Synopsis:

This is an edit of Game of Thrones Season 1 focused on Eddard Stark.

Intentions:

To create a feature length narrative following Lord Eddard Stark becoming the Hand of the King. We don't know what is going on with the Lannisters or what happened to Jon Arryn until the end of the second act.

Change List:

SCENE BLOCKING: Credit sequence over animated images of Robert killing Rhaegar Targaryen and the sacking of King's Landing, ending with him and his Hand, Jon Arryn. Jaime and Cersei discuss the death of the Hand. Catelyn tells Ned that Jon Arryn has died. The King arrives in the North, presents the offer. They feast in celebration. That night Ned and Cat receive the letter from Cat's sister about the Lannisters, then Ned and the King leave for King's Landing the next day. Jaime Lannister welcomes Ned to the capital. Small council meets. Cersei and Joffrey discuss enemies. Joffrey gives Sansa the necklace. Ned talks to Arya about swordfighting. The dancing master teaches her a thing or two. 30 MINUTE MARK Ned learns of Jon Arryn's last days from Pycelle and gets the book. Littlefinger tells Ned about Ser Hugh and the armorer. Ser Hugh refuses to talk to Ned's captain. (I thought about cutting this part but I think it establishes the danger around these questions and cements Littlefinger on Ned's good side, which is important later. It develops a web around the old Hand's death with Varys, Littlefinger et al) Ned meets Gendry. Cersei issues Ned a word of warning. Ser Hugh's untimely end. Varys trusts Ned and tells him of the Tears of Lys (spelling?) Ned meets another bastard. Jaime threatens Ned (Tyrion is gone so the motivation is now different. He's been adversarial since they met and it should seem surprising. When we later learn that he is at the heart of the questions being asked it makes perfect sense (I hope!)) Syrio teaches Arya the water dance and about the one god, death. "Not today." Ned wakes up and King Robert forces an uneasy truce between Cersei and Ned. Ned wants the girls out of King's Landing. Sansa brings up hair color inadvertently... Ned reads about the Baratheon line in the book. The King goes on a boar hunt. Ned confronts Cersei. ONE HOUR MARK Robert's deathbed. Renley proposes swift action. Littlefinger assures Ned. King Joffrey calls Ned to court. Ned is betrayed. The First Sword of Braavos does not run. Cersei pleads for mercy. Varys visits Ned in the dungeon. The beheading of Ned Stark at the statue of Baleor Yuren takes Arya with him. A glimmer of hope. Short credits. Mid-credits scene. End credits. UPDATE - New changes to V2: - Reinserted scene with Ned and Robert on the way from Winterfell to King's Landing (cut direct references to Jon but kept the rest). This reduces the time jump a bit, and it's a short but good scene. Reinserted Hand of the King tournament. This injects some action into the story earlier as well as gives Renley, the Hound and Sansa a bit more character earlier. - Reinserted scene about war stories. This goes to characterize Robert better before his death as well as break up Joff/Cersei scene and Joff/Sansa scene for better flow. Also, it lets the viewer know Selmy a bit more which will hopefully make his disgrace at the end more powerful. - Reinserted Varys/Littlefinger scene in the throne room. It's a great scene, fleshes Littlefinger out more, and segues from Ned/Selmy to Ned/Varys - Added new post-credits stinger (expanding upon current Arya one with Ser Meryn Trant scene from Season 5).

Additional Notes:

Rickon is gone, Jon Snow is gone, Bran is gone, Tyrion is gone, nothing in Essos (no Dany) or the Wall. The focus is heavily on Ned here.

Other Sources:

Game of Thrones Season 1 OST, Game of Thrones Season 3 OST

Special Thanks:

DominicCobb, who helped so much with this edit