Buzz
Both George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels and the HBO series Game of Thrones boast dedicated fan communities. However, the sheer number of hidden nods, clever jokes, and foreshadowing moments scattered throughout the books and show means even the most devoted fans are bound to miss a few.
1. The Smaller-Than-Expected Iron Throne
The Iron Throne is an iconic symbol of the series, but the version seen in the show is far less imposing than the one George R.R. Martin described. This discrepancy is humorously acknowledged in a scene where Varys describes it as "[a] thousand blades, taken from the hands of Aegon's defeated foes. Forged in the fiery breath of Balerion the Dread." Littlefinger retorts, "There aren't a thousand blades. There aren't even two hundred. I've counted."
2. Iconic Blades
In addition to the Iron Throne, several redditors have identified a few legendary swords embedded in the throne—such as Orlando Bloom’s weapon from Kingdom of Heaven and Gandalf’s famed blade, Glamdring, from The Lord of the Rings.
3. A Presidential Cameo
The series is known for reusing props, and in a fleeting moment during season one, episode 10, George W. Bush’s head can be seen on a spike in King’s Landing. Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss addressed this in their DVD commentary, stating, "George Bush's head appears in a few beheading scenes. It's not a deliberate choice or a political statement. We simply used whatever head was available." Despite their explanation, HBO expressed disapproval, releasing a statement that read, "We were deeply dismayed by this and find it unacceptable, disrespectful, and in poor taste. We addressed this with the executive producers, who apologized for this unintentional error. We regret this incident and will ensure it is removed from future DVD releases."
4. Tyrion's Nose
Following the Battle of Blackwater Bay, Cersei mentions to Tyrion that she’s heard rumors about his nose being severed. In the books, Tyrion indeed loses his nose during the battle, but this detail was altered due to production constraints. "It would be expensive, as they’d need to cover my nose with a green sock in every scene," Dinklage explained to Entertainment Weekly. "They’d have to digitally edit my face in every frame, which is costly and time-consuming. A scar seemed like a practical solution."
5. Jaime's Golden Hand
In season three’s episode "The Bear And The Maiden Fair"—where Jaime Lannister rescues Brienne at Harrenhal—Locke taunts Jaime by saying, "Go buy yourself a golden hand and f*** yourself with it." This line directly hints at the golden prosthetic hand Jaime acquires in season four.
6. The Fates of Joffrey, Shae, and Tywin
In season four’s "The Mountain And The Viper," Littlefinger tells Robin Arryn, "People die at their dinner tables. They die in their beds. They die squatting over their chamber pots. Everyone dies eventually." This dialogue subtly foreshadows the deaths of Joffrey, Shae, and Tywin, who meet their ends at a dinner table, in a bed, and on a toilet, respectively.
7. Monty Python
Season four features one of the series' most elaborate inside jokes. In episode three, "Breaker of Chains," a Meereenese fighter yells an insult in Low Valyrian. As explained by the show’s linguist, David Peterson, the line translates to, "Your mother is a hamster and your father smells of elderberries," a nod to Monty Python and The Holy Grail.
8. Destiny
Earlier in season five, a redditor pointed out that Tyrion was seated near a window that closely resembled Peter Dinklage's Ghost character from the video game Destiny.
9. R+L=J
R+L=J is a widely discussed Game of Thrones fan theory suggesting that Jon Snow is not Ned Stark's son but rather the child of Rhaegar Targaryen and Ned's sister Lyanna. In season one, the show subtly hints at this theory by displaying the letters "R L" etched into the wall near Jon.
10. Musical Cameos
Musician appearances are becoming a recurring theme in Game of Thrones. In season three's Red Wedding, Coldplay's drummer Will Champion appears as one of the musicians performing "The Rains of Castamere." Similarly, in season four's Purple Wedding, the Icelandic band Sigur Ros performs the same song before being pelted with coins by King Joffrey. This season also included three members of Mastodon portraying Wildlings in the episode "Hardhome."
11. The New York Giants
Martin, a devoted football enthusiast, occasionally weaves references to the New York Giants into his novels. In A Dance With Dragons, he writes, "The galley also housed the ship's library ... including the fourth and final volume of The Life of the Triarch Belicho, a celebrated Volantene hero whose string of victories came to an abrupt end when he was devoured by giants." This is an unmistakable nod to the New York Giants' Super Bowl win against the previously undefeated New England Patriots.
Additionally, the giant Wun Wun is named after former Giants quarterback Phil Simms, who wore the number "11."
12. The Three Stooges
The books also include a nod to The Three Stooges. In the first novel, A Game of Thrones, Catelyn arrests Tyrion with the assistance of three knights from House Bracken: Lharys, Mohor, and Kurleket, a Westerosi twist on Larry, Moe, and Curly.
13. The Grateful Dead
During an event at the 92Y, Martin acknowledged the band's influence on his writing: "I’m definitely a fan of the Grateful Dead. My wife Paris is an even bigger fan than I am," he shared. "Grateful Dead lyrics often echo in my mind. 'Ripple' is one of my all-time favorite songs... 'There is a road, no simple highway.'" Even the Weirwood trees are named after Bob Weir, the band's co-founder and guitarist.
