Query: Battle of the Bastards is a television episode.

Relevant passages:
Battle of the Bastards <=SEP=> `` Battle of the Bastards '' is the ninth episode of the sixth season of HBO 's fantasy television series Game of Thrones , and its 59th episode overall . It was written by series co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss , and directed by Miguel Sapochnik .   In the North , the armies of the eponymous bastards , Jon Snow ( Kit Harington ) and Ramsay Bolton ( Iwan Rheon ) , face off in a battle for control of Winterfell . The Bolton army defeats most of Jon 's forces , largely composed of Wildlings . However , Sansa Stark ( Sophie Turner ) arrives with Petyr Baelish ( Aidan Gillen ) and the Knights of the Vale and they defeat the remaining Bolton army . Ramsay retreats to Winterfell , where Jon beats him into the mud , locks him in the kennels and Sansa feeds him to his own hounds . In Meereen , Daenerys Targaryen ( Emilia Clarke ) refuses to surrender to the Masters , mounts Drogon and begins burning the Masters ' fleet ; this forces them to surrender . Yara ( Gemma Whelan ) and Theon Greyjoy ( Alfie Allen ) arrive in Meereen and offer their ships to Daenerys , swearing to help her take the Seven Kingdoms .   `` Battle of the Bastards '' was praised as one of the series ' best episodes , with several reviewers hailing it as a `` masterpiece '' . Critics described the battle in the North as `` terrifying , gripping and exhilarating '' and Daenerys 's reunion with her dragons at the beginning of the episode as `` thrilling '' . Its eponymous battle took 25 days to film and required 500 extras , 600 crew members and 70 horses . In the United States , the episode had a viewership of 7.66 million in its initial broadcast . It earned Game of Thrones several Primetime Emmy Awards ( including Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing ) , and was Harington 's choice to support his nomination for the Outstanding Supporting Actor ; Sapochnik also won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series for the episode .

Game of Thrones <=SEP=> Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss . It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire , George R. R. Martin 's series of fantasy novels , the first of which is A Game of Thrones . It is filmed at Titanic Studios in Belfast , on location in the United Kingdom , and in Canada , Croatia , Iceland , Malta , Morocco , Spain , and the United States . The series premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17 , 2011 , and its sixth season ended on June 26 , 2016 . The series was renewed for a seventh season , which is scheduled to premiere on July 16 , 2017 , and will conclude with its eighth season in 2018 .   Set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos , Game of Thrones has several plot lines and a large ensemble cast . The first story arc follows a dynastic conflict among competing claimants for succession to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms , with other noble families fighting for independence from the throne . The second covers attempts to reclaim the throne by the exiled last scion of the realm 's deposed ruling dynasty ; the third chronicles the threat of the impending winter and the legendary creatures and fierce peoples of the North .   Game of Thrones has attracted record viewership on HBO and has a broad , active , international fan base . It has been acclaimed by critics , particularly for its acting , complex characters , story , scope , and production values , although its frequent use of nudity and violence ( including sexual violence ) has attracted criticism . The series has received 38 Primetime Emmy Awards , including Outstanding Drama Series in 2015 and 2016 , more than any other primetime scripted television series . Its other awards and nominations include three Hugo Awards for Best Dramatic Presentation ( 2012 -- 2014 ) , a 2011 Peabody Award , and four nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series -- Drama ( 2012 and 2015 -- 2017 ) . Of the ensemble cast , Peter Dinklage has won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ( 2011 and 2015 ) and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor -- Series , Miniseries or Television Film ( 2012 ) for his performance as Tyrion Lannister . Lena Headey , Emilia Clarke , Kit Harington , Maisie Williams , Diana Rigg , and Max von Sydow have also received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for their performances in the series .