LONDON — UK elections used to be straightforward: Two parties slogged it out for a few weeks; one of them won and ran the country for five years. That's not so much the case anymore.

To help us through the new and old political players, we worked with Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow (he knows something) to explain the elections using what we understand best: Game of Thrones.

Image: Bob Al-Greene, Mashable

Turns out, there are lots of similarities between the cut and thrust of Westeros and the political wrangling around Westminster.

The Lannisters and their debts, the Tyrells and their allegiances, the Dothraki and their horse hearts aren’t miles away from the current crop of politicians currently seeking your votes. There’s even room for the Freys, some Northerns, the Wildlings, the Night's Watch and wolves.

It's not the Battle of the Trident or the Battle of the Blackwater, and there are no dragons. But the election on May 7 is shaping up to be an epic battle that'll be just as hard fought.

Image: Bob Al-Greene, Mashable

VOICEOVER: Jon Snow of Channel 4 News and Max Knoblauch of Mashable

PRODUCTION BY MASHABLE: Bob Al-Greene, Max Knoblauch, Alisa Stern, Blathnaid Healy, Amanda Wills and Louise Roug

You can see more general election explainer videos from Jon Snow here.