Some people go pretty far in the name of their idols. And when it comes to HBO’s Game of Thrones, fans show their love of the Seven Kingdoms in some pretty extreme ways. Here’s our look at some of the craziest lengths Game of Thrones lovers have gone to in the name of fandom…
The fans who name their babies ‘Khaleesi’:
In 2012, 146 baby girls in the USA and 21 in the UK were named ‘Khaleesi,’ the fictional Dothraki title for ‘Queen’ held by one of the main characters, Daenerys Targaryen, in the show. Even though George R. R. Martin’s books have been out since the 1990s, it was the launch of the HBO adaptation that saw a surge in the popularity of baby names inspired by the series, including Arya, Sansa, Eddard, Brienne and Tyrion. So far, though, “Joffrey” is less popular…
The fans who queued up for ‘All Men Must Dine’
Game of Thrones superfans clamoured to win the chance to experience this pop-up restaurant in London over Valentine’s weekend. An opulent dining hall featured banquet tables overflowing with dishes such as “The Lies of Tyrion Lannister and his Proclaimed Innocence” (or poached veal tongue with beetroot, horseradish and Oldtown Mustard). Diners left behind their ordinary identities for the evening to become the lords, ladies and princes privy to the clandestine meeting of the Small Council in King’s Landing.
The fans who paid $20,000 to be killed off
For many Game of Thrones fans it’s the greatest prize of all: the honour of being killed off in one of George R. R. Martin’s books. To make this dream come true, two fans have paid $20,000 each in an online charity auction to have a character named after them in the next novel – and to see them meet a grisly end. The winners also get to choose their character’s station in the Seven Kingdoms – whether it’s lording, knight, lady, whore, or anything else they fancy. One of these superfans is David Goldblatt, who said he wants “to be a Valyrian if at all possible, but he figures it out himself. I wouldn’t want to impinge upon his creative process.”
The fan who did a Game of Thrones world tour
Travel writer and Game of Thrones superfan Yvonne Gordon loved the exotic sets on the show so much, she decided to visit all the locations across the globe where the series is filmed. Her journey took her from Croatia and Iceland to Malta and Northern Ireland. She came up with the idea before visiting Dubrovnik, Croatia, last summer, when she found out parts of the show were filmed there.
And finally… the fans who had a Game of Thrones wedding:
Oh yes, they did. Darren Prew and Kerry Ford, from Hereford, transformed themselves into their favourite characters for their Game of Thrones-styled wedding. Darren was transformed into Night’s Watch warrior Jon Snow while his bride dressed as Daenerys Targaryen. They tied the knot at Eastnor Castle near Ledbury in Herefordshire, where 12 members of the wedding party spent more than 50 hours being transformed into fantasy characters from the show (and making the perfect Game of Thrones wedding cake). The pair won the marriage makeover when they entered a competition.
So, there we have it. Game of Thrones fans are truly the craziest of them all. Let’s hope the arrival of Season Five in April brings us some fresh madness.
Image credit.
Originally published March 5, 2015. Updated January 18, 2020.
