The Mystery of Varys and Euron's Fleet in Game of Thrones

In Game of Thrones, the character of Varys is often portrayed as a master of information and intelligence. However, one scenes raises a key question: how could Varys not have known about Euron Greyjoy's fleet of 1000 ships?

Euron's Secrecy

Euron Greyjoy is a cunning and unpredictable character, known for his ability to keep his plans hidden from others. It is plausible that Euron deliberately kept the shipbuilding a secret, even from other factions that might have been monitoring the Iron Islands. This secrecy was a strategic move to keep his intentions and capabilities under wraps.

Varys's Limitations

While Varys has a vast network of spies and informants, his intelligence-gathering abilities have inherent limitations. His spies cannot be everywhere at once, and certain events can occur outside of his knowledge. Euron's shipbuilding project, if conducted in a secluded area, would have been beyond the reach of Varys's spies. Thus, it is possible that Varys simply did not have the accurate or timely information about the 1000 ships.

Focus on Other Threats

During the time the ships were being built, Varys and other characters were preoccupied with the immediate threats posed by Daenerys Targaryen and the looming threat of the White Walkers. This diversion of attention could have led to a lapse in information regarding Euron's activities. The immediate focus on these more pressing matters may have overshadowed the gathering of information about the ships.

Plot Device

From a narrative perspective, Varys not knowing about the ships serves to heighten tension and surprise in the storyline. It adds to the unpredictability of Euron as an antagonist and adds complexity to the political landscape in Westeros. This keeps the audience on edge and invested in the unfolding drama.

Logical Absurdity of the Plot

On a simpler and more critical note, logical absurdities increase the disbelief in the plot. The Iron Islands are accessible only by sea, and the path to King's Landing crosses Dragonstone. One of three scenarios would have to be true: either the ships could be snorkel or surface-breathing boats, they could have somehow bypassed the known path to King's Landing, or the showrunners were not paying attention to their own plot details. Any of these would have been plausible given the context of the series, rather than Varys, a man who supposedly knows everything, missing such critical information.

In the show, Euron's sudden appearance with the fleet was a strategic surprise, but it also highlights the show's narrative choices. Varys, as a character, was made increasingly ineffective and irrelevant in the latter seasons, making his oversight of such major developments understandable within the context of the story's progression.

Conclusion

While Varys is highly skilled in gathering intelligence, the combination of Euron's secretive nature, Varys's limitations, and narrative choices contribute to his lack of knowledge about the fleet. This oversight, though a logical lapse, serves to enhance the tension and surprise of the storyline, adding depth to the characters and maintaining audience engagement.

In conclusion, Varys's lack of awareness of Euron's fleet can be attributed to several factors, highlighting the complexity and unpredictability of the political landscape in Game of Thrones.