It does fall in line with the books. Although I find her arc frustratingly slow and the House of Black and White are unnecessarily cryptic and vague. I don't remember them being this annoying. Or maybe I just blocked out most of the 4th book.
I meant to mention this in my first post about the episode but I forgot. While I found the Stannis sacrificing his daughter sad, and telegraphed, just as much as Spoiler Ollie leading next week's stabathon on John Snow has been; ...it didn't really change my opinion of the character. It wasn't like he took any glee or delight in sacrificing his daughter. The love for her was still there. If you buy into who he is as a character, you almost sympathize with him as this is a move he feels like he has no choice but to make, despite his love for his daughter. A move none of us would ever consider with our own children. You can see the agony on his face as the deed is done. But this guy buys into his role as rightful king, and savior of Westeros so much that he really feels like he doesn't have a choice. I also think we will eventually learn that the fires supposedly committed by Bolton's men were really the work of Melissandre to force Stannis' hand. I think we already know as much the way the fires just popped up out of nowhere.
D&D: "Oh yeah, there's going to be Stannis character development this season." These two jerkoffs have five books, five seasons, 20 years, and still don't understand Stannis' character after all that. These rewrites are garbage.
A perfect summation of my thoughts. Spoiler [video=youtube;ToOhmTxvqa8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToOhmTxvqa8[/video]
Only thing i read under spoiler tag was this post...so I will pose my question to book readers in a spoiler fashion to not give anything away to those who haven't read any spoilers at all. Spoiler dude mentions great plague? On top of everything else going on a big *** plague going to sweep Westeros?
I get not liking the character. I just don't get people's opinion of the character changing because of this week's episode.
Unsullied are loosely mirroring the Swiss armies that began to revolutionize phalanx style combat. From a logistics standpoint it is hard to arm and fit large armies with swords and horses. Heavy Cavalary was always a characteristic of well funded armies. The Unsullied are the opposite of that, being made up almost entirely of slaves. They trained, much like the infantry of old, in cheap weaponry which is a spear or known as pikemen. Militarily, unsullied also reinforce the idea that they represent the Swiss infantry that used the plalanx in many of their techniques protecting Dany in many scenes we've seen. Being in their particular lands the most formidable foe is likely the Dothraki which is almost entirely heavy cavalry. Militarily the best way to counter cavalry is pikemen because unlike in the movies...horses do not impale themselves.
Spoilers for 2 book characters who were cut from the TV series, 1 of whom was partially merged into Jorah: Spoiler A book character who contracted greyscale in the same setting Jorah contracted his later invades Westeros. It is highly speculated that he will be patient zero in a greyscale outbreak. That theory is what Preston Jacobs is referring to in his line about greyscale.
There were a few lol parts. And he brought up a few good points, but most of it was just whining for the sake of whining. Like complaining about Dany holding hands with her best friend as they get killed. Really? That's a complaint? And he totally misunderstood the conversation with Dany, Tyrion, and Hizdahr... Or Dany's hair being perfect... It's a ****ing TV show. The only part that I'm in total agreement with, is the part with Davos. While Davos didn't know Stannis was going to kill his daughter, he clearly was suspicious. And he knew Stannis was out of options. Given what Davos did for Gendry, I don't quite understand why he didn't kidnap her. I suspect it's because there's no where to hide. She's not safe from Stannis at Castle Black, nor can he just drop her off somewhere in the middle of winter. I'm with you on Stannis. In five seasons, I felt they got his character wrong. I think we've talked about it before, so I'll skip my reasoning. That said, GRRM did say to D&D that Stannis was going to sacrifice Shareen. While it hasn't happened in AFFC or ADWD, it will happen. Very likely in Winds of Winter. And perhaps that foresight is why they've altered his character so drastically.
He did not. The closest he has ever come to this is when he was asked directly when Melisandre will sacrifice Shireen—as in, basically asking GRRM to confirm that this theory would actually come true. GRRM's response was to offer the questioner something to eat. In the books, Shireen was left at the Wall with Melisandre and some guards while Stannis went south. There's no way for Stannis to order Shireen to be burned, and that's against his book character anyway. If Shireen does get burned in the books, it won't be because Stannis ordered it.
Stannis is a very robotic character. Non emotional, rigid, logical, conservative, predictable. "Stannis is like steal. He'll break before he bends." What changed for a lot of people, was him showing a human side. And we get to see that side of him in the context of his love for his daughter. Where as Tywin once told Tyrion that he wanted to drown him in a sea, but didn't because of family obligations/legacy. Stannis never felt that way about Shireen, even when it was suggest he let her go and move on. Stannis is the kind of guy that you don't always like or agree with, but he's a just man. There's certain respectability to him because of that. Then, when all hope is seemingly lost, he has to debate whether or not to embrace his destiny. And in doing so, goes dark side. He makes a sacrifice that really can't be justified. I'm very curious to see how it all plays out in the books, because the character is different and the situation he's in is also different.
D&D outright said (inside the episode feature on HBO, I even posted in a few pages back) that GRRM told them Stannis was going to sacrifice Shireen. And they were initially shocked by it, but it made sense because Stannis has been burning people alive and sacrificing to the Lord of Light since we first meet him.
Why is that? I get it you don't like their messing with the story (and that's fine), but They're the only ones who know the entire story, aside from Martin himself. They're the only credible sources.
Since this thread has gone to hell w/spoilers... I'll join in. My speculation based on the books and show. Spoiler Episode 10 is entitled "Mother's Mercy." Everyone was kind of surprised that Lady Stoneheart didn't show up in last season's finale. But the finale was too action packed as it was. I absolutely think that she'll be making an appearance in the finale. Brienne and Podrick are all but useless as characters without her, at this point. I also think it was a poor decision to hold this plot line for the finale. I get that big moments like this are perfect for finales, but the strength of GoT has always been something big can happen in any episode. When it's time for a character's story crescendo, it's time. Poor planning IMO, if Stoneheart does show up. It would of helped the middle of the season, even if the story that follows has to be held off until next season. This also means, Jaime is likely to be sent away once he shows up in King's Landing with Marcella and Triston. Whether it's by an angry Cersei or Kevan (KoTH), I don't know. But that story line might get back on track soon enough.
Mothers mercy is going to be a reference to Cercie's dilemma and having to confess to receive said mercy.
do not agree. With everything that's already been explained and demonstrated to Stannis with the power of Kingsblood, it can be justified from his standpoint. to us it's a horrible decision but there is justification for it.
They do NOT know the entire story. They know the broad strokes of the ending. They know about the content planned for TWOW. That's about it. Of the remaining 2 planned books, they know maybe 40%. GRRM probably knows about 60%. GRRM has described himself as a gardener type writer; he makes up some stuff as he goes, and he lets the story take twists he didn't plan. It is factually impossible for D&D to know the remaining story when even GRRM does not. The word of D&D is not law for the books. The situation as presented in the show was not dire enough to sacrifice your friggin' daughter and only heir over. The situation in the books is much worse, and Stannis' response to the suggestion of a sacrifice of someone who is not Shireen is "there will be no burnings. Pray harder."
Stannis is a different character on the TV show. Basically they had to change him because they didn't have his wife in the first season.
His wife doesn't really have much to do with his character change. The biggest change D&D have done to Stannis' character is turn him into a believer of R'hllor. They're misunderstanding his actions in ASOS.
I guess I'm not sure what you're angry about. That the show is deviating from the books, or that a TV character you don't like did something reprehensible. Either way arguing about whether a fictional character was justified in a heinous act is a foolish debate not worth having. I just think it fits the portrayal of the character in the show and I think also the books. I guess we will find out if Stannis does the same in the books, but seems like he will.
Stannis has done plenty of reprehensible things. I have a problem with the absence of logic in the show-only plot that led him to be convinced to spare someone distantly related to him, but then do something heinous to his daughter, because the show writers misunderstand his character and failed to properly represent the desperation of the situation leading him to do said heinous act. I'm also annoyed at what they've done with Tyrion and Brienne and others, but what happened with Stannis is just front and center stupidity. Yeah, about that. GRRM, on his Livejournal, says: This is about as close to a disclaimer as he gets.
Can't even say "Read the books" this year, because the show has basically caught up to the books. Some storylines are behind, some are ahead, but for the most part the show is on par with the books. I'll be watching through the credits in case there's an announcement for the release date of The Winds of Winter.
Nope... Was wondering if it's The Mountain, finally recovered from his battle with Oberyn, but with some side effects...
The "pretty average" part is because of rewrites. Did a segment seem too abbreviated and weird? Did things happen out of nowhere? Was there no real logical reason for what happened? Then it's a rewrite. That includes pretty much everything that happened with Stannis.
Its too bad of all this rewrite stuff. Wish they'd stick more closely to the books. I know other people who've read the books saying the same things you are.
The books has their bad moments around this time too. I feel like we got more resolution in the show for the same story lines. Specifically, Dorne, Tyrion, and Stannis. Jon's story was threadbare but it is a cleaner break if what I expect to happen occurs next year.
Good finale. Hard to live up to last seasons, which was easily the most epic. I liked this season for the most part, but certainly have a few complaints. 1. Tyrion is now in control. I don't know exactly what this means in terms of Dany. Maybe she's out of the picture for a significant amount of time? Jorah and Daario teaming up to find her seems boring. I like Jorah enough, but Daario is watered down and vanilla. And I wasn't to keen on him bossing Tyrion around. I think it should of been Tyrion's decision to stay and rule, and tell Jorah and Daario to find Dany. Anyway, Tyrion is in charge of Mareen, and I'm hopeful that will be as fun and rewarding as the last time. Oh, hai Vary's... Good to have you back! 2. Dany's trapped by Dothraki. I have no idea what this means, but it could get interesting. I can't help but wonder if this means she's going to revert back into the slave girl role she first had when she met Drago. 3. Cersei's looking good. Yum. And she's probably going to burn the whole ****ing city to the ground lulz. I hope she slaps the **** out of Tommen. But what does this mean for Margery and Loras? Are they too going to be released? is Cersei going to be humbled by this and repent? Or will it just make her more insane? I also love the Frankenstein element to the story. Qyborn's story was always fascinating to me. 4. Dorne's plot amounted to nothing significant. Even with Marcella being poisioned. Is she dead? Maybe. I imagine this will drive a wedge between Jaime and Cersei if she is. Marcella's death could set Jaime on a path to the Dark Side again? The loss of his sword hand and Brienne's honor brought out the best in him. That very well could come to an end. I don't know what the future holds for Dorne itself, but... That sandsnake is cute... That's all I got. Really, Doran is one of the richer characters in the books and it amounted to very little in the series. Maybe that changes in season 6, but I'm not hopeful. 5. Stannis, Stannis, Stannis. The fact that Stannis lived after black water made me believe he could eventually become King. But it was not meant to be. In the end, alone, he finally seems to realize his grave error in killing Shireen and putting trust into Melisande. I did like, in the end, he told Brienne to do her duty. True to form, in the end, for a character that wasn't handled nearly as well in the series. I very much and looking forward to see how his story unfolds in the books, as he's a better character in that medium. Either way, another would be King has fallen. 6. Arya finally got to cross a name off her list. And it was spectacular. Truth be told, I thought her story evolved very slowly, In retrospect, I think that was a mistake. But she came through in the finale. 7. You know nothing Jon Snow. Jon Snow's "death" was pretty unsurprising. Unlike the show's history of shocking deaths, this one was telegraphed. And I quote "death" because Milesandre has arrived. We all know that the priest from Brother's without Banners is capable of reviving the dead. Mel supports the same god, so it's conceivable she'll do the same. She doesn't have Stannis to support, so she'll need a new horse to back. I really don't think Jon is dead. Although if he is, that presents another bunch of problems at the wall. Perhaps the White Walkers (which were once suppose to be heavily featured in Winds of Winter) make another big move next season?
His name is Robert Strong. Of course, House Strong died off several years before the events of the series begin, so...
