Winter is Coming. This phrase captured the mood on a kingdom that is on the verge of a shift at the very start of the series in Game of Thrones and is sustained by the dialogue from the first episode by Ned Stark. In Season 1 we get introduced to the world of Westeros which is as detailed as it is dangerous – filled with noble families elbowing each other for power, obligatory shadows lurking backstabbers, and malign threats awakening to chill the lives beyond the wall.
Standing at the heart of the story, we are introduced to Eddard “Ned” Stark. The North’s honorable lord of Winterfell. It is during one of the visits from an old friend, the King himself, Robert Baratheon, that things shift quite a lot. Ned is asked to take over as the King’s Hand, the king’s chief advisor. After some deliberation, Ned sails south – and just like that, it is no longer an option, politics, secrets, and betrayal define the South in the court of the Royal family.
Up North, Ned’s so called illegitimate son joins the night’s watch – the brotherly soldiers stationed at the Wall barring entry into the wild, untamed lands of the seven kingdoms. As John Snow settles into his new role, it doesn’t take long for him to learn that the real horrors beyond the wall run a lot deeper than the monstrous politics and horrible war waging within.
Near the coast, the former king of the Seven Kingdoms married off his exiled daughter Daenerys Targaryen to Khal Drogo, a Dothraki warlord. As timid as she was, the marriage marked a crucial change in her life that pushed her to unlock her strength coupled with a new identity, and begin her journey to become a powerful spearhead. Her brother Viserys is increasingly becoming more unstable in his attempts to reclaim the family throne, and suffers the consequences from reckless ambition.
Ned stark is in the capital investigating the death of the hand of the king, and with a bit of digging learns more than he intended in discovering the Cersei lannister secret her twists. Her secrets usher in more epic betrayal, and messific political plotting which attempts to conquer the realm. Tyrion, with his cunning skills, cold-hearted Tywin and dangerous Jaime Lannister step up to stab one another setting the stage for ruthless games of civil war.
While the situation is more than volatile, the rising tension decides to test ang make alliances Ned’s perception of honor doomed and the sheer nature surrounding power. The culmination towards the end alters the narrative while in retrospect, not a single character is safe throughout the realm of westeros.
A blend of family drama, political intrigue, fantasy, and memorable characters helps set the stage for battles in season 1 of Game of Thrones. The iconic Stark phrase, “Winter is Coming,” foreshadows the forthcoming conflict, turmoil, and fate.