Matching 50 Game of Thrones characters with each of the 50 states

North Dakota: Bran Stark

The animated series Family Guy hilariously nailed the plight of North Dakota during a cutaway gag from their episode “Baking Bad.” “Do you like South Dakota but don’t wanna see Mount Rushmore?” it jokes, pointing out the distinct lack of major sites or entertainment centers. “North Dakota: We’re not even the best Dakota!”

While I certainly don’t think that North Dakota is at all a lame state, this Family Guy bit pins down how isolated and rural the Peace Garden State is. North Dakota is a wide-open state with plenty of parks and museums to draw people in. It’s this faraway, outdoorsy quality that makes it a good fit for GoT’s resident warg, Bran Stark.

Most of Bran’s story is spent journeying from Winterfell up beyond the Wall to the home of the Three-Eyed Raven. Although he is aided by Hodor and the Reed siblings, the trip is perilous. They have to deal with a constant barrage of snow and an army of wights. Even once they’ve arrived at their destination, they aren’t truly safe, and are eventually forced to leave and head out into the dangerous elements.

Oftentimes, their surroundings feel very much like North Dakota. There are more animals than people, the ground is blanketed white, and everything feels a world away from Winterfell. That’s what we see when we think of young Bran.