Game Of Thrones: 13 Things You Learn Rewatching Season 1

11. Varys' Allegiances

Varys game of thrones
HBO

Like with Petyr Baelish, Varys' motivations were often unclear in the earlier seasons of Game of Thrones. The Spider would spin webs and whisper to his little birds, and the only thing we could trust is that we couldn't trust him. One of his finest moments in Season 1 comes in his conversation with Illyrio Mopatis, overheard by Arya, as they talk of it being too soon, of Drogo's army crossing the Narrow Sea, and with Varys saying: "This is no longer a game for two players, it never was."

There are hints to a bigger plot, but it's kept deliberately vague there, and rarely revisited afterwards. Just after this, Varys supports King Robert's plan to have Daenerys killed.

We're clearly not supposed to think much of it after that, which is why Varys revealing his allegiances to Daenerys Targaryen comes as something of a surprise in Season 5. Now, we know he's always been working for the good of the realm, and his goal - even if it wasn't totally clear (and they may even have had plans for Aegon at that point) - was established right back in Season 1. Varys is the game's greatest player.

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.