When Rhaegar Targaryen (Charlie Hunnam) “kidnaps” Lyanna Stark (Kaya Scodelario), her brother Brandon (Sebastian Stan) rides to King’s Landing demanding King Aerys (Peter Capaldi) bid his son the Prince of Dragonstone to “free” her.
Brandon further demanding that Rhaegar’s life be taken as forfeit provokes Aerys to arrest him for treason. Aerys calls Rickard Stark to the capital. Accusing Rickard of treason too, the Lord of Winterfell demands a Trial by Combat.
Not thinking that Aerys would name fire as his champion, Rickard is burned alive. And then Brandon is killed by strangulation with his own chain. Reaching out for the sword that was just out his reach, the chain round his neck suffocated him. All that could be heard in the moments afterwards was the Mad King’s cackling.
Hearing this news, Robert Baratheon (Tom Hardy) and his friend, the new Lord of Winterfell Eddard Stark (Nicholas Hoult) rally their bannermen, along with their friend and mentor Lord Jon Arryn (Liam Neeson) of The Vale.
Jon and Ned (Eddard) promised themselves in marriage to the Tully daughters Catelyn (Eleanor Tomlinson) and Lysa (Isolda Dychauk) to gain the support of Lord Hoster Tully (Hugh Laurie) and the Riverlands in the fight against The Crown.
An alliance between The North, The Stormlands, the Vale and the Riverlands is made. And thus, a bloody civil war is waged against The Mad King, House Targaryen and their loyalists.
