To celebrate the return of the beloved Game of Thrones (now in its 4th season), we will dedicate this week's trivia to this brutally stunning TV show, where being a hero means you're in danger of being killed off and being a villain can be a cool thing (No, really. I like the evil Queen Cersei so much more than the self-righteous Daenerys Targaryen, and the supposedly heroic Jon Snow is so boring I'd rather watch the scheming Tyrion Lannister).
(1) The series takes its name from the first novel in the book series - "A Game of Thrones" - which is actually known as "A Song of Ice and Fire." George R.R. Martin's story credit acknowledges the entire series under this title, rather than the title of individual volumes. There are currently five books in the novel series, with two more are planned.
(2) For the most part, Season 2 was based on the second novel in the series "A Clash of Kings". However, some of the plot points from later in the season, such as Catelyn releasing Jaime Lannister, and Robb breaking his betrothal to House Frey; were actually taken from the early chapters of the third novel "A Storm of Swords". The writers have also said that, given the length of the third book, they were not likely to finish it in the ten episodes given to each season, so it will likely spill over into the fourth season. It is also likely that the fourth and fifth novels ("A Feast for Crows" and "A Dance with Dragons") may both be used as source material for a fourth and fifth season, as none of the same characters appear in both novels, which are meant to take place simultaneously.
(3) While most of the show is largely faithful to the books, composite characters do appear. The most prominent is the prostitute Ros, who is a composite of several named (Alayaya, Chataya, Kyra) and unnamed characters from the book series. Another composite character is the Spice King, who appears in Season Two.
(4) Features nine actors from the Harry Potter film series: Bronson Webb (Will) played unnamed Slytherin student in the third film; Natalia Tena (Osha) played Nymphadora Tonks; David Bradley (Lord Walder Frey) played Argus Filch; Julian Glover (Grand Maester Pycelle) voiced Aragog; Michelle Fairley (Catelyn Stark) played Mrs. Granger in the seventh film; Ciarán Hinds (Mance Rayder) played Aberforth Dumbledore; Ralph Ineson (Dagmer Cleftjaw) played Amycus Carrow; Edward Tudor-Pole (Protestor at King's Landing) played Mr. Borgin and Ian Whyte (Gregor Clegane) played Madame Maxime in full-body shots. Cast member Stephen Dillane (Stannis Baratheon) is also the father of Frank Dillane, who played the young Voldemort/Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009). Potter cast members Jamie Campbell Bower (young Gellert Grindelwald) and Simon Fisher-Becker (Fat Friar) were originally set to play Waymar Royce and the High Septon before being replaced by Rob Ostlere and David Verrey, respectively.
(5) Emmy Awards: First season received 13 nominations and won 2 (including one for Supporting Actor won be Peter Dinklage), second seasons received 12 nominations and won 6 (all technical categories), third season (arguably its best to-date) was nominated for 17 but only won 2 (technical categories).
(6) The series's title sequence was created by production studio Elastic for HBO. Creative director Angus Wall and his collaborators received the 2011 Emmy Award for Main Title Design for their work on the sequence. It depicts a three-dimensional map of the series's fictional world, projected onto the inside of a sphere, which is centrally lit by a small sun contained within an armilla. As the camera swoops across the map and focuses on the locations in which the episode's events take place, complicated clockwork mechanisms let buildings and other structures emerge from the map and unfold. Meanwhile, accompanied by the title music, the names of the principal cast and creative staff are displayed. The sequence concludes after about one and a half minutes with the title card and brief opening credits indicating the episode's writer(s) and director.
(7) In the year 2012, over 160 baby girls in the U.S. were legally named "Khaleesi", after the character in the show, although it is not the character's name (Daenerys) but a title. This is really weird, and I would never name a baby Khaleesi, just so you know.
(8) The character Joffrey Lannister is modeled after the Roman Emperor Caligula. Jack Gleeson, who portrayed the character received a letter from author George R.R. Martin after the the show aired, stating "Congratulations, everyone hates you!". Hee! That's considered an achievement too, if you're playing an evil character.
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