At the time of this article’s posting, there are only two episodes left of what fans have deemed “the greatest show on television.” Wow.
And yet, even the greatest can make mistakes. Nope, this isn’t about to be a (valid) intellectual critique of how Game of Thrones has turned into “fan fiction” in some ways; this is about a set design slip-up. This is about a damn coffee order.
(Writer’s Note: Yes, there is a reference to a Season 8, Episode 4, “The Last of the Starks” major spoiler below. The North has warned you.)
Amidst Jon Snow’s drunken celebration, there’s a quick glimpse of what looks to be a Tall order of Starbucks coffee, presumably something to keep actress Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) warm and alert.
Oops. Yeahhhh, I don’t think Starbucks is in the Westeros canon.
This video not only made me guffaw at the script coordinator or production designer’s mishap—or, more likely, their propensity to not give a fuck during this series’ last season—but it made me wonder about the legendary Unburnt’s Starbucks order. But, that’s just my imagination.
I imagine Dany’s’ typical Starbucks: Winterfell order would shift between the following, depending on her mood. And yes, Missandei from the Isle of Naath (R.I.P. to my homegirl, whew I’m still pissed about this) would order it for her:
1. Grande Dragonfruit Refresher
2. Tall Half-Caffe Latte, No-Foam, 1,100 Degrees Fahrenheit
3. Venti Jon Snow White Mocha
Plus, when prompted to give a name for the order, Missandei would of course announce her queen’s full title—Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, the Mother of Dragons, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Chains—and the barista would naturally spell every single title incorrectly.
Oh! Just in case you’re waiting with bated breath—don’t worry—Michael Harriot’s beloved Black Person’s Guide to Game of Thrones will be here for regularly scheduled programming.
Update: Monday, 5/6/2019, 4:40 p.m. ET:
“Starbucks Cup” continues to trend on Twitter and even the Game of Thrones executives are chiming in on the discussion. One of the show’s executive producers, Bernie Caulfield actually apologized, just in case some of you are actually taking this seriously, despite IMDb dedicating entire pages to goofs and continuity errors. This ... ain’t a new phenomenon.
“I can’t believe [it]!” she said on WYNC’s All Of It. “Our on-set prop people and decorators are so on it one thousand percent. I just honestly can’t—I’m like, is that really? Because nowadays you can’t believe what you see because people can put things into a photo that really doesn’t exist. But I guess maybe it was there, I’m not sure. But, yeah. We’re sorry! Westeros was the first place to actually to have Starbucks; it’s a little known fact.”
The sense of humor at the end is appreciated.
HBO also (hilariously) released an official statement on the matter via press release:
The latte that appeared in the episode was a mistake. Daenerys had ordered an herbal tea.