One of the biggestGame of Thronestheorieswas just addressed by the cast ofHouse of the Dragon, and some of them think it makes sense. After the groundbreaking fantasy series came to an end in 2019, HBO quickly begandevelopingGame of Thronesspinoffs, the first of which became the critically acclaimedHouse of the Dragon, depicting the civil war known as the Dance of Dragons that nearly destroyed House Targaryen generations before the flagship takes place. Characters who are maesters — scholars and doctors in Westerosi society — continue to appear inHouse of the Dragonas advisors to the royal family.
In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, when asked about the long-standing conspiracy theory that the maesters orchestrated the downfall of House Targaryen and magic over the centuries of their rule, theHouse of the Dragoncastwas mostly on board.Cast members including Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), and Ewan Mitchell (Aemond Targaryen), believe the maester conspiracy could be real,pointing out their questionable medical practices when treating Targaryen royalty. Check out their comments below:
Mitchell:That sticks. That holds up, right?
D’Arcy:Those bastards.
Cooke:They do over-prescribe milk of the poppy, so maybe there’s something in that.
One of the most important facets of the maester conspiracy theory is that they also used their knowledge to poison the Targaryens' dragons, which is why they become smaller and less formidable with each generation. They would have done this because they believed magic and dragons were an affront to nature and wanted science and reason to rule Westeros. However,of the dragon part of the theory, actor Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon) said: “That’s nonsense.”
What This Means For The Maester Theory In HOTD & Future GOT Spinoffs
The Cast Understands That The Sway The Maesters Have Over Westeros Is Important
The maesters have long said and done things that raise suspicions, which even the cast has picked up on. Some of their actions can be attributed to a medieval knowledge of science and medicine, while others seem to be motivated by the beliefs of individuals or the Citadel as an institution. However, the continued interest in the maester conspiracy theory is strong enough that it was deemed something worth bringing up with the cast, meaningattention will continue to be directed towards even the smallest things the maesters do inHouse of the Dragonand future spinoffs.
Whether we ever get a hard confirmation of this theory is irrelevant, asit will still be another way that audiences are encouraged to analyze theGame of Thronesfranchise.While they are ultimately beholden to whoever sits on the Iron Throne and their immediate family members, the maesters are a respected force in Westeros that can tip political scales in subtle ways. And when they are clearly not an unflawed institution, with their own evident biases and corruption, the consequences of their power are worth pondering — and the cast legitimizing the theory will only fuel this discourse.
Our Take On HOTD Cast Thinking The Maester Theory Works
They Will Probably Never Confirm It, But It Is Still Interesting To Debate
House of the Dragontechnically could confirm the maester theory, but I think it’s unlikely when the order of the maesters has to remain intact for the plot of the franchise to hold together and there wouldn’t be much reward for it other than answering fans' suspicions. Directly confirming this would also eliminate a kind of engagement with the series. But the fact that the cast have strong opinions about this theory heightens that interest, making me even more curious to see what the maesters do from the sidelines in the future ofHouse of the Dragonand beyond.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
