Network of Thrones

T he international hit HBO series Game of Thrones, adapted from George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, features interweaving plotlines and scores of characters. With so many people to keep track of in this sprawling saga, it can be a challenge to fully understand the dynamics between them. To demystify this saga, we turn to network science, a new and evolving branch of applied graph theory that brings together traditions from many disciplines, including sociology, economics, physics, computer science, and mathematics. It has been applied broadly across the sciences, the social sciences, the humanities, and in industrial settings. In this article we perform a network analysis of Game of Thrones to make sense of the intricate character relationships and their bearing on the future plot (but we promise: no spoilers!). Driven by cause or circumstance, characters from the many noble families launch into arduous and intertwined journeys. Among these houses are the honorable Stark family (Eddard, Catelyn, Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Jon Snow), the pompous Lannisters (Tywin, Jaime, Cersei, Tyrion, and Joff rey), the slighted Baratheons (led by Robert’s brother Stannis) and the exiled Daenerys, the last of the oncepowerful House Targaryen.