Movies News Talk
The setting of "House Of The Dragon" season 2, episode 7, "The Red Sowing" included George R.R. Martin, the author of the "Song of Ice and Fire" novels, in a startling and subdued easter egg. Martin, who also wrote "Fire & Blood," the prequel series' source material, and an executive producer, discovered himself unexpectedly immortalized within the series.
The minute intricacy is found in Harrenhal's godswood, where a face-carved weirwood tree has been created. A behind-the-scenes film suggests that this look is inspired by Martin's own features. Jim Clay, the production designer, says showrunner Ryan Condal intended to pay a subdued homage to the author, with the idea the face would progressively fade into the bark of the tree. Dominic Masters, supervising director, assures us that the intention was to make the likeness plain without drawing too distinct lines.
A reoccurring theme in the "Game of Thrones" universe, Weirwood trees show up at Winterfell, King's Landing, and beyond the Wall among other places. Deeply entwined with the old gods of Westeros, these ancient trees have faces carved on them that are thought to be the Children of the Forest. Westerosi history and folklore depend much on Weirwood trees.
Many weirwood trees were destroyed when the Andals arrived in Westeros sought to substitute their own religion, the Faith of the Seven, for the old gods, therefore upsetting the balance. The link between these trees and the Children of the Forest confirmed their significance in the cosmos even more as the sixth season of "Game of Thrones" showed that the Children of the Forest produced the White Walkers.
Martin's visage on the Harrenhal weirwood tree emphasizes the trees' ongoing importance to the cosmos and their heritage. It also highlights the care and attention to detail that penetrates the whole "Game of Thrones" universe, therefore strengthening the link between the author and his production.
In the behind-the-scenes film, Condal notes that Harrenhal was constructed from felled weirwood trees, suggesting the cause of the unsettling encounters individuals come across there. This suggests that Daemon Targaryen's disturbing visions at Harrenhal in season 2 originate from the weirwood trees and their relationships to the old gods. Seeing these trees still be fundamental to the growing world and for Martin's face to now to be part of it is a pleasant detail.
Set 172 years before the events of "Game of Thrones," "House Of The Dragon" traces the ascent of the Targaryens, the sole dragonlord dynasty to withstand the Doom of Valyria. Milly Alcock and Emily Carey play younger Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower respectively; Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke then take front stage in the elder iterations of the characters. Matt Smith plays Prince Daemon Targaryen and Paddy Considine, Rhaenyra's father, King Viserys Targaryen.