Need the perfect ice breaker? Just bring up Game of Thrones says Anthony Nlemadim

Would you believe that hit show Game of Thrones boasts a staggering 21 million fans/watchers throughout the world? Bringing it home, 9 out of 10 people in Nigeria today have heard and (or) are avidly following GOT.

Last time I saw a show capture so much attention was with that Mexican soap opera El cuerpo del deseo (Second Chance). That show had even Abdullahi the local butcher (or meat seller) believing true love is out there. Did I mention Adbullahi already had 2 wives? Cutting right to it, here is a little spoiler free piece on the ongoing season of GOT by regular loft contributor Anthony Nlemadim whom I must say is quite knowledgeable on all things Westerosi.

Anthony says: The new season of HBO’s acclaimed series; A Song of Ice and Fire kicked of this July with the buzz and excitement that keeps Game of Thrones fans the world over slaves to their screens every week as we follow characters we have come to know and love further into their various doomed or unlikely fates.

As has been the case ever since the show won over our hearts, everyone is now a conspiracy theorist or self acclaimed scholar in all things Westeros. Fans speculative imagination has literally run wild. Speculation that has further gotten out of control ever since the show ploughed ahead of the books, ultimately throwing everyone in the dark.

What alliances would be forged or broken everyone asks? Or how will Daenerys Targaryen go about laying claim to her birth right; the (possibly uncomfortable) Iron Throne now that she is allied to two of the great houses of Westeros namely the sand snakes of House Martell of Dorn and Lady Olenna Tyrell the Queen of Thorns of High Garden. Throw in her army of Dorthraki horse lords and the Unsullied of the free cities, victory is hers for the taking right? And we have not even gotten to the three fully grown fire breathing fear instilling, armoured scaled dragons.

Season 7 so far has focused on the arrival of Daenerys on Dragonstone, her ancestral home and ancient seat of house Targaryen from where she plans her assault on Kings Landing while ruthlessly dishing out a taste of her Khaleesi fury upon the Lannisters piece by piece with eyes on the Iron Throne currently held by Cersei Lannister.

Down in the north we also see Jon Snow take up the mantle of King in the north’ as he prepares his people for the worst threat faced by the seven kingdoms; The Night King and his army of undead; the white walkers’.

The show for the very first time since its inception, has in this season, brought Daenerys and Jon snow together at Dragonstone, the only known location where dragon glass’; a mineral that supposedly kills white walkers can be found and mined. This meeting brings an interesting focus to the main story of RR Martin’s epic fantasy as Jon snow and Daenerys Targaryen represent Ice and Fire. Though faced with very different challenges these pivotal characters must work together if Daenerys seeks to unite the seven kingdoms under one rule or if Jon snow is to have any chance of defeating the undead army.

All other aspects of the story begin to come together as other major players; start to really give indications as to what roles they stand to play as events unroll. We witness the long awaited reunion of the Stark children, Brandon, Arya and Sansa; we get to see how their individual journeys and how their experiences have shaped their characters. We also get to see the sort of queen Cersei appears to be as she stands boldly against overwhelming odds posed by her would be usurper; Daenerys.

Though most consider season 7 somewhat slow paced and others even think it’s been boring so far, we believe the ball is rolling and setting the stage for the final season. As the show runners have confirmed, season 7 will only be 7 episodes. Episode 4: The ‘Spoils of War’ has set that vicious ‘fire ball’ of karma rolling and things are expected to pick up pace going forward with just three episodes to go.

So, be you on a date or want to get the boss micromanaging you to loosen up a bit, just engage him or them on what your thoughts are regarding the latest GOT episode and where you think things could be headed e.g. if Daenerys is mother to the dragons and she and Jon Snow (who technically is her Nephew) form “more” than an Alliance, that may technically make him step daddy to the dragons and Bran, Arya and Sansa Uncle and Aunts.