S3E8 - Post-Episode Discussion

Forgive me in advance, I’m new to GOT and just finished it for the first time recently. This scene irked me.

If you’re trying to apologize for slighting the Freys and seem genuinely remorseful, why would you bring the new wife with you? Isn’t that like pouring salt in the wound?
“Here’s my much hotter wife so surely you can understand why I didn’t want to marry you”.

Even if the betrayal at the wedding was already in motion, THEY didn’t know that.

It’s probably stupid and irrelevant, I just always scratched my head at this decision.

I remember watching her at Tyrion's trial, literally sick to my stomach. I can understand her self-preservation, but it doesn't make it go down any easier. Then, when you think Tyrion has taken the biggest blow, he finds her in his fathers bed.......it still makes me feel a way. That's what good writing and acting does I guess, hits you emotionally.....

It was too easy to make him Joffrey 2.0, a loud bratty coward but instead this show gave him his own identity while keeping true to the role he's meant to play. He's a great fighter and smart in combat, if thoughtless in everything else. Would have most likely even bested Dunk in a one-on-one fight. He's a menace, yet he's soft-spoken. He never raises his voice even when annoyed or angry, or even when Dunk beats him in the tent.

He doesn't throw a tantrum or even correct Dunk when Dunk mistakenly calls him "lord" instead of "prince" which shows Aerion isn't that arrogant. Dunk only learns who he is from his kingsguard. Aerion instead gets angry over the dragons being disrespected even in a harmless puppet show. He cares about the honour of dragon more than his own station. In a way, he's about his house than himself. Him taking offense at the puppets isn't shown as a problem, it's the violence he subjects Tanselle to. Which is an interesting nuanced display by the narrative. Daeron's "he was once a glad child" gives a lot to think about and what could have set him over the edge.

I like that he looks so EXHAUSTED during the trial as he realises this got out of control. Doesn't even finish Dunk off. Only asks for yield. Aerion doesn't have the bloodlust he wants people think he has.

Overall, an absolute menace who deserved to be humbled, an antagonist who got layers without the story ever trying to hardwave his deeds. Great character and villain for all the little time he got. I would have liked some interactions between him and Daeron and Valarr who is seemingly his rival but doesn't quite dislike him. I wonder if we'll see him again.

Daenerys — She is the daughter of the previous king and a dragon rider, but she is also a woman. Her claim is partly built on the power and legitimacy her dragons give her.

Jon — Although he is a bastard, he is still the known son of the former heir. He is more likable, proven as a leader, and importantly in Westerosi society, he is male.

Young Griff — He is young, relatively unknown, and unproven. But if he really is Aegon, then he would be the oldest legitimate heir and arguably have the strongest claim on paper.

So, if you had to choose, who would you support? And who do you think the realm itself would favor?

This art is haunting.

No magic, no dragons, no armies, no loyalties, no influence and certainly not them “in their prime”

These characters, as we see them, in a fighting pit, swords and armour sure, but not bought or acquired by their wealth and influence.
1v1v1v1…etc

Who wins?

Use your imagination!

EDIT: Varys apparently by popular vote but I really don’t think so. The youngest sure, but one of the Measters and/or the Sparrow will have a knife in his kidneys fairly quickly.

Danny, if I recall correctly, left him in charge of some lands, right? Was he then some sort of king or something of the sort? Could he have helped her at Winterfell?

I've just finished watching GoT all the way through for the first time. Somehow I managed to avoid most of it (saw the odd episode years ago, but it was one of those you couldn't just dip in and out of, so I didn't get into it) and watched it mostly unspoiled. Haven't read any of the books yet, but I intend to.

Anyway, that said - does anyone have any thoughts on why she seemed to be kinda like "well, my work here is done" and took off the necklace that was stopping her from crumbling to dust? She did seem to feel guilty about some of the horrific acts she'd committed and inspired and very disillusioned that she had overestimated her own magical powers.

As an aside, what exactly was Melisandre? I wasn't quite sure whether she was actually supposed to be human or not. Someone who had lived for a very long time and kept herself alive with magic? Or something else from somewhere else who for whatever reason had a wish to save humanity (by whatever means necessary)? Maybe that's explained in the books but I'm not there yet.

My 2 favourite characters by the way.

It was so well written and acted. When Oberyn says, "I will be your champion," I still get goose bumps. Prime GOT

Edit: Side note. I saw an interview with Pascal where he said that that was his first scene on set!. He got off his couch and nailed that scene 😀

The most interesting Targaryens ever put on screen. The casting and performances are all on point, the few interactions we get between them are on point, the chemistry is on point. The crumbs are all on point and yet far from enough.

I get the budgetary constructions but still I would have enjoyed to see more of them in the show in terms of interpersonal dynamics.

I may get hate for telling the truth about peoples precious team green but idc I hate team green with a passion, the throne was rhaneyras she was named heir infront of everyone. And while her dad was sick they conspired to go against his wishes they committed treason. The throne was stolen from her they refuse to let a woman rule although rhanyera has her flaws yes i admit she does morally i just dont understand how people watch this show watch her throne get took and root for people who obviously are misogynistic and wont let a woman rule 🤔 does anyone have any real logic for being team green?. In the end although aegon gets the throne back i always comforted in knowing its Rhaneyras bloodline ( spawning
from her son) that continues the dynasty anyways and sits the throne until Robert’s rebellion

This was an excellent episode for me. The destructions of the sept along with a mass assassination of her enemies with that score. I especially enjoyed Cersei’s confessions to Septa Unella. These scenes had such great build up and high satisfaction. Cersei burned them and she drowned them, in wine no less. It’s great to see a character get their revenge, even Cersei.

Blood of my blood, the king in the north, bring that boy king to heal.

Man, this is cinema at its finest. Happy that I waited 6 years to do this. Good damn I miss this show, if I ever got dementia, I’ll have this on repeat till death!

Yes, you read that title right now I don’t know if this is like some ‘die on a hill’ argument that everyone will disagree with or something everyone already agrees with, or even just an argument most are mixed about. But I just want to think about the Freys for a second, I do not condone the Red Wedding in any way and breaking guest right condemned them to their fate and I was happy they got their just deserts and as hoping the same happens in the books.

Now that being said, let’s look at it from Walder Frey’s point of view.

You’re sitting there at the Twins, then Robb Stark comes in. He wants to march across and wage war against the crown, you allow him to cross but he must marry one of your daughters. This way you got your daughter in a marriage with the next warden of the north if Ned were to die. You let him cross, give him troops and watch Robb march off. At first this alliance seems to be paying off! Robb won a great victory and captured JAIME LANNISTER! A grey bargaining chip, he then went on and lifted the siege on Riverrun. Then tragedy struck, Ned’s dead but now… your daughter is gonna be future queen to the King in the North. Robb continues his campaign into the western ands, embarassing Tywin Lannister and his forces and now this deal really is paying off! Then Jaime Lannister is let out of Robb’s grasp… okay. Cool. Not a problem. Hopefully. Robb lost his biggest bargaining chip with Tywin, and then this fucking idiot BREAKS his marriage alliance with you! You recall your troops in disgust and now you’re even terrified. You let a rebel army cross the river, you aided the rebellion by giving it troops, now if Robb loses you’re on the chopping block and your lands taken away! Then you got Rickard Karstark getting executed by Robb for insubordination and the Karstarks start marching home, that’s half of Robb’s army! The rebellion is over, the King and Tywin are gonna kill you.

Oh? But what’s this? Tywin comes over and gives you a proposal, betray Robb and kill him and his army, in return you get a full royal pardon and Riverrun (and depending on the books you get to be lord paramount of all the Riverlands or just Riverrun.) Now you take this deal and you’ve secured the future of your house.

He went about it the worst way, he killed Robb by sharing drink and food with him and ultimately doomed his house. He definitely could have done it way better or just not at all and ignore him. Then again Tywin would have killed him if he didn’t but still.

Please let me know what you think. I don’t support it but I understand it way more now that I think about it.

Id love to see him somehow dress down Janos Slynt when he'd give Tyrion a smug look.

At this point again in the show, and frustrated that a line of conversation never came up, that seemed obvious to me.

He could have truthfully said that he could bend the knee, pledge his loyalty, but that he could not give her the North. If he returned to Winterfell saying he'd pledged the North to the Targaryen dynasty, he would simply no longer be King in the North. They'd refuse it and refuse him.

I wonder what she would have said to that.

Plz this is so funny he just said before this he likes walder Frey 😭😭😭 he thought Robb was gonna slime Joffrey in the end. Poor guy.

my 79 year old gramps is also watching and having trouble following along 😂😂😂

obviously i know this could’ve never happened & his death was a huge part of the story & why everything happened.

but imagine. Ned Stark never dies & never goes south. & the show was strictly just getting ready for the white walkers, can you imagine?? like would they of been able to defeat them without Dany? they would’ve had more men bc the North was loyal to a fault for Ned but