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Game of Thrones – Season 1, Episode 1 Winter Is Coming

Play trailer Game of Thrones – Season 1, Episode 1 Winter Is Coming Aired Apr 17, 2011 Drama Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 16 Reviews
A Night's Watch deserter is tracked down; Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark learns that his mentor has died; Viserys Targaryen plots to win back the throne; Robert arrives at Winterfell with his family; Ned prepares to leave for King's Landing.
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Game of Thrones — Season 1, Episode 1

Game of Thrones — Season 1, Episode 1

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Critics Consensus

"Winter is Coming" is an introduction to a wonderfully bleak journey that honors its source material with stellar execution and an impressive cast.

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Cast & Crew

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Sean Bean

Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark

Mark Addy

King Robert Baratheon

Peter Dinklage

Tyrion Lannister

Lena Headey

Queen Cersei Lannister

Michelle Fairley

Lady Catelyn Stark

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Ser Jaime Lannister
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Game of Thrones — Season 1, Episode 1

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Critics Reviews

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James Poniewozik TIME Magazine 03/14/2019
And there you have your pilot-a very different one from many first episodes, even on HBO, in that it didn't so much tell a single story or establish symmetries among the subplots. Rather, it just set a very large table. Go to Full Review Alan Sepinwall Uproxx 03/12/2019
Many fine actors on display here, who are often required to establish what their character is about in very short order, and usually do. Go to Full Review Patrick Smith Daily Telegraph (UK) 03/12/2019
The plot is intentionally complex, too, while the scale of the production is astonishing: with its sumptuous scenery and nifty camerawork, Game of Thrones looks like a Hollywood movie. Go to Full Review Tony Black Cultural Conversation 04/02/2022
3.5/5
What we find in Winter Is Coming is a potent and telling mixture of prophecy, portent, symbology and anxiety about a world on the verge of major sociological and historical change. Go to Full Review Riley McAtee The Ringer 04/19/2021
The pilot isn't perfect...but it gets the job done more elegantly than it has any right to, and that's before considering all the chaos that was going on behind the scenes. Go to Full Review TK Burton Pajiba 04/10/2019
I must say that while it was by no means perfect, HBO certainly appears up to the task. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Episode Info

Synopsis A Night's Watch deserter is tracked down; Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark learns that his mentor has died; Viserys Targaryen plots to win back the throne; Robert arrives at Winterfell with his family; Ned prepares to leave for King's Landing.
Director
Timothy Van Patten
Executive Producer
David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, Ralph Vicinanza, George R.R. Martin
Screenwriter
David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Apr 17, 2011
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