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'Game of Thrones' fans might get a long-awaited reunion of this dynamic trio in the future

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Tyrion Bronn Podrick Game of Thrones

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season seven, including speculation of future events.

The seventh season of "Game of Thrones" has been all about reunions – from the emotional Stark children finally walking through Winterfell together to Daenerys' warm embrace of Ser Jorah Mormont.

Jerome Flynn plays Bronn on the HBO series and he told INSIDER that we might get a more lighthearted reunion down the road between Tyrion and Ser Bronn of the Blackwater.

"I believe that's gonna happen, yeah," Flynn told INSIDER in an interview. "And I think there was a [reunion] scene [on last week's episode] originally but for whatever reason they decided that preempted things."

Fans might have been caught off guard when Bronn brought Jaime to his brother Tyrion in order to help broker a potential armistice in "Eastwatch." Just when Tyrion and Bronn were finally in the same room again, Bronn left without looking back.

Jaime and Tyrion Lannister Game of Thrones Macall B. Polay

"The surprise element of bringing the brothers together was the payoff," Flynn said. "Down the road, I believe we'll get a nice bit of Tyrion and Bronn doing their thing and shootin' the breeze as they do and some of that old dynamic comes back."

But what about Podrick? We asked Flynn about his character getting the chance to mess with Podrick again on the sixth season, when they both met in the Lannister camp at Riverrun and Bronn had fun play fighting with the once-young squire.

"That was one of my favorite scenes from last season," Flynn said. "And there's a good chance that ... as a threesome I'm hoping they will come together again."

Some fans have been wistfully thinking of the shenanigans Tyrion got up to with Podrick and Bronn in King's Landing. Even though Bronn and Jaime have proven to be a great duo as well, we hope Flynn is right that there's a good chance of Podrick and Tyrion getting their reunion, too.

"I think one of the elements that really brings this season a real richness is how so many of the characters whose stories we've been following are coming together and we're weaving their stories into one," Flynn said. "It's just so good to watch, just as a fan I'm enjoying every minute of it."

Read our full interview with Jerome Flynn to learn more about Bronn's secret heroic side and the humorous last name Flynn has given him since the show hasn't done so already.

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SEE ALSO: 'Game of Thrones' cinematographer describes shooting that battle of roasting Lannisters, including trouble with an HBO safety officer

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NOW WATCH: 6 details you might have missed on season 7 episode 5 of 'Game of Thrones'


Writer of first 'Simpsons' episode says she was kept out of the writer's room for being a woman

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Mimi Pond never received the full respect she deserved. 

Though primarily a cartoonist and writer, she's responsible for writing the first ever full-length broadcast episode of "The Simpsons" in 1989, titled "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," which was nominated for two Emmy awards.

It was the only episode she ever wrote for the show, despite being acclaimed in her field, regularly published in the likes The National Lampoon, The Village Voice, and The New York Times. 

How did that happen? The story, as relayed to Jezebel, isn't pleasant: Pond stated that she was never invited to join the writer's room as the showrunner didn't want any women on the team.

Pond had known creator Matt Groening from his days writing the syndicated comic strip, "Life in Hell." When it came to creating the first season of "The Simpsons," Groening simply reached out to his cartoonist friends to ask if they wanted to write episodes, and Pond was apparently the only person who said yes. 

"I was never invited to be on staff, and I never knew why for the longest time," she recalled. "No one ever called me or explained to me or apologized or anything. And it wasn’t until years later that I found out that Sam Simon, who was the showrunner, didn’t want any women around because he was going through a divorce."

"It had remained a boys’ club for a good long time. I feel like I was just as qualified as anyone else who came along and got hired on the show, and it was just because I was a woman that I was, you know, not allowed entry into that club."

"I always wind up being the turd in the punchbowl because the show is so beloved and everything, and I’m sorry to burst bubbles but [laughs]. It wasn’t a pleasant experience for me."

This may have been in the early '90s, but it's not exactly like things have balanced out today. The AV Club examined the entire list of episode writers and co-writers, discovering that only eight percent of the 616 episodes of "The Simpsons" which have aired include a woman screenwriter. 

Mimi Pond has just released a new graphic novel "The Customer is Always Wrong," a sequel to 2014's "Over Easy."

SEE ALSO: The 17 absolute worst TV shows on Netflix

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NOW WATCH: 8 details you might have missed on season 7 episode 4 of 'Game of Thrones'

The most-watched new cable TV show of 2017 is Jessica Biel's 'The Sinner'

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the sinner jessice bielPlenty of new shows have debuted on the small screen in 2017, and some have been more well-received than others. They have ranged from comedies to dramas to sci-fi horrors. Now, the numbers for the year so far are in and we know which of the new cable shows has been watched by the most viewers, and it's not the show that we expected. USA's "The Sinner" is on top of all the competition.

"The Sinner" stars Jessica Biel as a young mother who shocks her family when she murders a man in broad daylight and seems to have no idea why she did it. Commercials for the series played up Biel's dramatic turn and didn't shy away from showing the violence, and it seems that the combination worked to hook viewers. In Live+3 day ratings, "The Sinner" ranks at #1 in new cable shows in several key demographics. The new show is the big winner among adults aged 18-49, adults 25-54, and even total viewers.

Interestingly, the audience for "The Sinner" actually grew from the first episode to the second, which is atypical for new series. Many shows attract a sizable audience for the premiere thanks to curious viewers who want to give it a try, then the viewership drops off for subsequent episodes when a portion of the audience decides that the show simply isn't for them. "The Sinner" must be creating the best kind of buzz if more people tuned in for the second episode than the first. Variety reports that the second episode experienced a 7% boost in 18-49 to hit 1.4 million, 5% in 25-54 to hit 1.6 million, and 4% in 18-34 to hit 543,000.

We'll have to wait and see if "The Sinner" can maintain its growth trend or at least hold steady in future episodes. It's an event series slated to run for eight episodes, so it's possible that viewers will be inclined to follow the action with the knowledge that the story will come to a conclusion by the end of the season with no cliffhanger to keep fans on the hook until next year. The show is also based on a book, so fans of the source material may be tuning in as well.

"The Sinner" got off to a strong start with a premiere that set the stage for a truly compelling murder mystery. It put a twist on the classic "whodunnit" story; instead of giving us a murder and making us wonder who could be the murderer, "The Sinner" gives us the who, the what, and the when right off the bat. It's the question of why Cora snapped a murdered a man on a public beach that drives the narrative, and it should be enough to sustain the mystery for the rest of the series.

Most of the season still has yet to air, so it's not to late to start watching. New episodes of "The Sinner" air on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on USA. For your other viewing choices, take a peek at our fall TV premiere schedule.

SEE ALSO: 'Game of Thrones' cinematographer describes shooting that battle of roasting Lannisters, including trouble with an HBO safety officer

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NOW WATCH: The biggest mistake everyone makes when eating steak, according to Andrew Zimmern

IKEA heard that 'Game of Thrones' uses its rugs for costumes and created instructions for making your own

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Last week Game of Thrones’ chief costumer, Michele Clapton, revealed that the Night’s Watch characters on the show are actually clad in IKEA rugs. It didn’t take long for IKEA to respond.

IKEA Norway posted do-it-yourself instructions in the company’s typical style on Facebook – encouraging everyone to prepare for winter with a warm Night’s Watch cloak from IKEA as summer is coming to an end.

The mock product is called Vinter (the Swedish word for winter). All you need to make it is a rug from IKEA, a pair of scissors, and – if this reporter interprets the instructions correctly – a sword and a black beard.

According to the original instructions by Michele Clapton, however, getting the patina just right requires the application of a few more steps of processing to the rugs:

“We cut, and we shaped them, and then we added strong leather straps, and then breakdown – which is like religion on Game of Thrones. I want the audience to almost smell the costumes. Here they were waxed and frosted so they belonged to the landscape.”

The Facebook post became a viral success and was featured in publications such as Time Magazine, Creativity Online, Mashable, Dezeen, Bored Panda and Cosmopolitan, Resumé reports.

Seeing as the post was so favorably received, IKEA Norway saw no reason to stop there.

In a follow up published today, IKEA shows how the garment could actually look on some male models if you make one based on its ‘Skold’ fur.

It’s not the first time IKEA has shown its playful side on social media. When Balenciaga did a couture remake of IKEA’s classic Frakta shopping bag, the company first responded by expressing how honored it felt, and then trolling copycats.  

SEE ALSO: 13 'Game of Thrones' actors killing the game on social media

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NOW WATCH: 6 details you might have missed on season 7 episode 5 of 'Game of Thrones'

Here’s how this actress from HBO’s 'Insecure' took on Caitlyn Jenner and became the queen of clapping back on social media

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The INSIDER Summary:

  • Actress Amanda Seales spoke with INSIDER about both her role on HBO's "Insecure" and her unapologetic presence on social media.
  • Seales went viral online after a heated discourse with Caitlyn Jenner about white privilege and what it means to be a black woman in America.
  • Seales suggests not reading hate comments, but is also notorious for quickly responding to trolls online.
  • Though social media can sometimes be toxic, she's deciding to use her account to promote positivity, social awareness, and causes that help give back.

Whether she’s on camera as Tiffany on HBO's “Insecure" or taking down trolls on her Instagram page, actress and comedian Amanda Seales has never been one to mince words. And after her heated exchange with Caitlyn Jenner on Katy Perry’s live stream went viral, she’s getting a whole lot more people to listen up.

 Seales spoke with INSIDER on what it’s like being the queen of clap backs — especially in today’s social climate.

 “I think that there’s just — especially for black women — this feeling that you have to try and like create this generic availability. ‘Don’t be too sassy, don’t be too black.'"

This persona, Seales said, is often viewed as critical for black actresses to find work. But after over 20 years in the industry as an actress, musician, and TV/radio personality, the “Insecure” actress had enough.

 “At a certain point, I just let that go, and I was like, ‘I’m going to just be me,’ in my personal and professional life. You’re either going to rock with it or not, and that’s fine, because I’m not for everyone.” 

Seales’ role on "Insecure" represents every proud, successful black woman who’s been told to assimilate.

Insecure Tiffany Still1

From a first look at Seales’ character Tiffany DuBois, she’s that friend that you can’t help but roll your eyes at. An esteemed sorority girl with the perfect life, enviable marriage, and an air of superiority, she won’t hesitate to offer her advice even when it isn’t asked for. But Seales said her “bad and boujee” character is a little more complex than that.

“Tiffany is the girl who was telling you, ‘You should really straighten your hair,’ you know? And she’s not telling you that because she thinks your curly hair is ugly,” Seales explained. “She’s telling you that because she’s been taught that she needs to straighten her hair to get ahead. And she wants you to get ahead too. It’s not coming from a negative place, it’s coming from poor teaching.”

Tiffany’s life may not be as pristine as she’s making it appear to be. In the second episode of season two, the picture-perfect character alludes that she was — or maybe still is— having some serious marital problems.

“No one has it all,” Seales said.

She was unfortunately pretty tight-lipped on Tiffany’s fate for this season, but we’ll definitely see more of her on the episodes (and new season) to come.

Seales schools Caitlyn Jenner on white privilege, and the exchange goes viral

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Seales’ spot in the limelight got her a spot at Katy Perry’s dinner table during the pop star’s 4-day-long live stream this past June. The "Dinner of Discourse" featured notable attendees of different backgrounds. Seales, the only black woman at the table, had a heated conversation with former Olympian and transgender Republican Caitlyn Jenner. After Jenner characterized her as getting hostile, the actress explained the differences she experiences as a black women in America. The exchange quickly became one of the most viral moments of Perry’s live stream.

The live stream wasn’t the first time she’d had to defend being characterized as hostile.

“I’m not a sweetie pie. I have a deep voice, and when I call customer service I have to talk up here if I really want to get the service I want,” Seales joked. “I’m a very direct person and I’m not afraid to tell the truth. We live in a society right now that is just not for the truth. It’s become a thing where if you tell the truth you’re considered ‘not nice.’ I’ve kind of had to decide I’m just not going to be nice.”

Seales said the point of Perry’s dinner was to address serious, uncomfortable topics with compassion, understanding and respect.

“I was saying things, and in typical fashion, Caitlyn didn’t like what I said because it ruffled her feathers, and then she turned it into, ‘I’m being hostile,” Seales recounted. “Disagreeing with you doesn’t make me hostile. Saying factual things that are counter to your point of view doesn’t make me hostile… I’m the only black woman at the table, and we’re still getting this ‘angry black woman’ s---. I’m not here for it.”

The video of the exchange was re-shared and viewed hundreds of thousands of times. This reception and support motivated her to use her Instagram platform as an avenue for change.

“The response to the Caitlyn Jenner thing really, really showed me [that social media] can be a positive place,” Seales said.

Every Monday, the actress uses Instagram Story and the hashtag #MakeAChangeMonday to highlight people, projects, or events that are promoting positive change.

“I think it takes a certain level of optimism to thrive in social media, because you have to believe that there is altruism, and that not everybody is a troll.”

Why telling people to ignore cyberbullying is many times unrealistic

But social media is in no way a completely supportive space. Seales unapologetically takes on controversial topics in both comedic and straightforward demeanor, which results in a fare share of internet trolls.

“The best way to deal with that is don’t read the comments. Don’t read the comments!” Seales said, but she admits taking her own advice can be challenging. “I’m notorious for clapping back at people who are ridiculous on my Instagram.” 

Angry and offensive commenters can result in mixed emotions.

“Your twitter avi is a duck with an army hat on, so I don’t really need to talk to you. But then you’re human,” Seales said. “It’s funny when people say, ‘Don’t feed into the negativity.’ You didn’t have 32 people call you the N-word today… A lot of people don’t understand that when you speak to us, we see you.”

For Seales on and off camera, it’s all about using her voice to teach something in the most entertaining way possible.

“How can I make people think and laugh at the same time, but do it about stuff that matters?” Seales said.  But be prepared if you try to step to her incorrectly.

“If you’re coming into an argument with me, you better be armed, because I’m not coming with a pen to a gun fight.” 

In addition, the actress and comedian is working on taking her live comedy game show "Smart, Funny, and Black" to networks, and is hosing Harper's Bazaar's new web series, "Gem Droppin'." 

See more from the interview in the video below.

 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Amazon has an oddly efficient way of storing stuff in its warehouses

The 25 best TV shows that only lasted one season

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lucky louieIn the age of peak TV, we’ve gotten to see many series which are constructed to be satisfying after just one season of storytelling.

But it’s important to remember that this is a relatively new phenomenon, that all too often, potentially great shows will get cancelled before getting the chance to reach their full potential.

The list below focuses on scripted series, reaching back over two decades to cover some of television history’s most disappointing ends.

The aim is to remember some of network and cable’s most audacious experiments, for better and for worse.

SEE ALSO: The best TV show of every year since 2000, according to critics

25. “Almost Human” (2013-2014)

In many ways, “Almost Human” was deeply flawed to a degree that made its cancellation understandable — it struggled to balance too many plot threads with an over-reliance on recycled world-building, ultimately failing to coalesce despite some ambitious twists introduced near the end of the first season.

However, creating a good buddy cop team is an art form, and the pairing of Karl Urban as a cranky haunted officer and the eager and optimistic Michael Ealy as his robot partner was an unforgettable mix. The duo had a chemistry that could have led to an enduring franchise, given the chance. At the very least, fans live in hope that they might be paired together again.



24. “Cupid” (1998)

Years before creating the cult favorite “Veronica Mars,” writer Rob Thomas brought ABC a charming romantic-comedy concept: A guy claiming to be the god-like figure of Cupid is running around Chicago, and assigned to monitor his behavior is a psychologist and relationship expert who thinks he’s crazy.

Jeremy Piven’s natural brusqueness is actually a delightful counterpoint to the show’s inherent romanticism, Paula Marshall is a painfully under-appreciated talent, and the fun concept doesn’t lack emotional subtlety. There was a follow-up attempt to make this show about 10 years later, with Bobby Cannavale and Sarah Paulson, which once again failed to launch. But honestly, that doesn’t mean this idea didn’t have merit.



23. “Kings” (2009)

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An alternate universe tale set in a modern day “kingdom” inspired by the tale of David and Goliath, this show theoretically should never have worked. But it was rich with interesting ideas, not to mention an incredible cast (OH HI Ian McShane, Dylan Baker, and Sebastian Shaw) — “Kings” was perhaps too ambitious for its own good, but that same ambition made it addictive as hell.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Everything we know about Jon Snow's mysterious true father on 'Game of Thrones'

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Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones," including speculation of future events.

Two of the most important figures in the "Game of Thrones" universe — Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark — are also the most mysterious and unexplored characters on the series. While show-only fans have heard the name Rhaegar intermittently, they might not understand the deep importance he has in the show's fictional universe.

Who was Prince Rhaegar and why is it so significant to know Jon is likely his legitimate heir? For more backstory, we can turn to George R.R. Martin's writings in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" novels and his extended "A World of Ice and Fire" encyclopedic text.

Prince Rhaegar's early years and the Mad King

Rhaegar was the first-born child of King Aerys II (who was married to his sister, Rhaella). In the "A Song of Ice and Fire" books, Barristan Selmy tells Daenerys Rhaegar was "bookish" as a child and not interested in fighting:

"As a young boy, the Prince of Dragonstone was bookish to a fault. He was reading so early that men said Queen Rhaella must have swallowed some books and a candle whilst he was in her womb. Rhaegar took no interest in the play of other children.

The maesters were awed by his wits, but his father's knights would jest sourly that Baelor the Blessed had been born again. Until one day Prince Rhaegar found something in his scrolls that changed him. No one knows what it might have been, only that the boy suddenly appeared early one morning in the yard as the knights were donning their steel. He walked up to Ser Willem Darry, the master-at-arms, and said, 'I will require sword and armor. It seems I must be a warrior.'"

Some fans believe Rhaegar read about a prophecy in those scrolls — a prophecy which motivated most of his life choices from then on. But more on that later.

By the time he was 17, Prince Rhaegar was already knighted and winning tournaments, beating legendary warriors like Barristan Selmy. He often played the harp and sang beautifully at feasts and gatherings, and noblewomen around Westeros swooned over his silver hair and dark indigo eyes.

In the books, Cersei remembers her excitement when she believed her and Rhaegar would marry one day. "Next to Rhaegar, even her beautiful Jaime had seemed no more than a callow boy," Martin wrote.

Here's a portrait of Prince Rhaegar created by artist Karla Ortiz and featured in "A World of Ice and Fire":

Rhaegar Targaryen A World of Ice and Fire Karla Ortiz illustration

Meanwhile, his father King Aerys grew more paranoid and resentful by the day.

During a small rebellion in which a rebelling lord held King Aerys hostage, Tywin Lannister (who was Hand of the King) seemed unconcerned about his potential death, saying, "We have a better king right here," as he gestured towards Rhaegar.

Once the rebellion was ended, King Aerys was more paranoid than ever. He believed Rhaegar and Tywin had plotted together to have him slain, "opening the way for Rhaegar to mount the Iron Throne and marry Lord Tywin's daughter."

King Aerys refused Tywin's offer of marrying Rhaegar to Cersei Lannister. Instead, Rhaegar was married to Princess Elia Martell of Dorne, the younger sister to Oberyn and Doran Martell.  They had two children together, Rhaenys and Aegon. 

Rhaegar and Elia chose to live on Dragonstone instead of in King's Landing. which only fueled Aerys' suspicions that Rhaegar was plotting against him and wanted the Iron Throne for himself.

The fateful Tourney of Harrenhal

In "A World of Ice and Fire," the story of the tournament in Harrenhal begins ominously:

"Many tales have grown up around Lord Whent's tournament: tales of plots and conspiracies, betrayals and rebellions, infidelities and assignations, secrets and mysteries, almost all of it conjecture. The truth is known to only a few, some of whom have long passed beyond this mortal vale and must forever hold their tongues."

One such rumor is that the tournament was secretly funded and organized by Prince Rhaegar himself, who was using Lord Whent as a decoy. People believed the tournament was a way to cover up the mass gathering of every important lord "in order to discuss ways and means of dealing with the madness of his father, possibly by means of a regency or a forced abdication."

At the tournament, Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark — Jon's mother — met for the first time. Here we must turn to a story about the tournament and a mysterious knight told by Meera and Jojen read in "A Song of Ice and Fire."

As part of the season six Blu-ray extras, HBO released an animated video of this tale narrated by Ellie Kendrick, the actress who plays Meera Reed. You can watch the full video below, released exclusively in 2016 by Watchers on the Wall:

The story is about Howland Reed, Meera and Jojen's father, and how he was attacked by three squires at the Tourney of Harrenhal. Lyanna Stark intervened and brought Howland back to her tent to three Stark boys —Benjen, Ned, and Brandon.

The Starks convinced Howland to stay and enjoy the festivities. In the tale, we hear how Howland watched as Rhaegar Targaryen sang a song during one of the tournament feasts. The ballad was so beautiful it made Lyanna cry and her brothers teased her.

The next day, a mysterious person entered the tournament wearing ill-fitted armor and bearing a shield with a laughing weirwood tree painted on it. The Knight of the Laughing Tree challenged the three squires who had attacked Howland and won.

Knight of the Laughing Tree HBO Blu Ray bonus Game of Thrones

A popular theory among fans is that this knight was actually Lyanna. She was known for her prodigious horse-riding skills (a must for anyone jousting) and would have needed to disguise her appearance since she's a woman. 

But the Mad King Aerys was furious when he saw the Knight of the Laughing Tree's victory, because he believed it was one of his enemies making a mockery of him. When the mystery knight seemed to vanish overnight, King Aerys sent Rhaegar to look for him. 

Allegedly Rhaegar only found the knight's shield — but what if he really found Lyanna and chose to protect her from his father? Was this the beginning of their fated relationship?

The "kidnapping" of Lyanna Stark

Prince Rhaegar eventually won the tournament and was given a crown of blue winter roses so he could name the "Queen of Love and Beauty." Instead of choosing his wife Elia (who was there) Rhaegar gave the winter roses to Lyanna Stark (who was already betrothed to Robert Baratheon).

On the fifth season of "Game of Thrones,"Littlefinger told Sansa Stark what happened that day:

"When Rhaegar won, everyone cheered for their prince. I remember the guards laughing when he took off his helmet and they saw that silver hair and how handsome he was. Until he rode right past his wife, Elia Martell, and all the smiles died. I've never seen so many people so quiet. He rode past his wife and he lay a crown of winter roses in Lyanna's lap — blue with frost. How many tens of thousands had to die because Rhaegar chose your aunt?"

Littlefinger and Sansa in the crypts Game of Thrones

According to "A World of Ice and Fire," Lyanna's brothers were furious at Rhaegar's decision and considered it a slight against Lyanna's honor as a noblewoman. 

Some months later, after the tournament, Rhaegar and a dozen of his closest companions journeyed out into the Riverlands where he met Lyanna once again.

"Not ten leagues from Harrenhall, Rhaegar fell upon Lyanna Stark of Winterfell and carried her off, lighting a fire that would consume his house and kind and all those he loved — and half the realm besides," Martin wrote in "A World of Ice and Fire."

While some Westerosi called it a "kidnapping," we really don't know any details about how Rhaegar and Lyanna happened to meet that day, nor why they disappeared together. Could they have planned the meeting? Was it happenstance? 

The Tower of Joy and Rhaegar's death

After the "kidnapping," Lyanna's father Rickard and oldest brother Brandon went to King's Landing to demand Aerys address Rhaegar's "crime." Aerys murdered Brandon and Rickard, and then ordered the execution of Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon.

Robert — who was furious over the disappearance of his betrothed and believed Rhaegar had stolen her and raped her — led the rebellion against King Aerys and his son. 

As the war waged in Westeros, no one knew for certain where Lyanna was being held while Rhaegar led the Targaryen forces in battle. Elia Martell and her children were kept in King's Landing — King Aerys wanted them close. 

Robert Baratheon Game of Thrones Season one

The fight came to head at the Trident river, where Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Robert Baratheon fought fiercely in one-on-one combat. Robert crushed in Rhaegar's chest with his warhammer, scattering the rubies from his Targaryen armor into the river.

In the books, Daenerys has a series of visions from the House of the Undying. One of these visions was her brother Rhaegar's death: "Rubies flew like drops of blood from the chest of a dying prince, and he sank to his knees in the water and with his last breath murmured a woman's name."

That woman's name was likely Lyanna Stark.

After the rebellion was won, Ned went looking for his sister and found her in Dorne at a place referred to as the Tower of Joy. On the sixth season of "Game of Thrones," Bran had a vision of Ned's arrival to the tower. He and Howland Reed killed the kingsguard stationed there, and Ned went into the tower only to find Lyanna dying. In Ned's memories, she was clutching withering blue rose petals and laying in a bed of blood.

Lyanna Stark Ned Jon Snow Tower of Joy Game of Thrones

She had given birth to a baby boy — Jon Snow — and begged Ned to take her son and protect him from Robert's wrath. 

"He'll kill him, you know he will," Lyanna told Ned. "Promise me. Promise me."

Jon Snow and the Prince That Was Promised prophecy

As mentioned earlier, Rhaegar seemed to change after reading a set of scrolls. In the books, Aemon Targaryen (the maester of Castle Black and brother to the Mad King Aerys), tells Sam Tarly that he and Rhaegar discussed a prophecy known as the Prince That Was Promised.

At first, both Aemon and the Dragon Prince believed Rhaegar himself was the prophesied hero. "Later he became persuaded that it was his own son who fulfilled the prophecy," Aemon says in the books.

Aemon Targaryen and Sam Game of Thrones Helen Sloan HBO

Another of Daenerys' House of the Undying visions was of Rhaegar, and a woman who was likely Elia Martell with his newborn son Aegon.

"Will you make a song for him?" the woman asked.

"He has a song," the man replied. "He is the prince that was promised, and his is the song of ice and fire." He looked up when he said it and his eyes met Dany's, and it seemed as if he saw her standing there beyond the door. "There must be one more," he said, though whether he was speaking to her or the woman in the bed she could not say. "The dragon has three heads."

He went to the window seat, picked up a harp, and ran his fingers lightly over its silvery strings. Sweet sadness filled the room as man and wife and babe faded like the morning mist, only the music lingering behind to speed her on her way.

Rhaegar had two children with Elia, and it's possible that his "the dragon has three heads" line meant he believed he needed three children in order to fulfill the prophecy. Some believe Elia was too weakened after having two children, and was unable to carry a viable pregnancy for a third time. 

This might tie into Rhaegar's relationship with Lyanna and his possible obsession with the Prince That Was Promised prophecy, especially if he legally cast aside Elia in order to marry Lyanna and have a third legitimate child.

Jon Snow and Drogon Game of Thrones HBO season seven

If Jon was born from a legitimate marriage between Rhaegar and Lyanna, that makes him Prince Jon Targaryen. Coupled with Lyanna's oft-quoted last words to Ned, "promise me," Jon is literally the Prince That Was Promised.

Others believe Daenerys Targaryen also fits the characteristics of this prophecy, but for that explanation you can read our full breakdown of the theories.

There's still so much we don't know

Rhaegar's actions bring so many questions to the surface. Did he truly love Lyanna, or was she a tool through which he wanted to bring a prophecy to life? Why did he cast aside Elia, and how much did she know about his relationship with Lyanna? Did Rhaegar realize he was sentencing the Seven Kingdoms to decades of war and strife when he chose Lyanna? And lastly, will Jon Snow ever learn about his true lineage and possible claim to the Iron Throne?

"Game of Thrones" has yet to show Prince Rhaegar, even in a flashback. And while the slow drip of information is keeping fans on their toes, we hope to learn more about this mysterious character in the future. 

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SEE ALSO: Every 'Game of Thrones' romantic relationship, ranked from worst to best

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NOW WATCH: 6 details you might have missed on season 7 episode 5 of 'Game of Thrones'

Hilarious behind-the-scenes video reveals how Jon Snow was tied to the ground for this 'Game of Thrones' scene

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Game of Thrones season seven Jon Snow Helen Sloan   HBO (Photo 6)

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season seven.

Emilia Clarke stars as Daenerys Targaryen on "Game of Thrones," and while she's always been a queen on Instagram, this year her behind-the-scenes photos and videos are off the charts amazing. 

One of the highlights of "Game of Thrones" season seven so far was when Jon Snow finally met Drogon and even gave him a nice pat on the snout. In a new video Clarke shared on Instagram, we see Kit Harington (Jon Snow) standing on the cliffside ready to film the scene. 

Harington goofs off for Clarke's camera, waving his fur cape in the wind like he's Batman, or maybe perhaps like a dragon.

"I mean, JEEEZE, one pet of a dragon and he thinks he's one of them. #youknownothingjonsnow
#butyoudoknowhowtonotgetblownoffacliffingaleforsewindssotheresalwaysthat
#everypunaboutwindicanthinkofinserthere," Clarke wrote in the caption.

INSIDER recently spoke with "Game of Thrones" cinematographer Robert McLachlan, who worked on that episode sequence with Harington.

"There was such a howling gale blowing, and it was blowing towards the ocean off the land," McLachlan said. "In fact, it was blowing so hard that we had to put a safety cable on Kit Harington when he was meeting the dragon because his cape, which is very heavy fabric, was about to turn him into a kite."

You can see the cable tying Harington down in Clarke's video:

Game of Thrones Kit Harington Emilia Clarke video Jon SNow

"We were afraid it would blow him right off the cliff," McLachlan said. "I'm not kidding. It was that windy."

We're all glad Kit didn't turn into a kite, and instead we were given an incredible moment between Jon Snow and one of Daenerys' dragons. For more amazing behind-the-scenes pictures, follow these 13 "Game of Thrones" actors on Twitter and Instagram.

SEE ALSO: Every 'Game of Thrones' romantic relationship, ranked from worst to best

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NOW WATCH: 6 details you might have missed on season 7 episode 5 of 'Game of Thrones'


Here's how the cast of Marvel's 'The Defenders' looks compared to their comic-book counterparts

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We've waited several years, but the day has finally come. Netflix's big superhero teamup, "The Defenders," is available on the streaming site Friday, August 18.

Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage are all meeting for the first time, and, when so many egos abound, it's little surprise that all of them don't get off to the best start with each other. For better or worse, they'll have to put aside their differences to take down The Hand, a group of mystical ninjas who are trying to destroy New York City.

Though you may be familiar with Iron Fist and Daredevil now, many of the hero's looks were completely different when first introduced in the comics. Halloweencostumes.com provided INSIDER with side-by-sides of how the show characters compare to their comic-book counterparts. 

Keep reading to see what you need to know about all the big characters you'll see in the miniseries. 

Charlie Cox plays Matt Murdock/Daredevil, the Devil of Hell's Kitchen. The character's original suit in the '60s was much brighter in contrast.

At the end of "Daredevil" season two, Murdock gives up the suit to focus on being an everyday lawyer. He'll quickly be brought back into the fray when the group he's been trying to fight off threatens all of New York City.

Daredevil has had a few costume changes throughout the years. A year after the comic first debut, he started wearing a red suit with a double D on the chest. Though Murdock fights against the Hand in the Marvel series, he became their leader at one point in the comics.



Murdock's former love interest, Elektra Natchios (Elodie Yung), was introduced in the comics wearing a much more revealing outfit.

The martial arts expert is brought back from the dead to serve the Hand after she trained with Stick in both the Netflix series and the comics.

Her comic look has always focused on showing off her curves in a tight red outfit, even when she has been sketched as an elephant and an ape (really). Only the newer comic series has shown her in a full body suit.

On the miniseries, she's grounded in reality and wears a more realistic outfit for combat. The one thing you won't see on Marvel's mini-series is the red headpiece. Yung wears it as a scarf and cover to mask her face. 



Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson) is the link who connects all of the Defenders together in the show, but that's not the case in the comics.

Temple is the nurse who has helped out each and every character on one of their shows and she's currently dating Luke Cage, which should be interesting if Jessica Jones finds out. She's actually a combination of two comic characters — Temple and Linda Carter, the Night Nurse.

In the comics, Temple introduces herself as a doctor to Cage and becomes an early love interest of the character. It's Carter who came to the aid of and treated different heroes when injured, including Cage, Iron Fist, and even Elektra.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Archie has a gun in this new 'Riverdale' teaser for season 2

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riverdale archie season 2

The INSIDER Summary:

  • "Riverdale" season one ended with Archie's dad shot in a diner.
  • The new teaser shows the sheriff coming to talk to Archie as a voiceover says, "I have some tragic news to share."
  • Archie's arm is shown bloodied and in a cast, Jughead looks scared, Betty looks angry, and FP Jones is still in jail.
  • There's also a steamy shower scene.
  • It ends with Archie pulling out a gun. 
  • Season two premieres on The CW October 11. 
  • Watch the teaser below.

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NOW WATCH: Here's everyone left on Arya Stark's kill list on 'Game of Thrones'

This startup wants to stop you from being bored at the airport while you wait for your flight

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If you've ever been to an airport, you've most likely spent some time very bored.

A familiar scene: You're through security and have nothing to do before your plane boards, except go to one of the overpriced restaurants, or bars, and watch a bunch of TVs showing sports. Or, instead, you can sit at your gate and watch the TVs hanging from the ceilings, which likely are only showing CNN.

ReachMe.TV thinks it's figured out how to make waiting at the airport more tolerable.

The startup is an in-airport mobile entertainment network that provides thousands of hours of content — including original programming, local news, sports, and weather — to the top 50 airports in the US and Canada (and 750,000 hotel rooms). But it's not just regular TV.

If you come across a ReachMe.TV screen at the airport, it could be playing anything from a brief recap of last night's sports highlights, to a three-minute profile about a fashion blogger. It's programming designed to be watched in short bursts.

And here's the best part: ReachMe.TV allows people in airports to sync their phones or tablets with airport screens, so they can take the content they were just watching with them.

reachmetvmobileHere's how it works.

If the airport you're at has ReachMe.TV, and you're enjoying the content on it, but have to walk away from the screen, just go to ReachMe.TV on your mobile device or tablet and type in the channel you're watching (which is shown on the screen) and it will show up. For free. No need to download an app. That's it.

The spark

The company is the brainchild of entrepreneur Ron Bloom, who a few years ago saw the importance personalizing televisions in public places. What started as a dongle he made and attached to TVs at some beauty parlors has now turned into a company that reaches more than 100 million viewers a month.

"Imagine being a producer and discovering that if you make something it will be seen by 100 million people a month guaranteed? This is really exciting," Bloom, who is the cofounder and CCO of the company, told Business Insider.

After signing up around 20 airports last year, ReachMe.TV went to market earlier this year and quickly grabbed the attention of the networks. In June, CBS signed a 10 year exclusive partnership with the company to provide local news, weather, and sports from its CBS TV stations, as well as other programs under the CBS umbrella like "Entertainment Tonight," and a newly created news package called "CBS On The Go."

Ron BloomBut what is the programming on ReachMe.TV like?

Brevity is one of the keys to the network. Most of the content on ReachMe.TV is short and concise, ranging from a minute or two for news segments, to six to 12 minutes for documentaries or a scripted comedy.

"I love 'Law & Order,' but if I have to catch my plane and I only have 40 minutes, I can't watch that because I know I won't be able to see the end of the episode," cofounder and CEO Lynnwood Bibbens told Business Insider. "So by creating content that's six to ten minutes, now I can consume two to three different episodes."

It's a viewing habit younger, digital-native people have already been doing for years, and Bloom and Bibbens believe that it's perfect for the traveling adult.

The demographic of the ReachMe.TV viewer is someone in their mid-30s to mid-50s, an on-the-go executive who spends a lot of time either at airports or hotels. Their time is precious, and Bloom and Bibbens believe they have reworked how a TV network can find that audience.

"We took the same programming zeitgeist that the major networks use, but broke the format barrier: the length of content," Bloom said. "Let's not have the 22 minutes of content for eight minutes of advertising, let's take any length we want."

Lynnwood BibbensBibbens had experience on the hardware side, including deploying over 200,000 screens in retail spaces and over 100,000 screens in hotels, so he knew how to make them all talk on one network. And Bloom had decades of experience on the content side. He is the creator and executive producer of "Hollywood Today Live," and produced the first webcast of the Grammys in 1995. Bloom built the original content for ReachMe.TV, which currently has a broadcast studio in the heart of Hollywood. There the company is producing its own news programs and even reality shows. ReachMe.TV also has a closed-circuit rights agreement to acquire content (like the Super Bowl).

The company recently landed a deal with HMS Hosts, the premier airport food-service company that handles all the major restaurants and bars at US airports. So if you haven't seen ReachMe.TV when you travel, you will soon.

"We took an aging, rusted concept of slapping a TV in a public place, and we put a new dress on it and took it back to the prom," Bloom said. "Doing that we got companies to not think about it not just as a screen, but as a gateway to their customers."

SEE ALSO: RANKED: The 21 best heist movies of all time

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's everyone left on Arya Stark's kill list on 'Game of Thrones'

Luke Cage and Iron Fist tell us what it was like filming their first big fight on 'The Defenders'

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luke cage danny rand defenders

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "The Defenders."

One of the best moments early on in "The Defenders," Netflix's big Marvel superhero teamup, is when Iron Fist (Finn Jones) and Luke Cage (Mike Colter) unexpectedly have a back alley run-in at the end of episode two. Danny Rand and the bulletproof man go head to head in an almost one-sided fight until the CEO brings his glowing fist to the party and takes Cage by surprise.

luke cage iron fist fight

It's fun to watch the two respond with shock when learning the other is gifted with powers. And for those who weren't fond of the critically maligned "Iron Fist," they may relish in seeing the arrogant rich boy get knocked down a few pegs by Cage.

Regardless of who you're rooting for, it's a highlight of the eight-episode miniseries, and Jones said he and Colter happened to film their first scene together on a night they'll definitely remember.

"It was very cold," Finn told INSIDER in New York City when he and Colter were doing press for the series. "We actually filmed that the night Trump became president. I remember that. That was a sour night. That was weird."

mike colter finn jones

For Iron Fist, it was odd to be giving it his all and just watching Cage barely flinch. He compared their first scenes to Scooby's Doo's fiesty nephew who was always looking to pick a fight.

"He's like Scrappy Doo," Finn said of Iron Fist flailing away at an unbudging Cage. "He's like, 'Let me at him! Let me at him!'"

That basically sums up the first fight between Iron Fist and Luke Cage. 

finn jones defenders

"I think there's a lot of distrust to begin with," Jones says of his first encounter with the Hero of Harlem.

That may be an understatement. 

"When we first meet up, he's [Iron Fist] going about things pretty hot-headedly and I don't know who he is. We learn about each other pretty quickly." Colter told INSIDER. "I learn about a glowing fist and it's one of those things where it's interesting that we don't know about each other or the other person's abilities so we're trying to figure that part out. We're also sort of figuring out how we kind of do things. There's a difference in principles."

iron fist and luke cage

Whether they like each other or not, the two are quickly forced to come together to save New York City from a heinous group of ninja warriors.

"The Defenders" is now streaming on Netflix.

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NOW WATCH: All the nasty things inside a pimple — and why you should stop popping them

The best character from 'Daredevil' is getting his own spin-off show — here's the first teaser trailer

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The INSIDER Summary:

  • Netflix released the first teaser trailer for its "Daredevil" spin-off, "The Punisher," starring Jon Bernthal.
  • The teaser was attached to the very end of its new superhero mini-series, "The Defenders."
  • It shows Bernthal's character driving a sledgehammer into the ground over and over again as clips of his past show memories of his family that was taken from him.
  • When he's done, he reveals the Punisher's iconic skull logo.
  • The new show will show him delivering his own brand of justice to the people who killed his family.
  • "The Punisher" will come to Netflix this fall. Watch the teaser trailer below:

 

SEE ALSO: Marvel's 'The Defenders' has a slow start, but its complex characters save it from being 'The Avengers'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How the US's futuristic new aircraft carrier will change naval warfare forever

'Game of Thrones' cinematographer reveals the unexpected perils of filming: 'They were going to pull us all off the cliff'

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dany drogon game of thrones

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season seven. 

"Game of Thrones" is a series known for its staggering visual achievements and epic feature-film levels of production quality. INSIDER recently spoke with Robert McLachlan, a two-time Emmy nominated Director of Photography who brought eight total "Game of Thrones" episodes to life, including the iconic "Rains of Castamere" from season three.

McLachlan's final two episodes he worked on for the series were season seven's "Spoils of War" and "Eastwatch." He gave INSIDER the scoop on how Kit Harington nearly turned into a kite on set, why the series is literally getting darker before your eyes, and how the crew felt with all the production leaks springing up this year.

Kim Renfro: How did you first get involved with "Game of Thrones?"

Robert McLachlan: I was asked by David Nutter, who's probably one of the best directors working in television and who I'd known from previous projects, to join him on it, which was a real thrill. Although I'll be honest, at that point only season one had aired and I hadn't really paid a lot of attention to the show. I heard a little bit about it but I thought, "Swords and sorcery? I think I've outgrown that."

When I got the call to do i my agent was all excited. He said, "Dude, you have got to watch this show. Check it out." So I went back and really sunk my teeth into it. It was a no-brainer. Nobody becomes a cinematographer to shoot police procedural shows or hospital shows or sitcoms or God knows what else — you become a cinematographer to shoot big, epic scope projects like ["Game of Thrones'] with beautiful sets and incredible actors and incredible writing and scope.

Game of Thrones season seven Daenerys Targaryen Jon Snow Helen Sloan   HBO (Photo 5) (1)

Renfro: Do you remember your first experience on set?

McLachlan: As a matter of fact, I remember it very vividly. I'd flown in from Vancouver, and David had flown from LA. We were picked up in Belfast and taken straight to the production office, jet lagged and all.

Then we walked across the street to the Titanic Studios where they have all the big sets and on the Belfast harbor front. They were shooting a dinner table scene in the Red Keep, and the set was tented in to keep the smoke in and extraneous light out because it was a dark scene.

As I was making my way onto the set through this maze in the dark, I literally bumped into Jack [Gleeson] who plays Joffrey. I had this brief, terrified, embarrassing visceral reaction. It was, "Oh my god!" then "Oh, jeez."

Joffrey game of thrones

I felt like a goof. I've been doing this a long time, but just having never experienced anybody on the set and just watching the show, and then walking in and literally bumping into King Joffrey ... I'm embarrassed at myself for my reaction, as short as it was. 

Renfro: Well sure, of all the people to accidentally bump into!

McLachlan: Yeah, really. My second impression was just once we saw the set. Nobody who's gone on that show has ever seen bigger sets or more impressive costumes or more lavish set dressings. I mean they really, really get it right. That's one of the reasons, as a cinematographer, you love shooting it because half your job is done when you have something so beautiful to photograph.

Renfro: Has the experience of being on set changed since season three, given how the scale of each episode keeps ramping up?

McLachlan: The producers have done an amazingly good job of engendering an uncommon amount of loyalty amongst the crew and getting them to come back every year. Shooting an episodic series, and especially something on this scale, is incredibly hard. It requires people to be away from home for a really long time. Usually there's a lot of attrition, and there's a lot of crew turnover, which of course is really bad because then you've got to get somebody else up to speed and get them to really know the show.

starks red wedding game of thrones hbo

All the people working on ["Game of Thrones"] have been there absolutely from the get-go. Certainly the key camera department people, our camera operators, our lighting technicians, our grips — a lot of them have been there from the very beginning, so they really know it.

If anything, while the show has gotten bigger, in a lot of ways the running of it just gets smoother and smoother because everybody is so familiar with it. I think that, along with the amazing, collaborative, creative culture of excellence that's fostered, it starts right at the top and it goes all the way down. It's one of the most committed and professional and dedicated crews I've worked with.

Renfro: One thing I've noticed is how the show has become literally darker season by season — not just thematically but lighting-wise. How does that affect your job when it comes to staging scenes?

McLachlan: You know what? I think you're really on to something. I think the show has gotten darker over the years. If you watch season one again, there's a lot of unmotivated backlight. Even day exteriors, you can tell that they've been lit.

The cinematographers who've been doing it since then, I think we're all very much on the same page where we're trying to be as naturalistic as possible. [We want] to make these sets and locations feel as if they're absolutely not lit by us, but only by mother nature or some candles or what have you, so that it feels more naturalistic albeit enhanced in some cases.

Bienne Sansa Game of Thrones season 7 Beyond the Wall

In season seven, of course, winter is here. For the day interior in Winterfell or Castle Black or Eastwatch, in the past we had the shutters open out of necessity so that some daylight could make its way in. That was your primary lighting source. There was this rule there that nobody in this world would burn candles in the daytime because they're a luxury item. They're far too expensive.

What's happened is now, with winter really here, there was a consensus that it would seem daft for them to have the shutters open when it's so bitterly cold out. Why would they do that? But on the other hand it really makes it a lot harder for a cinematographer to justify some naturalistic light in there without so overdoing the candles or the fire or what have you. I think you're absolutely right. It has gotten darker.

Renfro: For your episodes this season, what was the most challenging scene for you that wasn't related to Drogon or the epic "loot train battle" sequence? 

McLachlan: For me, the stuff that's shot in the studio and in stages and in controlled environments are the easiest ones to approach because you've got all your lighting instruments available to you. You've got beautiful sets to work with, and you can control the environment to a very finite degree. The problem is when you're outside and you're doing intimate scene that might take a couple days to shoot.

A great case-in-point is the one where Jon's on the bluff [at Dragonstone] and Dany comes in and Jon meets the dragon.

jon snow drogon game of thrones HBO

We shot that on a cliff face in Northern Ireland right on the very tiptop of the island. As a cameraman you're praying for consistent weather more than anything because when you're shooting something over a couple of days, it's actually only going to have five minutes of screen time.

One of the unspoken or unrecognized jobs of the cinematographer is to maintain a consistency and a visual smoothness to it so that nothing ever throws the viewer out of the story so it doesn't "bump."

The first day we were filming on that bluff, it was overcast and absolutely perfect in terms of character for Dragonstone. Overcast [weather] makes very flattering light for the actors so they look good no matter which direction you're looking. As soon as the sun starts popping out, you've got a problem if it's coming in at an unattractive angle.

What happened up there was, first of all, it was an incredibly hard location to get to. All the equipment had to be carried up by hand. One of the hallmarks of "Game of Thrones" is that they won't shy away from an amazing location — no matter how hard it is to get to. We go places on that show that no show I've ever been on, even big features, would even think about going. This was one of them.

Game of Thrones season seven Jon Snow Helen Sloan   HBO (Photo 6)

The problem both days was that there was a howling gale blowing, and it was blowing towards the ocean off the land. In fact, it was blowing so hard that we had to put a safety cable on Kit Harington when he was meeting the dragon because his cape, which is very heavy fabric, was about to turn him into a kite. We were afraid it would blow him right off the cliff. I'm not kidding. It was that windy.

Renfro:Oh my god.

McLachlan:Yeah. There was a health and safety guy measuring the wind speed. A couple of times it dipped too high but then it receded again. But if it had stayed up there, they were going to pull us all off the cliff.

\

In terms of unhappy stories for me, that was the biggest struggle. Had it been overcast and not windy, it would have been the easiest scene we did on the whole shoot. Instead, the weather turned it into the hardest two days for me. At the exact opposite end of the spectrum, for instance, the scene in the catacombs where Tyrion meets Jamie was the most exciting set.

I loved working on that set. It all exists there in Seville, Spain. We just had to black the roof of this vast series of arched colonnades over. It's actually where they built the Spanish Armada hundreds of years ago.

It was all pitch black inside. Then it just became a question of spotting a few torches around in the right places so that you got lovely sense of depth and pushing some smoke in. I use smoke all the time if I can, partly because it's justified on a show like this from all the torches and candles, but also because it gives it more of a Renaissance painting feel. I think that subconsciously transports the viewer to the period and the time and the place.

Jaime and Tyrion Lannister Game of Thrones Macall B. Polay

Renfro: For a show that often has these big, epic scenes, the times when it sits and breathes a little bit more alongside Ramin Djawadi's score are also really incredible. We haven't seen Tyrion and Jaime in the same room for awhile so that was a really great one.

McLachlan: That reminded me of a scene I did in season four where Jamie comes and visits Tyrion in the dungeon where he's being held for supposedly killing Joffrey. That was, again, another one of my favorites because it's a really well-written scene in a simple location between two really terrific actors.

Those are the scenes that you do and you know you recorded them really well so that they're going to really sing on the screen. You go home feeling very content at the end of those days.

Renfro: Since you mentioned Dragonstone and how a lot of the beach and cliff scenes were all on location, when those shoots were happening there were a lot of production leaks and photos coming out.

McLachlan: That's true.

Renfro: What was that like for you as the crew on set?

McLachlan:Well, my crew and I, it's not our job to keep the paparazzi away, so we do what we can. Sometimes if the grips can help by putting up a big sheet of fabric on a frame or something [they will]. Security people patrolled the perimeter of where we were shooting, and they did a reasonably good job but they could only go so far.

Daenerys Targaryen ocean Game of Thrones dragonstone

We were shooting on that Dragonstone beach, which is Zumaia Beach in northern Spain. On a very far distant hillside you could see these little specks over there. But when we looked at them through the lens on our camera, you could see they all had huge, long telephoto lenses. There's not much you can do about that. It was too big a space to put a shield up so that they couldn't photograph them.

Then the big leak ones that we saw, which we were really surprised at, were the ones when Tyrion and Davos pull up on the beach with the boat and have that scene with Gendry and the Gold Cloaks. That's actually an incredibly isolated beach — in the summertime it actually serves as a nude beach because it's so isolated.

Two miles across the water, there were some guys with telephoto lenses and a boat. I couldn't believe how good the photographs were of what we were doing on that beach. Those all hit the internet. There's not much you can do about it. You hope for the best.

I think one of the biggest surprises for us was when we were doing Cersei's walk of shame in Dubrovnik on season five. We had a body double to do the nude part for Lena Headey.

Cersei before walk of shame Game of Thrones HBO

We'd do a shot with [Headey] wearing a smock, and then we'd do an identical shot with her body double. I think the body double thought she was going to be at least briefly one of the most famous people in the world because the paparazzi were going to be going crazy. But the security people in Croatia did such an amazing job that, in spite of being right in the heart of the Old Town of Dubrovnik, nobody got a single shot of that whole thing.

Renfro: Wow.

McLachlan: I guess what I'm saying is — as far as the leaks and the images are concerned — sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It's a bit frustrating, but you know what? What can you do? I mean you do what you can. Apart from that, the rest of us put our heads down because usually we've got much, much bigger problems to deal with, like trying to get all the shots we have to do in a very short day.

Gendry warhammer season 7 leak HBO Game of Thrones

In the case of that beach, for instance, the tide would be out in the morning and you'd have a stage that was 300 feet long. Then you'd work as fast as you can. But before you knew it, both your feet were soaking wet, and you had 20 feet of beach left. Somehow you're trying to make it look like it did when you started at the beginning of the day. Those are bigger challenges than worrying about some guy with a telephoto lens two miles away.

Renfro: Do you have any idea if you're coming back for the final "Game of Thrones" season? Have any talks about that started?

McLachlan: They're already prepping, but I'm not going back. It's a very long season. They've already been there for a month or so. Literally, I just wrapped "Ray Donavon" for Showtime, and I've been doing that show opposite "Game of Thrones" for five years now, usually with about a weekend in between.

I'm ready for a rest quite frankly. I'm quite happy to sit on my "Game of Thrones" laurels. Between this season and "The Dance of Dragons" [on season five] and "The Rains of Castamere" and the Walk of Shame episode, I feel like I've had a multitude of good fortune. I mean literally go to the American Society of Cinematographers' clubhouse for meetings and there's 100 guys there who'd cut off their arm for a chance to do one episode of "Game of Thrones." For me to have gotten to do eight episodes and chunks of several others, I'm very, very fortunate, and I'm quite content.

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The 20 best TV shows based on movies, ranked

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In the age of branding and franchises, every existing story has added value. But not every film is fit for TV.

The challenge of adapting movies to a new medium is a tricky one with no clear-cut way to do it. Many new series credit “Fargo” as their benchmark, citing its tone and setting as inspiration for creating a new world around the best parts of what came before. That’s all well and good, but there are as many failed attempts to replicate Noah Hawley’s strategy as successes.

Similarly, some carbon copies — using the same characters and plot points as the preceding movie — are just as good, if not better than their cinematic predecessors. Because any way can work, many various attempts have been made. There’s no right way to do it, but there are a lot of wrong ways; as evidenced by the growing pile of canceled shows based on movies.

Below, IndieWire has assembled the best of the best; the series that have taken on one of writing’s greatest challenges and come out with an adaptation, inspiration, or spin-off to be proud of. The TV shows below aren’t all straight adaptations. Some include aspects from books. Some only borrow the title or a character from the film that preceded them. But they’re all great television shows that wouldn’t exist without a film that came first.

Whether they were made to cash in off a successful film property or out of the pure artistic vision of their creators, these small screen gems live up to — or surpass — their big screen brethren. Enjoy.

SEE ALSO: The 25 best TV shows that only lasted one season

20. "Lethal Weapon"

Listen, the odds were stacked against this one. The four-film franchise hadn’t seen a new entry in nearly two decades when Fox brought Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh out of retirement. Moreover, it was the lead actors who literally kept the characters from being too old for this shit, and replacing them seemed like too daunting a task, even if elongating the story somehow proved sustainable.

But Matthew Miller’s semi-procedural made us forget all about Mel Gibson before the first season hit the halfway point, as Clayne Crawford proved himself a charismatic leading man. We knew he could do great character work thanks to four seasons of outstanding supporting service in “Rectify,” but Crawford’s attention to detail, addictive action-star swagger, and jovial camaraderie with Damon Wayans makes the “Lethal Weapon” series a more-than-worthy addition to the franchise.



19. "Wet Hot American Summer: 10 Years Later"

“Wet Hot’s” first foray into scripted television — the Netflix prequel series, “First Day of Camp” — highlighted the best moments from the series, tossed in a number of additional characters, and played up the joke that these adolescent campers were being portrayed by middle-aged adults. It also felt a little overstuffed and never fully came together; at least, not compared to the movie itself.

The sequel season changes that. “10 Years Later” has a more creative and cavalier attitude toward its story, focusing instead on the core characters and actors who made up the original ensemble, while still utilizing a few favorite famous faces in key moments (instead of broad arcs). It recaptures the camp nostalgia of the film and has a good time doing it. We’ll have a formal review in time for its release, but for now, trust us: “10 Years Later” is the “Wet Hot” follow-up you’ve wanted.



18. “Stargate SG-1”

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Who knew that the quirky Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich film “Stargate” would be the start of an entire franchise? MGM’s foresight created one of the longest-running sci-fi series, shepherded by “MacGyver” star Richard Dean Anderson as the steady leader Jack O’Neill. The concept of instantaneous space travel, however, opened up the series into a world of possibilities that extended to colorful alien worlds and a far deeper mythology that also encompassed ancient Egypt.

Best of all, the often campy series was self-aware, and this was its saving grace, compared to other excellent, but heavy sci-fi series like “Battlestar Galactica.” Running for a healthy 10 years, “Stargate SG-1” showed how a solid idea could create a veritable universe, given the right resources and imagination. Now, 20 years after the series’ premiere, the “Stargate” franchise will be resurrected in the new web series, “Stargate Origins.”



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Game of Thrones' just handed the Night King his biggest weapon yet — here's what it means for the future of the show

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Night King Game of Thrones season seven

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season seven, episode six, "Beyond the Wall."

After a nail-biting battle in "Beyond the Wall" (where more characters survived than we expected, to be honest) the Night King dealt a death blow to one of Daenerys' dragons — Viserion.

But seeing Daenerys lose a third of her dragonpower, and one of her children, wasn't the end of the horror. The episode concluded with Viserion being dragged up from the frozen lake by wights with huge chains. The Night King approached the beast, touched its face, and the dragon's eyes opened again — but this time they were bright blue.

Viserion blue eye dragon Game of Thrones

Fans were losing it over what this might mean

"Game of Thrones" viewers were shocked to see one of the dragons go down in such a horrific way.

Does this mean Viserion is now a wight, similar to the polar bear that attacked Thoros earlier in the episode? Or is the dragon now more similar to the White Walkers? After all, the Night King didn't physically touch the dead in "Hardhome" when he turned them into wights — he merely raised his arms. And does it change the way his dragonfire works?

game of thrones white walkers

Back on the second season, when one of Craster's babies was taken by a White Walker, we saw the Night King touch a baby and turn its eyes blue. Many have assumed this meant the Night King was turning humans into White Walkers — which are totally different from wights.

White Walker Night's King baby Game of Thrones

Since the Night King went through the trouble of touching him, this could mean Viserion is actually a White Walker dragon, and not merely an undead wight (like the rest of the Night King's army). If Viserion is a White Walker dragon that means he can only be killed with dragonglass or Valyrian steel, not simply with fire like regular wights. 

The problem is we don't know a lot about how the Night King's magic works. Does it matter that Viserion was already dead, whereas the baby was alive, when the Night King touched its cheek? Are we reading too much into that physical touch, and it's just being done for dramatic TV purposes instead of intentional magic purposes? And then there's the biggest question of all.

How will the Night King use the undead dragon? 

People aren't sure what to think of this new super weapon. Can an undead Viserion still breathe regular fire? Or will he breathe ice now? What about steam? Will we see one of Daenerys' living dragons forced to fight it's fallen brethren? Can Qyburn build a dragon scorpion that shoots a giant dragonglass arrow?

While we were left with all of these questions and more after "Beyond the Wall," the biggest question among fans was whether or not Viserion is now an "ice dragon."

While we don't believe he is, George R.R. Martin has mentioned ice dragons in his book series before, which could provide some clues for us moving forward. He even published a children's book in 1980 called "The Ice Dragon," long before "A Song of Ice and Fire" was born in 1993. 

Here's what Martin said about ice dragons in "A World of Ice and Fire":

These colossal beasts, many times larger than the dragons of Valyria, are said to be made of living ice, with eyes of pale blue crystal and vast translucent wings through which the moon and stars can be glimpsed as they wheel across the sky.

Whereas common dragons (if any dragon can truly be said to be common) breathe flame, ice dragons supposedly breathe cold, a chill so terrible that it can freeze a man solid in half a heartbeat [...] As ice dragons supposedly melt when slain, no actual proof of their existence has ever been found.

Since Martin specifically says ice dragons are a different species than "common dragons"— which are the type we assume Daenerys "gave birth" to — we can't take this as proof that the wight or White Walker dragon will breathe cold.

As book readers have noted for years now, ice dragons are also mentioned most frequently by Jon Snow in "A Song of Ice and Fire," as explained by Redditor LiveVirus here. Since Jon spent most of his time at the Wall, this bled into other fan theories about ice dragons actually living/hibernating inside the Wall, or maybe it simply meant Jon was the "ice dragon"— half Stark and half Targaryen.

Since "Beyond the Wall" ended on this cliffhanger, fans will need to wait for more "Game of Thrones" episodes before we know for certain how the Night King will wield this new weapon. But no matter what, it can't be good news for the side of the living.

The only silver lining is that we now know an easier way of destroying the army of the dead, since Jorah and Beric pointed out that killing the Night King would also kill any wights he reanimated. Fingers crossed someone in Westeros has javelin-throwing skills to match the Night King's deadly arm.

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NOW WATCH: 6 details you might have missed on season 7 episode 6 of 'Game of Thrones'

Here's the preview for the 'Game of Thrones' season 7 finale

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jon snow game of thrones season 7

The INSIDER Summary:

  • HBO has released the preview for the "Game of Thrones" season seven finale.
  • Now that Daenery's dragon Viserion has been turned into one of the undead, we're waiting to see how the Night King and his army will plan to use him against their enemies. 
  • We'll have to wait because first we'll see the return the Unsullied leader Grey Worm, who was feared dead a few episodes back.
  • After a successful mission North of the Wall, Jon, Davos, Tyrion, and company will head to King's Landing to tell Cersei they have much more to fear than each other in the near future. 
  • He tells Cersei, "There is only one war that matters, and it is here."
  • The "Game of Thrones" season seven finale will air Sunday, August 27 at 9 p.m. It will be the series' longest episode. Watch the trailer below.

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'Game of Thrones' turned up the heat on Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen's relationship and fans can't handle it

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Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones season 7 ship

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season seven, episode six, "Beyond the Wall."

Between the nicknaming, hand-holding, and lots of sexy gazing, the latest "Game of Thrones" episode turned the heat way up on Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen's building affections.

While last week's episode ended with the two saying a rather unemotional goodbye, "Beyond the Wall" concluded with what could have been a marriage proposal between the two almost-lovers. 

The dramatic build up to Jon and Daenerys first vulnerable moment

Daenerys and Jon may be aunt and nephew, though they don't know it yet, but the showrunners aren't shying away from letting the story's two biggest heroes fall in love.

Tyrion outright told Daenerys early in the episode that Jon Snow was in love with her, and while Daenerys dismissed the idea, she was clearly fighting back emotions of her own. Plus she didn't hesitate to fly north with her dragons as soon as he sent for help.

Jon was badly wounded in the battle beyond the Wall, and Daenerys was forced to leave him for dead when he was knocked into the frozen lake right as the Night King was getting ready to kill another one of her dragons. 

Daenerys Drogon Game of Thrones season 7 beyond the wall

But she lingered at Eastwatch, staring into the frozen wasteland and clearly hoping the King in the North would return. Her relief was palpable when the horse Benjen gave to Jon trotted out of the forest, and then later fans finally watched her sit vigil at Jon's bedside while he lay there half-naked and scarred. 

Daenerys had questioned Jon before about why Davos claimed he had "taken a knife to the heart for his people." Jon, ever the humble gentleman, didn't tell her that he had literally died and been reborn. But now, with the partially-healed wounds visible, Daenerys finally saw Jon for the true hero he was.

Why the nickname Jon gave to Daenerys was so important

She sat by his bed, waiting for him to wake up. When he did, the first thing he said was how sorry he was for her loss of Viserion, and he reached out to hold her hand. Daenerys simply shook her head, fighting back tears. She vowed to help Jon defeat the Night King.

"Thank you Dany," Jon said.

"Dany? Who was the last person who called me that?" Daenerys asked. "I'm not sure, was it my brother? Hmm. Not the company you want to keep."

Viserys was definitely the last person to say "Dany" on the show. He screamed "Dany please!" right before Khal Drogo overturned a pot of molten gold onto his head, brutally killing him. It's likely not a coincidence that the last time Daenerys heard someone call her "Dany," it was another Targaryen. This is also noteworthy given that Viserion, the dragon named for Viserys, was killed in "Beyond the Wall."

Viserys and Khal Drogo Game of Thrones

In the books, the name Dany is used most frequently in the chapters written from Daenerys' point of view. It's effectively the name she's given herself, while everyone around her calls her Khaleesi, Your Grace, or Daenerys.

"Alright. Not Dany," Jon said. "How about my Queen? I'd bend the knee but ..."

Daenerys looked shocked. After all his stubbornness about never bending the knee, Jon finally caved. Why? It was likely because Daenerys' rescue of Jon made him realize how lost their war is without her. She was his savior in that moment, and he saw her as a selfless ruler willing to risk her life for him and the people of Westeros.

"What about those who swore allegiance to you?" Daenerys asked.

"They'll come to see you for what you are," Jon replied.

"I hope I deserve it."

"You do," Jon assured her.

Daenerys tried to pull her hand hand away, but he held on and looked into her eyes.

The internet exploded.

But, as always, there is a large chunk of the fandom who hates the idea of a Jon and Daenerys love story.

Is there a marriage in Jon and Daenerys' future?

One thing that wasn't clear was whether or not Jon was trying to imply that he and Daenerys should marry. "My Queen" can be interpreted as him simply swearing fealty to her and renouncing his title of King in the North.

But Daenerys had already agreed to fight the Night King alongside him, so why would he risk alienating his people in exchange for something Daenerys had already agreed to give? He could have stayed King in the North with Daenerys as an ally, but he willingly bended the knee to her, risking the ire of the Northern lords who already are impatient with Jon's journey south to try to sway the Dragon Queen.

If it was a subtle marriage proposal, his choice echoes Robb Stark's decision to marry Talisa — a woman called a "foreign whore" by Northern lords. How will they react to Daenerys possibly being their new queen? Would Jon marrying Daenerys be at least better than bending the knee to her?

And we can see why Daenerys would be more than willing. Jon Snow has become a legendary figure in Westeros: the former Lord Commander of the Night's Watch who fought the Night King and returned south only to be murdered and reborn under the Lord of Light's power.

He was also the first man able to unite the Wildlings and Northmen, and rise again through the ranks of power. He is the White Wolf who helped defeat the Boltons and was named King in the North. And it doesn't hurt that he's prettier than both of Tormund's daughters.

Jon Snow Battle of the Bastards Game of Thrones

Of course Daenerys is falling in love with Jon — who among us wouldn't be?

And though neither of them know it, Jon Snow is also the only living heir of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. He is the song of ice and fire and the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.

Plus, this episode left Daenerys with only two dragons: Drogon and Rhaegal, named for Khal Drogo and Prince Rhaegar. It would be fitting if we see Jon become a dragon rider on the beast named for his true father. 

Jon Snow Drogon dragon Game of Thrones season 7

Jon and Daenerys have both been connected to the Prince That Was Promised prophecy, which tells of a hero reborn to save the world from the coming darkness. They will need to work together, and might possibly both help fulfill the prophecy, but will their shared bloodline interfere with true love?

This episode was also heavy with references to children and heirs, which might be a nod to Daenerys and Jon conceiving together in the future (assuming Daenerys isn't infertile like she believes).

Of course, there are plenty of people in the "Game of Thrones" fandom who are unhappy at the prospect of a Jon and Daenerys romance, mainly because the pair are aunt and nephew and a romance between the two biggest characters on the show feels too much like a fantasy trope. For more on the #Jonerys haters, you can read our rundown of the pros and cons of this budding love.

But for fans who can't get enough of Jon and Dany's burgeoning romance, we're guessing the heat will only be turned up during the final episode of season seven.

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Why 'Game of Thrones' was so heavy-handed with Daenerys 'inability' to have children in the latest episode

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Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season seven, episode six, "Beyond the Wall."

Any "Game of Thrones" fans knows Daenerys Targaryen is the Mother of Dragons, but what the series hasn't made clear is exactly why she believes they are the only children she will have in her lifetime. For that, we turn to George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" and an ominous warning given to Daenerys.

In season seven's penultimate episode, "Beyond the Wall," there were multiple references to Daenerys' supposed infertility and the prospect of both Daenerys and Jon having children in the future.

"The dragons are my children," Daenerys told Jon during their romantic boat scene. "They're the only children I'll ever have — do you understand?"

Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones season 7 ship

Tyrion also discussed the problem of Daenerys' lineage with her. "How do we ensure your vision endures? After you break the wheel how do we make sure it stays broken?" he asked. "You say you can't have children, but there are other ways of choosing a successor."

And lastly, Jorah Mormont brought up the idea of Jon Snow having kids when Jon tried to return Longclaw to Jorah. "May it serve you well, and your children after you," Jorah told Jon, refusing the Valyrian steel blade.

All the chatter about children and lineage in an episode when Jon and Daenerys finally seemed to open up to each other about their growing affections does not seem coincidental. What if Jon and Daenerys have a child together (yes, even though they are aunt and nephew)? Is that even possible? 

Daenerys believes she's infertile because of Mirri Maz Duur

Everything goes horribly wrong for Daenerys in the first book and season when her first husband, Khal Drogo, is dying from an infected wound. She asks a maegi (a woman of Essos who practices blood magic) name Mirri Maz Duur to save him at whatever cost.

Daenerys Targaryen Drogo Game of Thrones

"Only death can pay for life," Duur tells Daenerys. 

Daenerys agrees, thinking Duur only meant to kill Drogo's horse as a sacrifice. But after Daeneys leaves the tent and hears Duur chanting, her unborn child Rhaego begins kicking in her womb and she starts feeling sharp pains. Daenerys eventually collapsed from the pain as Jorah brought her back into the tent, and when she wakes up she's told Rhaego was dead when she gave birth to him. 

Daenerys Targaryen Jorah Pregnant Game of Thrones

Daenerys then asks to see Drogo, to see what she "bought with her son's life." Jorah reveals to Daenerys that Drogo is now effectively in a vegetative state — alive but unable to see, speak, or move on his own.

"This is not life," Daenerys tells Duur. "When will he be as he was?"

"When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east," Duur said on the show. "When the seas go dry and the mountains blow in the wind, like leaves."

However, "Game of Thrones" omitted a significant portion of Duur's warning. Here's what she said in the books:

When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east
When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves
When your womb quickens again and you bear a living child
Then he will return, and not before.

Mirri Maz Duur Game of Thrones Season 1 episode 9

In the books, Daenerys frequently thinks back to this "prophecy" from Duur, and believes the maegi was telling the truth about her never bearing a living child again, just as Khal Drogo would never return to her.

Though the show omitted that line from Duur, Daenerys still repeated the idea in later seasons. On the second season, when the warlocks of Qarth stole her dragons, Daenerys and Jorah spoke about leaving them behind.

"They have my dragons — a mother does not flee without her children," Daenerys said.

"They're not your children," Jorah told her. "I know they call you the Mother of Dragons and I know you love them but you didn't grow them in your womb and they didn't suckle at your breast."

(Oddly enough, Martin did write that the dragons nursed from Daenerys when they were first born and she emerged naked from the fire of Drogo's pyre: "The cream-and-gold dragon was suckling at her left breast, the green-and-bronze at her right.")

Daenerys Targaryen season 2 Game of Thrones Jorah

"They are my children," Daenerys told Jorah. "And they are the only children I will ever have."

Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys, also spoke toward this point in a season two behind-the-scenes interview. "In her eyes they really are her children," Clarke said. "Dany knows this is it — this is the only family she has."

Book readers believe Daenerys has a miscarriage in the fifth book

As several discussions on the "A Song of Ice and Fire" subreddit have explored, it's possible that Daenerys got pregnant again in the fifth book, "A Dance With Dragons," but then had a miscarriage. In her final chapter of the last published book, Daenerys experiences severe cramps and bleeding while she's wandering in the Dothraki sea.

"She was bleeding, but it was only woman's blood," Martin wrote. "The moon is still a crescent, though. How can that be? She tried to remember the last time she had bled. The last full moon? The one before? The one before that? No, it cannot have been so long as that."

If we assume this was meant to be showing Daenerys miscarrying, it means she can still get pregnant — but we don't know if she can carry a living child to term. 

The show omitted this small detail entirely, but they did include a scene with Daenerys and Khal Moro on the sixth season where this "prophecy" comes up again.

"I will not lie with you, and I will bear no children for you, or anyone else," Daenerys told Moro. "Not until the sun rises in the west, and sets in the east."

game of thrones premiere Daenerys dothraki

What does all this talk of infertility mean for her future?

As Tyrion pointed out, there's little point in Daenerys conquering Westeros only to have her legacy die with her. She needs an heir, and even though there are more democratic methods of choosing a successor it would be more in line with the Targaryen history if she bore a legitimate child. 

Which brings us to Jon Snow — or should we say Jon Targaryen? If the episode five truth bomb dropped by Gilly bears out, that means Rhaegar Targaryen, Daenerys' older brother, annulled his marriage to Elia Martell and married Lyanna Stark before she gave birth to Jon. For a explanation of who Prince Rhaegar was and what motivated his choices, read our breakdown here.

Incestuous marriages have been a part of Targaryen culture for centuries, a practice meant to keep their bloodline and connection with dragons strong. If Jon and Daenerys marry and conceive a child, that would be the best possible way for the Targaryen dynasty to carry on — even if the idea skeeves out modern viewers of the show (or maybe Jon and Daenerys themselves).

Game of Thrones season seven Daenerys Targaryen Jon Snow Helen Sloan   HBO (Photo 5) (1)

Of course, "Game of Thrones" fans need to wait and see if Jon and Daenerys take their hand-holding affections to the next level, and even then we might come to realize Daenerys has been right all along about her barren status.

Plus none of this will matter if the Night King's army decimates the realm and destroys the world of men to the point where those left standing barely have the human race to rule over, let alone a kingdom. But that's a discussion for another time.

The "Game of Thrones" season seven finale airs Sunday, August 27.

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NOW WATCH: 6 details you might have missed on season 7 episode 6 of 'Game of Thrones'

'Game of Thrones' brought back a beloved character only to kill him off again

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Jon Snow new trailer

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season seven, episode six, "Beyond the Wall."

For a split second during Sunday's "Game of Thrones" episode, it looked like death was imminent for our hero, Jon Snow. But in a surprising turn of events he was saved by an unlikely character. 

As Daenerys rescues the warriors from their frozen island, Jon is tackled into the water, where it looks like he is going to drown, but he manages to pull himself out. At this point, he's alone, wet, and surrounded by the undead. But out of nowhere comes a savior — his long-lost uncle Benjen Stark. 

Fans were surprised and excited about his return. 

 

 

Benjen game of thrones

This quick reunion is the first time Jon has seen his uncle since Benjen rode off beyond the Wall on season one. 

As a human, Benjen served as a First Ranger of the Night's Watch. He was visiting Winterfell and traveled northward with Jon to the Wall. Shortly after arriving, Benjen and a ranging party ventured beyond the Wall in an effort to root out the truth about the White Walker rumors.  

A few episodes later, Benjen's horse returned without him, and he was never seen again.

benjen jon game of thrones

That is, until he made a shocking return on season six, saving Bran and Meera from an onslaught of wights. Benjen revealed he was sent to save them from danger.

"The Three-Eyed Raven sent for me," he told Meera.

He also explained how he was still alive, kind of, thanks to a shard of dragonglass.

"A White Walker stabbed me in the gut with a sword of ice, left me there to die, to turn," Benjen said. "The Children found me and stopped the Walkers' magic from taking hold."

The Children of the Forest stopped it by stabbing him in the heart with Dragonglass. This left him as a human/wight hybrid of sorts. But the Wall's magic prohibits Benjen from crossing back as he explained in the season six finale, so even though he was semi-alive, he could never return to Castle Black.

85 benjen stark

In "Beyond the Wall," Benjen arrived and told Jon to take his horse — insisting there was no time to come with him. Jon and the horse took off, and Jon's final glance back revealed his uncle becoming overwhelmed by wights. 

Showrunner David Benioff basically confirmed Benjen's death in the after the show special. 

"For Coldhands, it's almost a relief because he's been stuck in this purgatory state between life and death for quite some time," Benioff said. "And like so many characters on the show waiting to find out what his purpose is, why he's still alive when he should be dead, and for him it seems like he's found his purpose in these last two seasons by saving first Bran and now Jon.  

Some fans were upset to see him die so quickly and sad to see him go. 

 

And a lot of fans compared Benjen not getting on the horse to Jack and the door from "Titanic." 

 

It's possible that Bran had been able to see into the future as the Three-Eyed Raven and told Benjen to save Jon. It's also possible that Benjen was just a great warrior who saw his nephew and the men heading north and waited until he was needed. 

In the books, Benjen hasn't been mentioned or heard from since his first disappearance. "Game of Thrones" merged his character with another from the books named Coldhands.

Coldhands helps Sam and Gilly get to Castle Black and later leads Meera, Bran, and company to the Three-Eyed Raven's cave. Just like Benjen's character in the show, he was both dead and undead at the same time. Now it looks like the Benjen/Coldhands mashup (Benhands?) are goners on the "Game of Thrones" show.

Regardless of how Benjen managed to save Jon, his role as a savior for his family will not be forgotten. 

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NOW WATCH: 6 details you might have missed on season 7 episode 6 of 'Game of Thrones'

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