Game of Thrones Season One Ultimate Unofficial Guide: The Game of Thrones Season 1

personal consequence. When Ned is wrongfully imprisoned, the family fights for his release because they know he is not a traitor and is being harshly treated at the hands of the murderous Lannisters. Ned loses his life trying to share the secret involving Cersei’s children; an action he felt was the right one to take. He betrays his loyalty to the truth only in attempting to save his daughters from harm after realizing they are at the mercy of the Lannisters.
    The Targaryens are an entirely different breed of human. They descend from an ancient, mystical culture shrouded in secrecy and rumored to use magic. It is not common knowledge how they acquired the dragons used in subduing the realms over 300 years ago. The Targaryens believe they have dragon blood in their veins and are known for marrying siblings in attempting to keep their bloodline pure. However, this practice led to strains of madness present in several Targaryen generations. Targaryens are known to be ruthless, arrogant, and insane. They carry an air of superiority and do not have a code of honor beyond securing complete control. Of note is that the Targaryen House words are “fire and blood,” which could have double meaning. On the one hand, they could represent the Targaryen ancestral significance of fire in wielding Valyrian steel and of blood in continuing their pure dragon bloodline. On the other hand, they could be reminders of the horrific way in which they brought the realm under submission using fire breathing dragons.
    The Mad King Aerys was the result of an incestuous marriage, and so were his children. Aerys grew increasingly paranoid and cruel during his reign in part because of dreams of fire and blood that drove him mad.
Brought to ruin by one of his own Kingsguard after burning the Starks alive, his last words were “burn them all!” His only remaining son, Viserys, was left to fend for himself and his younger sister, Daenerys.
    Viserys grew up believing that he was the last Dragon King and rightful heir to the Iron Throne, acting the part despite his exiled status. He is arrogant, cruel, domineering, and spoiled. Willing to do anything to take his place as king, he sold his sister into marriage to the Dothraki king in return for promises of wielding their army against Westeros. Viserys was unable to adapt and change to his sister’s newfound culture and grew increasingly enraged at having to obey her commands as queen of the Dothraki. Submission to anyone is not in his agenda. This attitude led to his demise after he threatened his sister and her unborn baby in a fit of impatient rage. This Targaryen exhibited the type of mental imbalance and cruelty expected of his blood.
    Daenerys grew up being treated like a possession under the dominion of her brother. She gained confidence in her new position of power as a Dothraki queen and used her authority to accomplish what she wanted, not considering the far-reaching consequences of her actions. She allows magic to be performed on her husband Drogo, a practice forbidden by the Dothraki culture, which leads to his demise. She ultimately realized that she is the Last Dragon and hatched three dragon eggs, an action giving her all the ammo she needs if deciding to once again bring the realm under Targaryen reign. Viewers are right to question
her intentions and method of carrying out her motives given the instability of her family history.
    The Lannisters, one of the noble families, operate under a code designed to ensure the security of their family legacy. With House words of “hear me roar,” they are known to be ruthless and cunning when family position is at stake. A common family motto is “a Lannister always pays his debts,” a phrase that can be used as a promise or a threat. From the origin of their lineage, the Lannisters have had a trickster reputation. Owning the majority of the wealth of the kingdom, they have enjoyed a long history of comfort and behind the scenes control. Not wanting the public responsibility of ruling the realm, they choose to operate behind closed doors to accomplish their means. The reputation of the family name comes before all other personal glories or ambitions. As a result of their vast wealth, the Lannisters live like kings and demand respect as if they were. Through careful planning, manipulation, and timing, the Lannisters have managed to infiltrate the royal house and rule under Baratheon name, holding true to ancestral tradition of behind