ords
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We analyzed every script from every episode of Game of Thrones, charting the most important phrases to the story. Here’s what the data reveals.
(spoilers abound.)
Words By Alyssa mercante | Design by lucy quintanilla
Data by Andrew Thompson
all images courtesy of HBO
In Season 7,
Jon Snow wrestles with the idea,
but bends the knee after Dany saves him beyond
the wall.
BEND THE KNEE
A favorite phrase of Dany’s in later seasons as she demanded fealty from all.
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Fire
ICE
and
khaleesi
mad king
dracarys
bend
the kneE
bend
the kneE
dragon queen
dragon queen
khaleesi
mad king
dracarys
DRAGON QUEEN
More formidable than ‘mother of dragons’, often spoken by those standing in her way, particularly later as she tries to take the Iron Throne.
KHALEESI
Her official title after marrying Khal Drogo in season one, this fades as she travels back to Westeros and to a public that doesn’t consider her their queen.
THE MAD KING
Dany is the daughter of the infamous Mad King, Aerys Targaryen. The phrase emerged in season one as justification for Robert Baratheon’s rebellion and for ordering her execution. The latent madness (or the rumors of it) returns in season seven.
DRACARYS
The command for dragon fire, a weapon Dany deploys more liberally in later seasons.
In season 8, these are Missandei’s last words and the last Varys hears before he’s
executed.
CASTLE
BLACK
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SEASON
CASTLE BLACK
The location’s significance ebbs and flows, usually dependent upon Jon’s whereabouts.
In S6E3,
Melisandre brings Jon Snow
back from the
dead and suggests he could
be the
PWWP.
PRINCE WHO WAS PROMISED
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SEASON
PRINCE WHO WAS PROMISED
The prophecy of a leader who will unite fire and ice. Melisandre thought it was
Stannis Baratheon, then Jon Snow, but it’s probably Arya.
WINTER IS
COMING
number of mentions per season
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SEASON
WINTER IS COMING
The Stark family motto, it appears far less often after winter, well, comes. Surprisingly, it is not uttered as often as you’d think.
winterfell
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SEASON
WINTERFELL
Jon’s ancestral home and prime locale throughout the series, hosting wight battles and Bolton beatings.
KING IN
THE NORTH
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SEASON
KING IN THE NORTH
We heard it first when Robb Stark rebelled and claimed the title, then later when the North anointed Jon. Its prevalence falls off
when Jon bends the knee to Dany.
Prince who was promised
Winter is
Coming
The last time we hear this phrase is in S5, before Jon confronts the
Night King at Hardhomme
HA
Jon Snow wrestles with it, but bends the knee at Dany’s request. The Tarly’s however, refuse, and are burned alive.
winterfell
KING IN
THE NORTH
CASTLE
BLACK
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Daenerys
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Jon
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How have the scripts depicted our two main characters? An analysis of phrases surrounding Dany and Jon shows two fundamentally different leaders, one consumed with ambition, the other driven by duty.
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AND
People
THE
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Remember when Dorne was a key player in the game of thrones?
inter
W
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f*ck
C*NT
C*Cksucker
s*ven hells
f*ck
f*ck
s*ven hells
s*ven hells
C*Cksucker
C*Cksucker
C*NT
C*NT
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One writer argued that modern English curse words are “ruining the show.” Another praised its prolific profanity. Click the swear words below to see how often they were uttered.
that
places
DORNE
Home to the once-prominent Oberyn Martell and the Sand Snakes (who slayed Cersei and Jaime’s daughter), Dorne recedes as their heroes die. A brief aside in season eight establishes a new Dornish prince.
HIGHGARDEN
Dedicated social climber Margaery Tyrell was the queen we all deserved, but with no surviving Tyrells to rule, it became
a bargaining chip in later seasons.
HAND OF THE KING
Robert Baratheon choosing Ned Stark as his hand in season one set the entire show’s events in motion. The phrase wanes as queens come into power.
Night King
Built up to be the show’s big bad, smited by Arya early on in season eight.
IRON ISLANDS
Ancestral home to Yara, Theon, and the plot-pushing Euron Greyjoy, who sails into season six to clean up Cersei’s messes.
Kings Landing
The capital city of Westeros, of immense importance throughout every season, even as smoldering rubble.
Seven Kingdoms
Another word for all of Westeros, the phrase reaches a fever pitch whenever the battle for the Iron Throne grows more fierce.
26
Swear
by the
old gods
new
AND
In S8E5, Dany
tells Jon,
”Far more people in Westeros love you than me. I don't
have love here. I
only have fear.”
Were
promised
You’ll love our analysis of Game
of Thrones’
costume colors.
Like this?
how we did it
Scripts were taken from Springfield Scripts and stripped down to count only spoken words per episode, removing all stage direction
(e.g., 'JON screams at Viserion') and character names. Keep in mind, the first six seasons included 10 episodes each, while Season 7 had seven and Season 8 only has six.
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