‘Game of Thrones’
Did Good for the Disabled, But …
Bran the Broken? Really???
5/21/2019 12:40 AM PDT
EXCLUSIVE
“Game of Thrones” broke down barriers for the disabled community during its 8-year run … a fact that’s earning the show high praise, even though one group says producers made a big flub in the finale.
Felicia Nurmsen — a top dog at the National Organization on Disability — tells TMZ … the hit HBO show gets tons of props for working on behalf of those with disabilities, ’cause it didn’t shy away from the subject and served as a pretty accurate mirror to our society, even in a fantasy setting.
Specifically, Nurmsen says she’s impressed with the story lines and ultimate fates of 2 of the most prominent characters with disabilities on ‘GoT’ – Tyrion Lannister and Bran Stark.
She says even though wheelchair-bound Bran and Tyrion, a little person, were often written off by other characters, they landed in powerful positions in the end by resorting to natural born (or divinely-gained) gifts.
SPOILER ALERT – if you’re not among the 19 mil who watched Sunday night.
Bran is named King of Westeros and Tyrion becomes his hand.
That said … Nurmsen can’t help but point out the irony that even when a disabled person reaches the highest point — the Iron Throne — ‘GoT’ writers leaned into the narrative that disabled people aren’t whole.
Case in point … Tyrion and co. end up dubbing their new king, “Bran the Broken.” You could see that as an attempt to embrace his disability as a good thing, but Nurmsen suggests it’s problematic.
Two steps up, one step back?