Greetings, Programs!
During a recent interview, Game Of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin spilled some interesting tidbits — some very specific tidbits — about the upcoming prequel series.
Westeros Will Resemble Middle Age Europe
In this new show, Westeros is to be divided into roughly 100 kingdoms:
“We talk about the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros; there were Seven Kingdoms at the time of Aegon’s Conquest, But if you go back further then there are nine kingdoms, and 12 kingdoms, and eventually you get back to where there are a hundred kingdoms — petty kingdoms — and that’s the era we’re talking about here.”
“Petty kingdom” is a pretty specific term that finds its best real-world comparison in the Anglo-Saxon fiefdoms that unified into England during the 10th century.
This was pretty normal throughout all of Europe and the East during the post-Roman Early Middle Ages. Eventually, these many petty kingdoms would evolve into the principalities, grand duchies, or duchies that would make up The Holy Roman Empire.
Sounds like an opportunity for a lot of battles and sieges!
The Starks Are Confirmed
Everyone’s favorite family of peeping toms, spoiled brats, dinner guests and Queen Killers is going to return in some form.
“The Starks will definitely be there.”
No word as of yet on whether the Starks will rep The North or if there even is a The North.
No Dragons, But Other Things
To the relief of HBO accountants, it has been confirmed elsewhere that there are no dragons in the prequel, but there will be a myriad of creatures, both natural and magical.
“Obviously the White Walkers are here — or as they’re called in my books, ‘The Others’ — and that will be an aspect of it… There are things like direwolves and mammoths.”
Does this mean we might be getting a reprise of the greatest of all Game Of Thrones characters, The Night King? I certainly hope so because his treatment, especially his end, was pretty shabby, wasn’t it?
They could be going for an even lower low-magic version of Westeros here, which would put some pressure on the writers to deliver compelling episodes without the crutches of spells, wildfire or flying WMDs.
We all know how well things turn out when GOT writers are under pressure.
No Lannisters, Either
Fans of GOT will recall that the Lannisters rule from Castlery Rock, not Lannister Rock.
According to lore, the former owners, the Castlerys, were gaffled by someone named Lann The Clever and lost their whole entire kingdom to the rogue.
“The Lannisters aren’t there yet, but Castlery Rock is certainly there; it’s like the Rock of Gibraltar. It’s actually occupied by the Casterlys — for whom it’s still named after in the time of Game of Thrones.”
Clearly Problematic
Much to the chagrin of women who named their daughter Daenerys, Martin talked down the idea that the leads of the ensemble cast will be Naomi Watts, Naomi Ackie, and Denise Gough:
“I hesitate to use the word ‘lead’. As you know for Game of Thrones, we never even nominated anybody for a lead actress or lead actor until recently; it was always for supporting because the show is such an ensemble. I think that will be true for this show too. We don’t have leads so much as a large ensemble cast.”
HBO, where did you dig up this old fossil? Sounds like George needs some 2019.
How Is It Called?
Martin has been tossing around The Long Night as the unofficial title for a while and it doesn’t seem like he is backing off:
“I heard a suggestion that it could be called The Longest Night, which is a variant I wouldn’t mind. That would be pretty good.”
Well, folks, what do you think about this? Will you return to Westeros for this next adventure?
Sound off below!
