Monday, June 15, 2015

What We Learned: Game of Thrones 5.10: Mother's Mercy

1. Starkin' aint easy

If GoT had a hashtag, I have been #TeamStark since day one. I learned about this world with the Starks, I learned what to meant to be good in this world with eeh Starks, and after watching their family torn apart, I have been rooting for their children to exact their revenge ever since Ned's head was chopped off.

But then Theon betrayed Rob, and torched Winterfell, basically opening the door for the Boltons to seize the North. And then the Red Wedding broke all of our hearts, taking away Rob, Catelyn, and most of the Stark army. Last season we got a glimmer of hope - Arya was off for super secret Braavosi Ninja training, Sansa was safe in the Eyrie, Jon was becoming a leader at the Wall and Bran was ready for who knows what. Well good bye optimism, as Sansa will be falling off a castle wall in my mind for the next ten months, Arya is blind and Jon Snow lays bleeding out in the snow. ARRRGHHH - HULK SMASH!!!

Sorry - you wouldn't like me when I am angry.

If next season doesn't find that Sansa landed in a big pile of snow and ran away, Arya has become the GoT universe version of Daredevil, and Jon has been brought back to life by Melisandre (using the same magic we've seen Thoros of Myr use to resurrect Beric Dondarrion), then I won't be a happy camper. But then again, Game of Thrones really is not in the business of sunshine and rainbows.

2. The Most Honorable characters means a terrible fate.

I am still viscerally upset after last night's episode. But I feel like George RR Martin had a very specific message in mind when crafting these stories, and it is this: Life is not fair, and it REALLY wasn't fair when all someone needed was a sword in their hand to make all the decisions.
Let's take a look at the show's most honorable men and women, and their eventual fate:

- Ned Stark: Known as one of the most honorable men in Westeros, raised his children the same way. When discovering the Lannister's secret, he tried to show them mercy. In the end, he confessed to treason he didn't commit to save his family and avert a war, and he lost his head over it.

- Jon Snow: Has emerged as one of the great leaders in the show, has a grasp on th bigger picture: He chooses life over death. But when he makes the most obvious decision ever: Have the Wildlings join in the fight against the White Walkers and the army of the dead, he is stabbed to death over his foresight. At this point most of the brother's of the Night's Watch complaining about the Wildlings might as well be rednecks from the South complaining about Europeans - they aren't that different than you or I - they were just born on a different side of the Wall...  

- Brienne of Tarth: Accused of killing her king, denied a chance at love due to cruel young lords, and forced to watch the only man she ever loved die in her arms. She at least is still alive, but has been unable to convince the Stark children to let her protect them. She did get a bit of revenge finally, executing Stannis for using black magic to kill his own brother.

- Maester Aemon Targaryen:  A maester of the Night's Watch, he was a million miles away when the ravens arrived telling him that his entire family had been slaughtered, and despite being next in line to be King, he was old, blind, and too honorable to leave his post. He died knowing his only living relative was alone on the other side of the world, surrounded by strangers and that there was nothing he could do to help her.

- Ser Barristan Selmy: An honorable man of the King's guard, angered when he was dismissed by royal pain in the ass Joffrey, travelled far and wide to find Daenerys and be in her Queen's Guard. He was killed in an alley by slavery fanatics.

- Jeor Mormont: Admired by both Jon and Tyrion, he did his best to lead the Watch, but was betrayed by his own men. Lord Commander of the Night's Watch might be the most dangerous job in the Seven Kingdoms. As Tyrion told Jorah: "We shall never see his like again."

- Ser Daavos Seaworth: Sure he once was a smuggler, but he has been the one man trying to lead Stannis towards a just conclusion. Stannis ignored all his advice, which led to his defeat. Now Daavos finds himself at Castl Black, surrounded by traitors and ihs least favorite person in the world, the Red Priestess.

- Jaime Lannister: WHAT you say?  The Kingslayer, HONORABLE? if we are going based on the cocky asshole from season one, you would never put him on this list. Well let's think about it: after being raised by his hard-ass Father, he became the youngest ever member of the Kingsguard. Yes hs killed the king - but only after the Mad King had ordered that King's Landing be burnt down, along with his father's army.  When confronted by Catelyn about breaking his vows, he gave this great quote:
"So many vows...they make you swear and swear. Defend the king. Obey the king. Obey your father. Protect the innocent. Defend the weak. But what if your father despises the King? What if the king massacres the innocent? It's too much. No matter what you do, you're forsaking one vow or the other.”
So he is known for his biggest mistake - which was probably the right decision. But he went on protecting the King for years, until the War against the North broke out. When captured, he offered to put his life on the line to end the war - him vs. Rob, for all the marbles. He saved Brienne twice, once from being raped, once from being killed. What did he get for his trouble? His sword hand chopped off, taking away his identity as a warrior. He returned home, maimed, shunned by his true love, embarrassed by his father. He also saved his brother from being falsely executed, and for his troubles he was allowed to watch two of his children die in his arms. No wonder he doesn't fear death.

More Questions than Answers:

1. Is Melisandre a liar? Or does she have bad reception on hire fire visions? AND WHEN IS SHE GOING TO RESSURECT JON?

2. How is Stannis such a great tactician? Every decision he made was a mistake - and he single handedly destroyed his entire bloodline.

3. So I guess it is up to Rickon to become the next great Stark Warrior? Unless Bran "learning to fly" becomes something much more bad ass than we can imagine.

4. I guess after getting together her Dream Team, we needed to find a way to Keep Dany from going to Westeros? This damn show can be so frustrating!

5. Is Jaqen H'ghar even a person? Or just a mask that Arya recognizes?   

6. Now that Cersei has been publicly humiliated and has a second dead child, how destructive will her wraith be? I don't think she found religion. Stop trying to make me feel bad for her!

GoT Warrior Power Rankings

1. Jon Snow: I told you to watch your back!!! Asshole Thorne - I guess Stannis was right to suggest sending him away. Stay with us Jon.

2. Brienne of Tarth: At least she got to lay out justice for Renly's murder - now here is hoping she runs into Reek and Sansa

3. Tormund Giantsbane: Avenge your ally, Tormund. Bring Wun Wun.

4. Daario Naharis: He moves up a spot for keeping his cool - Jorah was ready to fight everyone, while he wisely set up Mereen to be ruled while they search for Daenerys.

5. Jorah Mormont: He sure is cocky for a guy who nearly died last week - what's his problem with Tyrion?

6. Wun Wun: I hope he eats Ser Allister.   

7. The Mountain: He's back!!!! We haven't seen him fight, but we've seen dead men can fight jsut as viciously as the living

8. Ser Bronn of the Blackwater: He's got game!

9. Grey Worm: Glad to see him back. It was smart for him to stay back in Mereen and keep the peace.    

10. Tyrion Lannister: The foremost killer of Lannisters finds himself ruling a new city. Although he did get punked by Daario, it was only after he pissed off him and Jorah by informing them what they already knew: Neither were a proper love match for a highborn Queen.

11. Jaime Lannister: Poor Jaime - is he going to turn the ship around?

Quoted Quotables:

Jon Snow: "I'm glad the end of the world is working out for someone."

Brienne: "In the Name of Renly of the House Baratheon, I Brienne of Tarth sentence you to die. Do you have any last words?"                                                                                                                                                                                             Stannis: "Go on, do your duty."

Arya: "Do you know who I am? I can't hear you. you know who I am - I'm Arya Stark. Do you know who you are? You're no one. You're nothing."

Jaime, to Bronn: "Whenever you're ready, My Lord."

Myrcella: "I think I always knew. And I am glad - glad that you are my father." Hope you enjoyed that 10 seconds of happiness, Jaime.

Daario: "Does he always talk so much?" "Good fortune my friends. Mereen is ancient and glorious. Try not to ruin her."

Varys: "Information is the key. You need to learn your enemies strengths and strategies,  you need to learn which of your friends are NOT your friends."  


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