He’s the man that started the beginning of the end for Westeros in Game of Thrones. Not content with philandering and raising an army of bastards, King Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) and his penchant for beer and animal brutality left him on the wrong end of a boar’s tusks and bleeding out in the middle of season 1. This left the Throne’s lineage hotly debated, to put it mildly.
However, just when we thought we’d seen the last of (deep breath) Robert of the House Baratheon, the First of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, there seems to be hints that he may still have a role to play in the upcoming final season of the HBO fantasy series.
Whilst visiting the Game of Thrones wrap party, the former Khal Drogo, Jason Mamoa, ‘grammed a picture of himself celebrating with cast members including Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryan), Isaac Hempstead Wright (Brandon Stark), John Bradley (Samwell Tarly) and Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm). Most notable, of course, was Mark Addy himself, the former King Robert Baratheon.
Of course, it could be that Addy was simply visiting the set as was Momoa (or was he?!). However, Bran Stark’s evolving Warg powers have allowed us to witness other characters whilst in their youth, from Hodor when he could still string a sentence together, to a young Eddard Stark on a mission to ‘save’ sister Lyanna from Rhaegar Targaryen.
As much as season 8 needs the forward momentum to provide a satisfying denouement to the series, there’s still a rich backstory and history to Westeros that Game of Thrones fans are always eager to explore, right? Valar morghulis.