Yeah, they do it pretty well in the show too though. Some of Cercsei softer side was shown in the first season and a half was that the love of her kids was one of her primary motivations. Now she once again is being forced into an arranged marriage where love isn't even a distant thought. Jaime as well as Cercsei are two of the main characters that aren't trying to be honorable or noble in every decision they make. There are plenty that try to be the whole time, Ned was the big one in season one, but there are a number of others that seem to be always trying to adhere to a higher cause.
It's referrered to as "greyscale" in the book, as dead skin begins to resemble hardened scales. Leprosy is a good analogy, both in terms of effects and social reactions. The afflicted are considered unclean pariahs, hence why Stannis's wife referred to the daughter as a distraction. As far as Robb, seems to be the Stark heritage, right? "Winter is coming, and I will honorably fuck myself."
Only difference is that greyscale, unlike leprosy, is absurdly contagious (only in its adult version though, not the child version). Eventually you basically turn into a moving statue. I think the relationships within Stannis's family and the motivations of his wife, as well as his daughter's interactions with Davos, were explained more elegantly and poignantly in that five-minute scene than they were in 200 pages' worth of the books. On the other hand, 90% of Jaime's lines in this episode came directly from the books, and by God were they good. (I liked Jaime before it was cool)
Agreed as to the other points, but is greyscale being contagious confirmed, or folk lore? The reason I ask is that for centuries, leprosy was assumed to be contagious. That was the reason we sent them to colonies.
Adult greyscale is an actual known contagious disease. There is a thrilling scene 4 seasons from now where it'll pop up.
Definitely 100% superdupercontagious. Dunno if you've read Book 5, but Spoiler Lord Connington catches it just by touching one of the Stone Men who ambush the boat Tyrion's on when he's on his way to Daenerys.
And to really hammer home the leprosy parallel, people think that any association is bad/unclean/unlucky so they're shunned or outright killed. Stannis' daughter is alive for the same reason Tyrion is- they're nobility. Even with that they won't ever lead 'normal' lives, moreso for Shireen. Though all this talk about child/adult virulence makes me wonder what happens when she becomes an adult- is she more contagious then or is she the same since she got it as a kid? Probably something we'll never get an answer to but makes me curious.
I guess he just won't stand for cockblocking motherfuckers. I watched this with el husband made the comment, "Oh look, he's becoming real people." El husband replied back that he's always been real people, and seemed to have sympathy for his character. I just can't get over the sister fucking and the kid murdering parts of him. I guess that's the cool part of this show, though. Real people aren't 100% good or evil. We're usually a mix of the two, although I don't think our lights and darks are usually so extreme.
Yea, probably so. He's read the books so he knows more details about all these characters so there should be some good Jamie moments coming up.
Those of you that have read the books suck at not strongly hinting at or revealing stuff that is coming down the pipe. I'll see this thread in a few months when this season has ended, and I've started and finished all the books released to date.
This happens every season. I try and keep it to stuff that has happened in books the previous seasons cover.
Okay, there's been a bit of hinting but nothing outright. The girl Robb spurned did not actually have a cock in case you're also referring to that. The really mean hinting is being kept to the book spoilers thread, and the last page of discussion in here has mainly been on the finer points of a horrible disease that makes part of you rot and (watch me eat these words when GRRM finally publishes new material) has no bearing on the storyline. I do apologize if anything I've posted (other than the fake cock) has been revelatory.
Jaime's been one of my favourite characters since Season 1, Episode 1. Never mind when he started to actually come across as sympathetic, I just love myself a charismatic villain. "There are no men like me. Only me." (On the other hand, I'll never forgive him for one thing, pushing Bran out of the tower - because that means we've been saddled with FUCKING Bran's storyline, by far the weakest and boring of the entire series)
The scene where tits mcgee (I don't remember her character's name) is tied up and shot to death with smug asshole Geoffry looking on...god. That made me so sad.
Yeah, it's too bad I liked her character and the copious amounts of T and A she provided. I think Little Finger's little speech was pretty good, they usually give him a solid scene like that each season. It might be a ways off but Ayra's storyline with the blacksmith looks like it should be a very good one. Seeing Milesandre take him made things very very interesting.
Maybe I missed some things, but a few questions... -Why did Joffrey kill her? Was it just random? -What was the significance of the ship Sansa was looking at after she found out she was marrying Tyron? Spoiler -Im assuming the guy torturing Theon is Ramsay Snow?
In order: -because he's a sick fuck who does that for fun and because Littlefinger wanted her dead specifically for working with Varys -looked like it could have been a Highgarden ship (couldn't tell if that was a rose on the sail) but either way her dream was to sail away from King's Landing, be it with Littlefinger or Loras, and now she won't be Spoiler Yes. Surprised that wasn't his first guess too, given what he knows of the Bolton's reputation, but I guess the torture is getting to him.
You will see. It was played out a little differently in the books, but if the ends are the same as in the books, it is significant.