The third season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered in the United States on HBO on March 31, 2013, and concluded on June 9, 2013. 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 is based roughly on the first half of A Storm of Swords (the third of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin, of which the series is an adaptation). The series is adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. HBO renewed the series for a third season on April 10, 2012, nine days after the second season's premiere. Production began in July 2012. The show was filmed primarily in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Croatia, Iceland and Morocco.
The story takes place in a fictional world, primarily upon a continent called Westeros, with one storyline occurring on another continent to the east, Essos. Like the novel, the season continues the storyline of The War of the Five Kings: after the death of Renly Baratheon, all four kings in Westeros believe they have a claim to the Iron Throne, besides Robb Stark, who seeks vengeance for the death of his father, Ned Stark, and independence for the North. The season also features other storylines: Daenerys Targaryen begins her rise in power in Essos; Ned's illegitimate son, Jon Snow, goes undercover beyond the Wall; the other Stark children struggle to survive up and down Westeros, but Robb is killed; Jaime Lannister returns to the capital; and all of Westeros is informed of the reawakened threat of the Army of the Dead.
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 Diana Rigg, Ciarán Hinds, Nathalie Emmanuel and Iwan Rheon.
Critics praised the show's production values and cast. Viewership yet again rose compared to the previous season. It won 2 of the 16 Emmy Awards for which it was nominated; nominations included Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Dinklage), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Clarke) and Outstanding Drama Series. It also won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Series.
Episodes
Cast
Main cast
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen
Kit Harington as Jon Snow
Richard Madden as Robb Stark
Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont
Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark
Aidan Gillen as Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish
Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister
Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth
Stephen Dillane as Stannis Baratheon
Carice van Houten as Melisandre
Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell
John Bradley as Samwell Tarly
Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark
Oona Chaplin as Talisa Stark
Sibel Kekilli as Shae
Rose Leslie as Ygritte
James Cosmo as Jeor Mormont
Jerome Flynn as Bronn
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister
Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark
Maisie Williams as Arya Stark
Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy
Joe Dempsie as Gendry
Rory McCann as Sandor "The Hound" Clegane
Conleth Hill as Varys
Guest cast
The recurring actors listed here are those who appeared in season 3. They are listed by the region in which they first appear: