superdeluxe

So I hope dinklage understands that this is going to be like a 10 year commitment lol.

Tommy Ceez

Anyone suprised that Jamie hasnt been called KingSlayer once?

FM

I was wondering about that. Tyrion mentioned to Jon that Jaime had killed the previous king, but I think that's all that has been said of it.

Draven

Once Cersei starts getting her own character perspective chapters, I think she really starts to become a more gray character. They did the same thing with Jamie. He went from someone who shoves a kid out a window to someone you actually feel some sympathy for.

I am also surprised that the direwolves have been in some scenes but not others on the TV series. If nothing else, they should just be following the kids at all times. I know Ghost does a lot of hunting off on his own but he should have at least been following Jon on the Kingsroad when they turned off. Or a throwaway line that Ghost was off ranging. There are in some scenes they are in and it's great, and then other scenes where they could easily be sitting on the ground and they just...aren't. It's odd.

I do like the little details, like the Maester's chain. Book readers know why he has a big chain around his neck, and non-book readers probably just think it's part of his costume. There are enough little details like that that they aren't making a huge deal about that I appreciate.

Cusm

I thought no one called him that until there was more tension, like back at Kings Landing, and only those that have open contempt for him.

superdeluxe

So what episode do you guys think the execution happens? 9? That would lead up to a highly charged finale.

Noonan

I would think a bit earlier unless the finale is going to be 2 hours. IIRC, there was still a good 100 pages after the execution.

KirstenS

I would guess either Episode 7, You Win or You Die, or 8, The Pointy End. The title of 8 obviously refers to Arya killing the stableboy as she's running away after the guards come for her. With HBO's love of cliff hanger endings, I'm going to bet it's the end of 7, but if they follow the timeline of the book, it will be the end of 8.

mgbfan

Forget Ned's execution, I'm look forward to the scene with Lord Lannister on the toilet! That ought to be fun.

WinterIsComing

As I remember in their wedding night the king called her by the name of Neds sister and since then she hates him.

Shady12

That map wouldn't be considered canon I don't think. The sea to the west should be much larger or they would travel to it almost as much as across the narrow sea.. Also the landmass above Essos, well I don't think there's supposed to be one. There's an island called Ibben but it's an island not a continent.

WinterIsComing

Can't wait the 3 years till then.

mgbfan

We'll probably never get there, but that'd be a damn funny death scene.

superdeluxe

well the map came from GRRM, so I would assume that makes it canon.

Shady12

You sure? I read elsewhere that wasn't the case, and I don't think I've seen him put a map out otherwise that showed all of Essos or another continent. For example I've seen maps in the book that showed part of Essos and it didn't look like that.

Sean O'Hara

Ned is the most vile character in the series. Renly offers to help him resolve the whole mess peacefully in a coup d'etat, but Ned thinks that'd be dishonorable so he launches on a foolish course that ends in a bloody civil war and the death of most of his family.

Shady12

Ned isn't vile at all, he's just honor bound and believed that coup would be wrong. He was a baffling choice to be Hand. But Robert wasn't good at being a king so he didn't make a good choice.

Sean O'Hara

You say that as though invoking honor excuses his actions. It doesn't. What you call "honor" I call "selfishness" -- he condemned thousands of people to death simply so he could keep his conscience clear.

starman9000

I get what you are saying, but calling him the most vile in the whole series seems like a pretty big jump.

mgbfan

He's flawed and more than a bit full of himself, but I don't think he's vile.

superdeluxe

on another forum a guy works for HBO said it came from GRRM's renderings. He worked on certain aspects of the show.

Shady12

Yeah you see it one way he sees it another. He sees it as doing the morally right thing. Stannis is the rightful heir and nothing else matters because anything else would be wrong in his value/honor system. Doesn't mean he's bad, just misguided in the opinion of most. I am not a fan of his, so don't get me wrong. I don't think it's selfish considering he's not doing what benefits him. What Renly suggested is what would benefit him and the mass population of the realm. He's doing what he thinks he is supposed to do.

mgbfan

I think we've established that Ned was more than willing to discard the proper line of succession when he helped to overthrow the Mad King. The fact that he would so strictly adhere to it in this case shows more than a little hypocrisy, don't you think?

Cusm

He is not vile at all, just a man that stands by his convictions and what he feels is right. I think the kingdoms would have been thrown into rebellion regardless of the actions. There is no way Lannister would have stood for his family to be dishonored, and he is the wealthiest and most powerful lord in the Seven Kingdoms. Had Renley been made King, his brother would have rebelled; had Ned taken the throne, most would rebel against the Northener. It was a true no win situation, and shows that an idealist like Ned is not suited for southern/modern politics.

Sean O'Hara

Looking at the Lord Snow thread, people seem to be getting excited at the Daenerys plot. At what point do you think we'll see a backlash as people realize it's not going to pay off anytime reasonably soon?