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Raksha 2014

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  1. Criston may have been in love with Rhaenyra; but Rhaenyra definitely wasn't in love with Criston. She liked him; perhaps she might have fallen in love with him in time, but she was attracted to him sexually, just not passionately enough to defy her father and risk her status as a princess and the heiress to the Iron Throne to openly claim him.
  2. My favorite character is Corlys Velaryon, who I like and respect. He's not perfect, he's ambitious, but he's not vicious and he's willing to learn from experience, and he genuinely loves his wife and kids (including the grandsons who are not his blood). I also like Rhaenys Targaryen a lot (beautifully acted, too) and can't help but like Viserys even though he is not a good father (spoils Rhaenyra rotten when he's not neglecting her, then ignores his children by his second wife, and we all know where that leads). My least favorite character is Larys Strong - can't wait to see him killed. Eww. Even Otto Hightower has the virtue of some love, or at least tenderness, for his daughter; Larys doesn't love anyone but himself. (and Otto's a good villain; Larys is just a sleaze). Daemon is fun to watch - flashy and charismatic, a very pretty killer. So is a tiger, and I wouldn't trust either of them. Aemond? Mad, bad and dangerous to know. Another charismatic killer, and now he's a kinslayer. Almost everyone in the cast is credibly to terrifically acted. (the one exception is Mysaria; maybe it's the accent, listening to her is almost painful)
  3. If TV-Aemond wanted to usurp his brother, then why didn't he help him onto the next ship to Essos when Aegon was begging to leave; or help him disappear in a more sinister and permanent way?
  4. I have seen no evidence in the TV series that Daemon cares anything about Rhaenyra's (nominally) Velaryon boys as anything other than extensions of Rhaenyra or abstract dynastic symbols. He doesn't care much about his own children either; there was one scene in Pentos where he actually interacted with one of his daughters. He never comforted or interacted with Rhaena or Baela afterwards - has he said a single word to them onscreen after their mother died? I suppose Daemon is aware that he has two young sons with Rhaenyra; but we don't see him with them or mention them either. He will probably mention the famous "A son for a son" line in connection with obtaining vengeance for the death of Lucerys; but that seems less a measure of Daemon's personal caring for his stepson and more a measure of his commitment to the boy's mother and a mark of his anger at the insult to Rhaenyra that the Hightowers have inflicted by murdering her child. Aemond might know that he would do a better job as ruler of Westeros than his brother (heck, I think Helaena would make a better ruler than Aegon the self-indulgent rapist); but as I recall from the book; he would never usurp the throne from Aegon. I am not sure that Aemond is capable of loving anyone other than himself; possibly he loves his mother (at least TV-Aegon) or at least values her.
  5. Hmm. I don't think Luke behaved like a little kid during his brief time at Storm's End. Luke was extremely inexperienced as an envoy or diplomat. He was 14 years old and had never, as far as we know, met Lord Borros or his predecessor; and had no cards to play for the alliance that Rhaenyra needed, since he could not offer a betrothal. We don't know if Rhaenyra coached Luke on anything other than his status as an envoy or the importance of delivering her letter. However, it's important to note that Luke's behavior was that of a young man, not a little boy in some respects - when faced with Aemond's adversarial and taunting/threatening presence, and Lord Borros' rebuffs, Luke did not panic and he remained courteous towards his host and kept his own dignity. He reminded Lord Borros that he was his mother's messenger as a a means of self-protection; he knew that Aemond wanted to harm him, and that his status as messenger/envoy would protect him while he was in Borros' hall. I think Luke was a natural at being a diplomat. If he was behaving like a little kid who is really trying to please his mother and the adults; Luke would have shown frustration by breaking into tears or screaming/having a tantrum.
  6. I actually thought that Lucerys acted like more than "a little boy" when he went out on the mission that would claim his life: despite his lack of self-confidence in his destiny as the future Lord of the Tides or his own fighting skills, Lucerys conducted himself with considerable dignity and confidence as a queen's envoy to Lord Borros (a hostile host) under the smirking eye of Aemond. Lucerys did not panic when Aemond tried to coerce him to cut out his own eye; but reiterated his own status as an envoy rather than a warrior; though he drew his sword in answer to Aemond's threat, not in panic but in answer, despite Aemond's greater age and height. When Lucerys reached his dragon, he did his best to calm Arrax, despite their having to leave suddenly in the terrible weather. Not every 14-year-old boy would behave so well. And even when Aemond, on Vhagar, set upon Lucerys, attacking and harassing him and shouting threats, Lucerys did not panic; he tried to hide in crevasses (a fairly successful strategy). Lucerys didn't act like a little boy; he acted like the brave and resilient prince he was growing up to be. What he didn't act like was Superman; since he didn't have any special advantage; like the largest dragon in Westeros or a fantastic talent for fighting. And I agree that Paddy Considine should get an Emmy!
  7. Lucerys death had a lot of impact for me; I thought the young actor did a great job with a small part. However many self-doubts the young teenager (I think he was supposed to be 14) had about his future inheritance as Lord of the Tides or his fighting skills; Lucerys bore himself with confidence in the presence of his enemy (Aemond) and a hostile host (Lord Borros Baratheon) in Storm's End; and also courage, drawing his sword in answer to Aemond's threat, despite Aemond's superior skill at arms. Lucerys was a loss to Rhaenyra and the realm; he was doing nothing wrong, and Aemond needlessly caused his death. Lucerys is the first known innocent to die in the Dance and of course, tragically, he won't be the last.
  8. Aemond didn't start the DoD by accident. He started the DoD by hunting and attacking his younger nephew on a dragon several times older and larger than the young dragon that Lucerys rode, shouting threats, riding Vhagar in close above the smaller dragon - that was Aemond's decision, no "accident" about it, a very deliberate and cruel action. Lucerys flew Arrax as capably as he possibly could, given Vhagar's size and the weather conditions, trying to find cover; but the damage was already done, Arrax sensed Lucerys' fear, and retaliated, in defense of himself and his rider, by sending out a spout of fire toward the too-close Vhagar. If Aemond had just meant to scare Lucerys, he'd have shouted a threat or two, and then turned Vhagar from their quarry and let Lucerys go home. He didn't. Aemond meant to scare, hurt or possibly kill Lucerys; driving Vhagar too close to Arrax and Lucerys. It was not a mistake, it was an attack. I think he realized, as Vhagar went in for the kill, too late, the consequences of his rage; but it was still Aemond's long-simmering grudge and anger that caused him to taunt and then terrorize and attack his nephew and finally begin the Dance of Dragons with a Kinslaying act that will seal his own doom.
  9. To escape danger in the streets of King's Landing and very possible recapture, Rhaenys had justifiable reason to find and free her dragon. Once she had done so, unfortunately killing smallfolk in the process, there was no more immediate reason to kill anyone, much less her own kindred, however treasonous Aegon was, or the High Septon of the Faith. It could be that Rhaenys hoped that her refusal to slaughter Aegon might deter the Greens from retaliating against her own grandchildren and Rhaenyra's children (fat chance!, but she might have thought so). In any case, Rhaenys at least in that moment scorned to take on the mantle of a Kinslayer. And she will have to live and die with her decision.
  10. Yes. Rhaenys is not a saint. She's not Gregor Clegane either. She had good reason to believe that if she remained in King's Landing, either as a captive in the Red Keep or alone on the streets, she would come to great harm or probably die (she'd seen a dissenting noble hanging dead in the latter). Meleys was her ticket out of town and fast; and was so formidable as to discourage pursuit. Plus, Rhaenys knew that if if she did not remove Meleys from the dragon pit; the Greens could kill her (Rhaenys) and keep the dragon to bond to one of Aegon's young children or Daeron, or otherwise keep the Red Queen from becoming a valuable asset to Rhaenyra should war erupt. I'm not sure Rhaenys believed she could wait until the crowds emptied out before she freed Meleys and rode her; she knew they would be looking for her there. It was not a good choice to have to make. Rhaenys chose her own survival over that of a certain number (?20-50) smallfolk who were not her responsibility. I do not know what I would have done in the same situation.
  11. Unless Rhaenys was willing to burn all the people in the building and fleeing from it, to prevent descriptions of her being given to Gold Cloaks and Septons of the Faith, her identity would be quickly ascertained (not to mention Meleys would be known to the Dragonkeepers) - how many tough grandmas riding large red dragons are there?
  12. Rhaenys isn't a fool. The High Septon of the Faith was standing in the line of fire next to the Targaryens. If Rhaenys and her dragon had killed him (and I believe there was at least one other priest of the Faith there too), the Faith would have revolted against Driftmark and anyone else with whom Rhaenys was affiliated. The dragons remaining in the Dragonpit of King's Landing probably would have been killed by the Faith months/years early. Rhaenyra would not have been crowned in King's Landing by any Septon of the Faith unless she repudiated Rhaenys. Not to mention the label of Kinslayer might not be one that Rhaenyra wanted to bear. I loved the scene, though. I think Rhaenys thoroughly enjoyed making the Greens cower at the fury of her Red Queen.
  13. The Facebook posts I see extolling Daemon's appeal do bother me. I will admit that he is hot, flashy, and a great fighter. (Matt Smith is doing a fine job in the role) But he murdered his wife while she was lying helpless on the ground - he doesn't get a pass because she insulted him first, or reached for her bow (he was advancing on her and there was no one else around and they hated each other; obviously she feared him). Daemon also murdered the servant/squire in Driftmark to provide a fake Laenor so the real Laenor could go live in happy exile with Ser Qarl. And maybe he murdered the messenger who brought him Viserys' promise of reinforcements to the Stepstones; or perhaps he just badly beat him; we don't know. Daemon is not a nice man. He's a powerhouse in battle; but he is also arrogant and cruel and vicious. Doesn't seem to be a good father either. So far, the only person that I think Daemon Targaryen has loved unconditionally besides Daemon Targaryen has been Viserys; and now his big brother is gone. I would hate to ever fall in love with a man like Daemon, or be involved with someone like him. Much better to admire his flash-n-dash from a comfortable distance, i.e. through the TV screen.
  14. Daemon has given Rhaenyra two children, fairly recently and she is carrying a third. Just because they're not sneaking off to have sex while visiting her horribly sickened father doesn't mean that they still don't have strong emotional and sexual feelings for each other. I think Daemon loves Rhaenyra as much as he's capable of loving any woman. He eventually becomes interested in Nettles (either paternally or romantically; but Rhaenyra takes it for the latter); but I imagine that if he hadn't been killed, they would have reconciled. The only one of Daemon's marriages or romances in Fire & Blood that seemed to hold him was his relationship with Laena Velaryon. House of the Dragon seems to be going out of its way to make Daemon & Rhaenyra its central romantic couple; so it will be interesting to see if Daemon pays attention to Nettles.
  15. I think you mean that Vaemond was making snarky remarks about Rhaenyra's kids, supposedly Laenor's but actually not; so my mistake. Still, a tacky thing to bring up at the funeral of Laenor's funeral; it must presage a future attempt by Vaemond to claim the inheritance of Lord of Driftmark for himself rather than Rhaenyra's second son.
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