Game of Thrones Writer Discusses Early Challenges of the Show

Last month marked the 15th anniversary of HBO’s critically acclaimed series Game of Thrones, igniting a wave of nostalgia among fans and creators alike. This milestone has prompted reflections from those involved in its production, highlighting the profound impact the series had on television and its audience.

In a detailed post on Bluesky, writer Bryan Cogman recalled his early experiences contributing to the show, particularly his work on the fourth episode of the first season, titled “Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things.” This episode, which has now celebrated its own 15-year milestone, was significant for Cogman, who originally joined the team in 2009 as the resident expert responsible for crafting comprehensive documents related to character family trees, story arcs, and other key details. His foundational work laid the groundwork for collaborations with showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, ultimately leading to his writing debut. At that time, he perceived this opportunity as merely a simple training exercise.

Throughout a comprehensive thread, Cogman elaborates on the intricate shooting process of the episode and shares a memorable moment when he brought Bran Stark’s dreams to life. Many may recall that Game of Thrones marked HBO’s initial venture into genre television, a bold move that left network executives apprehensive about embracing the full extent of its fantasy elements. He described Thrones as having a “scrappy” feel in comparison to other high-profile series on the network, such as Boardwalk Empire. Despite facing significant pressure to tone down the fantasy aspects, Cogman resolved to embrace them, stating “fuck it, I’ll write it anyway.” His vision for Bran’s dream sequence struck a balance, being imaginative yet grounded enough to align with the story’s broader direction.

At the time he joined the show, Cogman had little writing experience and aspired to secure a position as a staff writer in future seasons. However, due to HBO’s directive to incorporate freelancers into the writing team, Benioff and Weiss chose him as part of the season one writers, alongside notable figures like George R.R. Martin and seasoned Buffy writer Jane Espenson. Cogman expressed immense gratitude towards Benioff and Weiss for taking a chance on him, noting that the creative environment at HBO during those early days fostered genuine collaboration between creatives and executives. Furthermore, the filming of this episode served as his unofficial debut as an on-set producer, a role that both Weiss and Benioff envisioned for him, and one he eventually transitioned into while continuing to contribute as a writer in subsequent seasons.

Today, Cogman serves as a consulting producer for Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, reflecting on his time with Game of Thrones as a formative experience that shaped his understanding of writing and production. He remarked, “GoT spoiled me for life. I learned everything I know about writing and production from being in its trenches.” He acknowledged that the series almost didn’t come to fruition due to various challenges in its early development. Ultimately, it became a success due to the right combination of talented individuals, the network’s willingness to take risks on the material, and the audience’s eagerness for compelling storytelling. As such, he concluded with a heartfelt tribute: “Happy Birthday, Game of Thrones! What is Dead May Never Die.”

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