Learn how Game of Thrones stops cyber attacks, how George R.R. Martin makes you cry, and more

(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Today in random Game of Thrones news, Israeli cyber soldiers train with a GoT-inspired simulation, this one guy nails impressions of our favorite characters preparing meals for a celebrity chef, and one fan has some terrific insights in George R.R. Martin’s approach to empathy (or lack thereof). It’s a big bowl of Game of Thrones potpourri.

First, The Washington Post reports on an interesting story from Israel: to better train soldiers how to respond to cyber attacks, the Israeli Defense Force splits cadets into teams, each corresponding to a great house of Westeros. Houses Bolton, Lannister, Stark, Targaryen, and Martell are all represented. Then, to quote the Post, “White Walkers (aka the cyber trainers) send an evil computer-born virus to each family.” The team to defeat the virus fastest and best wins, and gets to sit the Iron Throne.

Naturally, the Game of Thrones theme song plays in the background the entire time. “We know every note of the song by now,” one soldier quipped.

The idea of incorporating Game of Thrones is to keep morale up and to interest young recruits. It worked for at least one trainee. “Because it is ‘Game of Thrones,’ it is a much more enjoyable exercise and it feels like we are really involved in a war,” he said.

And who, exactly, are the real-world equivalent of the White Walkers so far as the Israeli Defense Force is concerned? “That’s a state secret,” said the same trainee. “My lips are sealed.”

The virus has landed.

So before anyone gets court-martialed, let’s move on to perhaps the greatest batch of Thrones impressions you will ever see. A new video from impressionist and comedian Scheiffer Bates has surfaced—you may remembering delivering a kickass impression of Jon Snow on Jimmy Kimmel Live! This video has a twist: Bates impersonates Thrones characters as they would be if they prepared their favorite meals for celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Naturally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG4RibZb8Ww&feature=youtu.be

Scheiffer’s impressions are spot on. He even gets in little details, like Ser Davos’ difficulty with reading. Brilliant. If you enjoyed that, be sure to check out his YouTube page for more hilarity.

Last but not least, YouTuber Sage Rants breaks down how Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin makes us all care so damn much. (Hint: the secret isn’t naked women or dragons.) As Sage explains, and I agree whole heartedly, Martin is the master of eliciting empathy in fans. Have a watch:

A lot of this makes sense, particularly the bit about how Martin gives his characters disabilities so we’ll sympathize with them. Jon Snow is a bastard, Tyrion is a dwarf, and pretty much all the women in the series are at a disadvantage because they’re living in a violent patriarchy. No wonder we can’t help but root for them.

And as for those characters who aren’t disabled to begin with, Martin has them suffer a great loss. (Jaime loses his sword hand, Theon loses his manhood, etc.) That’s an excellent way to make us care about characters who weren’t sympathetic to begin with.

And finally there’s relativity. Jaime may have done some terrible things, but when compared to the likes of Joffrey or Ramsay Bolton, it’s not hard to sympathize with him.

After seeing this breakdown, it seems clear that Martin isn’t just a master writer, but a master manipulator as well. And for that, we thank him. And curse him. Tywin was my favorite character, George; how could you?