New Game of Thrones Series at EICAR: Decoding Hidden Narratives with Graham’s Theory
On the occasion of the release of the new TV show in the Game of Thrones saga, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, EICAR welcomed Damien Maric and Henry Jockey for a masterclass dedicated to the Graham Theory, an analytical approach that uncovers hidden layers of meaning in films and TV series, revealing concealed codes and sometimes even alternative endings.
The Graham Theory: Reading Works Beyond Their Apparent Frame
Following the screening of the first episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Damien Maric (producer and author) and Henry Jockey (director and editor) met students to present the Graham Theory. At the heart of their approach lies the idea that while a work often has a dominant, widely accepted interpretation, this reading is not always sufficient to grasp its full scope. Some filmmakers, constrained by production or broadcasting frameworks, deliberately embed messages, symbols, or parallel narrative structures intended for the most attentive viewers. The final step? Once the hidden meaning has been decoded, Damien Maric and Henry Jockey question the creators themselves to verify the validity of their theories.
A Rigorous and Cinematic Method of Analysis
Damien Maric and Henry Jockey supported their presentation with numerous examples drawn from the history of cinema and television series: Basic Instinct, Blade Runner, Under the Silver Lake, Columbo, Jaws, Interstellar, The Shining, Signs, and Inception, among other, works that, in their view, contain unsuspected layers of interpretation.
Their method is based on meticulous work: frame-by-frame analysis, close reading of dialogue, study of visual motifs, objects, and relationships between characters, as well as consideration of elements external to the work itself, such as books, interviews, or statements by the creators. This in-depth process requires time:
“A theory that takes less than five minutes to present may require several months of research.”
Game of Thrones: Decoding a Multi-Layered Universe
During the masterclass, the speakers applied this analytical framework to the Game of Thrones universe. Through an explanatory film, they demonstrated how the series plays with symbols and details: the gemstones worn by certain lineages, the ownership of daggers, unexpected alliances, each serving as clues that contribute to a deeper narrative.
They also reminded the audience that George R.R. Martin himself claims he did not “write” his books, but rather presented them as a translation of stories passed down by the maesters, a narrative device that further enhances the complexity of the universe.
The event concluded with a book signing of their work Énigmes du 7e art: Révélations sur vos films et séries cultes, published last November by Gallimard, extending the discussion around their analytical method and their passion for hidden narratives.
A Meeting in Harmony with EICAR’s Educational Philosophy
The school trains writers, directors, and analysts capable of questioning narratives, images, and storytelling structures beyond their apparent obviousness. Understanding how a work can contain multiple layers of meaning, how a filmmaker engages in dialogue with their audience, and how cinema and television series can sometimes break the fourth wall, these are all essential reflections for the creators of tomorrow.