Game of Thrones has overtaken The Sopranos to become HBO’s most successful show of all time, with millions tuning in to find out who’s going to sit on the Iron Throne. Do you want to impress your friends at your next viewing party? Drop a few of these facts.
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1. The writers trick the actors with fake death scenes.
We’re all dying to know if Jon Snow is really dead or not, and it turns out the actors on Game of Thrones know just how we feel! Both Sophie Turner and Kit Harington have mentioned in interviews that the writers have been known to whip up fake death scenes as a joke. Harington states that “now no one knows whether they actually die or not; you read it and go, ‘is this a joke or do I actually die?’”
2. You too can adopt a dire wolf.
There’s no shortage of fantastic creatures on Game of Thrones, but one of the most endearing is the dire wolf, symbol of House Stark. Some fans have paid tribute to these supersized wolves with tattoos. The actress who plays Sansa Stark, Sophie Turner, fell in love with her onscreen dire wolf and adopted the Northern Inuit dog that played her. Do you want a dire wolf of your very own? The National American Alsatian Breeder’s Club started the Dire Wolf Project in 1988 to bring back these prehistoric animals. They’re hard at work breeding dogs with the look and temperament of the real-life dire wolf, although they come with a hefty price tag.
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3. The show could host its own music festival.
A number of musicians have made cameos in the show. You may have spotted the singer from Snow Patrol, Gary Lightbody, in season three. He played a musician among Roose Bolton’s men and sang ‘The Bear and the Maiden Fair’. It’s hard to forget the Red Wedding episode, but viewers who can get past the carnage onscreen might notice Will Champion, aka the drummer for Coldplay, amongst the musicians performing. Icelandic stars Sigur Rós performed at another onscreen wedding in season four. They covered ‘The Rains of Castamere’ at Margaery and Joffrey’s wedding. More recently, metal band Mastodon appeared as wildlings in the epic ‘Hardhome’ episode in season five. So who can we expect to see in the upcoming season? Another Icelandic band, Of Monsters and Men, was spotted onset in Girona back in September.
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4. There are many ways to Hodor.
There are many unique languages used in the Game of Thrones world, from Dothraki to Valyrian. Perhaps the most memorable, however, is the language used by Hodor. Although this gentle giant only seems to speak one word: ‘Hodor,’ in fact there are many different ways to pronounce this single word to express emotion. Kristian Nairn, who portrays Hodor onscreen, has stated that there are at least 70 ways to pronounce ‘Hodor,’ each with its own meaning and slant. According to Nairn, ‘There’s angry Hodor, happy Hodor, sad Hodor, frightened Hodor, curious Hodor, bashful Hodor, sheepish Hodor, and naked Hodor’.
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5. Valyrian steel is based on a real metal.
Some of the most valuable swords in Game of Thrones are forged from Valyrian steel, which boasts unique properties. It’s lightweight, yet extra strong, and is capable of keeping its razor-sharp edge forever without any sharpening. Perhaps most importantly, it can kill White Walkers. Valyrian steel can be recognised by its rippled pattern, and is generally passed down through families. George RR Martin based this fantastic steel on a real life metal, Damascus steel. Although whether or not it can kill ice zombies remains to be seen, Damascus steel shares a rippled surface and super-strength with Valyrian steel. It was developed in the Middle East, but no one knows how to make it today. Sadly, the exact formula has been lost throughout the centuries, which only adds to its mystique.
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6. The show has influenced a whole generation of babies.
Game of Thrones undoubtedly holds mass appeal – just look at the tie-in merchandise, apps, or even games like these GOT-themed Betsafe video slots. Need more proof? The Queen herself has paid a visit to the set! Although the show will most likely wrap up after eight seasons, its legacy will live on in the next generation. There’s a distinct trend of parents naming their children after characters. According to the Office for National Statistics in the UK, there were 244 babies named Arya in 2014, along with 53 named Khaleesi. Daenerys, Sansa, Brienne, and Tyrian all made an appearance as well. This same impact can be seen in the USA as well, where Khaleesi jumped up the list from the 1,021 most popular baby girl name in 2013 to a ranking of 755 in 2014. While the figures have yet to be released for 2015, we can expect more in the year to come!
