There is probably no TV series more popular today than Game of Thrones. The medieval fantasy, based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series, has been a phenomenal success, critically and commercially. The show boasts its unique storytelling, unpredictability of the plot, and bold killings of main and supporting characters.
Game of Thrones is set on the kingdom of Westeros, governed by one ruler that sits on the infamous Iron Throne. Several families want the throne for the taking and the kingdom is separated in conflicting ideologies. While everyone is vying for the highest position, an imminent danger from the north of their lands is brewing that can bring Westeros at its knees and decimate their population.
Though the story is populated with knights, dragons, zombies, and unexplained magic, the reality that they are living is nowhere different from ours. The complicated characterization of the story encapsulates our humanity. This is not the classic case of good versus evil. We are shown with characters that make extreme decisions and experiences the consequences of their activities. Game of Thrones mirrors the different problems we encounter in the modern times and how we struggle to solve each one of them.
Religion
Westeros has multitude of belief systems. Most of their people believe in many gods. The North believes in the “Old gods” that resembles Animism. The South praises the “Faith of the Seven” that resembles Roman and Greek gods. By season 2, a growing monotheistic religion threatens the old beliefs in Westeros. This is the religion of R’hllor or the “Lord of Light.” The religion is like Christianity wherein there is a prophesized savior or a messiah to save all men of Westeros from the danger that lurks beyond the north. This shift from polytheism to monotheism depicts the sudden spread of single god beliefs in the history of the world. All of these religions are important in the fantasy series as they affect the political structure of the kingdom. Wars are also sometimes caused by the conflicting beliefs. Their power is as strong as their government since there are no clear separation between the state and church.
Sexism
The series depicts a clear picture of the ongoing patriarchy of the society. Their world is trying to impose that women are destined of either becoming a whore in a brothel or being a wife of their husband and a mother of their children. A lot of women try to break from these stereotypes. A good example is the mother of dragons, Daenerys Targaryen. Her possession of three fire breathing lizards makes her the most powerful character in the story. Arya Stark is a princess who wants to wield a sword than to wield a needle for clothe knitting. Arya is the ultimate opposite of a highborn lady. She is wild and reckless, and the story seems to head her on becoming an assassin. Brienne is a soldier often underestimated by her male enemies. But she always wins against them, because of her determination to do her duty. Women of the world of ice and fire play equal roles with men on Game of Thrones even though they are given lower status and privileges on their society.
Global Warming
Westeros is a place fueled by ongoing wars and violence. Fire and blood is the foundation of their state, and their first leaders are conquerors that used dragons and swords to unify the seven kingdoms to one Westeros. Although the main premise of Game of Thrones, from the title itself, is the fight to get the Iron Throne, we want for all the Westerosian people to unify for a single cause. The Stark’s famous words, “Winter is coming,” hints the impending danger that awaits the people of Westeros. While everyone is busy on their conquest to become the ruler, The Wall which is the only thing that separates the realm from the danger, is manned by the rotting Night’s Watch. This mirrors the modern world. Every country is fighting for economic supremacy. No one bats an eye on the environmental consequences of capitalism. Everyone in Westeros doesn’t give it any attention until the danger comes rampaging down The South. In our world, the meltdown of ice glaciers on the North and South Pole doesn’t stop companies from massive expulsion of air pollutants to the atmosphere that causes global warming. These glaciers keep the Earth cool and their decline means an imminent demise of humanity.
Economic Inequality
The clash of the few rich families trembles almost all the common people. “They are just spikes in a wheel,” Daenerys said. “This one’s on top, and that one’s on top, and on and on it spins, crushing those on the ground.” While the families play their little games, the common folk is struck with immense poverty. There is an organization who is trying to even out the rich and the poor called the Sparrows. Their leader, the High Sparrow, was given the role as the High Septon of the church and is determined to bring down the few families who are causing the ripples on common people’s lives.
Filipino Politics
Although we live in a democratic country and political dynasty is stated in our constitution as illegal, public position is still, more or less, passed by blood. Families get massive chunk of positions of the local and national government. The whole political aspect of Game of Thrones is basically Filipino politics come alive. Only highborn and rich people can sit on government positions. There are corrupt officials who uses their power to get money from the funds of the government. The throne is in huge debt on the Iron Bank because of the flamboyant lifestyle of the families. The war of kings and queens competing for the throne resembles the upcoming election. Mudslinging plays a major role in the whole game and most of the time there are violence. Personal interest drives the rich people to compete for the position. They want the throne not because they want to lead, but because they want to glorify themselves and be written on history books. In the end, after a leader rises from the war, nothing really changes for the poorest of the poor. They are still below the pyramid, crawling their way to survival.
Truly, Game of Thrones is a moving portrait of our society. Westeros is a living hell, and probably the only fantasy world no one wants to settle in. The semblance of our world with theirs is a hint that we have serious problems in our society that need addressing. The first step is to unify and solve them altogether, one by one.
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