‘Game of Thrones’: The Evolution of the Mountain, Pt. 1

As the final Season of HBO’s Game of Thrones draws near, one of the more highly anticipated events will be what fans have lovingly called: the “Clegane Bowl.” This is the much awaited clash of the Brothers Clegane. On one side, Ser Gregor Clegane, previously known by his very descriptive moniker, the “Mountain That Rides”or “The Mountain,” but now known as Ser Robert Strong, Resident Zombie, Kingsguard and personal protector for Queen Cersei Lannister. On the other side, his younger brother, Sandor Clegane known as the “Hound.” He was originally the personal protector for then Prince Joffrey Baratheon and later King Joffrey. This position ended when he made the personal ( and wise choice if you ask me, which you didn’t) choice of not getting burned up by wildfire for him or anyone else. (I’ll leave out the details of how he announced his resignation). At this time, he is a “member” of the Brothers without Borders and allied with Daenerys Targaryen and the Starks.

In preparation for this coming conflict and in conjunction with our Game of Thrones series review, it is only right and prudent to discuss the history of the combatants, starting with the only character who has had three different actors play him in the series, “The Mountain.”

Ser Gregor Clegane was originally vassal to Tywin Lannister. Towering over most men, he was a fearsome warrior, but had earned a reputation for brutality that was well deserved. This manifested itself at an early age when as children, Gregor shoved young Sandor’s face into a brazier for playing with his toy, gruesomely scarring him. Over the course of his service to House Lannister, he has committed numerous war crimes, but he is most infamous for the brutality he committed on the Targaryen royal family. Clegane was one of the first Lannister soldiers to enter King’s Landing during its sack at the end of Robert Baratheon’s rebellion. He raped and murdered Princess Elia, and murdered her children Rhaenys and Aegon. Needless to say, this act caused a deep grudge for House Martell with “The Mountain” and a deep seated hatred of House Lannister who they suspect gave the order. This incident will result in consequences later in the series.

The “Mountain” was first introduced into HBO’s Game of Thrones in the first season. Tywin Lannister sends him to raid the Riverlands in response to Catelyn Stark’s capture of his son. As news of his cruelty is reported, Beric Dondarrion is sent by the Warden of the North and the King’s Hand, Ser Eddard Stark to arrest Ser Gregor. After war breaks out, Gregor is given command of Tywin’s vanguard and left flank and leads his men. Not through his knowledge of military tactics but through brutality and intimidation. In this incarnation of “The Mountain,” he is portrayed by Conan Stevens, who standing at 7ft and 315lbs, certainly embodied the character. If there is a signature action to show audiences who they were dealing with, it was in the episode “The Wolf and the Lion.” In this episode Ser Gregor, in a fit of anger after losing a joust against the “Knight of Flowers,” reacted by cutting off his own horse’s head. It was the show’s first presentation of his famous temper and the first standoff between the “Mountain” and The Hound.” It was also Conan’s only season as “The Mountain.” The reasons for this seemed to be more logistical than anything else, as Conan explains:

“Being an actor this is something I am not really privy to,” says Stevens. “There was obviously a production team meeting and the decision was made. My initial contract was only for the first season, unlike some of the other actors, and I did wonder about there not at least being an option for future seasons.”

“I was on The Hobbit at the time in New Zealand still as the practical Bolg character. My best guess would be it was as a cost-cutting measure as the character only was featured for about three seconds in the second season. So the choice was to fly me first(class or business) from NZ with all associated costs or use Ian Whyte who was already on set. I know what I would choose if my job was to save money.”

As previously mentioned, Conan was the first to play “The Mountain” and set the standard for how fans thought he should look. Coming up next, “The Mountain” version 2.0 or as some fans have referred to him, “The Tree That Rides.” Give us your thoughts on the first version of the Mountain. As always, we invite your comments here at GVNation.