Consanguinity Memes

Nothing ruins fantasy TV like having a PhD in genetics. While everyone else is gasping at plot twists, geneticists are just screaming "THAT'S YOUR SISTER!" at the screen. Game of Thrones really took the whole "keeping bloodlines pure" concept and ran with it, much to the horror of anyone who understands recessive traits and genetic disorders. The Targaryens and Lannisters would have made fascinating case studies if they weren't, you know, fictional characters busy making terrible reproductive choices. Next time you watch, remember: that family tree isn't branching, it's basically a wreath.