Comprehension dawns

[kilroy]

After watching this week's Game of Thrones, it finally hit me:

They're all screwed, aren't they. Every single character. All of them. Screwed. Irrevocably.

For whatever reason I hadn't realized I was watching a post-modern Shakespearean tragedy.

Comments

[brigid]

That character you like? Yeah, that one. The cool one? Probably gonna die. That other character, that you also like? Dead. That one you dislike? Dead. Most likely. That supporting character? Dead. That charming child? Dead. The comic relief guy? Dead. That other comic relief guy? Not dead, but complains unceasingly about how unfair it is he isn't dead. That dude right there? Dead, then undead. That totally awesome character there... no, that other one. Yeah. That's the one. Oh god. Worse than dead. :C

[kilroy]

Arrrrrrgh.

This whole realization is making me want to not read the books, like, ever.

[brigid]

They aren't senseless deaths, and they drive the story. Like LMBujold, GRRM allows his characters to make mistakes and act foolishly. Also: there are wars going on. There is a lot of betrayal and the negative part of human nature, and he is very VERY down on The Patriarchy and how it negatively affects (oftentimes ruinously) anyone who isn't an able bodied politically connected wealthy dude.

I do wish you'd read the books just so I could discuss them with you, mostly the political and feminist/patriarchal stuff. But I can absolutely see why one would not want to read them, either. They ARE grim, but there is also a heavy dash of hope throughout, and there are a LOT of people who strive for justice... including some people who are presented, initially, as villains.

[amyshy]

"That dude right there? Dead, then undead."

LOL Love that. :)

This certainly is a grim series. I'm going to keep reading and watching, but it is with a sense of growing dread. Dispite the grim outlook, it is a very compelling story and well told.