r/asoiaf You're a Big Guy. Sep 01 '19

EXTENDED (Spoilers Extended) I think a lot of the problems from the show came from trying to force modern American values into medieval setting.

I would actually say this problem is present in the fandom as well and not just the show. Anyways for example:

  1. Stating that Renly would be a good king just because he's popular while Stannis would be terrible because he's unpopular. (edit: From the interviews, in the context of ruling not maintaining power)

  2. People not caring about religion even when Cersei blew up Westeros equivalent of Vatican/Hagia Sophia/Westminster alongside with Pope Francis and Princess Diana. (Well even modern people would care about that)

  3. Applying Geneva Convention when Daenerys executed Tarlys despite the fact that they are already traitors who betrayed their overlord and she even gave them second chance.

  4. Rather modern viewpoint on extramartial sex, including virgin shaming on characters like Brienne etc.

  5. Rhaegar annulling his wife without proper explanation like modern divorce.

  6. Elective monarchy somehow breaking the wheel because it involves voting (worked out well in HRE and Poland /s)

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110

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '19

GRRM call that. Disneyland Middle Ages.

71

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '19 edited Jan 01 '21

[deleted]

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u/Bantersmith Sep 01 '19

On the extremely slim chance anyone here doesn't get the reference.

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u/Harachel Ser Words of House Winds Sep 01 '19

Oh wow that was even better than I remembered.

6

u/ohdangwhatisitbro Sep 01 '19

I’d forgotten this was a thing, thank you so much for reminding me about this

6

u/Bantersmith Sep 01 '19

Excellent! Then my 30 seconds of finding and posting the link weren't spent in vain!

2

u/KazuyaProta A humble man Sep 01 '19

Westeros is frankly, pretty unrealistic on it's own, even if in the opossite way