HBO is dropping production teasers at a breathtaking pace as we await an actual trailer for season 7. Thus far, the teaser have focused on our two favorite families: the Starks and the Lannisters. We have seen official footage of Jon Snow, Arya and Sansa, Oathkeeper (a Lannister sword in the hands of a Stark ally), and now new footage of Cersei Lannister. We have yet to see any major footage or teases about any of the other Houses in Westeros, or of Daenerys Targaryen, last seen heading for Westeros.
Is there any significance to this? Or is it all just a coincidence?
Over the course of the first three seasons, we saw the world of Game of Thrones expand to include houses beyond Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryens, before it started to contract in seasons 4 through 6. The Baratheons initially played an important role, but are now largely extinct. Likewise the Tyrells, who are now reduced to their matriarch Olenna. The Tullys, Arryns, and Martells Sand Snakes are around as well, but none of them are major players in the game anymore. So on some level, it makes sense that we are only seeing the Lannisters and Starks in the promotional material so far.
Daenerys absence likely has less to do with her importance to the story than it does to do with HBO wanting to save her big moments for either the official trailer or season 7 itself. Game of Thrones fans have been waiting for six seasons for Dany to make her way to Westeros, so it makes sense that HBO doesn’t want to reveal her grand arrival in a production tease. An official trailer is another story.
With HBO wanting to save Dany’s big moment for the trailer, the Starks and the Lannisters really are the only houses it has to put on display. No one is lining up to see images of Robin Arryn wiping his nose on Littlefinger’s sleeve. Of course, it should be stated that this could all just be one giant coincidence, but more likely it’s simply a matter of HBO having limited options on what it can release since many of our favorite characters are no longer with us.
Anyone have any other ideas? Let us know in the comments below!