Game of Thrones Season 1 Full

 Game of Thrones Season 1

If you've got five minutes to spare and need a refresher on the Game of Thrones saga, here's a quick breakdown of everything that went down in season one. But beware, this summary is dark and full of spoilers, along with some family moments that are not so family-friendly.

The series opens in the northern wastes of Westeros, at a time when the continent is nearing the end of a long, peaceful summer and facing the prospect of winter once again. A group of Night's Watch soldiers is attacked by undead White Walkers, establishing from the very beginning that the true enemy lurks far to the north. Meanwhile, in the realm of Westeros, the great houses scheme and plot against each other, oblivious to the impending threat beyond the Wall.

Eddard "Ned" Stark, the honorable lord of Winterfell, tries to maintain peace in his domain the old-fashioned way. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when King Robert Baratheon arrives with an extensive entourage, seeking Ned's service as the new Hand of the King. Although Ned is reluctant to leave his home—joking that the job description involves the King shitting and the Hand wiping—he ultimately agrees to move to King's Landing after learning that the previous Hand, his old friend Jon Arryn, was murdered.

Ned brings his two daughters, the ladylike Sansa and the tomboyish Arya, along for the journey, leaving his eldest son Rob to rule Winterfell alongside Lady Catelyn and his other sons, Bran and Rickon. Bran, however, finds himself in a precarious situation after climbing the castle walls and witnessing a shocking act of incest between Jaime and Cersei Lannister. Jaime pushes Bran out of the tower window, leaving him permanently paralyzed and with a case of amnesia.

Upon arriving in King's Landing, Ned uncovers evidence that Jaime is the true father of Cersei's three children, and that Robert's true heir is actually a bastard blacksmith's apprentice named Gendry. Unfortunately, Ned's lack of political savvy and his struggles with backstabbing advisors like Littlefinger and Varys lead to his downfall. Cersei, enraged by Ned's discoveries, orchestrates the death of her husband, and Ned is imprisoned. Her repugnant son Joffrey is crowned king, and one of his first acts is to publicly execute Ned. Arya manages to escape the chaos, but Sansa finds herself trapped in the city, facing the prospect of marrying the vile Joffrey.

Back in Winterfell, tensions rise as Catelyn blames Tyrion Lannister for Bran's fall. Tyrion clears his name with the help of an opportunistic mercenary and returns to King's Landing. However, when news of Ned's death reaches Winterfell, all hell breaks loose. Winterfell secedes from the Seven Kingdoms, and Rob is declared King in the North. After achieving some early victories, including capturing Jaime, Rob's legend begins to grow.

Meanwhile, across the sea, the surviving Targaryens are plotting their comeback. Viserys Targaryen marries off his young sister Daenerys to the barbarian warlord Khal Drogo. However, Viserys's arrogance leads to his demise when he pushes Drogo too far and finds himself wearing a crown of a different sort. Daenerys, initially fearful, begins to fall in love with her new husband and his people. Despite the challenges she faces, including an assassination attempt from King's Landing, she ultimately loses both Drogo and their unborn child. However, she gains three new fire-breathing dragons, earning the title "Mother of Dragons," marking the first step in her journey to reclaim her birthright.

Back in Westeros, Ned's bastard son Jon Snow decides there is no place for him at Winterfell and swears allegiance to the Night's Watch. He hopes to find his uncle Benjen, who has gone missing beyond the Wall. At Castle Black, Jon struggles to find friends, except for the sheltered Samwell Tarly and the elderly Maester Aemon, who is also a surviving Targaryen. Jon catches the eye of Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, who recognizes Jon as one of the few decent and honorable men in the Night's Watch. Mormont bestows upon Jon the family sword Longclaw, one of the few remaining Valyrian steel weapons, just as the dead begin to awaken in the icy lands beyond the Wall.

By the end of season one, we know that the White Walkers are vulnerable to fire, Joffrey is utterly detestable, Rob is emerging as a formidable leader, and Sean Bean's character, Ned Stark, has met a tragic end. As the excitement builds for the dragons and the unfolding saga, fans are left eager for more. For further insights into Game of Thrones, check out our breakdown of the differences in sexual politics in Westeros, as well as three brilliant moments from the Battle of the Bastards.