If You're A 'GOT' Fan, The 'Brexit' Result Is More Important Than You Think

If you're an American, unless you're in finance or government, there's a good chance you haven't been paying a whole lot of attention to Brexit — the United Kingdom's referendum on whether to leave the European Union.

Given the US presidential election has been quite chaotic (and strange at times), one can hardly blame you for being a bit preoccupied. But Brexit is massively important and, whether you're aware of it or not, this is an incredibly divisive issue that has the potential to completely change Europe as we know it.

The UK's economy and political system are intricately connected to the EU, and separation could be mutually disastrous.

In the interconnected world we live in, such a schism could also negatively impact global markets, and, in turn, serve to the detriment of America's economy.

If you still don't care or aren't sure why you should care, let me put it to you in a context you might understand:

THIS COULD BE REALLY BAD FOR "GAME OF THRONES." WINTER IS COMING.

Allow me to explain. Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK (and thus part of the EU), is one of the popular HBO show's primary shooting locations. While the UK remains part of the EU, "Game of Thrones" receives subsidies for filming in Northern Ireland via the EU's European Regional Development Fund, which aims to stimulate economic growth across the EU. As the Independent notes, "Game of Thrones" creates numerous jobs across the EU, and the subsidies help make this possible.

This probably won't come as much of a surprise to you, but "Game of Thrones" is an extremely expensive show. Those amazing battle scenes cost a pretty penny. So the show's ability to entertain us and make us cheer people on for doing horrible things to each other (sorry I'm not sorry, Ramsay) depends a great deal on these subsidies from the EU.

If the UK leaves the EU, Northern Ireland goes with it, and "Game of Thrones" will no longer receive this strong source of funding, threatening the show's ability to show us Jon Snow kicking ass and taking names.

Long story short, Brexit is a huge deal with potentially massive and far-reaching consequences — even in Westeros.