‘Game of Thrones’ is leaving its mark on New Zealand f Ink-redible tribute
GAME of Thrones is leaving its mark on Kiwi viewers. And for some fans like Kitty Stabler it’s a more permanent one.
Stabler has been an avid watcher of the TV series sensation since the begin
ning and at the end of last year she got a tattoo of main character Daenerys Targaryen on her upper left arm.
The portrait of the show’s ‘‘Mother of Dragons’’ is surrounded by blue gladioli which represent strength of character, faithfulness and honour.
‘‘She was always my favourite character,’’ Stabler told Sunday News. ‘‘I’ve always had a thing for dragons since I was a little kid.’’
Stabler said she had an affinity for Daenerys (played by English actress Emilia Clarke) as a strong but feminine character.
The 22-year-old qualified designer said she wasn’t surprised by the show’s popularity, as people were easily gripped by the driven storyline.
‘‘It’s the next Lord of the Rings.’’
Stabler loved the Game of Thrones season-four finale, which screened last week.
Without giving too much away, the finale reaffirmed what fans already knew, that no character was safe, she said. George R. R. Martin, the author of the books the TV show is based on, was a ‘‘realist’’ who did not save the cast from impossible situations, she said.
Stabler said she got her first tattoo when she was 16. She has added a further seven to her collection and didn’t plan to stop there.
She already had a tattoo of a dragon planned out to go with her Daenerys piece.
Brock Fidow, from Otautahi Tattoo on Karangahape Rd in Auckland, who did Stabler’s Game of Thrones- inspired piece, said he was also a big fan of the show.
It was the only Game of Thrones work the tattoo artist had done so far but he had heard of other Kiwis getting ink based on the TV show.
Fidow and Stabler found it difficult to pick their favourite male characters from the show’s extensive cast.
Daenerys was always my favourite character. I’ve always had a thing for dragons since I was a little kid.’
KITTY STABLER
But according to online lifestyle site Popsugar. com.au, the hunkiest star is Jon Snow (played by English actor Kit Harington).
Game of Thrones screened in New Zealand on Sky Television’s SoHo channel.
Sky Television spokeswoman Kirsty Way said the company would not reveal the viewership numbers for the show but it was well-watched and the network intended to show the next season when it was released.
‘‘ Game of Thrones is one of the most popular if not the most popular show on SoHo,’’ Way said.
The show was also in demand on Sky’s mobile device service Sky Go, she said.
Sky’s free-to-air channel Prime is showing season three of the show on Tuesdays at 9.30pm. Inked in: Kitty Stabler, right, is such a fan of that she had a tattoo of the show’s ‘‘Mother of Dragons’’, left done by Brock Fidow. Jon Snow, played by English actor Kit Harrington, above, has been voted the hunkiest character.