Summary
House of the Dragonfeatured George R.R. Martin’s face in a surprising way in season 2, episode 7, “The Red Sowing.” In addition to being the author of theSong of Ice and Firenovels thatGame of Thronesis based on,Martin is the author ofFire & Blood, which acts as the source material forHouse of the Dragon. He is also an executive producer for the prequel series that tells the story of the Dance of the Dragons and its larger impact on the universe Martin created.
A behind-the-scenes video fromGame of Thronesreveals thatthe face carved in Harrenhal’s weirwood tree is modeled after Martin’s face, and the author visited the set where he was able to see it for himself. Check out the video below:
According to production designer Jim Clay, showrunner"Ryan [Condal] wanted to do [it] as a bit of a tribute, and the idea was that it gradually started to disappear back into the bark of the tree.“Supervising director Dominic Masters added,“The brief was to make it feel enough like him, but you were never really sure.”
Why Weirwood Trees Are Important In Westeros
They Are A Major Part Of Westeros' Religious History & Daemon’s Season 2 Story
In the behind-the-scenes video, Condal discusses Harrenhal’s godswood falling into disarray, and how the castle was originally built using felled weirwood trees as lumber, suggesting that this could be the reason for the strange experiences people have there.
Weirwood trees have been featured in manylocations throughout Westeros inGame of ThronesandHouse of the Dragon, not only in Harrenhal, but in the godswoods of Winterfell, King’s Landing, and beyond the Wall.The trees are connected to Westeros' old godsand the faces on the trees are believed to have been carved by the Children of the Forest. The Andals cut down many of the trees when they came to Westeros thousands of years ago to enforce their religion, the Faith of the Seven, instead of worshipping the old gods.
Game of Thronesseason 6 revealed that the Children of the Forest created the White Walkers.
Some weirwood trees that were in the castle godswood, including King’s Landing’s Red Keep, survived being cut down. The Faith of the Seven became the dominant religion in Westeros, as seen by the Great Sept of Baelor in King’s Landing, the importance of the High Septons inGame of Thrones, and commoners praying to the seven gods. Nevertheless,many in the North still worship and believe in the old gods, which is one of the reasons why many of the Starks inGame of Thronesgo to a godswood and sit or stand in front of the weirwood tree there.
How Far Is Dragonstone From King’s Landing & How Fast Did Aemond Fly There On Vhagar?
Aemond Targaryen flies from King’s Landing to Dragonstone rather quickly in HOTD. Breaking down distance, here’s how long it could’ve taken.
In the behind-the-scenes video, Condal discusses Harrenhal’s godswood falling into disarray, and howthe castle was originally built using felled weirwood trees as lumber, suggesting that this could be the reason for the strange experiences people have there. This means that the weirwood trees and their ties to the old gods and to ancient people are the source ofDaemon Targaryen’s haunting visions while at HarrenhalinHouse of the Dragonseason 2. It is satisfying to see the weirwood trees continuing to be central to the expanding universe and for Martin’s face to now be part of it.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
