Game of Thrones season 5

Game of Thrones
Season 5
Region 1 DVD artwork
Showrunners	David Benioff D. B. Weiss
Starring	Peter Dinklage Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Lena Headey Emilia Clarke Kit Harington Aidan Gillen Charles Dance Natalie Dormer Stephen Dillane Liam Cunningham Carice van Houten John Bradley Sophie Turner Kristofer Hivju Hannah Murray Conleth Hill Gwendoline Christie Michiel Huisman Nathalie Emmanuel Dean-Charles Chapman Indira Varma Maisie Williams Jerome Flynn Tom Wlaschiha Alfie Allen Michael McElhatton Iwan Rheon Iain Glen
No. of episodes	10
Release
Original network	HBO
Original release	April 12 (2015-04-12) – June 14, 2015 (2015-06-14)
Season chronology
← Previous Season 4 Next → Season 6
List of episodes

The fifth season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered on HBO on April 12, and concluded on June 14, 2015.^[1] It was broadcast on Sunday at 9:00 pm in the United States, consisting of 10 episodes, each running approximately 50–60 minutes. The season primarily adapts the storylines from A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons, the fourth and fifth novels in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, though it also uses the remaining elements from the third novel, A Storm of Swords, as well as the upcoming sixth novel The Winds of Winter.^[2][3][4] It also contains original content not found in Martin's novels.^[5] The series is adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss.

Like previous seasons in Game of Thrones, the fifth season continues storylines primarily set within the fictional land of Westeros, while a few storylines are set in another continent, Essos. After the murders of King Joffrey and his grandfather Tywin Lannister, Cersei Lannister’s young, indecisive son, Tommen, rules Westeros as king. Tyrion flees to Essos, where he meets Daenerys Targaryen, who struggles to rule Slavers' Bay and regain control over her growing dragons. The Lannister family encounters new enemies, including a religious cult that Cersei foolishly empowers; they arrest her and Queen Margaery; Cersei confesses some sins and is released after a walk of atonement. Jon Snow becomes Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and serves under Stannis Baratheon, who pursues his claim to the Iron Throne by marching on the rebuilt Winterfell. Littlefinger has left Sansa Stark at Winterfell; she marries Ramsay Bolton, who rapes and imprisons her. Stannis is defeated and killed, while Sansa makes an escape with Theon. After Jon loses Night's Watchmen trying to rescue thousands of Wildlings from the White Walkers, several of his men mutiny and kill him. In Braavos, Arya Stark receives training as an assassin but disobeys her trainers, who blind her. Jaime retrieves princess Myrcella from Dorne, but she is murdered.

HBO ordered the fifth season on April 8, 2014, together with the sixth season, which began filming in July 2014.^[6] The season was filmed primarily in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Croatia and Spain.

Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast, including Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington. The season introduced a number of new cast members, including Jonathan Pryce and Alexander Siddig.

Critics praised the show's production values and cast, giving specific accolades for Dinklage's portrayal of Tyrion Lannister. Viewership yet again rose compared to the previous season. This season set a Guinness World Record for winning the highest number of Emmy Awards for a series in a single season and year, winning 12 out of 24 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series.^[7][8]