EggBlue

I try to stick to earlier seasons since the second half of the series was full of huge changes:

1. Dany's wedding scene with Drogo changed to rape

2. Hoster Tully's funeral scene: in the show, Blackfish angrily mocks his nephew while in the book he kindly consoles him about failing to shoot the first arrows. honestly, that's a 180 change for Blackfish's character. he is not beloved in the book for his sass. he's beloved because he's the embodiment of "family, duty, honor" and the perfect uncle!

3. show-Cat didn't have book-Cat's ambition. in the book, she wants Ned to go to the South and her daughter to be queen. meanwhile, show-Cat rolls her eyes at her daughter's dream to marry the fucking crown prince.

4. in the book Joffrey has a way of showing himself better than the piece of shit he is when he wants to, especially in book 1. in the show one wonders what Sansa sees in him.

5. Tyrion is an angel in the show! please!

6. Talisa! I won't elaborate. that was just killing Robb's character.

7. angelizing Jorah Mormont. for god's sake I liked the show version of this creep. that tells you how much of a change that is. and it's not just that the actor is hot. it's in the demeanor and lack of any aggressive behavior.

8. the silly change in Renly's character from the starting point.

9. Margery acts wayyyy older than her book counterpart and I missed Garlan terribly. 

10. humanizing Tywin in his scenes with Arya! as if Tywin thinks twice about his fierce daughter or enjoys the company of a small sharp child. Tywin is a hateful man who sees people as tools. also, those scenes took away all Roose scenes. 

11. despite GRRM's compliments about show-Shae, I personally think the book-Shae works better. although, admittedly, show-Tyrion has it in him to be loved by Shae , while book-Shae has no reason to fall for that creep.

does the champion of the melee gets a laurel for QoLaB in the tourneys or is it just the jouster? 

2 minutes ago, kissdbyfire said:

Ask @SeanF, he told me about this and I’ll never forgive him for it.

I have heard about it before. but I just don't understand how and why a mother and son should be paired ... is it a theory? is it some weird wishful thinking? is it hopefully an odd joke?! ... where does it come from?!!!!

2 hours ago, Curled Finger said:

For the record, I don't think her misremembering the Hound is unhealthy.  I think she's just a scared kid and she trusted him some.  Isn't it natural to revert to any security you might have felt in dangerous situations?  

something coming naturally doesn't make it healthy. I agree that her thought process isn't that weird considering he was the one guy she eventually felt mostly safe with and he became anti-toxic-knight, anti-kingsguard in her mind.  but it doesn't change the fact that in reality, her interactions with the Hound were largely problematic. from their first conversation after the tourney to the last one with the blade on her throat. the fact that she was an 11yr old who hadn't even gotten her period while he was a 20something adult makes any romantic feelings on his part during that time period even worse.

2 hours ago, Curled Finger said:

And he saved her ass more than once with Joffrey.  He offered to take her away from Kings Landing.  I am sure that if The Hound meant to rape Sansa Stark he most certainly would and could have done so.

2 hours ago, Takiedevushkikakzvezdy said:

It would be strange for him to save her from the mob during the riots only to do it himself later.

well, it might have crossed his mind to rape her then and there ,and no actually, saving her from the mob doesn't make him against rape necessarily. however, I'm of the mind that since he didn't rape her we cannot blame him for that even if it had passed his mind. personally, I read "I should have taken her" line as "I should have taken her with me out of the Red Keep" . also, there is no indication in the story that the Hound has a reputation for rape and Jaimie thinks the rumors about "the Hound" in Riverlands don't match Sandor. 

that said, I still believe Sansa's unkiss thoughts are unhealthy. since she is romanticizing a situation that hasn't been romantic at all with a person who's shown toxic behavior over and over again. and that could affect her future interactions with him, not letting her see the issues with him. the man put a knife on her throat for god's sake! now, if Sandor goes to rage control classes on the Quiet Isle and then they develop feelings for each other, that's another thing. 

39 minutes ago, kissdbyfire said:

Rhaegar + Rhaella. 

seven hells! that is the absolute worst pairing in the whole fandom. I mean... WHY?!!! 

3 hours ago, LynnS said:

It was interesting to see video footage inside Gibralter.  It gives me a better idea of how GRRM imagines the inside of Casterly Rock.  You have to wonder how the Eyrie was built and if it was carved out of the mountain ,which seems easier than hawling up blocks of stone, to the pinnacle.  Same with Dragonstone.  It seems to be carved from the volcano with the main residence inside the volcano.

that's definitely the way the show's Eyrie seems to be built and it's one of the best castle designs in the show imo. my head canon for Dragonstone and Valyria is that they manipulated lava with fire magic to shape their dragons and such. Dragonstone hardly seems carved out of stone.  

24 minutes ago, Craving Peaches said:

Would it be a good idea for Westeros to have a parliament, like the English Parliament prior to the Act of Union 1707 or another historical equivalent?

It could help reign in the excesses of the power of the King and stop arbitrary abuse of power...

they're not there yet.

2 hours ago, SeanF said:

Although they're crackships, I always find the idea of Jon/Cersei, Jon/Catelyn, and Dany/Cersei pretty hot.

I feel sorry for anyone shipped with Cersei. 

9 minutes ago, Prince Rhaegar Targareyen said:

So let’s get a little controversial here

And keep it civil and respectful please.

 

How do y’all feel about the influx of HoTD casual fans shopping Cregan and Jace?

 

Me personally, I see it as them reaching.

They use the historical trope of “they were just roommates” and apply it to them. 

I'd say that's better than Sara Snow thing

6 hours ago, Angel Eyes said:

Ned Dayne/Sansa

FINALLY! I was just thinking of complaining about the fact that I'm pushing this ship for a year and no one seems all that interested when I saw your post! Sansa/NedD is definitely an adorable ship!

as for my other favorite ships: 

Jan/Val , Ned/Ashara , Oberyn/Ellaria , Myrcella/Trystane

2 hours ago, frenin said:

Robert would not allow it. And he'd throw a fit and try and carve a hole on his chest if he finds they are having an affair.

sure. but the point is if Rhaegar wanted, he could do something more discreet. like, if Lyanna was Elia's lady in waiting (which is an opportunity that Rickard would jump at), no one but the Dragonstonian would know if he started an affair with her until she gets pregnant. at which point, again, he could send her to the quiet isle for the months she was showing. literally, anything would have been a better path than what he hastily did.

8 hours ago, The hairy bear said:

In defense of Rhaegar, it has to be remembered that he lives in a world were magic exists and prophecies are actually a thing. And it's clear that he will eventually be proven right: from a narrative point of view there's no doubt that his son with Lyanna will eventually become instrumental in "saving the world". So it was really a necessity for him to father a son with Lyanna.

you're probably right. but personally, I would like it better if Rhaegar wasn't right. I mean, I still think the guy had good intentions in whatever he did as I've said in my earlier posts but I think the little we know of his characterization, he would have regretted his choices if he already hadn't when he came back for the battle of the Trident. and if in the end, he ends up on the right, his actions are kind of justified, which I don't appreciate. what Rhaegar did, throwing the realm into war, causing the end of his dynasty, betraying his wife, and leaving his wife and children in his father's mercy, was just too messed up. 

1 hour ago, The Bard of Banefort said:

I think the problem is that every character was so uniformly serious. We keep hearing about how this is “the age of decadence,” yet no one seems to ever be enjoying themselves. (And that includes Daemon. He’s the most miserable troublemaker I’ve ever seen). The only exception was teenage Aegon, and he only lasted two episodes.

yes, but that's not something they can so easily fix in season two because by now, every major character is pretty much established. they can't give over-serious Jace funny lines for example. which leaves new characters, most of whom , again, are people without a sense of humor. granted though, they can make an Olenna out of Jeyne(which I wouldn't appreciate) and Daemon can be in a better mood in chaos.

that's one of those theories that can never be proven because all involved parties are dead and the issue is not likely to be revisited since it's not consequential anymore. BUT I just like the idea that Oberyn had poisoned Tywin to shit to death so much! I guess it's one of those headcanons that doesn't affect anything but is fun  

Rhaegar would have been a better king than Robert. at least as far as Long Night was concerned.

I have theorized before that Rhaegar had been a powerful dragon dreamer all his life and that drowning in old prophecy tomes was just a way to make sense of it. knowing the guy had this issue and dealt with it very well for years convinces me that his beliefs wouldn't stand in the way of his kingship; not necessarily. re his decisions in the last year of his life, there is a certain urgency in his actions that I doubt simply came from his regular obsessions. the guy just had the prince that was promised and yet he thought he should immediately have his third head in the worst possible way without any waste of time. as if he was taken by a sudden series of alarming visions and dreams calling for urgency! I mean, even if it was necessary to be with Lyanna or he loved Lyanna, there were numerous ways he could go about it. the easiest way was to call her to Dragonstone as a lady to his wife. in short, I think Rhaegar was like an alcoholic who has his life under control until an unfortunate episode! that doesn't mean he can't go back to his normal self afterwards!

2 minutes ago, Prince Rhaegar Targareyen said:

Fair enough. If anyone outside of his circle were to know of them, I think it’d be Varys

that's true. still, my headcanon says Rhaegar was wayyy more discreet about his most private secret. 

that said , while it'd be pretty difficult for Varys to know about Rhaegar's visions , dreams, or his willingness to use magic, he may well know about Rhaegar's belief about some magical danger to some extent. and yet, that doesn't necessarily make him oppose Rhaegar. when the Night's Watch's plea and news about Weight Walkers came, Varys was the one who counseled for aiding the Watch when everyone else found it a joke. and if I recall correctly, that was when he told Tyrion about his experience with magic, meaning he may be one of the few who A)knows magic exists B)doesn't like it C)would like to fight the magical creatures threatening the world.

8 minutes ago, Prince Rhaegar Targareyen said:

I still think he betrayed Rhaegar because of Rhaegar’s visions connecting him to magic.

but no one, save for his wife and uncle as far as we can conclude from the text,  seemed to know about Rhaegar's visions and dreams. it's not like he would shout the latest thing he was dreaming just to anyone, especially since he was a very introverted person. 

8 hours ago, SeanF said:

It’s why I take a harsher view than some, of killing Daeron under a peace banner.

that's a different situation though. the "truce" was forced by Daeron. the Dornish had lost their freedom in their own home, Tyrells of the Reach who had been their traditional enemies were appointed as their liege and they were outnumbered. Daeron attacked a country, took hold of it, and expected hospitality?! please! ...

on the other hand, Tywin and Walder went around guest right because it suited their ambitions. Walder wasn't forced to ally himself with Robb and Riverrun and Tywin just found it an easier, more convenient solution than actually fighting a war. 

3 hours ago, The Grey Wolf Strikes Back said:

Sure but you were saying Daeron I broke the peace first and I'm nothing if not pedantic.

you know, if we go all the way back, it was Aegon I who invaded Dorne. 

43 minutes ago, LynnS said:

Yah, that's mine and it's not a theory.  It's just an exploration of an idea. I don't really care if he is or he isn't the Mad Mouse.  But I would like to know how people imagine Howland Reed will come back into the story, if at all.  

he will come into Bran's visions... and in time in Winterfell. maybe in Trident if the Others get there(which is one of my concrete beliefs!) . I don't know, I just can't imagine Howland in the South around anything that's not Greenseer/magical related. the fact that I don't like Mad Mouse doesn't help either. it's totally my head canon, but I think Howland is a very down-to-earth guy with zero smugness about him. 

1 hour ago, Takiedevushkikakzvezdy said:

Yeah, that's what I was saying.

well , yeah. what I mean is he is not officially a kinslayer. he's the only one who suspects he might be one and then this mysterious hooded guy with surprisingly good knowledge of Winterfell comes along and calls him a kinslayer?! the hooded man is his own illusion.

31 minutes ago, Takiedevushkikakzvezdy said:

But that would only make sense if the millers boys are his sons.

but even he only suspects that.  how an anyone call him out on it?

yeah... at this point I'm pretty convinced the hooded man is Theon himself. who else could possibly have reason to call him kinslayer?

 Arya won't be the prince that was promised and end the long night(evening) by jumping from nowhere. I don't have much to back it but I just don't think that'll happen. so , there's that. 

also , I think magic will survive the series . not much to back that up either . but I just think it's stupid for it to be awaken for a couple of years and then vanish from the world. 

11 minutes ago, Ran said:

We know he's able to talk to girls. That makes him very different from Quentyn.

aaaand... that's why I always say poor Doran could never predict Quentyn cannot convince Dany to marry him and come to Dorne! between himself, Oberyn, and Tristan(still what? 12?)... how could he?!

28 minutes ago, Adelstein said:

Tommen isn't the head of House Lannister. Although he has both feet in the Lannister camp, he's legally a Baratheon (and nominal head of that house) rather than a Lannister.

The identity of the head of House Lannister is up for debate throughout the last two books in the series. Tywin's sons are both ineligible. Cersei thinks of herself as head, but power in the west is actually exercised by Damion and Daven, and arguably Kevan is the rightful heir (and himself becomes de facto head shortly before his murder).

with Jaimie a kingsgaurd and Tyrion out of picture, Cersei is the lady of Casterly Rock.Tommen is her heir, the Lannister camp's king, and the key to power. it's not hard to see why Lannisters' enemies would go after him and see him as more of a Lannister than Baratheon, never mind his true parentage. especially that both of his Baratheon uncles rose against his predecessor and the most fierce of Baratheon loyalists, Stormalnders, supported Stannis. 

2 hours ago, The Grey Wolf Strikes Back said:

According to F & B Morion Martell broke the peace if Deria using the First Vulture King as a proxy doesn't count.

and his ships burned for it. period. we can't pretend there was no peace between Jaeherys I's time and Daeron I's between Westeros and Dorne. heck, there was so much peace that Viserys was considering marrying his heir to the Dornish heir, making the realms one. 

3 minutes ago, SeanF said:

I find Dorne interesting, but it doesn’t quite work as the in-universe version of Al Andalus.  While the latter was a brilliant civilisation, it was not licentious.

I doubt it was meant to work that way. their culture is 180degrees different. ... I mean, maybe save for architecture , though that is also lacking knowing the closest things Dornish have to a city is their shadow city. all in all, I'd say Dorne pretty much falls short of expectations. I expected something more akin to Essos with more focus on trade in their economy rather than agriculture like the rest of Westeros.