Game of Thrones season 1

Production

HBO optioned the rights to A Song of Ice and Fire in 2007, with David Benioff and D. B. Weiss as writers and executive producers. Pilot script drafts were submitted in August 2007 and June 2008, but a pilot was not ordered until November 2008, possibly delayed by the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. Benioff and Weiss served as showrunners and wrote eight of the ten episodes, with one co-written by Jane Espenson; Bryan Cogman and George R. R. Martin each wrote one episode.

Tom McCarthy directed the original pilot, but much of it was re-shot by Tim Van Patten when the pilot was reworked into the first episode; Van Patten also directed the second episode. Brian Kirk and Daniel Minahan directed three episodes each, and Alan Taylor directed the final two. Benioff and Weiss, both film veterans, were unfamiliar with television production, leading to several first-season episodes being about ten minutes too short for HBO.

They wrote another 100 pages of scripts in two weeks, designing inexpensive scenes such as two actors conversing in one room; some of their favorite scenes, including one between Robert and Cersei Baratheon discussing their marriage, resulted from this budget constraint. Peter Dinklage was signed to star as Tyrion Lannister in the pilot on May 5, 2009, with Tom McCarthy set to direct. On July 19, 2009, further casting was announced, including Sean Bean as Ned Stark, Kit Harington as Jon Snow, Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon, Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen, and Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon.

Reception

Anticipation for the series was described as very high, with a dedicated fan base following its development; by April 2011, multiple entertainment outlets listed it as a top television event for the year. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 90% approval rating from 224 critics, with an average rating of 8.35 out of 10; the critical consensus notes that its intricate storytelling and dark themes may overwhelm some viewers but calls it a transportive, well-acted, smartly written drama.

The season has a Metacritic average of 80 out of 100 based on 28 critic reviews, categorized as generally favorable. Most reviews were very positive, praising high production values, the well-realized world, compelling characters, and the strength of the child actors. Robert Bianco of USA Today gave a positive review but cautioned against comparing it to The Lord of the Rings. Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter called it worth the wait.

Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times described it as a great and thundering series of political and psychological intrigue. Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly gave it a score of A−, praising its spectacle and intricate storytelling.

Release

Game of Thrones first aired on HBO in the US and Canada on April 17, 2011, followed by a UK and Ireland premiere on Sky Atlantic the next day, with HBO Central Europe also showing it on April 18. Australia saw its debut on Showcase on July 17, 2011. The first season hit DVD and Blu-ray on March 6, 2012, featuring extra background and behind-the-scenes content but no cut scenes, as nearly all filmed material made it into the show. A Collector’s Edition DVD/Blu-ray combo, including a resin Dragon Egg Paperweight, came out in the US and Canada on November 20, 2012. A 4K UHD Blu-ray release followed on June 5, 2018.