Jaime's Wench Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 You'll have to forgive me, because ASOS Part II is currently plugged into my mum's sound system over at the pub, but...Why do we all love ourselves a bit of Oberyn? Recently on the Games forums and elsewhere in the discussions, I've noticed just how many of us love this free-thinking, rash and charismatic Dornishman. As a writer, I am very intrigued by how much of a favourite he is. He appears in maybe four or five chapters across a mahooosive series, yet he's one of the most memorable. I think GRRM did a fab job in writing his bittersweet appearance in ASOS - he proved that you do not have to make characters go on huge journeys and development arcs to make them complex and loveable.The first reason I love Oberyn is that he was an absolute breath of fresh air for me after the Red Wedding, with his free-thinking, free-loving attitude and his fresh take on the events in Kings Landing. His witty story about how he saw Tyrion as a baby was a great introduction to the type of man he was.The second is, obviously, his duel with The Mountain. I was truly gutted when he died. More gutted than when Catelyn or Ygritte died - two of my series faves! I think the way he approached the fight, his reasons for it, and the way it tied into Tyrion's plight was just perfect. And we continue to love him for many chapters afterward, as Gregor drones on in agony...So, why do you love Obeyn? Or do you in fact believe he is overrated?Apologies if this has already been discussed recently (though I don't think it has?)And wow - I went a whole thread without mentioning Jaime (except I just have, mwuahaha) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pata Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 He's a fucking badass. That's why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Smirking Fox Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 We love him, because he's passionate and he's fighting to avenge a despicable act from monstrous characters. He's automatically cast as the hero and the kid in each of us loves a hero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Éadaoin Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 I think he's easy to root for. I don't always like the hero character, but I do like Oberyn, for some reason that I can't quite explain. I think GRRM set out to make him likable and succeeded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ab aeterno Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Personally I think he is one of the more likable characters but that he's also a fool. He was so consumed by his desire for revenge that he got himself killed and potentially caused all sorts of problems for his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Pink of Floyd Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 His duel with The Mountain is just immense. I was reading with startled horror when he proposed to Tyrion he fight as his champion, a man whose own description led me to thinking he & Tyrion was as good as dead. Sure, that happened but it was an epic fight.And he was a cool character too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daemul Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 People love him because he didn't live long enough to become a villain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Frost Wolf Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Probably since his "do whatever I want" attitude appeals to all of us. I'd say most people want to be just like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime's Wench Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 Personally I think he is one of the more likable characters but that he's also a fool. He was so consumed by his desire for revenge that he got himself killed and potentially caused all sorts of problems for his family.This is true! You see it already with the imprisonment of the Sand Snakes and the Queenmaking plot. He really could have opened up a can of worms for them since they can no longer stay out of the Westerosi conflict. It would be wonderful if GRRM could turn it around - perhaps through Arianne show some reflections of how he wasn't necessarily the hero.People love him because he didn't live long enough to become a villain.Lol. Too true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Éadaoin Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 People love him because he didn't live long enough to become a villain.Okay, Harvey Dent.;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Light a wight tonight Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Hey, it's wish fulfillment. Doesn't everybody really want to be totally free, to not really give a good rat's ass about what society thinks? We can't, of course, but it's liberating just to imagine.Even his death was glorious in its own way. Making the ultimate sacrifice for vengeance. Except for that Seven-dammned Qyburn reviving Gregor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daemul Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Okay, Harvey Dent. ;)Denty takes his lines from me :read: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R'hllor's Bastard Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Because of his fight with Gregor, it was an Inigo Montoya moment, only Inigo lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Errant Bard Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Or do you in fact believe he is overrated?Yes. He is a moustache twirling Inigo Montoya knock off, a crude plot device, with as much depth as a David Eddings support character. Some people like him because they love anything that's "badass". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Titan's Legitimate Son Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 He fucks with whom we wants, when he wants and how he wants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Songlian Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 I love him because he was free spirited.The same reason I love Ellaria and the Sand Snakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ab aeterno Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 He fucks with whom we wants, when he wants and how he wants.Or at least he did until he got himself killed unnecessarily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daemul Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Or at least he did until he got himself killed unnecessarily.Like the fool he was :rofl: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winter's Knight Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 "To get the true measure of a man, observe how he treats his inferiors, rather than his superiors or equals."-Oberyn's treatment of Obara's mother turned me off his character completely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime's Wench Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 Yes.He is a moustache twirling Inigo Montoya knock off, a crude plot device, with as much depth as a David Eddings support character. Some people like him because they love anything that's "badass".This is true. He isn't up there with Jaime and Tyrion on my faves list. I appreciate that he was a plot device first and foremost. But then so was Ned... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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