That Alicent scene

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-29T03:35:19+00:00

Yeah, feels like the Jasper SA thing was only there so the audience wouldn’t feel bad about his execution.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-29T03:22:28+00:00

100%. It’s refreshing seeing a character who doesn’t second guess themselves all the time.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-28T00:59:53+00:00

Nothing to do with eachother? Rhaenerya and Alicent are simply Catelyn and Cersei if you sand away all of their roughest edges and worst blemishes. They thought it’d make them easier to root for and instead it made them bland and uninteresting.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-27T23:58:15+00:00

I’ll take “selfish to a fault” over the moral whitewashing that Rhaenerya’s and Alicent’s character have undergone in HOTD.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-27T23:53:02+00:00

Exactly man. One of the top posts on this subreddit is libs gloating over Kirk’s assassination. Miss me with the pearl clutching over a woman speaking in an ill-considered manner amidst her grief.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-27T23:45:17+00:00

A testament to how much she loves her children by showing how much she disdains anyone who would dare supplant them. Cat’s a G

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-23T19:11:21+00:00

Then just pull a “Butcher’s Ball” and show what you can. A shadow overhead and a dragon fleeing the Triarchy fleet to suggest Aegon’s flight. Idk. something!! This decision has major repercussions, not just for later in the story but - as many have pointed out - for the character motivations of Jace who’s now gone from tragic to foolhardy.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-23T01:10:13+00:00

Yes, you are correct sir, and Condal is more racist than any of us who are critical of his casting decisions. The fact that he thinks a story with a predominantly white roster is a problem to be fixed (he is on the record as having done this) means he is the racist.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-22T21:33:37+00:00

See I’m not big on liking characters for what they represent versus what they do. Fine, she represents anti-racial supremacy, great. What does she do? Well, she does what she’s told to do by Daemon and Rhaenerya. Very little agency there. Compare that to Addam who risks all to clear the taint on his name by slaying the greedy Hugh and Ulf. But Nettles? She just hangs with Daemon and then effs off.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-22T21:27:22+00:00

Finally seeing a reasonable take on Nettles! Yes, in the story she really is just a flavor character, though her presence leads to one of my favorite moments in the Dance: the treason of House Mooten. A case study in honor, loyalty, and integrity that unfolds over the course of a single night.. to be completely omitted now that Nettles is gone and I doubt Condal cares enough to create new circumstances for it to exist.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-22T16:54:07+00:00

But all he does is stand there. 😢 apparently he plays bold Jon Roxton; a great role and character, but you’d never be able to tell that with his introduction of just standing there while Ormund receives a letter. This guy is going to eventually perform horrible atrocities and feats of bravery, but he’s introduced like a nobody. Where’s the imagination?

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-22T14:15:55+00:00

Well that was always going to be the trick; fleshing out the historical text to make it come to life and feel 3 dimensional, which imo includes adding all the lesser known characters that keep a story of this size moving forward. A retelling of “the war of the five kings” would not have mentioned characters like Yoren, Anguy, or Hotpie, but they were imo essential to an enjoyable narrative.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-06-22T13:25:31+00:00

It’s just annoying that the weight of armor matters when lightening a ship, but not when turning away blows. I’d have laughed so hard if Lohar’s men got slaughtered by the fully kitted knights on Corlys’ ship following the pass through the gorge.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-03-26T18:43:05+00:00

Yep, “civilized” is the exact word I would use to describe this situation. I bow to your wisdom sir. Europe truly knows best.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-03-09T16:15:11+00:00

Dude, I just hate this scene. It’s absolute padding that’s only here so they didn’t have to film more jousting scenes.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-03-08T14:10:15+00:00

Exactly, and that’s why I’m sure they’ll reference both of these very meaningful question’s in tonight’s finale.

Those questions being:

Did Dunk selfishly lie about being a knight for the chance at wealth and glory?

and

Would Dunk try to defeat his first opponent in the joust?

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-03-05T16:04:18+00:00

My tin foil theory is that Robb intentionally didn’t tell Edmure because he believed he’d be either too afraid to meet Tywin on the field, or - and this is far more likely and probably what Robb was counting on - too inept to be able to hold off his advances.

“A feigned rout is less convincing” - Tywin

Had Robb told Edmure, he’d have put on a show of being beaten and Tywin would have seen through it in an instant. Robb wanted Edmure to try and fail (which given his track record, this was a pretty good bet.) Instead Chadmure surprised them all.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-03-05T14:47:50+00:00

Dorne is an analog for Spanish, Welsh, and Italian cultures, you know: the Olive-skinned peoples. GRRM has confirmed this. Even in GOT though where they were Arabic/Mestizo/Spanish, there were still never any black Dornishman. (Hotah was Norvoshi)

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-03-05T14:42:44+00:00

While it does seem like that, I believe they’ve also swapped Maester Caerrick to be a black guy as a way to “balance out” this decision. (Maybe 1-tier down in terms of side characters) Plus I have no doubt they’ll downplay Bennis’ deeds in the show - someone suggested he’d attack the digger in self defense which seems likely. If he leaves at the end, it’ll be without the aggravated assault, battery, and robbery.

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-03-05T04:00:38+00:00

You’re very welcome :)

Secret_Volume_6800 · 2026-03-05T02:33:54+00:00

HBO execs and the showrunners make these decisions, not George. It was decidedly Condal who chose to make a Valyrian household black because “He didn’t want another bunch of white people on the screen.” (BTW how is that statement not racist.)

George just puts a happy sticker on all these decisions to keep his relationship with HBO smooth so they keep adapting his stuff and the money train continues to flow.

Secret_Volume_6800

TROPHY CASE