<P> Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast, including Sean Bean, Mark Addy, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster - Waldau, Michelle Fairley and Iain Glen . Newer actors were cast as the younger generation of characters, such as Kit Harington, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams . </P> <P> Critics praised the show's production values and cast, with specific accolades for Dinklage's portrayal of Tyrion Lannister . The first season won two of the thirteen Emmy Awards for which it was nominated, for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Dinklage) and Outstanding Main Title Design . It also received a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series . Bean and Emilia Clarke also received individual accolades, as did Ramin Djawadi for music . U.S. viewership rose by approximately 33% over the course of the season, from 2.2 million to over 3 million by the finale . </P> <P> The series begins as Ned Stark is asked to become the chief advisor (known as the Hand of the King) to lecherous King Robert Baratheon . Ned and his wife Catelyn receive a letter from Catelyn's sister Lysa that gives them reason to believe that rival House Lannister--to which the King's wife Cersei belongs--was the cause of the previous Hand's death . Ned must travel south to help the king and find out who killed the previous Hand of the King, Jon Arryn, while trying to protect his family from the Lannisters . As he tries to uncover the reasons behind Jon Arryn's death he uncovers the dark secrets about the Lannisters that Arryn himself died trying to expose . </P> <P> Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea in the continent of Essos, the exiled, arrogant Viserys Targaryen, son of the former king whose throne was usurped, believes he still has the rightful claim to the throne . He marries off his younger sister, Daenerys Targaryen, whom he has psychologically and physically abused for years, to the leader of the Dothraki warrior tribe, Khal Drogo, in an exchange for an army to return to Westeros and take the throne . However, Daenerys' growing love for Drogo and newfound mental strength as the Khaleesi of the tribe mean Viserys' plans go unexpectedly and powerfully awry . </P>

Game of thrones what happened in season 1