Eagle-eyed Game of Thrones viewers spotted a rogue disposable coffee cup that somehow made it into the final cut of Season Eight, Episode Four, “The Last of the Starks” on Sunday, for all of two seconds, prompting some hilarious and frequently ingenious responses on Twitter and other social media.
The laughter aside, it’s testament to the popularity of the show that the gaffe has been picked up across the globe, by news outlets diverse as Bloomberg, The Daily Show, Deadline, The Guardian, the New York Times, Variety – where art director Hauke Richter rose to the show’s defence – and many, more.
Joining in with the spirit of the discussion – although on Reddit, moderators of a GOT thread started to gets a bit miffed about screenshot posts – HBO joined the fray with an official response noting, presumably deadpan, “The latte that appeared in the episode was a mistake. Daenerys had ordered an herbal tea.”
Starbucks has gained the most from this – even though the rogue cup was, it’s been reported, a coffee cup from a local coffee shop near Northern Ireland location shooting for the show. The Seattle-based coffee chain suggested on Twitter an alternative prompting some quick
TBH we’re surprised she didn’t order a Dragon Drink.
— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) May 6, 2019
Bernadette Caulfield, the show’s executive producer, apologised during an interview with “Behind the Thrones” on WNYC.
“Westeros was the first place to have Starbucks, it’s a little-known fact,” she said. “If that’s the worst thing that they’re finding, we’re in good shape.”
The gaffe hasn’t diminished enthusiasm for Game of Thrones in any way for most fans, but some of the funnier responses we found on Twitter appear below. Just for posterity, you understand… and we doubt the cup will make an appearance in the Game of Thrones game, even if it does now have its own Twitter account.
Game of Thrones airs on HBO at 9.00pm Eastern time on Sunday nights in the United States and Season Eight is being simulcast at 2.00am every Monday morning on Sky Atlantic.The show also airs via NOW TV in the UK.
The final episode of the TV series airs on 19th May, but the novels continue, and creator George RR Martin has previously told reporters he’s been chained to his desk until he finishes the long-awaited next one!
You’re telling me they had TWO YEARS to put together a decent show and they couldn’t even spot the goddamn Starbucks cup in Winterfell??!?! #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/8opg7nyydv
— Jenna Guillaume (@JennaGuillaume) May 6, 2019
My inspiration to get into acting. My Grandad. Here he is on set with one of his heroes. Thanks Grandad. X #cupsareactorstoo pic.twitter.com/dnzmLT2GoH
— Game of Thrones Starbucks Cup (@GameStarbucks) May 7, 2019
Guys it’s not Starbucks, it’s Winterfell’s own coffee chain “Dire cup” #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/icM6bhXkbx
— ♉️ (@_alexalexalex) May 6, 2019
Starbucks cup wasn’t the only time they messed up#GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/hUFnIRNHSU
— Neo🔟 (@hate_chemistry) May 7, 2019
I found where she got the Starbucks cup from #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/cstnDTwnrV
— Charly (@Charly86603169) May 6, 2019
…Even worse: the GAME OF THRONES showrunners were actully *in* that infamous scene with the STARBUCKS Coffee Cup! https://t.co/MlkyrfquI1 pic.twitter.com/qIbo6QYIU4
— ComicBook NOW! (@ComicBookNOW) May 6, 2019
Winterfell Starbucks 😂 #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/Y05jmcL8DU
— Jon Snow (@LordSnow) May 6, 2019
A Starbucks must always be in Winterfell.
(Credit to johnnygigantic on Reddit)#GameOfThrones #ForTheThrone pic.twitter.com/Mx4ulWqOPM
— Lauren Campbell (@LaurenACampbell) May 6, 2019
This was at my Starbucks a couple days ago! pic.twitter.com/7Bi9CYA3UF
— Zomboy Productionz (@ZProductionz) May 6, 2019
The mystery of the Starbucks cup finally revealed. #GameOfThrones
📷 r/Freefolk pic.twitter.com/2zZvUjB9H3
— Yan® (@Ako_Si_Yan) May 7, 2019
The Starbucks cup making it into Game of Thrones may be funny, but it’s no PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE IN DOWNTON ABBEY. pic.twitter.com/bQotE0H4SK
— Chris Bratt (@bratterz) May 6, 2019
Perfectly reasonable explanation for what appears to be a Starbucks cup during the latest Game of Thrones episode. pic.twitter.com/MP6FAhKO4T
— Simon (@Tuffty88) May 6, 2019
And finally… Adobe was quick to offer their solution in time for the Blu-Ray and DVD release…
Starbucks Cup? What Starbucks Cup? Problem solved. 👍 #GameofThrones @HBO | @Starbucks | edit by @Beatlejase pic.twitter.com/XBlsXuRd1R
— Adobe After Effects (@AdobeAE) May 6, 2019
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: downthetubes News, Other Worlds, Television
What is it about Americans and their silent aitches? “an herbal tea”? They seem to say “a hotel”. Then there is “omarge” – sorry, “homage”. Crikey – they bought Louisana in 1803. You’d have thought they’d have given up all French pronunciation long ago.