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In most cases, books are better than screen adaptations because it’s a medium with a slower pace, hence their capacity to provide a nuanced approach to characters and their storylines. Quite rare are the instances where the shows or films did better than the source material, but it’s not a completely impossible occurrence.

George R.R. Martin via TIFF Originals / Credits: YouTube

House of the Dragon had a few good scenes that captured the story better than how George R.R. Martin presented it in Fire & Blood. As shocking as this may sound, many fans nevertheless agreed that a particular scene from the first season was so much better than its book counterpart.

Aemond losing an eye in House of the Dragon was a better scene than the book version

One of the scenes from House of the Dragon Season 1 that pushed the audience to the edge of their...

House of the Dragonhas only aired two seasons to date, but in less than 20 episodes, the adaptation of George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood novel has produced plenty of episodes with heartbreaking scenes. Between horrific childbirth, brutal warfare, and dragon-versus-dragon combat, the high-profile TV show has no shortage of gutwrenching scenes.

For those fans who haven't seen House of the Dragon, there are a fair number of episodes to be wary of before watching. While some viewers can stomach the worst that the HBO series has to offer, plenty of other gruesome moments warrant preparation from most fans.

The Horrors of Childbirth Are on Display During Aemma’s Tragic Death Season 1, Episode 1: "The Heirs of the Dragon"

Even Game of Thrones didn't prepare viewers for the traumatic childbirth scene that introduced the brutal world of House Targaryen. Queen Aemma, after one successful birth (Princess Rhaenyra) and five failed attempts,...

Unlike the multi-book series used as the source material for Game of Thrones, HBO's House of the Dragon has an easier adaptation. George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood is a history of the Targaryens, and only a portion of it was used to develop the prequel series that takes place 300 years before Daenerys Targaryen's rise to power. Using two fictional accounts, the book weaves an impression of what these famous rulers were like.

The differing accounts of events allow House of the Dragon to have its own interpretation, but some events go beyond the pale. The prequel has less of a sweeping ensemble cast than its predecessor, so unkind characterizations stand out even more than in Game of Thrones. At one time or another, many House of the Dragon characters do not live up to their lives on the page of the epic history.

Daemon Lost His Way In Season...

Anime villains practically have their own subgenre in the community. They are so dastardly that many of them have become iconic fixtures in the anime universe. Yet, even after that, several of these superstars of evil stand out for their unconscionable wickedness. Many of these characters are so villainous that they would put any Game of Thrones villain to shame.

The evilest, most ruthless anime villains can wipe out entire cities without a second thought. They are so heartless that even the most heinous acts seem to delight them. Just as with Game of Thrones, these villains have no qualms about the pain they inflict on others. Their only concern is what they can get out of any situation through the most brutal means possible.

Fullmetal Alchemist's Father Would Easily Destory Cities & Their People for More Power Streaming on Crunchyroll

Father is a being created from the blood of a...

Those who watched Game of Thrones during its original run over ten years ago know how crushing certain episodes were, and some might have preferred a fair warning to prepare for the horrors to come. This list features the top ten episodes that were emotionally taxing for the audience, especially for those who watched the show for the first time.

From shocking beheadings to devastating weddings, these moments defined the series' reputation for ruthlessness and unpredictability. Game of Thrones is still the most successful television show of all time, and its style changed the landscape of television's storytelling forever.

Season 1's Penultimate Episode Proves One Is Safe Season 1, Episode 9: "Baelor"

From the very first episode, Ned Stark was the guide through the treacherous world of Westeros. When his best friend King Robert dragged him to King's Landing as Hand of the King, Ned reluctantly went along despite his distaste...

This year, Netmarble will release Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, a new video game set during the fourth season of the TV show. So the wildlings are attacking the Wall, Joffrey has just died in King's Landing, and Daenerys is settling in to ruling in Meereen. You play as the heir to House Tyre, a minor house in the North, and set out to make it in the world. You'll play through an original story, explore an open world modeled on the Seven Kingdoms, interact with characters from the series, and fight both enemy combatants and fearsome creatures like wights and White Walkers.

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad will come out on PC via Steam and on iOS and Android devices. It's coming out this year, but we still don't have a firm release date. However, Netmarble has revealed that early access to the game will begin next Wednesday, March 26. You can...

Several years after airing its highly controversial final season, HBO's Game of Thrones remains the talk of the town. The ongoing prequel series, House of the Dragon, has further ignited the fandom's interest in profoundly studying the characters and establishing connections. However, die-hard fans of George R.R. Martin's books have also been the show's toughest critics because of the obvious differences between the novels and the television series.

Martin is far from concluding his epic saga, with the sixth and seventh installments yet to be released. As a result, Game of Thrones took the liberty to chart its own course following Season 5, which resulted in major changes to fan-favorite characters. Whether it was a supporting or one of the main characters, the stark differences between their portrayal and their book counterparts still have the fans divided.

Updated on March 19, 2025, by Ajay Aravind: Book-to-media adaptations rarely capture the source material's scope,...

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is a new open world video game that lets players explore far-off corners of the Seven Kingdoms, interact with iconic characters from the TV show, try their hand at politics as they build their house up from nothing, and fight monsters both human and fantastical. By all accounts, it looks like one of the best Game of Thrones video games yet made, and it's coming out sometime this year.

We don't know exactly when Kingsroad will release, but developer Netmarble has opened up pre-registration for the full game, so it's happening pretty soon; Los Siete Reinos reports that the game will be out between April and June. Netmarble is also sharing more and more about the game. Above, you can watch a video on some of the creatures you can fight, either by yourself or with friends online. They've shared information on the three classes you...

As many of its fans are no doubt aware, Game of Thronesdelivered countless devastating moments throughout its run, with character deaths like Ned Stark's shocking beheading in Season 1 and the brutal Red Wedding massacre leaving audiences traumatized. However, some of the show's most emotionally powerful scenes didn't involve death at all.

Throughout the series, Game of Thrones explores the dark underbelly of Westeros, showcasing the brutality that goes on in the Seven Kingdoms throughout the fall of the Baratheon Dynasty. Plenty of these moments do not involve death, Here are the ten saddest moments that broke the audience's hearts without claiming any lives.

Arya and Nymeria Take Part in Two Sad Separations Season 1, Episode 2: "The Kingsroad" & Season 7, Episode 2: "Stormborn"

Arya's relationship with her direwolf Nymeria spans two heartbreaking separations. The first occurs early in the series when Nymeria bites Prince Joffrey while defending Arya. Fearing the direwolf will be murdered,...

Tyrion Lannister, our beloved, wine-guzzling, sharp-tongued underdog, was once the undisputed king of comebacks and one of the best minds in Game of Thrones. He could talk his way out of anything, outdrink anyone, and outsmart entire courts of scheming nobles.

From his first moment on screen, it was clear that he wasn’t just another Lannister. He had a brain, a heart, and a healthy amount of self-awareness that made him stand out in a family full of megalomaniacs and sociopaths.

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

His arc was fascinating, he started as a spoiled, drunken noble, but quickly proved he was more than his family’s black sheep. He survived capture by Catelyn Stark, convinced a band of hill tribes to fight for him, and managed the impossible task of governing King’s Landing in Joffrey’s absence.

He also devised one...

For eight seasons, Game of Thrones developed an incredibly extensive cast filled with some of the most memorable characters in modern television. Names like Cersei, Tyrion, and Daenerys became well-known even to people who hadn't seen the show, due simply to its enormous impact on pop culture at the time. They became so popular that real-world people even began giving their children names like Lyanna and Khaleesi.

However, along with these important figures, a vast multitude of side characters are scattered throughout the series. Some of them were naturally more memorable than others, even if all of them were somewhat relevant to the overarching narrative. In addition, there are also a few characters who played critically important roles in the show but are rarely thought of, with some even forgotten entirely.

Updated on March 4, 2025, by Ajay Aravind: Although Game of Thrones doesn't have a single protagonist, the series includes dozens of main characters.

House of the Dragon Season 2 raises the stakes as the Targaryens finally launch into an all-out civil war that will leave the Seven Kingdoms in tatters. The Dance of the Dragons marks one of the bloodiest and most horrifying times in the history of House Targaryen, as Rhaenyra fights for the Iron Throne that her father promised her but was stolen by her half-brother Aegon. While Rhaenyra is the rightful heir to the throne, she hasn't always acted uprightly, including when it came to her first husband, Laenor Velaryon. The son of Lord Corlys and the heir to House Velaryon, Laenor, was wed to Rhaenyra by their parents' arrangement, who wished to put aside the differences between their two families and unite the realm.

However, Rhaenyra had no interest in Laenor, nor did he have any romantic affections for her, preferring the company of young male suitors. Rather than consummating their marriage,...

If HBO’s Game of Thrones taught us anything (besides never naming your kid Joffrey), it’s that no one was safe. Characters in the show were getting killed left and right, just as traumatically as the series finale. So it’s not surprising that Alfie Allen, who played Theon Greyjoy, kept asking the showrunners about his fate. After all, Westeros wasn’t exactly big on job security.

Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones | image: HBO

But instead of giving him a straight answer, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss decided to mess with him in true Game of Thrones fashion. They handed him a fake script where Theon dies and then went on to casually ask him if he’d like to return as a brainless zombie in the next series. Brutal? Yes. Funny? Also yes. Thankfully, Allen took it better than Theon would have.

Alfie Allen...

If there’s one thing we learned from Game of Thrones aside from never attending weddings in Westeros, it’s that playing a fan-favorite or fan-hated character can mess with an actor’s life in ways they never imagined. Some actors ride the wave of their iconic roles, others struggle to break free from them, and some just disappear into a quiet life of contemplation, wondering why their character wasn’t given a pet dragon.

Kit Harington as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones | Credit: HBO

Take Kit Harington and Jack Gleeson, for example. They both walked away from Game of Thrones with their own battle scars, emotional baggage, and a newfound awareness that fans can be… intense.

While Harington found himself boxed into the brooding hero archetype, Gleeson had to deal with people assuming he was an actual medieval psychopath. So, how did these two actors deal with their post-Westerosi lives?...

Game of Thrones was the most successful TV show in history, and many lists have attempted to identify the most poignant episode of each season. Often, these episodes are chosen for their shocking moments or cinematic spectacle. This list honors those episodes that either perfectly set up storylines, featured some of the best scenes in the adaptation's history, or wrapped up storylines compellingly. Here are the best episodes from each season.

The Baratheon Dynasty Draws Its Final Breaths Season 1, Episode 7: "You Win or You Die"

Many might have expected "Baelor" to be the best episode of Season 1 because it proved that no character is safe in this universe, but Episode 7 set up the events that led to Ned's execution in the penultimate episode. In "You Win or You Die," all the political intrigue and its consequences established major changes for this season and those to come. There are numerous excellent character moments,...

Game of Thrones may have ended, but the debates rage on, especially when it comes to Sansa vs. Daenerys. Both had their eyes on a crown, but their paths couldn’t have been more different. Daenerys, the Mother of Dragons, spent the series fighting to reclaim her family’s throne, only to burn out in the end.

Sansa Stark and Daenerys Targaryen in Got | Credits: HBO

Sansa, once a starry-eyed girl dreaming of being queen, endured betrayal and hardship to emerge as the ruler of the North. In the end, Sansa got to keep her crown, her kingdom, and her head! But what are the fans saying?

Sansa vs. Daenerys, Why the mother of dragons reigns supreme!

Daenerys Targaryen was the most powerful female character in Game of Thrones until the writers rushed her downfall in the final episodes. For seven seasons, she built her legacy from nothing, transforming from...

Tyrion Lannister is a complicated character, and perhaps one of the most profound in Game of Thrones for his various contributions. Shunned by his family, he is forced into exile to avoid the brunt their prejudice. He proves his intelligence and political acumen at several points throughout the HBO series, especially while serving under Daenerys as the Hand of the Queen.

It's not really a stretch to claim Tyrion as one of the prime movers of the storyline. That said, there are an embarrassingly large number of occasions in which he has behaved in an uncharacteristically shortsighted manner. In Tyrion's defense, he is a human being at the end of the day, but a few of these instances are downright preposterous.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on February 24, 2025: Tyrion Lannister may be the smartest character in Game of Thrones, but in a world like Westeros, that doesn't always mean too much.

Throughout its eight seasons, Game Of Thrones has introduced and explored a huge array of characters, of all shapes, sizes, and moral inclinations. With its core being about war and the scramble to determine who will sit on the Iron Throne, Game Of Thrones has seen plenty of betrayals and those acting in their own best interests.

Got's main villains are generally the ones that ignite the fires of vengeance within the heroes and instigate the various conflicts throughout the series. Some villains are given redemption arcs with serious room for character growth, like Jaime Lannister and the Hound. Other characters show no remorse for their despicable actions and are completely irredeemable right up until their deaths.

Updated on February 19, 2025, by Chen Drachman: The World of Game of Thrones is always growing. We took a look back at the series that launched the screen franchise and took this...

This list contains references to sexual assault, torture, suicide, psychological abuse, child abuse, and animal abuse.

Throughout most of its eight-season reign, Game of Thrones captivated audiences with its riveting storytelling and complex characters. One particularly compelling character who was around from the start of Game of Thrones to very nearly the end was Cersei Lannister.

While there were plenty of despicable characters in Game of Thrones, Cersei was responsible for many of the vilest things to happen in the HBO series. The Lannisters, the Starks, and the Targaryens were seen as the three main families in Game of Thrones. While each had their likable protagonists, Cersei certainly emphasized the most villainous aspects of the Lannister clan. As the series progressed, Cersei's ploys became increasingly bolder and more sinister.

Updated on February 19, 2025, by Michael Colwander: Cersei Lannister has a long list of terrible deeds throughout Game of Thrones. With each passing season,...

Game of Thrones was an absolute sensation when it was airing, and although there has been a drop in interest since the final season ended, many people still go back to watch the show's best episodes. Even after nearly six years without new episodes, there are still many active YouTube channels exploring fan theories, what ifs, and how the show can be dissected for lessons in quality writing.

There are definitely elements of the show that didn't work. Episodes that were hated by the fans, moments that aged horribly, and storylines that were so different from the books that they were hard to tolerate. But it isn't fair to author George R.R. Martin, the actors, and the crew to completely reject the show when it was at its best.

With that in mind, we're looking at the good times. This article explores the best episode of each season, whether that...

Game of Throneshas been hailed as one of the best TV shows ever, albeit marred by a final season of disappointing episodes. Even so, there's one certainty for anyone who has watched Game of Thrones, and that's that HBO's fantasy show is simply unforgettable in the genre and medium.

Game of Thrones houses many incredible highs and far fewer lows. While the shocks were not always palatable to most fans, the adaptation of George R. R. Martin's books always kept viewers on their toes with awe-inspiring and unpredictable twists and turns. The award-winning show's catalog is stacked with moments that stay glued in the minds of fans, and these episodes are the ones almost always discussed when it comes to Game of Thrones' most memorable.

Updated on February 12, 2025, by Michael Colwander: Despite its rough final seasons, Game of Thrones still lingers in the minds of anyone who has ever watched the show.

Game of Thrones was quite a roller-coaster throughout its eight seasons — in terms of both narrative progression and audience reception. Although heavily criticized for its reductionist storylines and questionable character arcs, there is no doubt that Game of Thrones is one of the most influential TV shows of the 21st century. Each episode is crafted with incredible skill, from cinematography and set design to music and dialogue.

A large chunk of them are thematically undecided, but there are more than a few that highlight the visceral darkness embodied by their characters. Game of Thrones is well-known for its depictions of physical and emotional violence, but the most impactful moments are those that instill a sense of uncomfortable premonition in their viewers.

Updated on February 11, 2025, by Ajay Aravind: The darkness over Westeros grows stronger and stronger following the mysterious death of Jon Arryn, reaching its pinnacle during Daenerys' destruction of King's Landing.

George R.R. Martin’s first draft of A Song of Ice and Fire, dated as far back as 1993, had different storylines for Jaime and Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones. In this version, Jaime became the king of the Westeros after eliminating the son of Joffrey Baratheon and Sansa Stark. Lena Headey’s Cersei would’ve been another forgettable character in Game of Thrones if Martin had gone down this path.

Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in a still from Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

However, Martin decided to make Cersei into the power-loving and evil queen of Westeros while he turned Jaime into more of a tragic character by the end. Fans may have differing opinions about different aspects of the show including its controversial ending, but no one can deny that Cersei and Jaime were two of the most brilliantly-created characters.

Lena Headey’s Cersei initially had a different storyline in George R.

Joffrey Baratheon was a monster in royal clothing, and every Game of Thrones fan has, at some point, fantasized about his untimely demise. While his eventual poisoning in A Storm of Swords was immensely satisfying, what if Sansa Stark had taken matters into her own hands much earlier?

Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark in Game of Thornes | Credits: HBO

Imagine if, she had actually done it, launching him into the abyss, dragging herself down with him in a shocking murder-suicide. The ripple effects of such a bold act would have been staggering. Let’s explore how Westeros might have changed if the Mad Boy King never made it past the first book.

A scene in Game of Thrones that could have changed everything A still of Joffrey Baratheon showing Sansa Stark the head of Ned Stark in Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

Everyone wanted Sansa Stark to kill at least...

While it will always be true that Game of Thrones is an epic of modern mythology like no other with its dragons, dire-wolves, faceless men and white walkers, it is a masterpiece of cinematic television for far more important reasons. At its core, the drama embedded in its DNA is on par with the greatest forms of drama in history. Fans can thank writer George R.R. Martin for his incredible contribution to fantasy literature with his A Song of Ice and Fire series. The television series encapsulates these important qualities of the fictional world Martin has created. Game of Thrones was a near-perfect adaptation of the novels, season after season, and gave fantasy fans their new favorite series. Every kind of audience member tuned into Game of Thrones during its prime.

It wasn't the swordplay, high-fantasy creatures or the imaginative history of Westeros that grabbed people's attention and kept them hooked for years.

When Game of Thrones outpaced George R.R. Martin's books, showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss had to forge their own path. While they knew the major plot points Martin intended, they needed to fill in countless details themselves. But even before running out of source material, they made numerous changes to the books - some brilliant, others questionable.

Some new scenes became instant classics: Arya serving as Tywin's cupbearer at Harrenhal, Cersei and Robert's candid discussion about their failed marriage, and the electric confrontation between Varys and Littlefinger with the iconic "chaos is a ladder" speech, to name a few. These fit so seamlessly into the story that some viewers didn't even realize they weren't from the books. However, some of their creative decisions were somewhat questionable.

Barristan Selmy’s Demise Was a Disrespectful Way to End the Character's Story

Ser Barristan Selmy is one of the greatest knights in Westeros,...

Even before their enormously successful HBO television adaptations, author George R.R. Martin's "Game of Thrones" books completely revamped medieval fantasy. Known collectively as the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, Martin introduced the world of Westeros and its surrounding kingdoms with his novels. With eight books published since 1996 and more planned to conclude Martin's overarching story, there is plenty available for literary fans to delve into. Though for curious readers fresh off "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon," the reading order might not be as simple as it initially appears.

In addition to the sweeping main novel series, adapted into "Game of Thrones," Martin has written and published ancillary material expanding his fantasy world and its history. Some of these tales take place before the main series while others offer crucial world-building within the wider story. With that said, here's how to read George R.R.

The epic HBO fantasy series "House of the Dragon" has exceeded fan expectations in many ways, giving those who were burned by "Game of Thrones" another chance to love and grieve the incredible characters of franchise creator George R. R. Martin's worlds. Taking place approximately 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones," "House of the Dragon" contains all of the great aspects of its television predecessor, just done much better, and that includes all kinds of complicated family drama. In fact, "House of the Dragon" pretty much triples down on the family drama (and incest) because it's centered on the "Dance of the Dragons," a war between two factions of the dragon-riding Targaryen family. On one side is Team Green, headed up by Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and her son Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), whom she crowned as king after the death of his father Viserys...

George R.R. Martin is expected to release two more installments for A Song of Ice and Fire series: The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring—the last one intended to be the final volume. With seven books in total, the Game of Thrones lore would go down in history as one of the greatest fantasy epics of the modern age.

George R.R. Martin / Credits: CBS News

The author envisioned releasing fewer books in the beginning, but as he wrote and explored the lives of his characters, it dawned on him that the world he was building entailed more than just a trilogy.

George R.R. Martin pictured a four-installment A Song of Ice and Fire series

We know that A Game of Thrones started with an imagined scene that randomly popped into George R.R. Martin’s head. It was so vivid that he had to put his thoughts down onto paper.

One of the most important moments in the Game of Thrones franchise came when Ned Stark, who had seemed to be one of the main protagonists, lost his head. This told audiences that anybody could die at any time, a concept that drew a lot of fans in. Looking back, it actually seemed like this event was inevitable, with many steps clearly leading him to his execution.

With that being said, it can be interesting to think back on how things might have gone differently. Was there a point in the narrative where Ned or his family could have made different choices which would have changed his fate?

On a first watch, it seems like Ned's fate is in the hands of his daughter, Sansa Stark. She sends a letter to keep her brother Robb from going to war and begs the newly installed King Joffrey, her betrothed, for mercy.

Tyrion Lannister may not have been able to wield a sword, but he certainly has the sharpest tongue of all the characters in Game of Thrones. His witty remarks would have gotten him killed if not for his association with Tywin Lannister and the Iron Throne. Throughout the series' eight seasons, the black sheep of House Lannister utters some of the best lines in television history, cementing him as one of the most quotable fictional characters of all time.

While it's easy to praise Tyrion Lannister for his quick-wittedness, it's significantly harder to choose which of his quotes are truly the most memorable. After all, Tyrion utters more dialogue than most Game of Thrones characters, giving him plenty of time to crack jokes, give advice, and bond with the most prominent figures in Westeros. That said, the best quotes made by Tyrion are often profound, pithy, and funny.

Updated by...

Tyrion Lannister is portrayed by the brilliant Peter Dinklage in HBO’s Game of Thrones. He quickly became a fan-favorite character due to his sharp wit, humor, and surprising moral compass in a world drenched in betrayal and bloodshed.

However, the show’s portrayal of Tyrion softened many of the morally ambiguous or outright despicable actions he committed in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series.

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

While the series retained some of Tyrion’s cunning and darker tendencies, his character was ultimately sanitized to appeal to audiences. This whitewashing leaves out key traits of his character that define the complexities of Martin’s original vision.

How George R.R. Martin envisioned Tyrion Lannister in A Song of Ice and Fire Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

In the novels, Tyrion...

President Donald Trump finally takes office as the 47th president of the United States, and while his supporters are celebrating, others like George R.R. Martin remain unimpressed. The famed author had been very vocal about his political stance over the years, and this included several remarks about the politician.

Donald Trump / Credits: ABC News

Westeros is all about power and control, and it’s very evident that modern governance had some sort of influence on Martin’s works. In fact, he likened Trump to one of the most despised characters in Game of Thrones.

Donald Trump reminds George R.R. Martin of Joffrey Baratheon

Donald Trump became president of the United States for the first time in 2017. During his campaign, writer George R.R. Martin said the politician reminds him of Joffrey Baratheon, the young ruler and antagonist in HBO’s Game of Thrones. He was loathed for his attitude towards everyone,...

There are not many characters in Game of Thrones who are hated more passionately than Cersei Lannister. Cersei has many bad character traits, which give us many good reasons to despise her. In the conversation between Oberyn and Tyrion, we find out that she tortured Tyrion in his crib after her mother died giving birth to him; she famously told her cruel son Joffrey that "truth is whatever we make it," insinuating that a king can do whatever he wants. In the very first episode, Jaime pushes Bran out of a tower window to protect Cersei. Cersei is jealous, petty, and vengeful. However, when we get introduced to Tywin, her powerful father, we get a glimpse into the Lannister family philosophy, making it easier to understand where most of these flaws come from.

From the moment we meet Tywin, we discover how smart and strategic he is. Tywin seems cold,...

Jack Gleeson, the face behind Game of Thrones’ most despised brat-king, Joffrey Baratheon, did something no one saw coming. Having ruled as one of TV’s most hated villains (and making bank doing it), Gleeson did something similar to what Emma Watson did.

Jack Gleeson in Game of Throne | Credits: HBO Entertainment

But why did he walk away when his career was just heating up? Turns out, the answer is surprisingly relatable.

Why Jack Gleeson traded the Iron Throne for a quieter life away from the spotlight Jack Gleeson in Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO Entertainment

Playing the villain everyone loved to hate in Game of Thrones and ruling the Iron Throne came with some consequences. It made Jack Gleeson rethink his entire career.

Chatting with students at University College Dublin, Gleeson spilled the tea on why he left acting behind (via Unilad):

It really come down to just...

Before he was one of the most popular actors on the planet, Pedro Pascal's first big break came in Game of Thrones, one of the biggest shows of all time. These days, it feels like Pedro Pascal is everywhere in Hollywood, and for good reason, as he is an incredibly talented actor who has proven time and again his ability to deliver a stellar performance. From Joel in The Last of Us to Din Djarin in The Mandalorian, Pascal has been a part of some significant blockbuster franchises.

It doesn't stop there, either, as Pedro Pascal is set to play Mister Fantastic in the McU's The Fantastic Four: First Steps with the actor continuing to find himself in roles for every type of fandom. Of course, there wasn't always a time when Pascal was a household name, not gaining much traction until he appeared in a supporting role in...

Happy New Year! As 2025 begins, many of us are undoubtedly looking forward to our next trip to the Disney Parks. Whether that's Disneyland, the Walt Disney World Resort, or one of the international properties, many of us die-hard Park-Hoppers are already making plans to storm the castle.

With that in mind, we need to go into the new year with a few new things in mind. As much as we all adore the wonderful world of Disney, 2024 saw some less-than-magical behavior from certain guests. As Disney prepares to give fans another year of magic, we need to reevaluate some of our habits from last year and trade them in for actions that would make Walt proud.

Streams are for Water, Not Rides

While this problem might soon be remedied with the reported TikTok ban, a common complaint amongst many Disney Park guests is that so many streamers and influencers are on their phones and cameras,...

Everyone has heard some version of the idea that history repeats itself, and that is even more true in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire. For instance, the kidnapping of Lyanna Stark and execution of Rickard (and Brandon) Stark prompted Ned to participate in Robert's Rebellion, just like the execution of Ned and capture of his daughter Sansa will prompt his son Robb to become a rebel and rise against the crown years later.

This is also incredibly obvious in the parallel story arcs between Game of Thrones and its prequel series House of the Dragon, particularly in their first seasons. While the characters are very different, discerning audiences can see nearly the exact same story beats playing out on each show, which are set over 100 years apart in time. The later seasons of Game of Thrones have more distinctive battles that define one story as different from the other,...

George R.R. Martin’s original plan for A Song of Ice and Fire contained many scenes that we never witnessed in the novels and the television series, one of which included a duel between two prominent characters from Game of Thrones. Fans would surely feel robbed of the opportunity after they learn that Joffrey Baratheon and Robb Stark were planned to go against each other.

George R.R. Martin / Credits: CBS News

The deaths of these characters, which we have seen in the show, were very different from the initial plan; although, it’s fair to say that their demise in the series was far more brutal and memorable than in the outline.

George R.R. Martin planned a duel between Joffrey Baratheon and Robb Stark

While the season finale of Game of Thrones failed to make a positive impact, the show had some of the greatest death scenes that...

Game of Thrones is now more than five years in our rearview mirrors, and its successor series House of the Dragon is now HBO’s flagship series in the streaming wars. While still a strong draw for viwers, House of the Dragon has been unable to reach the heights of its predecessor’s ratings, and in its second season it failed to even reach the viewership records it set in its first. The second season still received good reviews from critics, especially its much lauded fourth episode, “The Red Dragon and the Gold.” But the average per episode IMDb rating for season 2 was still down to 7.8 from 8.7 in season 1.

There is a common perception that House of the Dragon is on the ropes. Several theories have been put forward for this: the series lacks the incredible supporting cast that categorized its predecessor, it lacks Game of Thrones' humor; there was...

Arya Stark’s story is one of the very best in Game of Thrones, but it could well have been very different. In fairness, being different was sort of Arya’s thing, certainly in comparison to her sister, Sansa, and the other ladies of Westeros. From the beginning right through to Game of Thrones’ ending, Arya forged her own path, becoming a great fighter but thankfully managing to hold on to her humanity despite everything she went through.

Brilliantly brought to life by Maisie Williams as part of Game of Thrones’ cast, Arya stands a great character in the show, and the A Song of Ice and Fire books that preceded it. Author George R.R. Martin’s original A Song of Ice and Fire plan, though, would’ve massively changed her. Revealed in an overview from 1993, when the books were planned just as a trilogy - with story beats including Jaime Lannister becoming King,...

Deaths in Game of Thrones are always violent and upsetting, but there’s probably one character’s demise that ended up being celebrated by many, instead of being mourned. The marriage of Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell became iconic and unforgettable because it also signaled the end of the king’s reign.

Credits: Jack Gleeson and Lena Headey in Game of Thrones / HBO

The wedding celebration turned out to be a tragedy, with Joffrey seemingly choking on his food until he turned purple and eventually dying due to poisoning. This event, as satisfying as it was for many, was not merely George R.R. Martin’s whim to kill off the much-hated king – it was based on a real-life story.

The inspiration behind King Joffrey Baratheon’s death in Game of Thrones

George R.R. Martin served as the writer for The Lion and the Rose episode of Game of Thrones.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King.”

While Kelvin Harrison Jr. listened to original Scar voice actor Jeremy Irons to guide his portrayal of Taka/Scar in Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King,” some other iconic characters from pop culture ultimately helped him find the cadence he was looking for.

“I also have a great dialect coach who pulled some samples from Jeremy Irons, but I was also looking at Ron Weasley from ‘Harry Potter’ at one point, Joffrey from ‘Game of Thrones’ — a nasty sound, I love it. And I was like, ‘Let me put some of that privilege in there, and then we put it all together, and there you go, Taka, Scar,” Harrison explained to TheWrap.

Naturally, “Mufasa” tells the origin story of Mufasa (Aaron Pierre), the first leader of the African savanna’s Pride Lands — but truly it functions as the...

Rory McCann left his mark in people’s hearts with his dynamic performance in Game of Thrones. Adapted from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, Game of Thrones quickly became one of the biggest shows in TV history. Not only that, the show also gave the audiences some of the most iconic characters ever.

Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane, aka, The Hound in Game of Thrones | Credit: HBO

Fans have spent years hating or loving a character only for the story to switch the narrative entirely with delicate precision to not take away either their good or bad parts. Such a character was Rory McCann’s Sandor Clegane, aka The Hound.

Although initially introduced almost as a villain, he became a fan favorite as the story progressed over the years. However, he almost did not land the job until George R.R. Martin himself intervened for him.

Game of Thrones is masterful when it comes to foreshadowing major events, and the HBO series uses the same genius trick to tease two separate deaths in the span of seven episodes. It's no secret that many prominent characters die throughout Game of Thrones, but some of the most important losses take place during the show's very first outing. These deaths are the ones that start the central conflict of the series, and they also set the brutal tone of the show going forward.

While deaths like Robert Baratheon's and Ned Stark's might seem surprising on first watch, Game of Thrones actually sets them up early. The series does this by weaving complex political alliances that give both characters ruthless enemies to worry about. However, it also foreshadows such deaths more directly through seemingly unrelated scenes. There are two moments in Game of Thrones season 1 that use animals to tease a character's downfall,...

George R.R. Martin's original Game of Thrones plan looked much different from his current A Song of Ice and Fire books, and it's for the best that he replaced his initial vision for Jaime's arc with Cersei's story instead. The Lannister family plays a pivotal role in the Song of Ice and Fire books, but Tyrion's and Jaime's journeys are almost unrecognizable from where they started. Martin's original Game of Thrones outline, written in a letter in 1993, characterized both brothers much differently than his finished books do — and this led them to shocking places.

In fact, Tyrion Lannister even burnt down Winterfell in Martin's first outline, something that's difficult to imagine given his current character arc. This is one of many ways Martin's Game of Thrones plan was very different from the final product. Jon Snow's parentage reveal is one of the few visions that stuck, but almost every...

Reign of Fire used dragons to spark an apocalypse in the UK, making it one of the wildest movies of the 21st century. Reign of Fire merges the fantasy and post-apocalyptic genres by featuring several tropes of each, with a small group of survivors living a bleak existence that gets threatened every so often by enormous dragons. Its unusual approach to the fantasy genre makes Reign of Fire one of the best dragon movies of all time. However, despite its interesting premise and star-packed cast, the movie did not impress critics.

Reign of Fire has a 41% positive critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics generally saw the movie as a clashing mess of ideas, but it was more popular with audiences as it had excellent visual effects and performances from its lead characters. Reign of Fire is one of Matthew McConaughey's best movies, with the actor appearing as a muscle-bound American dragon hunter,...

First things first – there are a whole lot of vile scenes in Game of Thrones, but perhaps fans would unanimously agree that more than the brutal deaths in the show, the r*pe scenes were equally disgusting and traumatic.

Credits: Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in Game of Thrones / HBO

One of the most talked-about assault scenes in the hit HBO fantasy series was the altar scene between Cersei and Jamie Lannister following the death of King Joffrey. The said episode received mixed reactions from fans, with the majority left confused and shocked at the same time.

George R.R. Martin never agreed to the altar r*pe scene in Game of Thrones

Season 4 Episode 3 of Game of Thrones remained one of the most controversial chapters in the show. Entitled Breaker of Chains, it followed the aftermath of King Joffrey’s demise. Lena Headey’s Cersei mourned what was left of...

Daemon Targaryen is one of the most polarizing characters in House of the Dragon. In Fire & Blood, he is described as "made of light and darkness in equal parts," but the showrunner has chosen to highlight his darker traits. Despite this, Daemon remains an enigmatic and somewhat unpredictable character. Some fans admire him, while others despise him. However, he is certainly not the worst character in George R. R. Martin's universe.

Many characters in Game of Thrones have committed far worse acts than the Rogue Prince. Although Daemon can be ruthless and selfish, he also loves his family and is loyal to his soldiers. This list will highlight the worst individuals in Westeros based on the TV show adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire.

Balon Greyjoy Abandons His Son With No Regard Portrayed by: Patrick Malahide

Balon, the ruthless Lord of the Iron Islands, rebelled against Ned Stark,...

A Christmas wish list is usually a kid’s thing, but since we’re talking about fictional, completely made-up characters here, why not?

Have you ever thought about what some of your favorite TV characters might like for Christmas?

For some, it’s not too hard to imagine. Others are a little more tricky.

(HBO)

After all, no one thinks Cersei Lannister is pining for a Plantgem Garden in a Box unless it comes with seeds for Water Hemlock or Deadly Nightshade.

Regardless, it’s an interesting and fun thought experiment throughout the holiday season when everyone is going bonkers over Walmart parking spaces and fighting in the ‘Return’ lines.

M134 Minigun – Joffrey Baratheon – Game of Thrones (HBO)

I know what you’re all thinking: Joffrey Baratheon could have won the Game of Thrones if only he had something better than a crossbow and a “sweet, caring” disposition.

If anything,...