Recommended music: Iron Maiden – Run To The Hills
This #WhateverWednesday is also #WesterosWednesday. HBO’s Game of Thrones just turned 15, so let’s run to the hills of Westeros and check out the Funko Game of Thrones Legacy Collection White Walker!
During the first four seasons of Game of Thrones, the White Walkers are a constant, looming threat that stands in stark contrast to the political squabbles in Westeros. While the Great Houses fight over the Iron Throne, the Walkers bring a much bigger, supernatural danger from the Far North.
At first, the White Walkers are seen mostly as scary stories or old legends. They set the mood for the series right from the “cold open” in the first episode, showing that the stakes are high. Because they rarely appear, they create a strong sense of dread.
As the show goes on, the White Walkers change from being myths to real threats. In season 2, they show up as a huge army at the Fist of the First Men, proving they are organized and dangerous. By season 3, Samwell Tarly kills one with Dragonglass, showing how they can be defeated. Finally, season 4 reveals how they add to their numbers by turning Craster’s sons into Walkers, and it introduces the Night King as their leader.
Essentially, their role during the first half of the HBO series is to remind the audience that while the “Game” is played with words and swords, the real war is between life and death.
When Season Four was released in 2014, Funko tried something different from its usual Pop! vinyl figures. Gentle Giant created the Legacy Collection of 1/12 scale figures, and the White Walker #04 is still one of the best, thanks to its amazing sculpt. Based on the creature from the Season 2 finale, it has detailed, craggy skin and textured clothing that often look better than those on newer figures at this scale and price point.
However, this figure is known for having quality control problems. The plastic is brittle, especially at the wrists and ankles, which can break if you move them without warming them up first. My figure has remained intact and can be posed in many ways with the 20 points of articulation, but the clear crystal spear has broken several times. 😛 It’s a great accessory, but you have to be very careful with it.
I’ll share more toys from Westeros next week. Happy 15th anniversary, Game of Thrones!
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