The first episode, titled "Winter is Coming," sets the stage for the series. It introduces the Stark family, the ruling Lords of the North, as they receive a royal visit from King Robert Baratheon. This episode expertly weaves together the main plot threads, including the execution of a Night's Watch deserter, the introduction of Daenerys Targaryen, and the complicated relationships between the Starks, the Lannisters, and the king.