Originally a series of fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin, adapted as a television show by the American network HBO from 2011 to 2019, Game of Thrones is one of the most famous examples of television fandom. HBO has developed a Game of Thrones storyworld, stretching across a range of HBO official and licensed products, platforms and media (Escurignan, 2017). However, HBO’s take on Martin’s work is not always readily accepted by fans: through various practices, fans not only recreate the representations conveyed by the show but also remodel them and even expand the universe developed by the franchise. They do so via online and offline practices: online, forum discussions, fanart, fan fiction and merchandise creation, amongst others, participate in this creative reception of the show. Offline, practices such as cosplay serve as support to fans’ reinterpretation of the series.
Game of Thrones has been at the center of media attention partly because of its highly controversial represe...