More Game of Thrones with Family

Dad- I knew she would tear the paper
Me- The queen?
Dad- yeah and then they captured Ned Stark, what a shame.

Dad- The guy who saved Tyrion is the true king isn't he?
Me- Bronn? No he's a sellsword.
Dad and Mom- What?
Me- A Mercenary. Basically if you send him to assassinate someone, and the supposed victim offers him twice the amount, he'll come back and kill you.
Dad- So the Catelyn gave him money and job no?
Me- But Tyrion can offer twice or thrice as much and more.
Dad- Oh. He prefers stock option... hmm.

Oh Boy!
 
 

Game of Thrones Takes on the Family

My parents finally began watching the TV show "A Game of Thrones". I first tried to get my grandparents and parents watch the show by telling them that George RR Martin based the story on the War of Roses, the history of Britain's succession. By episode 3 everyone was intrigued, my grandmom was grossed out by the gore; not a surprise since she does enjoy softer films. My grandad was hooked, and my mom loves anything BBC or Masterpeice, or British Period films, so she was keen on watching it. My father tags along on whatever my mother watches. At the end of the day she who runs the kitchen runs the remote!

Dad is in and out of the first episode, he's on a business call, then he snoozes, and suddenly I catch him giggling to something Bran says. He is up and watching. My mom is engrossed in it, and has lots of questions, 3 seconds after she asks the question, the question is answered. Episode 2 she asks who's knife was sent to kill Bran? Just as Catelyn has the same question. 3 seconds later, Petyr Baelish says "it is my knife". This happens many times.

Every time they show Bran, my father asks- is this the guy who fell? So now he is known as the boy who fell. Tyrion is ofcourse the dwarf, although they kept asking me who the imp was, whenever the characters referred to Tyrion as the imp. Cersei and Jaime Lannister were named the Incestors by my mom. The King's council became the Venture Capitalists of the olden days; they find investors, and throw large grand parties to run the King's Kingdom. They are both convinced that the the entire King's council other than Ned Stark, is bad, evil, and up to no good. By now they are hooked.

Sansa became Sasha for a while, and the names got confused with Cersei. I have no idea how! They both like Ned Stark, and my dad likes the fat King Robert. I hope they come to like Arya as much as I do. My mother is Jorah Mormont's biggest fan, she might have a crush, and my dad is fearful of Khal Drogo...

Dad: is he Indian? (referring to Khal Drogo and what culture he represents on the show)
Mom: no he's not. He might be french.
Dad: He is Indian!
Mom: No he isn't! If anything he might be middle eastern.
Dad: You know the Syria issue...
Mom and I: Not now!

On the topic of Khal and Dany, on  their wedding night, the Khal whisks Dany away on her horse and consummates the marriage on the beach. The entire time my dad was convinced he was murdering Dany in pretense of marriage. Later in a different scene she is shown alive, and he asked surprised: "I thought she was killed!? Is this a flash back?" Awkwardly I had to explain that it was sex and not murder. Later that night he dreamt that the Khal and his blood riders were trying to take my mother away and he punched and kicked in his sleep to fight them off and keep her safe. Unfortunately my mom had to feel the kicks and pushes!

They are both so hooked, that on Wednesday at lunch break this was the conversation:

Mom- I can't wait to watch the rest tonight!

Dad- don't start the cinema without me!

Me- it's not a cinema!

Dad- it is so long, it's more than cinema!

Then Catelyn took Tyrion prisoner at the inn, both my parents exclaimed shocked: "Why did she do that? He did nothing?"
I had to explain, however the evidence was clear, Catelyn made her first idiotic move.

They predict that Jaime will kill Ned Stark, or Ned will kill Cerse and Jaime. If it was only that simple. Right?

Mom just texted me: Why did the sister still breast feeding?
Me: they are psycho? she has post partem issues?
Mom: Oedipus comlex.

She has a point, but also she coddles her kid too much for some reason.

Mom- who is Baratheon...
Me the dead king and his brothers... (oops i let a spoiler slip)
Mom- K
Mom- how many chpters in each cd?
Me- 2
Mom- thanks. we are on episode 7... omg your father is so hooked on this. he loves it.
Me- what happened on 6?
Mom- the brother got killed. he gets his golden crown.


The joys of getting people hooked on something so good!


Breathe

The Game of...

Everyone plays a game;

There is the game of love,
Until you become jaded and frayed.
Some play silly games, innocent as a dove,
Until your heart is broken from all the games played.

Men play the game of thrones
Across cities, countries and continents,
How the people weep,
When the Rich play their games.

There is The Game,
That no one can never be win,
No throne to claim,
No prize at the end. Just naught. Fin.

Valar Morghulis.

The game of life,
Some are aware of it, Some call it strife,
Some are caught up in the petty,
To worried about wealth, or looking pretty.

The game of life,
We all seem to play,
Some play it with ethics and morals,

Some with another man's wife.


The game of life,
A tricky one it is, some play it with a knife,
Some play it well, some play you for a fool,
Some are conniving, while others... pure evil.

Some play bravely, others are loyal and true...
Which one are you?
What game do you play?
Oh hark, you will pay you toll at the end of the day.

Valar Morghulis.

A Song of Ice and Fire: A Storm of Swords - Chapters 69 - End (Spoiler alert!)

After much analysis, and reflection... I am Sansa. I thought life, this world would be this amazing place, what a bunch of bollocks. In other aspects I am like Arya, but it takes us a while to wake up from childhood, and break free from fairy tales. It can go the other way too, one might think life is harsh and rough all the time, and when they reach a moment of tenderness they are as much in shock as a person who thought the world was flowers and butterflies. Right?

Kids grew up faster back in the day, mortality was shorter for humans then too. Now a days we keep are kids protected from the big bad world, longer than we should. The darkness, the winter, the evil, has ways of seeping in however. I learnt young, to be wary of men; what I didn't learn was how to play the game, the game of thrones. I never liked politics, but it is important to be aware of, kind of like the game "Risk", where we take over countries and such.

It is true, maybe there was some sort of entitlement with the whole middle-class-college-educated-generations. We were told by our parents and society: "get a degree and you'll get a good job", at least that's the way of success since the 70s. Then the colleges began handing out Master Degrees like hot cakes in every field whatsoever. Then catastrophe, economic downfall, war, and loss of jobs occurs. Which gives birth to the "occupy wall-street" movement by the "99%". We forgot we have to work hard to get the job, and keep working harder still after that. What will the Joffreys, Sansas, Margearys, Briennes, Cersei,s Jaimes of the world DO! They have to be like Tywin and write letters, or be like Tyrion and deal with WHATEVER LIFE hands you.You were Sansa one day, and the next day you are a fallen Sansa. Or one day you are Tyrion, and then the next- Tyrion the traitor.

So much to learn from this book, so much. An article I read recently, reflected the racism in the series. Dany the beautiful white haired, white skinned lady, who tames a bunch of brown skinned barbarians. The story has been done before in history- British and the Indians... both the Native Americans and Indians from India. Same story different age! ;-)

This was an amazing book, the epitome of the series although there is a book 4 and 5, and a rumored book 6 and 7! For once I shall not give you any spoilers although I stumbled across many on the internet while reading, however I will say, before going the easy route and watching the show. Read the books, there's more IN it.

Breathe!


 

A Song of Ice and Fire: A Storm of Swords - Chapters 56 - 68 (Spoiler alert!)

If you thought the Red Wedding was big... well especially for all those that didn't read the book... Mr. Martin has more in store for us.

Remember what I said in my previous blog post about Melisandre saying that if Joffrey is killed while still safe behind walls, with all his guards present, then truly the Lord of Light is working. However Joffrey lives and thus Davos argues. Well Joffrey falls drops down dead at his wedding, after humiliating Tyrion over and over again. I say, he got what was coming for him, or you can think poor little rich blonde boy. Eh... I beg to differ, he deserved it for no lesson would set him right. In fact after the way he insulted Tywin I would hope it was Tywin who slipped him the poison, but we still don't know who poisoned Tyrion.

Sadly though Cersei is first to blame Tyrion and he is awaiting a trial and for sure execution. The trial goes horribly, because there is no witness For Tyrion, everyone is against him, because the ever so beloved king is dead. They see that Joff beating Sansa was righteous, etc. Come on people this was a King who was a boy, he didn't even FIGHT. The only blood he ever shed was disciplining slaps from his uncle Tyrion. I am glad to say he suffered, and choked and died. How could Cersei spoil a kid so much, ugh. Worst. Mother. Ever! So we shall see about Tyrion's fate. I hope he kills his sister, and gets vengeance.

However this was waaaay bigger than the red wedding... Joffrey is the sickest #@$%#er ever and he finally gets what is rightfully his! Such a relief, catharctic moment. Oh and while everyone is fussing about Joffrey dying, Sansa slips away... but more on her later. Joffrey is dead! Joffrey is Dead! The wickedest King there ever was, the enemy of all of us here in the North is DEAD! Goodness! No one Mourns the Wicked! Ok that was from Wicked - Broadway musical... check it out if you haven't! He's DEAD!

Jaime gets to King's Landing, Brienne is taken in custody cause Loras Tyrell still blames her for Renly's death. Jaime visits Cersei who is crying at the sept for Joffrey and they do it right there. She kind of is weirded out by his hand, or lack their of, and she estranges herself from him. Keeps him at bay. So I hope he got her pregnant just then cause he did EVERYTHING for her, and this is how she repays him, especially sleeping around with other men. Tywin wishes Cersei to wed a Tyrell or a Martell, doesn't matter. Tywin wnats Jaime to renounce the Knighthood, marry and take up Casterly Rock. However, Jaime has had it, he wants to marry Cersei and rule openly, but instead he just says he will never give up knight hood and Tywin renounces Jaime. What a family I tell you. Jaime asks the kingsgaurd after Tyrions really bad trial if they really think Tyrion is guilty, also if they did swear to protect the king, how the heck did he die? So they all give excuses. In the end I feel Jaime feels the "imp" is innocent, and convinces Loras that Brienne is innocent. Whoopdido.

I forgot what Dany was upto... Oh right! She is still trying to en-capture cities, and people are still trying to kill her. Oh and she find out that the two blokes she trusted the most Mormont, and the other dude Barristan Selmy who called himself Arstan, were actually traitors. Mormont fought for Robert once upon a time, and Selmy was a knight for Raegar and then bent the knee to Robert when the House of Targaryen fell. So she's so angry at them, she tells them she never wants to see them again. Also she finds out the Mormont had been sending Varys stories about her, until he fell for her, and then he stopped. She is super pissed.


 Arya is stuck with Sandor Clegane, although the last chapter made you think she fled for him. As the red wedding took place, war sprung about. In the chaos Arya found out 1- her mother and brother were dead 2- she wanted to see them 3- perfect opportunity to run. So she ran. Clegane hit her up-top her head, she passed out. They escaped safely. She took to being a nobody. Then Clegane wanted to take her to the Eyrie which would be good cause... wait for it.... Sansa was being taken there by Petyr! When she escaped after Joff's wedding (ofcourse she was sad to 1-be wed to Tyrion, and 2-that her mother and brother were killed, but glad to escape to WHAT?), Dantos took her to Baelish who then killed Dantos, and they were off to the Vale, so that Petyr could marry Lyssa, the nutty lady! That's the only drawback Lyssa Tully now Aryn is nuts! Arya has it in her head to head to Jon. Jon is infected and delirious about life, and is made Commander in Chief... oops ... Lord Commander of the Black Crows by the maester. In the mean time Sam, Gilly and the baby cross the wall in a secret underground tunnel. They bump into Meera, Jojen, Hodor, Bran and Summer! Fun times. They cross to the North side of the wall, and who knows ... Sam goes back to Gilly?

That's all folks!

A Song of Ice and Fire: A Storm of Swords - Chapters 31- 55 (Spoiler alert!)

Amazon has paired up with Audible to give us these synced audiobooks- to ebooks! How cool right? I mostly listen to the audiobook though, and the narration is great. Because I hear the story (unabridged), its like seeing it in my mind, while I drive, get ready, cook, clean, pack, exercise. I am living this. So closely entwined am I, that the loss of my great Aunt, was in time with the loss of Robb and Catelyn Stark. The Red Wedding, they call it.

What happened was that Edmure was to marry Rosalin Frey, this would help make amends with the Freys. Since Robb marrying Jane Westerling had spurned the Freys so. Anyway Tywinn on his end won the war with letters as he had promised and told Tyrion. He wrote to the Freys, won them onto his side, and then when the wedding and bedding was on way, everyone else was killed. Bastards. (To get over this Samantha Durante - yes the author I recently interviewed- sent me this link which basically has steps to get over the Red Wedding. It helped - buzzfeed FTW). Anyway I'm glad by reading the books, I won't be shocked and surprised like other people who were astounded by the Red Wedding. Ha! Also I will know what happens in Season 4 and 5 and 6! Read!


Honestly what more is there to say? I feel drained of all my energy thinking of this great loss. What's more... Tyrion's POV, Joffrey the King is acting like HE'd done it. Bragging and all proud. He tells Tywinn, "you write to Frey and tell him I want Robb's head! I will present it to Sansa, and make her kiss it..." What a dou@#$bag! Tyrion will not have any of this, so Tywinn sends Joff to bed, literally! Joff retaliates saying Tywinn is a coward or something to that effect. Cersei apologizes on behalf of her son, and Tywinn sends her to bed too! Anyway Tyrion is set to a new task of entertaining the guests, and keeping them from killing each other before Joffrey's wedding. I hope Joffrey gets his, soon. I'd love to give him my own taste of justice, oh yes. Those Lannisters.

Before Robb died he signed a will sort of thing that decreed his heir... I think it's Jon Snow... but we shall see... oh the cliffhangers!

Arya has her own journey, and finally she flees from Sander Clegane who had taken her from Beric Dondarion. So now she's a free bird, except her brother and her mother are dead. Dead and gone, and to her knowledge Bran and Rickon are dead too. Sansa married off to Tyrion, so it leaves Jon Snow in the North. Should she go there. Ofcourse Arya, and no one else, has a clue that Bran is on his way North, and is holed up some place safe with Meera, Jojen, Hodor and Summer. Bran is like Frodo, they are taking the wolf dreams north to the three-eyed crow. By now Bran can slip between Summer and himself really quickly. He sees Jon craven out of killing an old man, cause them wildings have crossed the wall. So Yigrette (who Jon has been bedding ALOT), does the honors, saying "you know nothing Jon Snow". She has a Irish accent, according to the narrator. Jon Snow rides off to Castle Black, or one of those castles by the wall. He meets up with his Black Brothers, and they trust him after he explains to them why he killed his buddy, and on whose instructions. Now they are preparing for the wildings attack. See the wildings strategically attacked the wall at many places, thus spreading the Crows thin (Crows- Black Brothers- Night's Watch). So this will be a cluster fudge.

Davos receives a letter from the Night's Watch, and guess what he learns! Oh the wildings are crossing south. Blimey, he says this is too troubling, and puts the letter away. Yeah lets ignore the important stuff since we live on an island. In the mean time Stannis discusses with Melisadnre, his wife, and Davos ... Davos is now his hand... whether or not to sacrifice the Robert Baratheon's Bastard (the one who was at Storm's end and Davos saw his taken by the shadow etc.) to give life to a Dragon. Kind of like how Dany had done. Previously Melisandre had done a spell to have the Greyjoy King killed, Robb Stark Killed, and Joffrey Killed. So far two are dead. Joffrey remains. Melisandre says - imagine if Joffrey is killed while he is safely behind his walls, with guards... that would truly mean the lord of light is at work. I hope she does it!

Dany is winning city after city... yes she bought an army of Eunochs and then had them kill their masters. Then she has been conquering all.

Here are some good maps:

Essos (Essos on Left) and Westeros

Westeros

Jaime gets away from Harrenhal after striking a deal with Bolton. Bolton and Frey (REMEMBER) ganged up on the Starks, so they aren't good. Jaime leaves without Brienne, leaving her to the Brave Companions, however he goes back for her, and they travel to King's Landing together. Which is decent of him, he only does this, because 1- he has lost a hand 2- he's been having bad dreams 3- in his dreams only Brienne remains to protect him.

Oh Sam! I almost forgot Sam! He was caught up in the whole take over by the wights at the camp. Then he got to Caster's Castle, and there there was a mess, and the old Bear Mormont was killed. He forgave Jorah before he died. Then Sam took Gilli, and was heading to the wall, when they were surrounded by wights again, and a man on a Stag or some sort of Deer creature rescues them. My guess or prediction is that he is Benjen Stark or a OH RIGHT... ELK!

So that's the big news so far!
Another 25 or so chapters to go!

Breathe

A Song of Ice and Fire: A Storm of Swords - Chapters 1-30 (Spoiler alert!)

"I'm crying because we never found the horn of winter. we opened up half a hundred graves and let all those shades loose in the world, and never found the horn of Joramun to bring this cold thing down!"

So now we know what those cold dead zombies are!

Since the last book many a thing has taken place... Dany has gone to the city to buy slaves. She buys an entire army, in exchange for everything and her dragon - drogon. She claims the army, and then she kills all the slave traders. Her army is the unsullied- they are all eunochs, who are disciplined and only kill for her now. She will soon be ready to amass an army and take over Westeros. Jorah creeps her out, however she has needs, and takes to pleasuring herself.

I was wrong last time, I thought Davos, was captured by the Lannisters but he was stranded on a rock. A ship found him and took him back to Dragonstone, where he learned that Stannis has slunk away into his castle with the red lady, and everything was a mess. He went to Stannis with the intention of killing the red lady, and instead found himself in the dungeons. Then the red lady visited him, and they spoke and the conclusion was he was full of doubts about her, but his loyalty was with Stannis.

Tyrion and Sansa get married. Why!? Why!?!?!? Do you ask Why!?!!??! Because they fell in love! He is her ideal Prince, Knight in shinning armor, Handsome and Gallant! Obviously a perfect match! 
Margaery Tyrell comes to Kings landing with her whole family of Tyrells from High Garden. She is to marry King Joffrey. She also makes sure she befriends Sansa. She learns that Joffrey was absolutely ghastly to Sansa. The Tyrells come up with a plan to wed Sansa to their eldest cripple son, Wyllis. However Cersei gets wind of this. She can not let this happen, because then Winterfell will fall into the hands of High Garden. So Lord Tywinn forces Cersei to marry Wyllis, and Sansa to Tyrion. If Cersei marries Wyllis, it will make the bond between their houses stronger, she will be able to put to rest the "lies" of her incest, she will produce more heirs... So one night Tyrion and Sansa are wed, then they eat with everyone, and Joff whispers to Sansa that he will still bed her, for he is king and is allowed to have whores, even if it is his uncle's wife. Ugh. I hope this kid is beheaded soon. Anyway Tyrion does not bed Sansa that night, and says he hopes she will get to know him and one day maybe love him.

Jon Snow  gets laid! oh yes! With the wildling who works under Mance Raider - Yigrette. He seems to have bought most of their trust, and they climb the wall ... yes THE WALL, and that's when Yigrette says the above line. So now we know. Jon, for a 1/2 stark is a little slow sometimes, although very kind, and noble at heart. Waiting to see his moment. I don't think it has come yet.

We suddenly read a few chapters from Sam's perspective. He's being a craven as usual, after sending some crows off with messages. The waits have attacked the Crows/ Watchmen's camp from all sides. Everyone begins to retreat to the wall. Disaster! Let's hope Sam survives.

Catelyn has been cooped up in Riverun, ever since she let Jaime Lannister go. Robb comes back, and totally apologizes to her for letting Theon go. Also eh comes back with a wife, but not one of Fray's daughters. She is pretty but she was the daughter of the enemy they had come to take over. They were sworn to the Lannisters, but now this. So I suspect they will take the wolves down from the inside. Shucks Robb, shucks!

In this book we are introduced to Jaime Lannister's POV or perspective. What a shocker aye? yep! HE turns out to be very decent to Brienne who is trying to get him safely to King's Landing. We learn everything he has EVER done has been for Cersei. ALWAYS. Super gross right? He's slept with no other woman, but Cersei. GROSS!!!! Anyway they seem to be making their way to King's Landing, but on the way they are intercepted by bandits, and after which Jaime gets the sword from Brienne and they are captured by the Brave Companions who work under the Wolf and Roose Bolton at Harenhaal. He warns Brienne that they will rape her, and she tries to say she was sent by the wolf. No one listens.

Bran is making really slow progress up to the wall. He's listening to stories from Meera, and Jojen, and unable to control his warg dreams. He's a cute kid who just wants to live, and be normal. He loves living through Summer.


Arya Arya Arya!  I love and am partial to Arya POV chapters. Arya escaped from Harenhaal in the last book, and she is on her way to Riverrun. On the way they are coguht by some "Kingsmen", one whom she recognizes from her Childhood at Winterfell. He used to work for her father, but after he died, he switched to the side of the realm, of the side of Ser Berick Dondarion. Anyway they are at some little town, in a ... before which Gendry and Sansa have a little tickling fight, almost brotherly, but seemed like there was some chemistry there... I could be wrong. Anyway they are at the Peaches Brothel for some reason, and GEndry says Arya is his sister to protect her....


Just read the book... aaah!!!

1- how big do these dragons grow? really as big as a man riding a horse may pass through it's mouth?
2- will Gendry and Arya get together?
3- Will Sansa learn to love Tyrion?
4- Will Joffrey die?
5- What will happen to Theon?
6- What about Davos?
7- What will Robb do?

Breathe!