# Game of Thrones, A Golden Crown, 5/22/11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 22, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824 "2011-05-22T22:54:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/221 "2011-05-25T15:43:05Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Too late for the edit window: Let us now discuss how it is physically impossible for Dany to remove a dragon egg from hot coals and not burn herself. That’s easily the third or fourth time we’ve seen something involving her being heat-proof. This one was just the most blatant. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/222 "2011-05-25T15:45:09Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > That’s easily the third or fourth time we’ve seen something involving her being heat-proof. This one was just the most blatant. > > -Joe Is it? I don’t remember the others. ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/223 "2011-05-25T15:48:32Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Is it? I don’t remember the others. There was at least another one when Dany’s maid (at Illyrio’s) tells her that the water is far too hot for a bath and she isn’t a bit perturbed by it. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/224 "2011-05-25T15:49:21Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > What, decades-long summers and winters and the existence of dragons doesn’t imply that this is a world where our scientific knowledge isn’t entirely applicable? A world where messages are delivered by ravens? Where there are walking undead? > > And plus – “The blood runs strong.” – Sounds pretty non-scientific to me. It sounds exactly like the kind of thing that people would have said in real life before anyone understood genetics. They would use such an idea to make erroneous assumptions and draw erroneous conclusions. > > In our own pre-scientific history, people would look at certain kinds of evidence and draw mystical conclusions about the way the world worked – alchemy, astrology, prophecy. In real life, such conclusions have been proven wrong. Here we have a fantasy world in which people may draw mystical conclusions about the way their world works, but they’re true. You’re completely missing the point and at this point I can only assume you’re being deliberately obtuse. My entire point is that you don’t need to invent a “OMG! The Baretheons have magic hair that’s passed down from father to son!” when genetics (or breeding, if that makes it easier) completely explains it. When Ser Vardis had a sword jammed into his torso, what killed him? Was it the four feet of metal wrecking his internal organs because that’s how human bodies work, or was it because the Vardis family’s allergy to steel? Likewise, even though there is obviously magic stuff going on (ie. walking dead), the fact that ravens can fly is probably due to aerodynamics. Yes, it COULD be because of invisible antigravity goblins riding on their backs. It really, really could. But why the fuck would an author or screenwriter make it so when actual real-world birds fly with actual real-world physics? What would be the point? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/225 "2011-05-25T15:52:18Z")
> [@wintertime](#): > > There was at least another one when Dany’s maid (at Illyrio’s) tells her that the water is far too hot for a bath and she isn’t a bit perturbed by it. Yeah the very first episode she goes into a scalding hot tub of water, i can forgive people for being distracted though. I don’t remember any others. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/226 "2011-05-25T15:57:08Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > You’re completely missing the point and at this point I can only assume you’re being deliberately obtuse. I assure you that neither is the case. I’m making the point that examination of genetic probabilities is not going to offer you an understanding of what is happening in the story with regard to hair color, because it has not been written with genetic probabilities in mind. All we know is that “the blood runs strong,” a statement that has absolutely no correlation to what we know about genetics and has everything to do with pre-scientific mystical ideas. > [@](#): > > the fact that ravens can fly is probably due to aerodynamics. Yes, it COULD be because of invisible antigravity goblins riding on their backs. It really, really could. But why the fuck would an author or screenwriter make it so when actual real-world birds fly with actual real-world physics? What would be the point? Is it my turn to start throwing around accusations of obtuseness? Obviously, I wasn’t marveling at the phenomenon of flying birds being able to fly. It is a reference to the fact that in the real world, ravens (as opposed to pigeons) haven’t been trained to deliver messages, and so far as I know, they can’t be. ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/227 "2011-05-25T15:59:59Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Yeah the very first episode she goes into a scalding hot tub of water, i can forgive people for being distracted though. I don’t remember any others. Right you are + neither do I. Just to play it save.. Her resistance to heat is unexpected but a tv series doesn’t need to follow its source slavishly. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/228 "2011-05-25T16:07:32Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Is it my turn to start throwing around accusations of obtuseness? Obviously, I wasn’t marveling at the phenomenon of flying birds being able to fly. It is a reference to the fact that in the real world, ravens (as opposed to pigeons) haven’t been trained to deliver messages, and so far as I know, they can’t be. I might be wrong about this but I believe homing pigeons instinctively fly home, thus delivering messages if attached to the bird. (For any entrepreneurs out there, pizzas are too cumbersome and heavy to carry, I have already tried this, and coconuts too heavy, unless they are African or European coconuts). Ravens are an intelligent bird, are capable of being trained like parrots can. Whether they can be trained to fly to a certain location, though, do not know. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/229 "2011-05-25T16:09:28Z")
The genetics discussion is getting quite silly. ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/230 "2011-05-25T16:13:04Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It is a reference to the fact that in the real world, ravens (as opposed to pigeons) haven’t been trained to deliver messages, and so far as I know, they can’t be. It’s not that they can’t, we just won’t, because ravens would totally read the messages and sell any valuable information to the highest bidder. And they love to correct your spelling and rub it in. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/231 "2011-05-25T16:28:25Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Yeah the very first episode she goes into a scalding hot tub of water, i can forgive people for being distracted though. I don’t remember any others. Does this mean that what killed Viserys would not have killed her? Because that would be a neat trick. Also, I think I’d rather be dead, frankly. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/232 "2011-05-25T16:31:38Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Yeah the very first episode she goes into a scalding hot tub of water, i can forgive people for being distracted though. I don’t remember any others. Oh right. I was a \*bit \*distracted I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/233 "2011-05-25T16:34:04Z")
Uh, that’s not something that can be answered here. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/234 "2011-05-25T19:35:07Z")
You think Dany is hot? You have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/235 "2011-05-25T19:40:38Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I assure you that neither is the case. I’m making the point that examination of genetic probabilities is not going to offer you an understanding of what is happening in the story with regard to hair color, because it has not been written with genetic probabilities in mind. Holy shit, really? Where’s the quote from Martin on that? You seem to know, after all, what his intentions were when he wrote it. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/236 "2011-05-25T19:46:13Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Holy shit, really? Where’s the quote from Martin on that? You seem to know, after all, what his intentions were when he wrote it. Now you’re just being needlessly hostile. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/237 "2011-05-25T20:27:45Z")
> [@wintertime](#): > > Besides, it’s easier for the audience and the actors if the fight is not “realistically” presented but way overacted. Even someone who has no idea how a sword fight should look like will see that Vardis isn’t Bronn’s equal by far. It’s not an animated manual, after all. [/Calming myself down I’m glad you’re calming down :). It seems to me that you’re an expert in this style of swordfighting, which counterintuitively makes you a terrible audience for this style of swordfighting. The casting directors could have cast people who were expert swordfighters and secondarily actors, or they could have cast people who were expert actors and secondarily swordfighters. I’m very glad they went with the latter approach. For nearly all viewers, the swordfighting on screen is adequate, since we don’t know any better; we would, however, be pretty good at spotting mediocre acting. AFAIAC, **xtisme** ’s explanation about the difference between mounted combat and foot combat is more than adequate to explain any clumsiness in the fight. And Lyssa and her son seem to have zero tactical expertise, but rather are trying to stage a pretty death for Tyrion; Tyrion deftly maneuvered her into failure in this respect. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/238 "2011-05-25T21:05:53Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Too late for the edit window: Let us now discuss how it is physically impossible for Dany to remove a dragon egg from hot coals and not burn herself. Her brother loudly and often declared himself to be the last dragon. From Dany’s finale line in this episode, and from knowing what happened earlier with the egg, she seems to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/239 "2011-05-25T21:08:43Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Her brother loudly and often declared himself to be the last dragon. From Dany’s finale line in this episode, and from knowing what happened earlier with the egg, she seems to disagree. That was just a comment on the silly genetics argument. I figured we could move on to another silly argument. By the way, what was it that Dany said? “That would not have killed a real dragon.” or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824/240 "2011-05-25T21:16:54Z")
I assume that was why she insisted on witnessing her brother’s crowning; to prove to herself that he was not a dragon (unlike her). BTW, have we been given the backstory on the guy who’s been advising her, and who received a pardon-by-post this week? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-a-golden-crown-5-22-11/582824.md?page=13)