How is Game of Thones represnted?
Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in a place called Westeros. Specific details such as the characters accents and appearance allow a certain level of verisimilitude to be portrayed. Through mediation this verisimilitude is expressed and this portrays certain characters in certain ways.
In the opening scene of season 4 episode 5 Tommen Baratheon is crowned in a manor suggestive of a normal period drama. A crowd sit below him. To his left stand his Mother and Grandfather and in the distance we can see Margaery Tyrell standing on a balcony above everyone. This could represent how her future plans to become queen revolve around Tommen’s becoming of king.
The crowd yell “long may he reign” after Dean- Charles Chapman does; the camera turns to a mid-shot of Cersie and Tywen Lannister. The audience hears Tywen’s voice over the entire crowd which could represent his dominance over every one because it is his Grandson on the iron throne. Furthermore, Tywen knows that as hand of the King, he has more control than anyone else other than the king as he will lead the small council when Tommen is not there. Despite the shot being of both Cersie and Tywen, his voice over shadows hers perhaps demonstrating that any of her decisions will be over-ruled.
After the crown is placed upon Tommen’s head, Cersie Lannister (the queen regent) makes her way up to Margaery and the camera follows her. The lighting covers both the women’s faces from above which could represent both of their hidden intentions. Cersie plans to remain Queen and Margaery plans to manipulate Tomman into running the Seven Kingdoms her way. Both women are dressed in V-neck dresses with their hair styled in a similar fashion which could represent the women’s similar use of deceit in order to gain power and control over the men in their lives and to allow titles they deem necessary to earn, mean something.
The two women stand on the balcony discussing how Tommen deserves the throne despite both women’s ulterior motives. Tommen never actually speaks in this scene therefore presenting him as a passive character. This is further expressed through the use of deep space. An over the shoulder shot of both women sees Tommen faded in the background almost highlighting how the holder of the power is irrelevant to whoever uses it.
Towards the end of their conversation Margaery takes a chunk out of Cersie’s ego as she discusses her future Mother/ sister in law’s relation to her. The camera focuses on a close-up of Cersie’s face as Margaery in the background is blurred. This highlights Cersie’s annoyance and exaggerates the idea that one must keep her friends close and her enemies closer. This represents how when someone is desperate for potential power, they will do whatever it takes. This includes biting her tongue.