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'Game Of Thrones' Theory Suggests Ned Stark May Actually Still Be Alive

'Game Of Thrones' Theory Suggests Ned Stark May Actually Still Be Alive

Dying is Sean Bean's thing, let's not take it away from him.

Mark McGowan

Mark McGowan

Film and TV theories are things that have been around for a long time, and a lot of them do raise very good points.

However, we should all take offence when any theory tries to claim that any character Sean Bean has played might still be alive. That's his thing - dying - and long may that live on, without any theories suggesting otherwise.

via GIPHY

A theory regarding Bean's character in Game of Thrones, Ned Stark, suggests just this, claiming that his death was actually a trick. Not being funny, but his head was cut off and put on a stick, so I'm not holding out much hope here.

One early theory says that he may have warged into the birds that are seen flying during the execution scene, but a lot of people have picked enough holes in this for it to be seen as bullshit.

A second suggestion, however, put forward by YouTube channel The Last Harpy, says that Stark may have gotten some help from Jaqen H'ghar to fake his execution.

The theory states that he may have escaped after he met with Jaqen in the Black Cells where he was being held and the Faceless Man used his ability to switch places.

This would mean that Jaqen would actually be Arya's father, with fans pointing out that his paternal tendencies towards support the claim, Elite Daily say.

Who knows? It's probably not true, as these things rarely are, but it heightens the engagement fans have with the show, so that's good.

And if you really want to take that engagement to the next level, there's a course to get you qualified to do so.

According to Time, Harvard are offering a new Folklore and Mythology course, themed around none other than Game of Thrones.

But don't go thinking that it's just a doss where you can watch the show for hours, say it was good and call it a day. No, the course is titled 'The Real Game of Thrones: From Modern Myths to Medieval Models'. It will look at both the books and TV series to explore how the franchise "echoes and adapts, as well as distorts the history and culture of the 'medieval world' of Eurasia from c. 400 to 1500 CE."

Maybe sounds a little more boring than you might have thought at first, but still, better than Geography, isn't it?

Teaching the course are Sean Gilsdorf and Racha Kirakosian, a medieval historian and Administrative Director and Lecturer on Medieval Studies, and an assistant professor of German and the Study of Religion, respectively.

Plans for the course include examining "a set of archetypal characters at the heart of Game of Thrones - the king, the good wife, the second son, the adventurer, and so on - with distinct analogues in medieval history, literature, religion, and legend."

Kirakosian explained: "When I read medieval verse epics with my students, they'd say, 'Oh, that's like in Game of Thrones.' No, if anything at all, it's the other way around. Isn't it partly our job [as professors] to use that interest and go deeper?"

There's a hope that the course will help boost an interest in Medieval Studies, because, as you probably know, no one really gives a shit any more. Besides, season seven's out soon...


Credit: HBO

So if you're not into studying Game of Thrones and just like watching it with a big bag of crisps and a couple of beers, it returns to HBO on 17 July.

Enjoy.

Featured Image Credit: HBO/Game of Thrones

Topics: Game of Thrones