The presented reasoning about the TV series is based on semiotic analysis.
Semiotic analysis of the TV series “Game of Thrones” is a game of solving symbols.
Semiotic analysis is the study of signs and sign systems.
Semiotic analysis of the TV series shows that in the fascinating plot is hidden and not obvious true meaning, expressed by a system of signs and symbols, such as: fire, ice, up, down, right, left, flying, feather, song, dance, flower, water, smoke, salt, food, wine, meat, iron, door, comet, stone, reflection, chains, tree, ship, hand, bath, book, sand, key, pointy end, lantern, scales, hammer, crown, helmet, sword, shield, bow, spear and many others.
Colours and text (words and phrases of characters, inscriptions, lyrics and the like) also have hidden meanings. For example, they can explain the symbols: “The red comet means one thing, boy… dragons”.
The TV series is called «Game of Thrones». The key word is game. The whole TV series is a game: the game of faces, a game of theatre, a word game, the game of authors with viewers, a game of characters. This game has rules set by the authors and not obvious to the viewers and to the characters.
The rules of the game are hidden under the guise of ordinary phrases spoken by the characters during the plot. For example, “All men must serve”, “Meanness comes around”, “Each man has a role to play”.
Each character has to play his role and pass tests, he is given a few chances to make a right choice: “Our choices are the same. We choose light or we choose darkness. We choose good or we choose evil. We choose the true god or the false”.
In the TV series, the principle of justice applies: “Here a man gets what he earns, when he earns it”. The payback for mistakes is inevitable, may seem excessively cruel, but this is also explained: “Every hurt is a lesson and every lesson makes you better”. The authors give lessons to the characters.
Characters who break the rules die, that is, leave the game: “They disdained the game and those who played”.
The peculiarity of the TV series is that it shows two contradictory plots at the same time: an external emotional and an internal factual one.
The external plot is emotion-inducing content, it absorbs all the attention. But more important is the internal form, expressed by symbols, which constitutes the factual plot – this is the logic. Symbols’ logic, with the help of which it is possible to see the facts behind the emotions. And for watching the TV series, a rule is suggested: “I believe what my eyes and ears report”. The truth is what is shown and what is said.
Semiotic analysis shows that the finale of the TV series “Game of Thrones” is not the end of the plot, but an intermediate situation, involving the continuation of the story of the characters. An explanation is in the video “Game of Thrones” Sequel: “This Isn’t the End”.