Game of Thrones begins....

[grumbler]

Nobody claimed that Robert was the "rightful" heir to the throne of the Targearyns. He had no "claim" by birthright, he conquered them. That established a new dynasty.

Yeah he was. His claim was based on birthright which is what gave his revolt legitimacy. The Baratheons are descended from the Targaryens.

I don't think he based this claim on inheritance.  He couldn't.  There were still Targaryens with a better inheritance claim than his.  Plus, he mentions that he wanted Ned to become the king after the Mad King was overthrown, if I remember the book correctly, and Ned refused.  Add to that the fact that it wasn't "his" revolt at all: it was Jon Aryan's revolt and Ned's revolt.  Robert just joined them because he was their friend.  All that adds up to a claim by right of conquest, not inheritance.

[Razgovory]

Could someone explain something to me? There seems to be a bunch of book readers who are upset that when Jon was executing Janos, he did not say "Edd, fetch me a block" but instead said "Ollie bring me my sword."



Could anyone explain to me why the former is such an "iconic line" for some? I don't even recall that line from the books and it seems like it is one bland, completely inconsequential line replaced with another. In fact, I would say that if anything, the sword reference is better, as it constitutes the call back to the pilot where Ned did the same with Robb. So what gives (other than nerds being autistic).

  It strikes me that you are better-off asking the people who have actually expressed the view you question, rather than asking a bunch of people who don't express that view to explain it.  There are some smart people here , but, other than Raz and cC, they are not mind readers.

Raz agrees with Grumbler, gains vast mental powers!

[Martinus]

Cersei is so dumb. She is all tactics and no strategy. Unleashing religious zealotry to get back at the brother of her daughter in law is just stupid.

[Martinus]

Also we get two (or three if you count Ser Barristan's backstory) R+L=J hint bombs!

[Berkut]

Nobody claimed that Robert was the "rightful" heir to the throne of the Targearyns. He had no "claim" by birthright, he conquered them. That established a new dynasty.

Yeah he was. His claim was based on birthright which is what gave his revolt legitimacy. The Baratheons are descended from the Targaryens.

Read the thread. This was noted - but his claim was still not by birth. It's not like absent the rebellion, anyone was sitting around discussing whether Robert should be the next king.

[Liep]

My review of this episode: Melisandre. A+.

[Martinus]

My review of this episode: Melisandre. A+.

Is she really, though? I am admittedly not the expert in the field, but do people find Melisandre hot as depicted on the show? She seems quite plain to me.

[Liep]

My review of this episode: Melisandre. A+.

Is she really, though? I am admittedly not the expert in the field, but do people find Melisandre hot as depicted on the show? She seems quite plain to me.

HOTT.

[Liep]

Also, I don't understand Cersei's motivation here either. Has she really become so petty as to let loose an uncontrollable army just to spite her daughter in law? In the books there were a bit more at play, and also a 'bigger' target iirc.

[Martinus]

Also, I don't understand Cersei's motivation here either. Has she really become so petty as to let loose an uncontrollable army just to spite her daughter in law? In the books there were a bit more at play, and also a 'bigger' target iirc.

Yeah, many commentators have pointed out that there are two elements missing in the show that make the story less compelling. One is the debt the crown owed to the Faith in the books (which was another motivation for Cersei to want to cozy up with them); another was Cersei's inner monologue - without which she seems much dumber (or at least more inexcusably dumb).

[The Larch]

Unsullied: Most overrated combat troops ever? How can a rag tag bunch of misfits like the Sons of the Harpy bring down so many of them so easily?

[Liep]

Unsullied: Most overrated combat troops ever? How can a rag tag bunch of misfits like the Sons of the Harpy bring down so many of them so easily?

To be fair, they were either assassinated or vastly outnumbered. But it did look like the only really good fighter they had was Grey Worm.

[The Larch]

Unsullied: Most overrated combat troops ever? How can a rag tag bunch of misfits like the Sons of the Harpy bring down so many of them so easily?

To be fair, they were either assassinated or vastly outnumbered. But it did look like the only really good fighter they had was Grey Worm.

Even if outnumbered, they are supposed to be elite troops, they should be able to take on a bunch of amateurs without breaking a sweat. I guess that they are meant to be lead by others, given that they're dragged into traps so easily.

[The Larch]

My review of this episode: Melisandre. A+.

Is she really, though? I am admittedly not the expert in the field, but do people find Melisandre hot as depicted on the show? She seems quite plain to me.

HOTT.

Concur with my esteemed colleague. Redhead with a sultry attitude? You have my interest.

Also, it gets proven that Jon Snow has a thing for redheads.

[Martinus]

Also, it gets proven that Jon Snow has a thing for redheads. :p

Not really. All it proves is tha redheads have a thing for Jon Snow.