflict from Essos. Meanwhile, Jon Snow infiltrates the wildling army, and Daenerys Targaryen conquers the city of Astapor.
Episodes:
- Valar Dohaeris
- Dark Wings, Dark Words
- Walk of Punishment
- And Now His Watch Is Ended
- Kissed by Fire
- The Climb
- The Bear and the Maiden Fair
- Second Sons
- The Rains of Castamere
- Mhysa
Major events: the Red Wedding, Daenerys Targaryen’s acquisition of the Unsullied, the rise of the Brotherhood Without Banners, and the fall of the Night’s Watch.
Season 4
Summary: The War of the Five Kings is over, but new conflicts arise in the wake of King Joffrey’s death. Meanwhile, Jon Snow becomes involved in the conflict between the Night’s Watch and the wildlings, and Daenerys Targaryen struggles to rule the city of Meereen.
Episodes:
- Two Swords
- The Lion and the Rose
- Breaker of Chains
- Oathkeeper
- First of His Name
- The Laws of Gods and Men
- Mhysa
- The Mountain and the Viper
- The Watchers on the Wall
- The Children
Major events: the Purple Wedding, the Battle of Castle Black, the trial of Tyrion Lannister, and the revelation of Bran’s powers.
Season 5
Summary: A new threat emerges in Dorne, while Jon Snow and Stannis Baratheon contend with the White Walkers beyond the Wall. Meanwhile, Cersei Lannister faces growing challenges in King’s Landing, and Daenerys Targaryen struggles to rule the city of Meereen.
Episodes:
- The Wars to Come
- The House of Black and White
- High Sparrow
- Sons of the Harpy
- Kill the Boy
- Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken
- The Gift
- Hardhome
- The Dance of Dragons
- Mother’s Mercy
Major events: the return of Jon Snow from the dead, the attack on Hardhome by the White Walkers, the death of Myrcella Baratheon, and Cersei Lannister’s walk of shame.
Season 6
Summary: Jon Snow’s death and resurrection overshadow the renewed conflict between the Lannisters, the Starks, and the Targaryens. Meanwhile, Daenerys Targaryen finally sets sail for Westeros, and the White Walkers push further south.
Episodes:
- The Red Woman
- Home
- Oathbreaker
- Book of the Stranger
- The Door
- Blood of My Blood
- The Broken Man
- No One
- Battle of the Bastards
- The Winds of Winter
Major events: Jon Snow’s resurrection and ascension to the leadership of Winterfell, the destruction of the Sept of Baelor by wildfire, the return of the Hound, and the revelation of Jon Snow’s true parentage.
Season 7
Summary: Daenerys Targaryen and Cersei Lannister face off for control of the Seven Kingdoms, while the White Walkers breach the Wall and invade the North. Several major characters meet their demise, and the stage is set for an epic final showdown.
Episodes:
- Dragonstone
- Stormborn
- The Queen’s Justice
- The Spoils of War
- Eastwatch
- Beyond the Wall
- The Dragon and the Wolf
Major events: the attack on Casterly Rock, the death of Olenna Tyrell, the destruction of the Wall by the Night King, and the revelation of Jon Snow’s true name and Targaryen ancestry.