A Game of Thrones - TV Show Discussion Thread

[Hauldren Collider]

Sounds good to me. We can have a bunch of Republicans (the anti-noble kind) land with guns and cannons, blow the white walkers to hell, and spread democracy

[Dr Strangelove]

Like I said, they should end the series with a bunch of guys in caravels armed with muskets landing on their shores asking if this is China.

[Ecthy]

Could it be that the books aren't entirely consistent or realistic?! I think I may faint.

Quite the contrary, but feel free to sit down

[Hauldren Collider]

Could it be that the books aren't entirely consistent or realistic?! I think I may faint.

[Ecthy]

The information occasionally given about geography and population tends to be confusing, agreed. One note about the timespan: common legend in Westeros has the civilization at an age of 5000 years. The order of the maesters seems to have growing doubts about the truthfulness about large parts of narrated history. Also, so far we haven't been led in on the historical knowledge of the Free Cities. I'd guess we could find some reason there, especially in Braavos.

And then, let's not forget we're not talking about western socialized humans here. This series has its very own anthropology.

[Dr Strangelove]

Apparently, Westeros is about 3000 miles long and about 900 miles wide at its widest.

A royal entourage is not going to traverse the better part of 3000 miles in 4 weeks. If Westeros is that long then 2/3rds of it must be north of The Wall.

[Krill]

Yet House Cerwyn is half a days ride from Winterfell but on maps that would put it about 30 miles away. Population density doesn't seem to fit with those dimensions either.

[Hauldren Collider]

Apparently, Westeros is about 3000 miles long and about 900 miles wide at its widest.

[Dr Strangelove]

No, Valyria was advanced. Westeros was never advanced, but Valyria was. I think Valyria was supposed to basically represent the Roman Empire.

Wasn't Valyria on the southern end of Easteros? The Roman Empire blown up by a single volcano? A volcano that size should have turned the entire planet into Venus. Also many artifacts and writings seem to have been saved, so the civilizations of Easteros and Westeros should have been able to continue the progress.

[Dr Strangelove]

Probably because of all the political squabbles.

Uh, are you familiar with European history? some of western civilization's greatest advancements have occurred roughly during periods of it's greatest turmoil.

Is there anything on the planet other than Westros and Easteros? Just think about it. The royal trip from King's Landing to Winterfall, which is nearly the length of Seven Kingdoms takes about 4 weeks. Obviously most of the servants were walking, they'd have to break camp and pack each morning, pause for the royal lunch, then unpack and set up camp at dusk, They'd probably average less than 15 miles/day, so the distance from King's Landing to Winterfall must be about 400 to 450 miles. Isn't that approximately the distance from London to Glasgow? So Westeros is approximately the size of the island of Britannia. On the maps shown in the series Easteros appears only slightly bigger. Surely there's more land somewher else? What are these folks going to do when one day a bunch of Spaniards armed with muskets show up on their shores?

[Hauldren Collider]

What I'd like to know is why is this civilization so backwards? According to the Features sections of the DVD it's over 5000 years old, yet it's stuck in a permanent dark ages. There doesn't appear to have ever been a golden age of literature, or philosophy, or arts, or math or science.

No, Valyria was advanced. Westeros was never advanced, but Valyria was. I think Valyria was supposed to basically represent the Roman Empire.

[Jon Miller]

Magic

JM

[Jon Miller]

Magic

JM

[Krill]

Cos no China, that's why.

[DaShi]

Probably because of all the political squabbles.