“That’s what death is, isn’t it? Forgetting. Being forgotten. If we forget where we’ve been, what we’ve done, we’re not men anymore. We’re just animals. Your memories don’t come from books. Your stories aren’t just stories. If I wanted to erase the world of men, I’d start with you.”
– Samwell Tarly, “Game of Thrones” (Season 8, Episode 2)
I can’t believe it’s Wednesday and I’m only just publishing my next “Game of Thrones” post! This is what happens when you’re a stay-at-home with two preschoolers off for spring break—no time to do anything other than “mothering!”
Anyways, what an episode! After “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” ended on Sunday night, I went to bed torn between adoration for each poignant, beautifully enacted moment among these characters I’ve grown to know and love over the past five years and surprise (and a little annoyance) over the fact that we got literally no action for the entire hour—and for the second week in a row. Don’t get me wrong, I loved, loved, loved the episode. It was classic Thrones at its best. The show’s writers clearly know what they’re doing and it’s never more apparent than in an episode like this one. In any other season, it would rank up there as one of my all-time favorites. But in the second of only six episodes during the last and final season? Forgive me, but it left me wanting more.
But then I watched it again and again (stop judging!), and it took on a whole new meaning. I’ve found that when it comes to Thrones, I need to experience each episode more than once in order to fully process what’s happening. The first time I watch I get so hyped up over each new episode and I sit there on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, straining to hear every word, and just waiting to see what’s gonna happen next that my head can’t possibly take everything in. But the second—and third—time around I’m able to focus and absorb the immensity, the sheer brilliance of this story and the actors who embody it so seamlessly. And so, the past two nights I sat there—quietly and solemnly—with a pit in my stomach and tears in my soul as I bid farewell to these quintessentially human characters who’ve become like old friends.
If you’re laughing at me right now, I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s not every day that a show comes around and inspires such passion, such devotion, such adoration, and such unity among the masses. Because for these six weeks, “Game of Thrones” fans—and there are millions of us across the globe—are bonded together as one, as friends, awaiting the fates (good or bad) of their favorites. And that is a beautiful thing, and one I’m beyond thrilled to be a part of.
I’m not exactly sure why or when I first became so enamored (some may say obsessed, LOL) with Thrones. The past five years have been a tough adjustment for me. As I’ve mentioned before, I walked away from my professional career to be a stay-at-home and the transition has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. So, I guess I was searching for some means of escape, something to get me out of my own head. And Thrones turned out to be it (first the show and then the books, which are starting to come apart at the seams because I’ve read them so much).
Initially, I think it was the crazy, crass, and shocking moments that really drew me in (you know, like beheading the main character, played by the amazing Sean Bean no less, just nine episodes in), but then something interesting happened. Suddenly, I found myself caring about and downright rooting for these characters, and not just the good guys! I’m talking about the knight who murdered the king he had sworn to protect and pushed a 10-year-old boy out the window (paralyzing him from the neck down). And who, thanks to fate and circumstance, fully redeemed himself in the end by walking away from his own family and choosing to fight alongside his rivals. Or the queen who betrayed and killed her enemies and even her “friends” only to see her schemes blow up in her face when she was forced to atone for her sins by walking naked through the streets, covered in blood and excrement. Hell, I even loved to hate the evilest ones of all (think Joffrey Baratheon and Tywin Lannister)! I laughed with them, cried with them, “fought” for them, screamed at them. I even jumped off my couch in anger, shock, and dismay at their deaths! So, yeah, I think of these characters as friends and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
This isn’t the first time I’ve become attached to fictional characters. When Matthew Crawley died at the end of season 4 in “Downton Abbey,” I was so devastated I couldn’t sleep that night (the show was never the same after the lovely Dan Stevens left). And my anxiety and tension were off the charts in the umpteenth episodes leading up to Jack Pearson’s death in “This Is Us.” The unknown circumstances surrounding his death bothered me so much that I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days and days. And don’t even get me started on Harry Potter! I realize this may sound insane and irrational, but as a writer I find it so amazing that another writer (and the actors who play them of course) can create a fictional character who is so real, so tragic, so flawed that you can’t help but love and care for them deeply, or even despise them for that matter. That, to me, is a true form of art. And one I will turn to again and again.
But there’s another reason “Game of Thrones” means so much to me and I don’t think I realized it until I started writing this post. Not only did it bring friendship into my life figuratively through these extraordinary characters, but it also literally helped forge a friendship with someone who is now near and dear to my heart. So much so that I call her my Thrones soulmate. 😊 In the beginning, after we discovered our mutual affection for this beloved show, we would get together for breakfast at my house and spend hours dissecting the episodes and the books. We would pore over the histories and the folklore scattered throughout George R.R. Martin’s novels and discuss the hidden meanings behind everything—both in the books and on the show. We immersed ourselves within Martin’s fictional world; shared in his characters’ glories, successes, true loves, heartbreaks, failures, and deaths; and loved every damn minute of it.
We’ve made other wonderful memories, too. Over the past two years, while the show has been out of sight but never out of mind, we’ve sought out all different sorts of Thrones adventures. The best one was the Game of Thrones Concert Experience hosted by musical genius Ramin Djawadi. It’s an awesome orchestral concert showcasing the show’s original score played out against some of our most beloved scenes. We’ve seen it twice already and will most definitely go again once they announce a third tour (fingers crossed). We also participated in a Thrones trivia brunch (which was tons of fun even though we didn’t win, and the food was delicious!) and a painting class where we painted what looks like the Haunted Forest within a Stark direwolf frame, with the words “Winter Is Coming” splayed across the scene. So cool!
But most importantly, as the premiere beckoned, we made plans to shut ourselves off from the world for these six weeks—together on my couch—and offer each other support as we bask in the wildfire glow of the show’s final days. Now that the end is upon us, it saddens me to know that as we say goodbye to these characters and this show, we’re also saying goodbye to the part of our friendship that first brought us together. Sure, we’ll always have Thrones, but it just won’t be the same. And yet our memories of those times will live on. They will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I will miss them something fierce. Which brings me to my desire to make every Sunday as special and “Thrones-y” as I can to commemorate a show that’s given me so much.
I shared my “Feast For The Seven Kingdoms” menu and décor for the premiere here, but because this past Sunday was Easter and my husband and I hosted 15 people, I unfortunately didn’t prepare a special Thrones menu. We did, however, share a bottle of “Game of Thrones” wine as we chatted about the show around my kitchen table. This ended up being a bit of serendipity unbeknownst to us at the time because a good portion of this exquisite episode centered around a fireplace while our soulful friends shared wine and words on what could be their last night alive. Now, how poetic is that?!
In just four days, we will face the battle for Winterfell, and I know many of our beloved friends will perish (that damn pit is back in my stomach). It was hard enough saying “goodbye” this past Sunday, so I can’t imagine how depressed and anxious and heartbroken we’re going to be this weekend. But at least we’ll be among friends, whose memories of this show and these characters will live on forever.
(Note: I will be back on my game this Sunday with a lovingly prepared Thrones feast. Stay tuned!)
Related Game of Thrones Content:
GoT Finale: A Mom’s Watch Has Ended (Episode 6)
GoT: A Thousand Lives (Episode 5)