Sotan

I've been speculating on this same thing for a while now.

I always thought members of the royal family required the monarch's permission to marry, which is why Daemon and Laena ran off to Essos because they married without Viserys' leave. I think the same rule would apply to Daemon Blackfyre. It's unfortunate there isn't an example in the books like Show Daemon/Rhaenyra. I'm really curious to see what the reaction is if Laenor comes back.

That's an interesting interpretation, I always took it as the King allowing polygamy in his family would cause unnecessary political headaches, and since members of the royal family couldn't marry without the King's permission, that door was closed.

Can anyone confirm if The Doctrine of Exceptionalism covered polygamy? I always thought it prohibited incest for everyone except the Targaryens, but it never touched on polygamy. I ask this because to me it looks like Daemon and Rhaenyra's marriage is legal since they married in a Valyrian ceremony and the Faith of the Seven has no standing to invalidate it. Unless the DoE specifically prohibits polygamy.

It's been a weird time, everything's ok tho. Been catching up on the show and the discussions here. You're right about the showrunners and Olivia.

I thought it was Olivia Cook who described Alicent as a "woman for Trump"?

Competent sure, sympathetic? That's a lot of work. He's a mass murdering sociopath.

I'm not sure if someone said this, but it read like Alicent was desperately trying to change the subject of who told Aemond that Rhaenyra's sons were bastards. If Corlys/Rhaenys tried to say something to Alicent about her jibe at Laenor it would've derailed Viserys' interrogation of Aemond.

Thank You! Certain people act like the council of 101 set an ironclad precedent that females cannot succeed to the IT. And that all monarchs after Jaehaerys I were bound by it.

I think it's the reverse. The Valois were the descendants of Philip IV's brother and the Plantagenets Philip IV's daughter Isabella. I could be wrong tho.

I know. I'm resigned to the possibility we won't get another book.

Seems like he's facing some kind of fundamental writing problem, or he's bored with the main story. Either way it's a gut punch. In his blog, he seems almost giddy about HOTD and these other shows. Ryan Condal on a podcast said GRRM "helped him break in the pilot" and then they pitched it to HBO together. GRRM even admits he's heavily involved with the show. It seems like F&B and these shows has his interest/heart.

You're right. I just think we're culturally primed to dislike women who seek power for themselves. Dany had the whole great emancipator thing going for her, Rhaenyra doesn't even have that. Now that I think about it, you're probably right they might soften her up in the show.

Especially if Rhaenys becomes a fan favorite and we're hit with his secret bastards after her death. Curious to audience reaction to that.

They made it super clear in the show with Cersei resisting saying, "No, its not right, STOP!" and Jamie proceeding to rape her. It's disturbing that they didn't think that was rape.

I don't think his race will have anything to do with it. Corlys being an opportunistic schemer who cheats on his wife is still light years better than Daemon and Rhaenyra. In another show Corlys would come off terrible, compared to his former son and daughter in law he's a saint.

I hope they stay true to the leaders of the factions Alicent/Aegon and Daemon/Rhaenyra being terrible people. It's the supporting cast especially on team Black that is awesome and the audience will root for. I don't remember thinking Corlys was a main character when I read F&B, but he was listed as one of the five leads way back in Dec 2020 when the casting was announced. So you may be on to something about his characterization.

Pennyworth is weird! I get the sense it's unintentional. Unlike Raised by Wolves which has taken the WTF Is This? Flag and run with it.

What's crazy is that Bruno Heller the creator of HBO's Rome is heading up that show. Really curious to see what he does with it.

D&D were genuinely surprised the audience correctly identified it as a rape scene. The writing was on the wall with those two for years and we just ignored it. At least I did.

I know that this actually happened, but every time I read it, it will never not be a shocking.

A couple of years from now there's a possibility that 3 GOT shows will be on at the same time. It seems like HBO is flailing since HBO Max isn't doing well compared to Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime. Moves made in desperation usually don't turn out well. As much as I'd love to see Dunk & Egg brought to the screen, I prefer GRRM finish them first before we have a reply of GOT.