A Song of Ice and Fire [2]

@ the Iron Throne image

NB I've been doing a lot of re-reading of earlier books and checking the Westeros.org wiki while I'm going through Book 5. The other day I stumbled upon an image of the Iron Throne with a note that GRRM considered it the closest to how he intended the throne to look.

The TV throne:



The book throne:



I've been really enjoying getting back into ASOIAF and that image really fired my imagination.

Eldo... How far in to book 5 are you?

  Brienne

Lannister bed joke is clever.   

Lancebloke wrote:Eldo... How far in to book 5 are you?

A little over 200 pages, though I spoiled myself fairly thoroughly back when the book came out cause I wasn't sure if I was ever going to read it.

so this mortal combat thing? does Tyrion mean he wants to fight,    or is he getting Bronn to fight as his champion?

I think Tyrion realized he wouldn't have a chance against whatever champion Cersei chose.  I will say though that this is one scene that is really best experienced blind, whether you're reading it or watching it.

Yes Figgy - don't go getting spoilers for this one.

O   

Eldorion wrote:NB I've been doing a lot of re-reading of earlier books and checking the Westeros.org wiki while I'm going through Book 5.  The other day I stumbled upon an image of the Iron Throne with a note that GRRM considered it the closest to how he intended the throne to look.

The TV throne:



The book throne:



I've been really enjoying getting back into ASOIAF and that image really fired my imagination.

Yeah, it's certainly a whole lot more imposing.  

Though I loved what Peter Dinklage said in that Emmy panel thing about what he would do with it if he was sat on it.   

Well, first I’d bring in a design team to get rid of the swords. I’d get some plush pillows to make a bit softer, because anyone sitting on that would inherently be aggressive, because they’re being poked in the ass by all these knives. I don’t know how Jack (Gleeson who plays Joffrey Lannister) does it. Every time I sit on it, I go, ‘erm.

Isn't it also said somewhere in the books that several people had died from literally sitting on it? 

Yeah, I think there are a few mentions of people dying on the throne

It was Stannis in one of the Davos chapters actually.

Have you ever seen the Iron Throne? The barbs along the back, the ribbons of twisted steel, the jagged ends of swords and knives all tangled up and melted? It is not a comfortable seat, ser. Aerys cut himself so often men took to calling him King Scab, and Maegor the Cruel was murdered in that chair. By that chair, to hear some tell it. It is not a seat where a man can rest at ease. Ofttimes I wonder why my brothers wanted it so desperately.

I'll go with Peter Dinklages assesment, I think.   

Yeah, the idea behind the Iron Throne is that Aegon the Conqueror wanted it to be a constant reminder to his successors that kingship was a duty, not a right, and to always be cautious and wary instead of relaxed and opulent. The number of injuries and deaths attributed to the throne resulted in superstitions springing up around it, for instance, that the throne could tell if a king was bad and would only hurt the unworthy. Regardless, it's supposed to be uncomfortable and dangerous ... just like kingship itself.

Yes, I think that's very much the thing. It's the image of the concept of kingship in itself.

And the idea that it would hurt those who were unworthy to sit on it, and those who had no right to, it nearly impaling Joeffrey once.

Thought of like that it's a rather nice concept by George.

Though I think Peter might have been onto something with the inherent aggressiveness.   

Ringdrotten wrote:Yeah, I think there are a few mentions of people dying on the throne

too many cheeseburgers.   

Not to bring it up again, but related to that "what they did before GoT" video posted above, I was unfortunate enough to see some of Ali G Indahouse some time back. In one scene Charles Dance's character is "humiliated" by being made to dance in a mini-skirt to pay for his evil ways earlier in the film. Whenever I think about Tywin, I have some slight memory of this in the back of my mind:

   

ew

so book Readers.  Q&A
does Arya meet that Haagen Dazs chap again in Braavos?  I liked a man.
and how does she get there?
and does she first meet Sansa in the Eryie with Little Finger?
and do they all meet Brienne and Pod in the Eryie?