Game of Thrones isn’t just one of the most well-known series on television — it’s one of the most revolutionary TV shows ever made. Since 2011, the epic fantasy about the battle for power in Westeros has completely captivated both fans of George R. R. Martin’s book series and newcomers. And the fervor for the series only seems to grow with each passing season. Some of us have been along for the entire ride. Others are just now catching up as the sixth season of Game of Thrones approaches.
But one common thread seems to run through all GOT fans — an obsessive need to know every detail about the show. Part of it comes out of necessity — how else can you keep all of the characters, feuds, and locations straight? But it’s also because the series is so addictive that you always find yourself wanting more. We wait with baited breath for a new season and mourn the loss of the series after each finale — even if our favorite characters have managed to survive intact. If you’re anxiously awaiting the sixth season, here are some lesser-known facts about the show to tide you over until it premieres on April 24.
1. It’s HBO’s most watched series ever
Source: HBO
Like any truly popular show, Game of Thrones has become a hot topic of conversation around watercoolers and in online threads. Since it premiered in 2011, it’s steadily gained an incredibly devout fanbase — one that’s helped it break HBO records. As of 2014, Game of Thrones is the most watched HBO television series ever. That means it’s beat out legendary series like The Sopranos and Sex and the City to become the premium cable channel’s most popular TV show. And since the series’ fifth season started and ended on high notes, pulling in more than 8 million viewers per episode, it’s reasonable to speculate that Game of Thrones‘s reign isn’t over yet.
2. It’s filmed in six different countries
Source: HBO
Creating a series based on a highly-involved alternate universe can’t be easy. But HBO has pulled out all the stops in an attempt to get the various landscapes of Westeros just right. The Game of Thrones crew has flown all over the world to capture the essence of King’s Landing, Winterfell, The Wall, and many other memorable locations. Throughout its five seasons, the series has filmed in six different countries, including Ireland, Croatia, and Malta. And as a result, Game of Thrones is one of the most visually appealing series ever created for TV.
3. None of the characters have appeared in every episode
Source: HBO
It’s no secret that Game of Throne has one of the biggest ensembles on television. So it should come as no surprise that the characters often come and go out of the main storyline. That means, though, that Game of Thrones has the distinction of being one of the few TV series that has never had a character appear in every single episode. In fact, with so many plots, locations, and conflicts to cover, it’s pretty common for fans to go weeks without seeing their favorite character on screen. To date, only two characters — Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) and Ned Stark (Sean Bean) — had the honor of appearing in every episode until they died. And only three characters — Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), Joffrey Lannister (Jack Gleeson), and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) — have managed to appear in every episode of a season.
4. The title sequence always changes
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To the casual observer, the Game of Thrones opening sequence is pretty cool. A camera pans over a map of Westeros, pausing to zoom in on tiny 3D replicas of familiar locations, while that catchy theme plays triumphantly in the background. But there’s something many fans haven’t noticed — the sequence changes multiple times throughout the season. In fact, it’s rarely the same from episode to episode. That’s because the title sequence is designed to show viewers which locations will be in the episode they’re about to watch. Think of it like a very exciting primer before you dive in — and make sure to keep an eye on the shifting map in Season 6.
5. Daenerys is so popular, people are naming their kids after her
Source: HBO
She’s the Mother of the Dragons, sometimes called Dany or Stormborn. And Daenerys Targeryen (Emilia Clarke) is without a doubt one of the most popular characters in Game of Thrones. Throughout the series six seasons, she’s gone from a demure bride to a leader of women and warriors. Plus, she’s got amazing hair. It’s not surprising that fans of the series have pledged their love to House Targeryen. But a few have gone so far as to name their own offspring after her. While no one has yet named their daughter Daenerys, 241 future dragon tamers were named Khaleesi in 2013. Maybe they went with her Dothraki name because it’s easier to spell?
6. Book fans know the series by another name
Source: Winteriscoming.net
Pretty much everyone with an Internet connection or any sense of pop culture has heard of Game of Thrones. And most people know that it’s based on George R. R. Martin’s popular fantasy book series that may or may not ever be completed. But not everyone knows that Martin’s series isn’t called Game of Thrones. Devotees of the book version know that characters like Jon Snow and Catelyn Stark originated from the series A Song of Ice and Fire. To date, there are five books published — from A Game of Thrones to A Dance With Dragons. Fans are eager for the next installment, The Winds of Winter, but we may have to wait a while.
7. It broke Emmy records
Source: HBO
Fantasy series don’t always get their due when it comes to accolades. Throughout the years, really stellar epics have been overlooked by Oscar and Emmy voters in favor of more mainstream fare. But Game of Thrones broke the mold — and an Emmy record — when it took home 12 awards in 2015. In addition to numerous Creative Arts awards, the series won the coveted Outstanding Drama Series statue, as well as Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Directing and a nod to Peter Dinklage for his supporting role as Tyrion Lannister.
8. Star Wars: The Force Awaken was basically a GOT-apalooza
Source: HBO
Star Wars and Game of Thrones have more in common than complicated mythologies and legions of devoted fans. When Episode VII hit theaters in December, it featured performances from six members of the GOT cast. The most notable was Gwendoline Christie — a.k.a. Brienne of Tarth — as Captain Phasma. But by the time the credits rolled, fans also got a chance to see Max Von Sydow, Jessica Henwick, Mark Stanley, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Miltos Yerolemou in last year’s biggest movie. We’ll have to see if more GOT actors make an appearance in Episode VIII.
9. The Red Wedding had a few celebrity guests
Source: HBO
It was one of the most horrific sequences in the history of the series. But the Red Wedding in the Game of Thrones episode “The Rains of Castamere” wasn’t just notable for its brutal violence and the devastating loss of both Robb (Richard Madden) and Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley). It also featured under-the-radar cameos from some pretty high-profile musicians. The wedding band — you know, the one that starts playing the episode’s titular song right before everything goes to hell? It was comprised of musicians from Sigur Rós, the Icelandic band that also composed the song. And Coldplay’s drummer Will Champion joined the trio to provide his percussive talents and help set the mood for the massacre.
10. The showrunners already know how the series ends
Source: HBO
It’s one of the best kept secrets in Hollywood — and one that very few people know the answer to. Game of Thrones creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff may not know all the details of how the series will end. But they’ve conferred with author George R.R. Martin, and they have at least a general idea of what’s in store for our favorite characters. That’s good news for fans of the series — because it means they’ll be able to complete Game of Thrones, even if Martin continues to delay future books’ releases. And it will give the TV series the singular ability to, for once, have to give spoiler alerts for the books.
More from Entertainment Cheat Sheet:
- ‘Game of Thrones’: Why Book 6 Won’t Be Here in Time
- ‘Game of Thrones’: What Really Happened to Jon Snow?
- The 5 Funniest ‘Game of Thrones’ Parodies on the Internet
