TV

‘Game Of Thrones’ Cheat Sheet: The Important References And Explanations You Need This Week

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by Meg Watson  15 August 2017
Game of Thrones

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Another 56 minutes in Westeros! Another entire day spent furiously Googling references to medieval mythology and trying to remember references from episodes you watched five years ago!

Here’s the background to some of the references and Important Seeming Stuff in this week’s Game of Thrones.

Plot threads in Game of Thrones.

Prince Ragger

Hell. Yeah. Gilly’s gone from an illiterate wildling captive to a boundary-breaking woman in the heart of the Citadel who, while raising a child, also happens to be the best investigator in Westeros.

While casually flipping through old journals this week, Gilly discovered some of the strongest proof yet that Jon Snow has a claim to the Iron Throne. Reading aloud to Sam, she noted a record of a “Prince Ragger” being issued an annulment, then remarrying the same day in a secret ceremony in Dorne.

“Prince Ragger” is almost definitely Prince Rheagar Targaryen — she basically just learned to read, you guys; “Rheagar Targaryen” looks like the result of some cheat throwing a handful of Scrabble tiles on the board and selling you some bullshit about medieval history.

While we ~basically~ know that Jon Snow is the child of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, thanks to Bran last season, we didn’t know that the biological parents could have been married at the time. If that’s the case, Jon Snow would a) not be a bastard at all, and b) have a better claim to the throne than Daenerys!

But nah nah nah, keep talking about all the diarrhea from four episodes ago, Sam. The world’s only been waiting 21 years for this shit.

Jon and the Dragon

Quick summation of that scene between Jon Snow and Drogon for ya:

While the scene most obviously explored the power dynamic between Jon and his sexy aunt (she has killing machines, he has a cool collection of Ikea rugs), Jon’s little hang session with Drogon was most important as a hint at his heritage. Targaryens were the last surviving dragonlord family — those that were able to ride and control dragons — so dragons are now naturally drawn to those with Targaryen blood.

Tyrion is the only other character we’ve seen get cosy with Dany’s kiddies and live to talk about it, but the encounter wasn’t anywhere near this chummy. The fact there are now three people the dragons are close to being cool with — Dany, Tyrion, and Jon — lends weight to the long-running theory that three people will ride the dragons in to battle.

Of course, there are other theories too (Wight Dragon, Bran Dragon et al), but it’s looking like a safe bet to pin one of these babies to Sad Boy Snow Targaryen.

Tough luck to whoever had the Tarlys as in the office dragonlord pool.

Davos <3s Memes

Last week Davos was dropping his newfound grammar smarts all over Westeros — man, Shireen Baratheon must have been a sick teacher, he and Gilly are killing it — and it looks like he’s now advanced into cyber-hacking, cracked Reddit and become a devout member of the GoT fandom.

“Wasn’t sure I’d find yer,” he says, before pausing painfully. “Thought you might… still be rowing.”

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The Letter

Pictured: darkness.

There’s a good chance you missed the full text and context of the letter Arya found in Littlefinger’s room this week due to HBO’s ongoing commitment to filming the show with an old black gym sock tied over the camera lens. But there’s actually a bit to unpack!

Here’s the full letter, courtesy of The Internet:

“Robb, I write to you with a heavy heart. Our good king Robert is dead, killed from wounds he took in a boar hunt. Father has been charged with treason. He conspired with Robert’s brothers against my beloved Joffrey and tried to steal his throne.

“The Lannisters are treating me very well and provide me with every comfort. I beg you: come to King’s Landing, swear fealty to King Joffrey and prevent any strife between the great houses of Lannister and Stark.”

If only one question could clear this up.

This — which Maester Wolkan found it in Winterfell’s records upon Littlefinger’s request — is the same letter Cersei forced Sansa to write all the way back in season one.

Back then, it was delivered to Catelyn and Robb, but Robb immediately called bullshit.

With all the Creepy Watching going on, Littlefinger obviously wanted Arya to find it. Hopefully she’s equally clever enough to see through it.

Littlefinger. Stop.

 Stop, Hammertime

Not only has Gendry stopped rowing, he’s started smashing people’s faces in! Welcome to the land of the living, bb!

L-R: Joe Dempsie, GoT writers seasons 3-6.

Amidst all the commotion and pulverised faces, many hardcore fans have pointed out the importance of the bastard’s weapon of choice. Gendry’s war hammer is a callback to his father, Robert Baratheon. The now-deceased king was famous for wielding a hammer of his own, most notably to defeat Rhaegar Targaryen at the Battle of the Trident.

The hammer seems to be a sign that Gendry’s out to fight for his father’s honour and carry on the name of his house.

“Destroy The Wheel”

Dany greets the guests of her latest BBQ this week, with a familiar little saying: “All I want to destroy is the wheel that’s rolled over the rich and poor, to benefit the Cersei Lannisters of the world.”

It’s a direct throwback to the first time Dany and Tyrion met:

“Lannister, Targaryen, Baratheon, Stark, Tyrell — they’re all just spokes on a wheel,” she said back in season five. “This one’s on top, then that one’s on top, and on and on it spins, crushing those on the ground.”

“It’s a beautiful dream — stopping the wheel,” Tyrion replies. “You’re not the first person who’s ever dreamt it.”

“I’m not going to stop the wheel. I’m going to break the wheel.”

Theoretically, it’s a nice nod from Dany that she’s still sticking to her game plan — a timely one considering the doubt Tyrion’s been rightfully throwing her way. But idk, she can say what she likes, it’s all looking a bit like this:

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Game of Thrones is streaming on Foxtel Now and airing on Showcase at 11am and 8.30pm every Monday.

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Meg Watson is the Editor of Junkee. She tweets @msmegwatson.