Game of Thrones rarely depicts its characters having a good time. Nobles and knights frequently sacrifice their lives and happiness for their honor. Sadists and evildoers sometimes enjoy their terrible actions, but their revelry typically ends in brutal punishment. Those without power are subject to the whims of the miserable people chained to their family legacy. Thoros of Myr breaks Game of Thrones tradition by earning the blessings of his Red God while spending most of his time drinking, sleeping around, and stumbling into magic.
The fantastical elements of Game of Thrones come in several styles. Some feats evoke sorcery similar to a wizard from Lord of the Rings. Others are explainable through science but are misconstrued as mysticism. Religious characters call on their deities for help, but only special examples demonstrate genuine divine intervention. Thoros of Myr is a rare figure who simultaneously wields fake magic and real superpowers.
Who is Thoros of Myr in A Song of Ice and Fire?
Thoros of Myr is the most fascinating red priest in Westeros. Born in the Free City of Myr, Thoros’ father left him on the steps of a Red Temple shortly after his birth. The worshipers of R’hllor took Thoros in and raised him to be a red priest, teaching him the ways of the Lord of Light. Despite his pious upbringing, Thoros developed a deep affection for fighting, drinking, and sex. His first proper assignment was a fool’s errand. The Red Temple sent him to King’s Landing to convert Aerys II Targaryen, the notorious Mad King. Aerys II was obsessed with fire, but his fixation didn’t translate to religious fervor, leading Thoros to question his faith.
Thoros pursued his other interests, leading him to form a brotherly bond with the new King Robert Baratheon after his successful uprising. He gained notoriety for fighting against the Greyjoy Rebellion, helping to cement Robert’s hold on the Seven Kingdoms. Thoros’ fighting style, covering cheap swords in wildfire to strike fear into enemy hearts, made him one of the most striking combatants in Westeros. He bested Sandor “The Hound” Clegane in three melees. Thoros loves tournaments. His first appearance in the books depicts him defeating Beric Dondarrion in a joust. He later joins Beric’s band of warriors assembled by Eddard Stark to hunt down Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane. When King Joffrey executes Eddard, sparking the War of the Five Kings, Beric and Thoros turn their company to the cause of sabotaging Lannister supply lines.
Gregor Clegane proves harder to catch than anticipated, resulting in an ambush that leaves Beric dead. As Thoros conducts the traditional last kiss, breathing fire into the mouths of the dead to cleanse them as they pass, Beric mysteriously leaps back to life. Thoros expresses shock, but his newfound gift from the Red God reignites his religious fervor, leading him to pursue justice through R’hllor’s example. Thoros and Beric form the brotherhood without banners, dedicating themselves to protecting the smallfolk from pillaging soldiers. Thoros would revive Beric several times, each occasion surprising him as much as the last. His faith deepened, allowing him to see visions in flames. Beric eventually passed when he gave his flame of life to the late Catelyn Stark, who later returned as Lady Stoneheart and took over the brotherhood. Thoros fights with his team, but his new leader’s methods trouble him. He describes his newfound piety to Sandor Clegane like this:
Yet I am not the false priest you knew. The Lord of Light has woken in my heart. Many powers long asleep are waking, and there are forces moving in the land. I have seen them in my flames.
Who is Thoros of Myr in Game of Thrones?
Thoros’ story is similar in the HBO adaptation but continues well beyond the books’ current ending. The series omits Lady Stoneheart, instead seeing the brotherhood without banners capture Gendry Baratheon. Thoros reluctantly sells the boy to Melisandre, a fellow red priest. His six successful resurrections of Beric inspire Melisandre to revive Jon Snow. He and his brotherhood fight the White Walkers with Sandor Clegane on behalf of the Night’s Watch. Thoros tragically dies in the battle, freezing to death in a frozen lake. Beric mourns, burning his body with his flaming sword to ensure his friend can rest in peace.
Who plays Thoros of Myr in Game of Thrones?
Paul Kaye portrayed Thoros in Game of Thrones. The English actor and comedian attained notoriety in the 90s series, The Sunday Show. He later killed off his Sunday Show character for his MTV series, Strutter. Recently, he appeared alongside Simon Pegg in the black comedy film Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose. His most recent TV role saw him portray Francis Foulkes in Pennyworth. His character was a bizarre predecessor to V from V for Vendetta, adding another compellingly confusing element to The Origin of Batman’s Butler. Kaye’s career is endlessly engaging, and his performance as Thoros brings the character to life beautifully.
Thoros of Myr is a wise, complicated man who reaps the rewards of a god with confusing morals. He fell into most of his opportunities, but his gratitude and kindness make him a rarity in Westeros. Game of Thrones is a story about terrible people doing awful things, but in Thoros of Myr, fans can finally find a hero. It seems fitting that a moral paragon in Westeros would be a drunken, lustful maniac with a burning sword.
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