Those who pay close attention may have already hinted in the first episode of the series Game of Thrones that certain characters will soon be in grave danger.
Warning Spoiler: Although Game of Thrones is already several years old, if you do not want to learn anything about character deaths, you should skip this article.
Game of Thrones celebrates its 15th birthday this year, so you may feel old. Back in 2011, when the first season aired, a small detail in the very first episode hinted at the fate of House Stark.
You remember: In Episode 1, King Robert Baratheon arrives at Winterfell, the Starks’ court, with the Lannisters and his entourage. There, he dismounts from his horse and greets his old friend Ned and his family.
The devil is in the detail: Because all those who receive special attention from the king do not survive the series.
A fateful handshake
What does the detail look like? Robert Baratheon shakes hands with Ned Stark, his wife Catelyn, and their son Robb. The king strokes the hair of the youngest son, Rickon. You can watch the scene on YouTube.
Fans may have already recognized what we are getting at. That’s right, all the characters that Robert touches in the scene die during the course of the series.
Ned Stark meets his end at the end of Season 1. His death at the hands of Joffrey, or rather the executioner in King’s Landing, is one that no viewer will ever forget. Catelyn and Robb meet their fate at the Red Wedding at the end of Season 3 – also a legendary scene based on real events.
The youngest Stark, Rickon, dies several seasons later. In Season 6, he is hit by an arrow shot by Ramsay Bolton. Deaths are not uncommon in Game of Thrones, and some are particularly tragic.
What about the other Starks? Sansa, Arya, and Bran do attend the king’s reception, but he does not touch them. Consequently, they survive the events of the series.
Now it can be speculated whether the detail is mere coincidence or if the creators of the series actually employed well-hidden foreshadowing.
In any case, it would be a creative way to hint at deaths without revealing too much. The fact that the demise of a character follows the warm handshake from the king, a friendly gesture, is particularly macabre. Do you believe in coincidence? Please feel free to share your opinion in the comments. Accordingly, the characters should have heeded these tips: A study shows how to best survive in Game of Thrones
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