By - Harington: "We kind of screwed the political landscape"
- Also mentions to Stephen Colbert that all of his theories about the end of the series have been wrong
- "I'm quite glad I never told anyone my theories"
There's been a lot written about what Game of Thrones says about getting hold of power and hanging onto it, but Kit Harington reckons that the show has started to warp real world politics.
Chatting to Stephen Colbert, Harington said: "I got this theory that we kind of screwed the political landscape. I just felt like certain political figures tried to emulate Joffrey and things went a bit wrong."
Obviously, one of those 'certain political figures' is probably Donald Trump. That said, he's not quite gone full Joffrey, even if the lying, the cheating and the general me-first air do point him in that direction. So who have the major world leaders been taking tips from in Westeros?
Donald Trump
If Trump were more straightforwardly competent, the sharkish CEO-type Littlefinger might be a shout, but the general lack of interest he reportedly shows in the actual business of running the country is a lot more redolent of the last days of Robert Baratheon. Plus, there's the obsession with roasted meats: Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has said the president's usual order is two Big Macs, two filet-o-fish and a chocolate milkshake.
Theresa May
The way May's painted herself into a smaller and smaller corner over her Brexit deal has a ring of Robb Stark's banjaxed attempts to build relations with people who turned on him almost immediately, crossed with Hodor's repetition of the same phrase again and again and again.
Jeremy Corbyn
Depending on which side of the allotment you stand on, he's either Rhaegar Targaryen - the inspirational leader and beacon of nobility who was prevented from assuming his rightful place on the throne - or grasping, embittered rotter Walder Frey in a fluffy cossack hat.
Angela Merkel
The inverted pyramid hand-clasp, the willingness to call out bullying tactics, the sick-of-this-bullshit vibe: it's got to be Olenna Tyrell.
Emmanuel Macron
Generally admired as a man who can position himself skilfully and a handsome devil but, fundamentally, slightly evil. Nailed on for Littlefinger.
Rodrigo Duterte
Remember when this kooky old guy was semi-affectionately referred to as 'Duterte Harry' for his violently zero-tolerance approach to the drug trade in the Philippines? Yeah, not too much of a laugh these days what with all the police death squads and that. All the worst aspects of Cersei and Joffrey.
