Game of Thrones officially turned 10 years old on April 18. Although its controversial ending sparked heated debates among fans, there’s no denying the series remains a monumental milestone in global television, one that might not be surpassed anytime soon. This 10-year anniversary is the perfect moment to look back at the journey Game of Thrones took, full of ups and downs on its way to becoming a worldwide phenomenon.
For any series, the pilot episode plays a huge role in introducing the main characters and setting the scene for viewers. For an adaptation like Game of Thrones, this is even more crucial because the pilot determines if the producers can hold the attention of fans who have read the original novels. However, few know that the first episode of Game of Thrones actually has two different versions: one that aired on HBO and one that has been lost to time.
Here are 12 untold stories about that forgotten version.
The first Game of Thrones episode failed HBO’s chairman’s review due to a major mistake
After months of filming, writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss finally completed the pilot episode and submitted it to HBO co-chairmen Richard Plepler and Michael Lombardo for approval. What they got back was a harsh rejection: “You made a huge mistake.”
The biggest failure was that the sibling relationship between Jaime and Cersei Lannister wasn’t clearly established, which weakened the impact of the pivotal scene where Jaime pushes Bran Stark from the tower. More broadly, the relationships among other characters, especially within the large Stark family, were not clearly explained, leaving viewers confused.
Still, HBO gave Benioff and Weiss another chance and brought in director Timothy Van Patten to replace Tom McCarthy, who was busy with another project. McCarthy later said, “I couldn’t connect with the series, so I didn’t feel bad about stepping away. It was the right decision.”
Key roles stayed, but many cast members were replaced, including Daenerys Targaryen
While Benioff and Weiss got to reshoot the pilot, actress Tamzin Merchant was not so lucky. Emilia Clarke replaced her as Daenerys Targaryen, a role she would play through to the very end.
This turned out to be one of the smartest casting decisions, as it’s hard to imagine anyone else as Dany now. Tamzin told Entertainment Weekly, “I was an untrained actor working on instinct. What I wanted was a compelling script and interesting character, things I didn’t feel Game of Thrones had at that time.”
Michelle Fairley replaced Jennifer Ehle, reshooting all Catelyn Stark scenes
Like Daenerys, the role of Catelyn Stark was recast with Michelle Fairley after Jennifer Ehle voluntarily stepped down, not wanting to commit to the series long-term.
Nearly the entire pilot script was rewritten, including the haunting opening scene
Initially, Benioff and Weiss followed George R.R. Martin’s novel very closely, adapting scenes exactly as written. But this proved impractical due to time constraints. They needed to deliver information clearly and concisely, especially clarifying character relationships.
In the unaired version, the pilot opened exactly like the book’s first chapter, with three Night’s Watch members (Ser Waymar Royce, Gared, and Will) already tracking wildlings beyond the Wall. The final aired version starts with them casually entering a tunnel in the Wall heading north. This small change helped viewers better understand the setting.
White Walkers were teased from the start with key traits
Another script change was when Will discovers the wildling corpses and the White Walker’s presence. The detail that the bodies were arranged deliberately was Benioff and Weiss’s invention for the show, suggesting White Walkers are intelligent beings, not just mindless zombies.
The opening sequence was completely revamped
Beyond story changes, the iconic opening title sequence was created anew. Benioff and Weiss originally imagined a flock of CGI ravens symbolizing “the beginning,” guiding viewers across Westeros. This concept evolved into the classic sequence we know today.
Dialogue was adjusted to naturally clarify character relationships
These small but crucial tweaks made the pilot tighter. For example, when Jon Snow reminds Bran Stark during archery practice, he uses phrases like “our father” and “your mother” to hint at his status as a bastard. In Jaime and Cersei’s first scene, Jaime emphasizes “as your brother” and mentions Cersei’s marriage to King Robert Baratheon, helping viewers understand their connections.
Some scenes from the original pilot were kept, like the raven flying to Winterfell with news of Jon Arryn’s death
Bran Stark climbing onto a Winterfell rooftop to spy on visitors from King’s Landing was also retained
The show’s first adult scene between Tyrion Lannister and a prostitute made it to air
If you look closely, Tyrion’s hair in this scene is longer, straighter, and more golden, closer to the book’s description. In later scenes and seasons, actor Peter Dinklage dropped the wig and used his natural hair.
Some scenes with Ned, Robert, and Benjen Stark were reused, with subtle changes to Sean Bean’s hair
George R.R. Martin made a cameo at Khal Drogo and Daenerys’s wedding
But since Emilia Clarke replaced Tamzin Merchant, the entire wedding scene had to be reshot, which meant Martin’s cameo was cut. He told Daily Beast, “Unfortunately, that scene was left on the cutting room floor. I played a Pentoshi nobleman attending Dany’s wedding, wearing a huge hat.”
According to Insider
