Now that Game of Thrones season 7 is over and done, people are now talking about the important topics. For example, famed scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson is weighing in on the physics of the show through Twitter.
First, Dr. Tyson made sure spoiler-phobes were cleared out of the room before beginning the lesson.
Everybody all caught up on #GameOfThrones? I have a comment or two, if anybody is interested…
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) September 24, 2017
So are the things that happened in season 7 physically possible? For the most part, Tyson gave the season a passing grade, except for one part that, to be fair, left a lot of us scratching our heads:
I thought the frozen dead dudes couldn’t swim, but aside from that…
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) September 24, 2017
I mean, how else did the Night King get those chains around Viserion if the wights didn’t swim down and attach them? Maybe Jon was just lying to Euron when he said that wights couldn’t swim, on account of Euron being a huge jerk.
Bad Physics in #GameOfThrones: Pulling a dragon out of a lake? Chains need to be straight, and not curve over hill and dale. pic.twitter.com/VIJlIuDz3L
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) September 24, 2017
Well, yes, Neil deGrasse Tyson, pulling the dead dragon out of that lake would have been much easier had the Night King thought of renting a crane or two…or maybe using those giants from the season premiere. Don’t think we don’t remember them, HBO!
Next, Tyson addressed the physics of dragon flight. Surprisingly, he approves.
Good Bio-Physics in #GameOfThrones: The Dragon Wingspans are sensibly large, as their body weight would require for flight. pic.twitter.com/gzD5wI38u5
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) September 24, 2017
Good Biology in #GameOfThrones: As in #LordOfTheRings, Dragons forfeited their forelimbs to make wings, like birds & bats. pic.twitter.com/pguBe6rosQ
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) September 24, 2017
And what of the blue fire Viserion blew at the end of the season?
Intriguing Thermal Physics in #GameOfThrones: BlueDragon breath would be at least a factor of 3X hotter than RedDragon breath pic.twitter.com/RvpBkqJ1sw
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) September 24, 2017
The real head-scratcher is how fire can break through the Wall when it’s protected by thousands of years spells, not how hot it is.
Finally, Tyson took a break from physics to give us a lesson in courtly etiquette.
In the #GameOfThrones Universe, to "bend the knee" represents the very highest form of respect and loyalty.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) September 25, 2017
Thank you, Neil deGrasse Tyson; we hadn’t picked that up.
Next: Is Game of Thrones filming multiple endings? Nikolaj Coster-Waldau says no
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