George R.R. Martin is credited with creating some of the greatest literary characters ever made. Through what we believe would have been a process full of deep thought, meticulous planning, and countless revisions, the author must have spent hours crafting the perfect characters for the complex world of Westeros. However, on the other side, one such brilliant character seemed to have emerged almost effortlessly.
Such was the case for Bronn, the menacing, sword-for-hire, who ends up being a personal guard for Tyrion Lannister. Martin once admitted that even he, as an author, was shocked with the way the character came up and became an integral part of the tale of Westeros.
George R.R. Martin on creating Bronn of the Blackwater
Being a writer isn’t easy; even with ‘creative flare,’ it involves a lot of thinking and planning. As a result, most authors spend hours coming up with well-thought-of characters who fit the storyline. While George R.R. Martin might have done the same, given the complex, layered, and intricate world he created, the author once revealed that crafting Bronn was easier than one could think.
During an interview at the Wheeler Centre about 10 years back, the author was asked if anything about the books surprised him that he wasn’t expecting to end up becoming a major deal. In his response, Martin explained that it surprised him when ‘characters push to the forefront and become more important than you thought they would be.’
He then revealed how this is what happened with Bronn:
Bronn’s a clear example of character that really grew in the act of writing. I knew that I didn’t want Tyrion to die in the hands of Lysa Arryn. I knew someone had to step forward and fight for his behalf…
Martin referred to Tyrion’s trial at the Eyrie event in book one. During the trial, Bronn stepped up by fighting on his behalf in a trial by combat and killed Ser Vardis Egen. The author then went on to reflect that two characters could have ended up earning Tyrion’s favor, but surprisingly, it was Bronn who stepped up.
Even after Tyrion survived and hired Bronn, Martin feared that Tyrion would just discard him one day, but as we all know, that didn’t entirely happen that way. Today, Tyrion and Bronn are one of the most iconic duos from the world of Game of Thrones.
The reason why fans love Tyrion and Bronn
The world of Westeros has no shortage of iconic duos, but none have captured the audiences like the way Tyrion Lannister and Bronn do. While one is a sharp-witted nobleman with a knack for politics and getting his hands dirty, the other is a cunning and self-derving sword-for-hire who only fights when the money is right.
Despite their differences, over the course of the story, the duo have become fan-favorites for their hilarious back-and-forths, cruel jabs at one another, and sarcasm. Their relationship might have started out of servitude, but it evolved into one based on mutual respect (even though both won’t admit to it), humor, and an unspoken understanding of survival in a world as brutal as Westeros.
While Tyrion is intelligent, sarcastic, and has the ability to outmaneuver even the most dangerous players in Westeros, Bronn is rogue, unbothered by politics, and money is all he cares about. Their contrasting personalities creates an entertaining dynamic, forming a compelling partnership that fans can’t seem to get enough of. A friendship built on convenience, it takes the shape of genuine camaraderie, leading them to become one of the most iconic and beloved duos of Game of Thrones.
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