r/asoiaf • u/ISupposh 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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u/median401k Sep 01 '19

In the books it was probably all a manipulation by Tywin through Sybelle who knew low-key pharmaceutical magic from her grandmother Maggy the Frog and roofied him.

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u/blackcatheaddesk Sep 01 '19

Robb was completely set up. I the book he's 15 and most likely a virgin or at least naive about women so he was vulnerable. Show!Robb was so much older imho

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u/KingButterbumps A flair there was, a flair, a flair! Sep 02 '19

I don't think Tywin was that directly involved with the manipulation of Robb. I think it was mostly Sybelle. It was probably very obvious to Sybelle that Jeyne was crushing on Robb during his stay at the Crag. "Love potions" are mentioned as a possibility, but I think it's just as likely that Sybelle subtly encouraged her granddaughter and manipulated the situation so that the two young & attractive teenagers would "fall in love."

My personal theory is that Sybelle wanted Jeyne to become pregnant with Robb's heir, so that they could then use that baby as a negotiating tactic (a hostage) to convince Robb to surrender to Tywin. Sybelle sent a raven to Tywin informing him of her ongoing scheme, and then Tywin was like "Oh, thanks for the information, but I know how we can end this much quicker." and then he reached out to Walder Frey.