Game of Thrones' Translator Snuck in a Monty Python Joke in Valyrian
You probably won't be shocked to learn that the showrunners of Game of Thrones are big Monty Python geeks, but the Holy Grail easter egg they slipped into a scene earlier this season might surprise you. Unless you speak Low Valyrian, anyway.
In the episode "Breaker of Chains" (Season 4, Episode 3), sellsword leader Daario Naharis fights the Champion of Meereen on Daenerys Targaryen's behalf. Prior to the duel, the Meerenese champion shouts at Dany in Low Valyrian, starting with the word "mhysa"—"mother." What is he saying? "Mother of Dragons?"
Nope. According to Game of Thrones' staff linguist, David Peterson, "he's actually saying a Low Valyrian translation of the French guy's insults in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. "
Some keen-eared fans actually caught the joke, but nobody seems to have figured out the whole thing until now.
"They know that something's going on," Peterson said, "Right after that episode aired, I was getting tweets like, 'Is he saying a 'your momma' joke?' Close… But no, he's actually starting out with, 'Your mother is a hamster.'"
Is Daenerys Hamsterborn, first of her name, daughter of the King Who Smelt of Elderberries, now canon? George R.R. Martin needs to weigh in on this.