In earlier seasons, Cersei’s appearance could be defined by her flowing, golden Lannister hair. However, before she was publicly shamed by the High Septon her hair was shorn short.
With the inconsistent, clashing timelines of Game of Thrones, fans had expected the growth of Cersei’s hair to be indicative of how many months or years are passing us by in Westeros.
Clearly a large, yet undefined, period of time has passed. Characters have changed and changed again, but not Cersei’s hair…
Both Cersei and Tyene Sand had similarly short hair around the time of Cersei’s walk of shame episode, however when we last saw Tyene, meeting her gruesome dungeon fate, her hair was shoulder length.
So clearly Cersei is making the choice to keep her hair this length, despite the fact she didn’t choose this striking look, never mind how it must bring back some pretty horrible memories. But why?
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A Joanna Robinson points out in Vanity Fair, everything about Cersei’s appearance is deliberate. With the short hair came the darker, warrior like clothes, as she is ‘reborn’ after the deaths of her children.
Her maternal instincts once helped to shape her lioness identity but now she is looking for a new means of showing her strength…
Some fans are pointing out how Cersei could be mirroring the look of her late father Tywin, trying to invoke his masculine strength. We know how Cersei was once frustrated by her limited role as a woman, once commenting to King Robert: ‘I should wear the armour and you the gown’.
This harsher look could be a way to distance herself from being a ‘great beauty’, instead receiving the sort of respect she has seen given to the men in her life…
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.