Game of Thrones is one of my all-time favorite shows. It completely caught me by surprise last year, and I religiously watched Season 2 when it was airing a few weeks ago. (Check out my top 10 favorite moments from Season 2 here!) Because the San Diego Comic Con falls only weeks after the end of the season, there’s not much that the cast and producers can share about Season 3. Especially since Season 3 doesn’t start until Spring 2013. Yet, we did get an interesting and informative panel from the Game of Thrones cast and producers.
George R.R. Martin (author of the Game of Thrones books and producer/writer for the HBO series) moderated the panel that included Emilia Clarke (Daenerys), Rose Leslie (Ygritte), Michelle Fairley (Lady Stark), Richard Madden (Robb Stark), Carolyn Strauss (producer) and Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy). The panel began with a montage of Season 2 and then a short video on all the new actors and characters joining Season 3. There were quite a few, and with a cast this large, I have no idea how I’m going to keep track.
Martin started off by asking the panelists questions. Strauss explained how she learned about Game of Thrones and her initial hesitations on backing such a project. But the showrunners eventually persuaded her, and she’s happy she ventured into fantasy television. Martin asked the actors a few questions. He tried to get Alfie to reveal something about Theon’s fate, whether that knock on the head had really done his character in. I’m still confused as to whether or not to expect Theon in the new season. He also put him on the spot about his many sex scenes. Alfie simply said that they were nice and he tried to get fit enough for them. On the contrary, Martin pointed out that Richard finally got a sex scene of his own. When asked on whether he likes violent or sex scenes more, Richard replied that he was more comfortable and interested in violent scenes. He also revealed whether the direwolf is real or not. Sadly, Richard said “Grey Wind is actually a fantastic silver ball on a long stick. It’s a different challenge than actually having an animals. Emilia has replicas, but I just have a massive silver ball.” As for Emilia’s dragons, she said that she had become very protective of those replicas. She admitted that she found it to be a bit alarming.
Rose Leslie revealed that she grew up in an castle, with an actual dungeon. She joked that she could get stuck playing “hide and seek” for days. Michelle Fairley boasted about the cast, especially Richard Madden and Gwendoline Christie, who plays Brienne of Tarth. She also described how great and intricate the costume design is for the show. Finally, when a fan asked them what each of their own sigil would be, Martin answered with “a turtle.” Growing up poor, turtles were the only pets that he was allowed to have, and he first imagined the story of Game of Thrones with turtles. “I decided to recast it as human beings. It wouldn’t be the same if these guys were all wearing turtle costumes.”
Game of Thrones Season 3 premieres March 31, 2013.
