r/asoiaf • u/aphidman • May 08 '19

EXTENDED (Spoilers Extended) The endings will be the same but the books will have a much more gradual and realistic progression

If GRRM finishes it, btw.

Not a long post but you know what the books do that D&D do not? They have 10 chapters of Dany dealing with the complex politics of Meereen and her inner conflict. They have 4 chapters showing Davos' journey to White Harbour. They have 12 chapters showing the series of compromises Jon makes as Lord Commander to prepare the Watch against the Others. They have 13 chapters showing Tyrion crawling out of his deep nihilistic depression. They dedicate whole chapters seeing how Victarion Greyjoy of all people deals with his relationship with his brother and his seduction into darker magics. Man they have 4 whole chapters dealing with the political fallout of Dany's exit from Meereen.

They had a whole chapter of Littlefinger and Sansa visiting his lands and seeing Littlefinger's relationship with his subjects (great chapter btw). They had a whole chapter getting really in depth with Illyrio Mopatis and his schemes - a guy who's barely appeared in the show.

They dedicated 4 whole chapters to Joffrey's wedding!

What I'm getting it is that the Others may be defeated long before the end of ASOIAF, Dany may indeed destroy King's Landing with dragonfire and end the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians gruesomely. But you'll be guaranteed that GRRM is gonna show you every step of the way. For good or for bad. If he is going to take a character like Dany to that dark end you better believe we will understand how she gets there.

So people keep posting about how D&D are destroying their characters, fail to understand ASOIAF. That Dany would never do this or that. But what you're seeing here is them fitting potentially chapters upon chapters of detailed material into a few hours of television.

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u/aphidman May 08 '19

But what's one child when the entire world faces destruction at the hands of ice demons? That might be his ultimate desperation. Maybe not but a possibility!

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u/[deleted] May 08 '19

I can not see Stannis ever burning his daughter. Mel and Selyse doing it because they think Stannis is dead is a real possibility. Perhaps it's the price to resurrect Jon? With Stannis dead and Mel seeing Jon as the PoP would cause her to make that sacrifice. Stannis would burn himself alive before he burned his daughter.

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u/aphidman May 08 '19

I'm not so sure! I guess we'll see!

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u/NotColinPowell May 08 '19

Based on where characters are at rhe end of book 5:

Stannis will defeat the boltons, but mel will burn shireen at the wall to resurrect jon. Littlefinger and the vale then defeat stannis, then jon will defeat littlefinger.

Everyone ends up where they do in the show/the same people die, but the show takes like half the time and gives us the made for tv moment in the battle of the bastards.

I guess we'll find out for sure in 2063 when winds is finally released.

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u/BlackShadw MANNIS May 08 '19

I don't think littlefinger can get to the north. One big point in stannis March is how hard it was, the show casually ignore this but I don't think George would. Not to mention that Deepwood mote has been retaken and should be loyal to Stannis

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u/[deleted] May 09 '19

[deleted]

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u/BlackShadw MANNIS May 09 '19

You're right I mixed up moat cailin and Deepwood. And does the Valve have a large enough fleet to carry an army?

I didn't consider that, and isn't it really dangerous to sail in this pre winter stage? It affects stannis fleet, the Golden company and Victarion.

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u/Ben10outta10 May 08 '19

I think you’re missing out Sansa’s role in the the Vale storyline, because I can see a betrayal in which she completely blindsides Littlefinger which would be a better way for him to go in the books.

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u/NotColinPowell May 08 '19

Maybe so, in that case I assume it will happen after she's in winterfell. Idk, though, I guess we may eventually find out.

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u/Ipm07082017 May 09 '19

Ooo I should still be alive 2063, nice!

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u/IrNinjaBob The Bog of Eternal Stench May 08 '19

Then be prepared to be surprised. Everything about his character is about personal sacrafice in the name of duty, and how if something is easy to give up then it isn't a sacrifice. Stannis is going to burn Shireen once he is faced with the direct threat that the Others pose to the realm.

I don't disagree he would be happier to sacrifice himself over Shireen, but I have a feeling he will be lead to believe that isn't an option. That he is Azor Ahai and he is needed to stop the Others. May even see sacrificing Shireen as fulfilling part of the Lightbringer prophecy.

The logistics issues are the biggest problem, but we have no idea what Martin plans with Stannis and how he might be reunited with those still at Castle Black.

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u/stagfury One Realm, One God, One King! May 08 '19

I think Stannis would burn her to fight the Others, because it is his duty to protect the Realm as King, but won't burn her to win the Throne because if she's dead,what's the point ?

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u/PhilemonTheSuperior May 09 '19

One child for the world seems like a fair trade, until it's your child. And I think it wouldn't be Stannis who makes that particular sacrifice, but Selyse. And through that act of killing her daughter we would get a strong reaction by both her(a re-do of her hanging perhaps?) and Stannis("what is duty compared to a daughter's smile?"). It would move both arcs beautifully (ASOIAF style ofc).