HBO’s Game of Thrones is based on the bestselling series of books by George R.R. Martin, and the incredibly popular, critically acclaimed fantasy series returns for its fourth season on April 6, 2014. Here’s the scoop on the plot and a list of the major players in the GoT world.
Season one debuted on April 17, 2011 followed by season two on April 1, 2012. Season three arrived on March 31, 2013.
The cast includes Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen, Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Kit Harington as Jon Snow, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Maisie Williams as Arya Stark, and Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark. Rory McCann is Sandor Clegane, Jack Gleeson is Joffrey Baratheon, Iain Glen is Ser Jorah Mormont, Conleth Hill is Lord Varys, Aidan Gillen is Petyr Baelish, Charles Dance is Tywin Lannister, and Alfie Allen is Theon Greyjoy.
The Synopsis: Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.
It will stretch from the south, where heat breeds plots, lust and intrigues; to the vast and savage eastern lands; all the way to the frozen north, where an 800-foot wall of ice protects the kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men…all will play the ‘Game of Thrones.’
Season 4 Plot: Encouraged by the Red Wedding slaughter in the Riverlands that wiped out many of their Stark nemeses, the Lannisters’ hold on the Iron Throne remains intact…but can they survive their own egos, as well as new and ongoing threats from the south, north and east? While an unbowed Stannis Baratheon continues to rebuild his army in Dragonstone, a more immediate danger comes from the south, as Oberyn Martell, the Lannister-loathing “Red Viper of Dorne,” arrives at King’s Landing to attend Joffrey’s wedding to Margaery Tyrell, and perhaps act on an ulterior agenda.
In the north, a depleted Night’s Watch seems overmatched against the inexorable Wall advances of Mance Rayder’s army of wildlings, which in turn is being trailed by an even more formidable foe: the undead White Walkers. As if that weren’t enough, Daenerys Targaryen, accompanied by her menacing trio of dragons and army of Unsullied, is poised to liberate Meereen, the largest city in Slaver’s Bay, which could ultimately provide her with enough ships to sail to Westeros and reclaim the Iron Throne.
