Game of Thrones might have ended three years ago, but fans are still making shocking discoveries – this time about the ages of certain characters.
Before the epic fantasy drama hit TV, the show’s creators made the decision to make specific characters older than their book counterparts.
In George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Jon Snow (Kit Harington), and Robb Stark (Richard Madden), among others, are all roughly five years younger than they are on TV
Daenerys begins the first book aged just 13, while her husband Khal Drogo (played by Jason Momoa in the show) is almost 30. Jon and Robb, meanwhile, are only 14.
The realisation has disturbed some fans of the show. ‘Reading the book and knowing the ages really creeps me out,’ one commented on social media.
Another replied: ‘I don’t think the show would’ve been as successful if they’d kept the ages consistent with the book. [The creators] did right ageing up.’
In the books, when Jon Snow becomes Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, he is still a young teenager, while Robb Stark is little more than 16 by the time of the infamous Red Wedding.
Fans were discussing the ages of characters in Game of Thrones after a particularly young boy made a big impression in the latest episode of House of the Dragon.
Willem Blackwood (Alfie Todd), a boy no older than 13, steps forward to ask Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) for her hand in marriage.
Rhaenyra, only 17 herself, laughs and, at first, dismisses him as a ‘child’. After being heckled, Willem attacks and kills the much older onlooker in the same scene.
House of the Dragon has been praised by fans for highlighting the ridiculousness of medieval customs that saw underage children married off against their will.
‘There’s a strong sense of tragedy – an 11 or 12-year-old boy being thrust into a horrible environment where he has to pretend he wants to be offered up [for marriage],’ one fan commented.
Princess Rhaenyra’s actress, Milly Alcock, has recently opened up about filming ‘gnarly’ sex scenes while playing such a young character.
The same issue was still highlighted in Game of Thrones – despite ageing some characters up, there were still very young children in the show.
In season three, when Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) is forced to marry Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), he asks her how old she is on their wedding night.
Sansa informs Tyrion that she is only 14 – a revelation that results in Tyrion refusing to consummate their marriage.
Watch House of the Dragon on Sky Atlantic and Now TV.
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