What Can Game of Thrones Teach Us About Relationships?

I?m massively addicted to Game of Thrones (GoT) and I think it?s one of the best written, produced, and acted shows on television. It doesn?t hurt that it?s epic fantasy, one of my favorite genres. If you?ve been living under a rock and haven?t seen it yet, go steal your buddy?s HBO GO login and rip through all three seasons this asap.

One thing I like about GoT is it has a lot to say about the relationships between men and women?you could even argue the whole show is about relationships. I?d like to extract a few of those relationship nuggets from the show and share here.

1. Being articulate and having good body language can get you laid.

One of my favorite characters is Tyrion Lannister, the brother of the queen and uber-knight Jamie Lannister?he also happens to be a dwarf. Played by actor Peter Dinklage, Tyrion gets tons of tail despite his physical handicap and much of that happens through excellent verbal game and good body language. Tyrion is also a case study in how good public speaking can win hearts and battles, as he gives a couple of rousing pre-battle speeches in season 1 and season 2 that helps to turn the tide. His speaking skills and cleverness saves his butt numerous times.

Tyrion has many of the best lines in the show and he?s fun to watch every time he?s on screen. Check him out and see if your verbal game compares

2. Women have a lot of power.

One of the best lines in the show comes when Queen Cersei Lannister says, ?Power is power,? before nearly killing Littlefinger after he proposes that ?knowledge is power.?

On this show, knowledge is powerful, but Cersei is the queen and she plays the political game like a true matriarch, pulling the strings while Robert is king (she was instrumental in killing Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King) and then running the kingdom while Joffrey wears the crown. Running the kingdom is tough work, but the chicks are getting it done.

Tyrion has fallen for a prostitute (Shae) and she manipulates him whenever she gets a chance, working her way up to hanging around the court at King?s Landing on Tyrion?s dime.

Oh yeah, let?s not forget Daenerys Targaryen, who is raising a trio of kickass dragons and plans to rampage on Westeros the first chance she gets.

Chicks are major influencers on this show, just like they are in real life.

3. Family is everything.

Tywin Lannister, played by Brit thespian Charles Dance, pounds home the creed that ?family is everything.? He scolds Tyrion for drinking, gambling, and screwing his time away in season 3, when he should be helping to advance the House of Lannister to further heights. Tywin is right and it?s a lesson we should all take to heart. Family comes first; our own selfish pleasures a distant second. Consider leveraging your relationships for the good of the house.