George R. R. Martin says most violent ‘Game Of Thrones’ moments inspired by death of his childhood pet turtles

Who knew turtle murder was behind the hit HBO show.

Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin has shared details of the unlikely inspiration behind the show’s obsession with death.

Speaking as he was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, Martin spoke of dealing with loss during his childhood, and how it impacted the books he went on to right.

Martin spoke specifically of a large number of pet turtles he owned as a child, and how their deaths led him to make up far-fetched fantasies about their demises.


“I don’t think the food they give you—the little shakers of turtle food—were really very nutritious. So my turtles were always dying, which broke my heart, and I had to come up with some explanation as to why they were dying.”

Game of Thrones
‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8

He continued: “I decided they were murdering each other – they lived in a castle, and obviously they were knights and kings, and princes, and they were competing for the turtle throne so they were murdering each other.”

Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju revealed recently that an alternate finale scene was shot by the cast. The broadcasted climax has been critically panned, with a fan-made petition to remake the much-maligned ending almost reaching the 2 million mark.

After the news came out, the show’s Dean-Charles Chapman suggested that the release of the alternate ending to the show could “mend the fans’ hearts” following the show’s controversial finale.





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