125 replies to this topic

[Ser Holt Salinas]

Who do you think is the most cunning character of the saga and why? Give reasons.

Mine is Petyr Baelish, he always pretends to have little knowledge on things, but I think that he's always plotting even though he has a harmless appearance. His appliance to the Machiavellian ways is just epic. Maybe I grew up to love the character more since Aidan Gillen started playing him.

[Pellaeon]

Varys is pretty good, and I believe is is closer to his target than LF, Doran seems to be a good player too

[butterbumps!]

Watch it turn out to be Bloodraven (or Bran taking over for him).  Their intelligence network puts Littlefinger's and Vary's to shame, they can inhabit bodies, plus, they are beyond subtle-- no one even knows they exist.  That's the real throne everyone should be concerned over.

[Grimwolfe]

hodor clearly, though patchface may off him soon enough

[Child of Spring]

The obvious players are Varys and Littlefinger, but I can't help myself to mention Lady Olenna. I know she's not a player on the big scale but I just love the way she handles everybody around her. I have a feeling that everything will end just fine for the Tyrells, and that will all be her doing.

If you can't tell - I'm a big fan of hers, she's hilarious.

[Lord Damian]

We will know when someone is the last person seated in the Iron throne

[The Taupe Grace]

I would put in this order:

1. Varys. The Spider
2. Illyrio. I'm still not certain whether he and 1. above are truly aligned in their interests, but it seems at the moment they are definitely allied and perhaps equal in their game.
3. Littlefinger. Whilst the Kettleblacks aren't as subtle as a gaggle of mute assassin children, he definitely has his own agenda in mind. I would put him behind Varys however because from what we read, he has been much more explicit in his intentions - his obvious betrayal of Ned, his opening up of plans to Sansa (perhaps his weakness for Cat's line will be his downfall)
4. Doran Martell. Intriguing character, perhaps the most latent and subtle in his intentions, but he hasn't had the best resources to work with and has to wait for friggin' years to get anything done.

New Players to watch out for: the new High Septon, I think he knows what he's doing. Randyll Tarly, he has strength, he has willpower, he has personality, and I can't see him being subservient to a man like Mace Tyrell for long if the cards don't play right. I also think Margaery Tyrell will rise to her own, and Sansa is currently being trained by one of the best up there so I'm very excited to see how her arc plays out.

[StannisandDaeny]

Varys, Littlefinger and Tyrion would be the most formidable players IMO, though they have their weaknesses. Varys isn't playing to win (rather, to have someone else win) and you win or you die... Littlefinger has a clear weakness in Sansa and Catelyn and Tyrion's weakness is alcohol and whores. But I'd consider these the most influential... Tyrion would have been a massive asset to House Lannister if they didn't treat him like shit the way they did.

I know people will hate me for this but Catelyn Stark was pretty good as well. Her assumptions and advice to Robb were almost always spot on.

[Tumnas the Torpid]

Child of Spring, on 24 May 2012 - 02:40 PM, said:

The obvious players are Varys and Littlefinger, but I can't help myself to mention Lady Olenna. I know she's not a player on the big scale but I just love the way she handles everybody around her. I have a feeling that everything will end just fine for the Tyrells, and that will all be her doing. If you can't tell - I'm a big fan of hers, she's hilarious.

I'd say successfully assassinating the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and getting away with it is of a sufficiently grand scale.  Yes, credit must be shared with Littlefinger, but Olenna is certainly playing big.

[Athanasius Pernath]

StannisandDaeny, on 24 May 2012 - 02:49 PM, said:

Varys, Littlefinger and Tyrion would be the most formidable players IMO, though they have their weaknesses.

yeah, and they've also very different kind of 'intelligence'.
Tyrion is probably the most gifted one (i mean, the one with the greatest Q.I., mnemonic abilities ecc.)
Littlefinger ability in improvisation is simply superhuman
Varys..well, i love the Spider, but we have to admit that he has the biggest advantage (long-term plan, and unlike the other two, when he needs someone important dead, he can simply 'appear' from nowhere in the Red Keep and kill him)

i wanna mention i man that i admire a lot in the book, 'cause he is smart enough to play some game, if only he would. and that is conscious and not at all coward, but that simply is more modern, satisfied with the things he has and doesn't chase delusional dreams of glory or power lust: Rodrik Harlaw "The Reader".

[Ser Oswell Whent]

butterbumps!, on 24 May 2012 - 02:23 PM, said:

Watch it turn out to be Bloodraven (or Bran taking over for him). Their intelligence network puts Littlefinger's and Vary's to shame, they can inhabit bodies, plus, they are beyond subtle-- no one even knows they exist. That's the real throne everyone should be concerned over.

This. Even Melisandre doesn't know who they are and is left to speculate, her being the (self-proclaimed) most talented of her order.

I'd also like to mention Marwyn, even though we don't have much to go on. If the theories regarding the Maesters' relationship with dragons are true then the citadel should not be taken lightly. Him least of all, as the only one shown to have a grasp on the current state of affairs.

[Bushido]

Child of Spring, on 24 May 2012 - 02:40 PM, said:

The obvious players are Varys and Littlefinger, but I can't help myself to mention Lady Olenna. I know she's not a player on the big scale but I just love the way she handles everybody around her. I have a feeling that everything will end just fine for the Tyrells, and that will all be her doing.

If you can't tell - I'm a big fan of hers, she's hilarious.

I love her,too,she is amazing If only Judi Dench could play her

She is of course different from Varys and Littlefinger,family matters to her,so she has limits.

[Pellaeon]

Bushido, on 24 May 2012 - 03:04 PM, said:

I love her,too,she is amazing If only Judi Dench could play her

Betty White must play her

[mcb]

Bushido, on 24 May 2012 - 03:04 PM, said:

I love her,too,she is amazing If only Judi Dench could play her   

Or Maggie Smith.

[Ser Oswell Whent]

mcb, on 24 May 2012 - 03:12 PM, said:

Or Maggie Smith.

Ellen Burstyn

[Lady Hodor]

Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish. It is known.

[Ser Oswell Whent]

Lady Hodor, on 24 May 2012 - 03:24 PM, said:

Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish. It is known.

It is not known

[butterbumps!]

My vote is still Bloodraven, but I'm surprised to see no one mentioning the Reader or Euron.  They're up to something, and it seems like they're the one's embracing the supernatural in order to achieve some political end-- which makes them both dangerous and effective.  Especially the Reader- he's the one brushing up on Signs and Portents from the Book of Lost Books Marwyn sent him.

[mcb]

butterbumps!, on 24 May 2012 - 03:33 PM, said:

My vote is still Bloodraven, but I'm surprised to see no one mentioning the Reader or Euron. They're up to something, and it seems like they're the one's embracing the supernatural in order to achieve some political end-- which makes them both dangerous and effective. Especially the Reader- he's the one brushing up on Signs and Portents from the Book of Lost Books Marwyn sent him.

Did the Reader actually make any significant plays in the game?
I have a similar problem with Doran Martell: he waits, and he waits, and then he waits some more - I won't be surprised if he literally hibernates for the winter.

[Tumnas the Torpid]

Don't all of you see?  Throughout the series, as the Seven Kingdoms have torn themselves apart, we have seen one character picked up, dusted off, and piggy-backed down the road to ultimate power - all with the true player waiting in the wings.

Carry me?  "Hodor."

Get us into the tower?  "Hodor."

I just took a dump in my pants, because I'm a paraplegic?  "Hodor."

The "gentle" giant has bided his time, appearing the perfect lackey, and even allowing Bran into his own mind.  But when the trap is sprung, and Bran is coerced into conquering Westeros with ten thousand murders, all the ravens will be screaming...

"HODOR!  HODOR!  HODOR!"