Based on the series of fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, with only thirty episodes to its name, Game of Thrones has become one of the most watched TV shows on current television. Set in the fictional Kingdom of Westeros, the show is a dark, fantasy-filled drama which chronicles the lives of members of the nobility in their fights for control of the Iron Throne. Much of the show and novels has been inspired by European history, most notably, the War of the Roses but there are also elements of the show that have been taken from other parts of history, such as Ancient Rome and the legend of Atlantis. On the whole, the show has been praised for its cast which includes veteran actors such as Sean Bean and Michelle Fairley, alongside younger actors who are now famed for their involvement in the show, such as Sophie Turner and Natalie Dormer. Since its first TV appearance in 2011, the show has blossomed into a hugely popular serial drama with incredible reception which has sparked an enormous boom in online fantasy fandoms, with Vulture, an online magazine, naming it the most devoted fandom in popular culture. The show has also attracted millions of viewers, with ratings increasing as the seasons have progressed, making it the second most watched show on TV channel, HBO. With season 4 coming soon, and with George R.R. Martin showing no sign of retiring from his literary post, it looks like Game of Thrones will be gracing our screens as one of the greatest current drama shows for a long time yet.
