10. The Cache of Dragonglass Knives
Found buried in snow at the Fist of the First Men by Samwell Tarly, Edd, and Grenn, this Chekov’s gun is regarded as little more than a cool archeological find—until Sam uses one to kill a White Walker, that is.
9. Arya’s Iron Braavosi Coin
Little does Arya Stark know when she receives this unremarkable looking coin from the Faceless Man occasionally known as Jaqen H’ghar that it will end up playing a role in her fate for years to come.
8. Jaime Lannister’s Golden Hand
Gold-plated steel, technically. Jaime’s golden hand is far from functional, having caused him trouble on more than one occasion (though it did come in handy that one time he used it to stop a blade in Dorne). Would something like a hook be far more useful? Absolutely, but it would hardly be befitting of a Lannister. It’s a game of appearances and Jaime’s ornate but cumbersome prosthetic provides the ultimate evidence of this dynamic.
7. The Stark Banner
All of the houses have banners, but none have been given the sort of emphasis and significance of the Stark’s. A staple of the series from episode one, a shot of a burning direwolf banner at the Red Wedding marks the beginning of a long absence that will only make a turnaround with the Battle of the Bastards. Few scenes in Game of Thrones feel as triumphant as seeing the Stark banner flying over Winterfell once more after the defeat of the Bolton forces.
6. Melisandre’s Necklace
It’s unclear exactly how the necklace worn by Melisandre connects to her powers—after all, Thoros of Myr brought Beric Dondarrion back from the dead six times and he doesn’t seem like a jewelry kind of guy. Still, even if it’s not clear what the full capabilities of this necklace are, or how they work, this magical item is still a force to be reckoned with.
5. Longclaw
Lord Commander Jeor Mormont redesigned the pommel of his family’s ancestral Valyrian steel blade and gifted it to his steward, Jon Snow. Now one of the most well-exercised swords in Game of Thrones, Longclaw has taken on wildlings, White Walkers, and Bolton soldiers by the dozens—and it’s certainly going to see a whole lot more action before the series comes to an end. Jon Snow offers to return the blade to Jeor’s son Jorah on their wight-quest north of the Wall, but he insists that Jon keep it. Why does Jon offer it to Jorah and not the rightful Lady of Bear Island, Lyanna Mormont? Unclear.
4. The Hand of the King Pin
Though things seem to have settled down a little in this regard as of season 7, most of Game of Thrones has been a giant game of hot potato, with this all-important shiny gold (or occasionally, silver) badge playing the role of potato. Sure, kings and queens have risen and fallen over the seasons, but their numbers pale in comparison to the game of musical chairs being played by those in the second-highest ranking position. There have been kings with multiple Hands (Joffrey, Tommen), and a Hand with multiple monarchs (Tyrion). While making a claim to the throne itself usually heavily involves things like pedigree and birth order, anyone can theoretically rise to second-in-command, which makes it even more of a free-for-all.
3. Daenerys’ Dragon Eggs
It’s unclear why Illyrio Mopatis, the Magister of Pentos, is such a staunch supporter of the Targaryen claim. In giving Daenerys a wedding gift of three dragon eggs “from the shadowlands beyond Asshai,” believed to have been petrified by the ages, upon her marriage to Khal Drogo, he proves to be a more valuable ally than even he could have ever predicted. Certainly, Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion (RIP) are ultimately characters in their own right, but until they hatch in Drogo’s funeral pyre at the end of season 1, Daenerys’s three dragon eggs are best described as props—some of the most significant props in the show’s history.
2. Needle
Just the story of Needle alone is an epic tale full of twists and turns. Any object that can be parted with its owner and then manage to find its way back, as Needle does with Arya, is something special. Needle is far more than a blade—it’s Arya’s connection to her family and to herself.
1. The Iron Throne
The most uncomfortable chair everyone wants to sit in. The show is called The Game of Thrones. This is the throne. End of story.
Related Topics: Game of Thrones
