314
votes
Why do castle gates in GoT open inwards?
This is how the castle doors/gates work in real life for various reasons.
To open outwards, the hinges would need to be on the outside. Not an ideal design.
It is easier to push gates closed against ...
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163
votes
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Why did Eddard Stark keep Catelyn in the dark?
Because Eddard did not trust Catelyn enough at the time to tell her about a secret that could lead to murder of Jon and destruction of House Stark. Later the topic just never came up and both of them ...
- 48.3k
152
votes
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Why did other houses not demand this?
The other answers overlook something very neat and simple: the Starks were the last to speak.
Sansa deliberately waited until all the others had said "Aye". Everyone (including most viewers, I ...
- 10.9k
120
votes
Accepted
Why do castle gates in GoT open inwards?
This is an interesting physics problem. Counter intuitively, it looks like opening inward is actually stronger!
From a strength perspective, it doesn't matter whether the doors open inward or ...
- 1,898
115
votes
What do people in Westeros eat during Winter?
Westeros can produce food during winter and many people probably don't survive
First of all: that was a long and detailed question, upvote for you. Now for the answer, it seems to me you are assuming ...
- 10.8k
110
votes
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Why is The Wall still manned?
While The Others have faded into legend, there are still the Wildlings who live north of the wall, and they have a tendency to raid and otherwise harass the people who live south of the wall. As I ...
- 4,766
108
votes
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Why was the person who passed the sentence in the Season 7 finale not also the executioner?
However, Littlefinger's final scene shows Arya, Sansa, and Bran coming together to pass judgment on Lord Baelish. Over the past several episodes all 3 siblings had touched the dagger. They've held it ...
- 950
103
votes
Accepted
Who is now the Lord of Casterly Rock?
Let's begin this answer with a quote from GRRM:
The short answer is that the laws of inheritance in the Seven Kingdoms
are modelled on those in real medieval history... which is to say,
they ...
- 48.3k
103
votes
Accepted
Why was this character made Grand Maester?
It's simply inexplicable fanservice. There is no possible way that the archmaesters elected a novice as their representative to the crown!
The position of the Grand Maester is the only one that the ...
- 1,127
101
votes
Accepted
Why is Drogon so much better in battle than Rhaegal and Viserion?
Drogon is the biggest
Drogon is essentially the big brother of the three. He's the largest, potentially the fastest and most probably the strongest; he's the alpha.
Drogon has Dany in the pilot seat
...
- 45.4k
97
votes
Accepted
Why was the battle set up *outside* Winterfell?
There are a couple of ways you can look at this, both from an in story explanation, as well as a real world application.
In story the purpose of the siege was to bait the Night King into entering the ...
- 1,384
95
votes
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Is the Iron Throne in the show faithful to the books?
No
George R. R. Martin has written on his Not A Blog about this subject where he states that though the Iron Throne is iconic and he does like the way it is shown in the show it's not what he had in ...
- 143k
92
votes
Accepted
Did Tywin Lannister know Arya is not a commoner?
If you're going to pose as a commoner, you should do it properly.
That one little sentence would seem to indicate he has figured it out. Tywin, it should be noted, is always shown as having a ...
- 22.5k
92
votes
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Is there any known bastard daughter in Westeros?
Many bastard daughters are mentioned in the story. The nomenclature rules are same as the ones used for naming their male counterparts i.e. Stone, Hill, Pyke, Snow, Sand, Rivers and Waters. Some of ...
- 48.3k
92
votes
What characters in Game of Thrones have been recast?
At least eleven...
or see the other answer
Gregor Clegane:
Conan Stevens season 1. Ian Whyte season 2. Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson starting season 3.
Myrcella Baratheon:
Aimee Richardson on seasons ...
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90
votes
Accepted
How did Jon Arryn actually find out about "the strong seed"?
Books' Perspective
Who was responsible for commencement Jon Arryn's investigation?
It was Lord Stannis who suspected something wrong in physical features of his nephews and niece first and brought his ...
- 48.3k
87
votes
Why isn't Tyrion mentioned in the in-universe book "A Song of Ice and Fire"?
The history books of Westeros, like those of the corresponding era of Europe, do not prize accuracy above all else. Therefore, unless Maester Ebrose was unusually scrupulous, he would be focusing not ...
- 1,221
86
votes
Accepted
Why would Arya reveal her fighting ability?
The most important part of that conversation would be:
Brienne: I can go and find the master of arms for you, my lady.
Arya: He didn't beat the Hound. You did.
My own interpretation was that given ...
- 776
83
votes
Accepted
Has Valyrian steel ever been used in armor?
In May 2016 GRRM released a preview chapter from The Winds of Winter from POV of Aeron Greyjoy. In it he describes his brother Euron Greyjoy having a set of Valyrian steel armor.
This gives a pretty ...
- 3,651
81
votes
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Why did the Starks kill this character by trial, and not by simply having Arya do it in secret?
The official script for the episode has been released and shares some interesting insight into the trial. The main thing being that everyone in the room apparently already knew the trial was for ...
- 143k
79
votes
Accepted
Why isn't the religion of R'hllor, The Lord of Light, dominant?
The religion seems to be gaining power, as the priests gain actual powers.
This is an interesting question, and I suspect that it'll be explored more in future books and that it's deliberate that all ...
- 10.9k
78
votes
How many Gods are in Game of Thrones?
In the "modern day" era of the Song of Ice and Fire there are quite a few different religions, but figuring out how many "gods" there are is a bit tricky.
On Westeros (the continent where most of the ...
- 103k
77
votes
Accepted
Why did Shae act as she did at the trial?
NOTE: This answer will be strictly about TV show, not the books. In the books things are completely different.
Did she love him?
In the Show, Shae indeed loved Tyrion. She proved it when Tyrion ...
- 48.3k
76
votes
Is it true that the people who live on the world in Game of Thrones are not, strictly speaking, human?
The people are referred to as men, humans and living ones numerous times. They are men, not some fictional race like elves or dwarves or ents etc. Just because their world isn't Earth (Even though it ...
- 48.3k
76
votes
Accepted
Was Robert's rebellion built on a lie?
Expanding on Edlothiad's answer, The War never was about Lyanna's abduction! I blame the singers for making out that it was fought as such because fighting for love is better for songs than fighting ...
- 48.3k
76
votes
Why did Drogon spare this character?
There's no clear answer. Possible Reasons:
1. "Bond, James Dragon Bond" (Strength: Strong)
Dragons and their riders share a deep bond and Dragons come to share the likes, dislikes, enemies ...
- 48.3k
75
votes
Accepted
Is the Unsullied name meant to be ironic? How did it come to be?
They are unsullied by temptation.
One of the selling points (literally) of the Unsullied is their unfailing devotion. They will not betray the one they serve, not for money or love or greed or lust. ...
- 134k
74
votes
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The Dothraki cut their braids after defeat in battle, but when would a Dothraki be spared after being defeated?
Simply put - if a Dothraki army attacks, they are defeated, and they retreat, then they cut their braids.
Speaking of the book series, I can think of one reference for Dothraki cutting braids:
A Storm ...
- 4,862
74
votes
What characters in Game of Thrones have been recast?
Ghost
img 1 src | img 2 src
In Season 1, Ghost was played by a Northern Innuit pup (a variety of large wolf-like Dog) provided by the Mahlek Northern Innuits.
From Season 5 onward, Ghost was ...
- 45.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible