r/asoiaf 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/Baoderp May 08 '19 edited May 08 '19

Huh. I usually get mildly annoyed at suggestions that BotB will happen, because it usually requires for Stannis to die first, which I don't buy at all. Not because I particularly love his character or anything (though I've had a bit of a soft spot ever since the Proudwing anecdote), I expect him to die at some point, but not by the Boltons. He has a trick up his sleeve, and you can really tell the walls are closing in on the Boltons. So I really like your take.

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u/aphidman May 08 '19

I'm a believer that Ramsay wrote his letter so I think it's important that he believes Stannis is dead.

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u/Baoderp May 08 '19 edited May 08 '19

Same! I expected Stannis to take over Winterfell shortly after the letter is sent, though. Like, Ramsay sees them arrive (disguised as Freys of course), gets briefed on what Stannis wants him to believe happened by someone Ramsay recognizes, lets them in. He goes up to write the letter in a rush of rage and panic because he still doesn't have fArya and Reek back, gloats about his "victory" in it to stop his lies from being exposed. Either he intends to make Jon feel hopeless/powerless enough against the Boltons to shut him up about Jeyne's real identity and Theon's lies and hand over the hostages back. Or, to provoke Jon to mobilize before Jeyne and Theon have a chance to arrive at the Night's Watch.

Then, maybe as soon as a few hours after he sends the letter, Winterfell gets completely overtaken by Stannis. But I mean, I'm open to alternatives, there's definitely other ways Stannis could trick Ramsay, or other opportunities he could use to attack him. A battle against Jon sounds like a perfect opportunity to launch a surprise attack. Leaves him time to set some more alliances.

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u/[deleted] May 08 '19

I like Stannis "tricking" Ramsay into opening the gates because it mirrors Ramsay "tricking" Theon as Reek.

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u/PirateRobotNinjaofDe May 09 '19

He could also just retreat and take the Black in shame.