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What’s An Ex-CIA Leader Doing On ‘Game Of Thrones’?

Last night’s “Game of Thrones,” the second installment of the hit HBO show’s six-episode final season, saw the ensemble awaiting a climactic siege on the northern holdfast of Winterfell. But little did the keepers of the castle know, as they planted bulwarks and fretted about tactics, that an expert on matters of national security was in their midst.

In-a-blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo, former Deputy CIA Director of the David S. Cohen was seen in Winterfell’s courtyard as an unnamed resident in line for a bowl of soup.

How do we know? In spy parlance, his former agency “made” him in a post on Twitter.

Fittingly, for a ex-leading sleuth, Cohen’s appearance was more discreet than that of previous high-profile figures. (Who could forget the fan furor over the appearance of that “kissed by fire” — or in non-Wilding terms, “redheaded” — troubadour Ed Sheeran?)

Cohen was none-too-pleased about the CIA’s Twitter reveal.

It seems unlikely that Cohen’s character will play a pivotal role in the war-to-come. But then again, “Game of Thrones” is a series known for its surprises.

PJ Grisar is the Forward’s culture intern. He can be reached at [email protected]

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