The bells in King’s Landing may have a deeper meaning in the winds of winter after Game of Thrones’ plot hole

The bells ringing in King’s Landing is a sound associated with multiple things: horror, the death of a king, the city under siege, and Daenerys Targaryen and Drogon burning Westeros’ capital to the ground. What they don’t typically mean is surrender, according to Davos Seaworth himself, although that is what Game of Thrones Season 8, episode 5 – fittingly titled “The Bells” – used them for. The sound was supposed to mark the end of Daenerys’ attack, but instead spurred her on, leading to one of the most controversial parts of Game of Thrones‘Finally.

Let the bells ring for “Horror, a dead king, a city under siege,” And, as Tyrion notes, a “Wedding,” Comes from Varys so far back Game of Thrones Season 2, Episode 9, “Blackwater,” It’s certainly confusing why they were used this way before Daenerys destroying King’s Landing in Season 8. The idea itself – not only of Danny’s villainous turn and assault, but specifically the bells – may have derived from George RR Martin And his plans for the books, which could be seen when The winds of winter releases.

What the bells in King’s Landing will mean in the winds of winter – theory explained

They may be important for a Game of Thrones character

I think it is quite plausible that Daenerys destroying King’s Landing will happen in the books in some way; Likely in The winds of winterBut possibly A dream of spring. Much like Bran Stark became king, it feels like too monumental a twist not to come from what he outlined show runners David Benioff and DB Weiss. It also fits with his ethos and themes A Song of Ice and Fire: moral gray letters; Explore the human heart in conflict with itself; the corrupting influence of destiny, prophecy and power; The devastating force of dragons, and so on.

However, Cersei Lannister is not as important in the books as she was in Game of ThronesThen it’s hard to imagine that she is the ultimate boss type villain Danny comes to defeat. instead, It is more likely that when Dany arrives in Westeros, there is someone else on the Iron Throne: Aegon Targaryen, the long-thought-dead son of Rhaegar Targaryen. And Elia Martell, who (allegedly) was smuggled out of King’s Landing, swapped with another baby, and has now returned to Westeros to claim his birthright. That’s what Dany will likely face, and who will be her opposition if and when King’s Landing is destroyed.

Alongside Aegon is his closest advisor and father figure, Jon Connington. He was once Hand to the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen, and a best friend of Rhaegar, and it is with him that the bells in King’s Landing may be important, and where the core of the idea to use them in Game of Thrones Season 8 could have stemmed from. During Robert’s Rebellion, John fought in the Battle of the Bells, so named for the bells that rang out in Stony September. To warn of the battle.

It was an important conflict in the rebellion, and a major defeat for the Targaryen loyalists. Although it was early on, the victory for Robert spurred his forces on, and proved the rebels could and would not be easy to deal with. As punishment for the loss, Aerys stripped Jon of his lands, and the first hand went into exile across the Narrow Sea, where it is widely believed by those still in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros that he died. However, he is very much still alive, and still scarred by the Battle of the Bells:

– Last night he dreamed again about Stoney’s September, alone, with sword in hand, he ran from house to house, broke down doors, climbed stairs. , leaping from the roof, as his ears rang to the sound of distant bells—deep bronze booms and silver clangs rang in his skull, a strange cacophony of noise that grew louder and louder until it seemed , as if the head would explode.

“Seventeen years have come and gone since the Battle of the Bells, yet The sound of ringing bells tied a knot in his gut after him. Others may claim that the kingdom was lost when Prince Haegar fell to Robert’s warhammer on the Trident, but the Battle of the Trident would never have been fought if the griffin had only killed the stag there in Stony September the bells tolled for us all that day . For Iris and his queen, for Elia of Dorne and her little daughter, for every true man and honest woman in the seven kingdoms. And for my silver prince.” – John Connington’s POV chapter in A Dance with Dragons.

This, to me, beautifully foreshadows the bells ringing again in King’s Landing. The express purpose wouldn’t necessarily be that, of course, but it would be easy to have them start ringing for a city under siege when Daenerys attacks. Jon, hearing the bells, may be driven to madness by them (along with the grayscale he has contracted).

Jon Connington and the Bells can add to Daenerys burning King’s Landing

The winds of winter can make them better

In terms of the bells specifically, having them be a part of Jon’s story can make them a much more effective tool than the confusing use of them in Game of Thrones. Jon is a point-of-view character in A dance with dragons And so, assuming the battle goes down in The winds of winterWe should get to see at least some of it from his perspective and gain a much greater understanding of it.

This should enhance the battle as a whole, offering a unique perspective if he is involved in the fight against Daenerys on Earth, while he is adding to the chaos. This is made all the richer by the fact that Danny will probably win as well. Just as the bells are still killing Jon because he blames himself for Rhaegar’s death, they will now ring in his ears as Rhaegar’s son is also killed, giving them much richer thematic purpose and stronger emotional resonance.

The winds of winter can improve the destruction of Daenerys King’s Landing in general

There is a lot that works in this book’s favor

As for the destruction of King’s Landing as a whole, this will probably be better than that Game of Thrones did. I like the version in the show and think it mostly fits Daenerys’ arc, but certainly understand complaints that it was rushed and happened too suddenly. This shouldn’t be a problem for the book, which can devote much more time to developing Dany’s emotional state, the rage within her, and why she chooses to do so, especially with the POV structure of the series.

There are other factors that can also make it better: a darker Tyrion will help Daenerys’ story along, because he will align with her rather than try to dissuade her. Aegon, who has risen to be the perfect prince, will likely be a more beloved king for Dany to face than Cersei was, and with more power from the Westeros armies, further establishing Dany as the outsider. And while the show has hints and wonders about Daenerys’ nature, the books have leaned harder on her being a truth “Fire and Blood” Targaryen.

In general, there is a real opportunity in history, which may still be controversial, but should be fascinating if it actually happens in The winds of winter. And, in contrast to Game of ThronesThe bells will add so much to this – making them a health to look forward to.