Does This ‘Game Of Thrones’ Theory Explain How ‘A Song Of Ice And Fire’ Is Being Told?

Of all the crazy things to happen this week on Game of Thrones, Sam finally (finally!) arriving at the Citadel after never shutting up about how excited he was to go there is probably not at the top of anyone’s list. However, you have to admit that after all this time, finally getting to see the inside of the building where Maesters from all over the Seven Kingdoms learn their trade is pretty cool. The Citadel’s library alone is enviable enough to make us want to give up personal hygiene and access to pasteurized milk in order to live in Westeros and go there to study. Of course, this author couldn’t get an education there because she doesn’t have a Y-chromosome but that’s an argument for Gilly to tackle on her own time.

As amazing as the sheer amount of books and size of the library is when Sam sees it for the first time, the gigantic whirligig of a chandelier was the selling point of the scene mostly because of where viewers have seen it in the past. Namely, whipping across the opening credits of the show every episode since the beginning. But is there larger meaning to the chandelier appearing up in both the opening credits and in the halls of the Citadel? Maybe not, but a new theory could have just broken the A Song of Ice and Fire series wide open.

Exhibit A, the chandelier itself being in the Citadel. Which means it obviously has some larger meaning within the world of Westeros. Whether it is only important to the Maesters or to the universe as a whole remains unknown.

More importantly, a tool that the audience only got a quick look at when Sam rolls up at the Citadel. The grumpy front desk staffer (worst resort concierge of all time) that greeted Sam and turned Gilly away was using a very specific pair of lenses to study whatever tome he had open in front of him at the time. Lest you think you haven’t seen his spectacles before though, think again.

I present to you Exhibit B, the key to this theory:

You see, you might not remember glimpsing those specific lenses before but they way they hinge and magnify books and maps for the reader is awfully similar to how the shifting lenses in the opening credits operate. While that might mean nothing more than the show wanting to tie together their beautiful opening credits with the larger story, there could also be something bigger at work. The overarching saga is called A Song Of Ice And Fire after all, and in the world of Game of Thrones songs are used to pass on heroic stories and legends. So does that mean somebody is telling this story of Dany, Jon, Arya, Cersei, and the rest to future generations?

If that’s how it ends, some fans might be mad about the set up of the story. But if this theory is right, does it make sense for Sam to be the one that devotes his life to passing along the heroism and cruelty of everyone in Westeros? Or could it be Sam’s son who was told the story by his father and then passes it on to his own children? If this theory is accurate, there are any number of options that would make sense. But for now it is just another theory.

(via Mic)

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