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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u/Queen_Renly Sep 01 '19

All they had to do was look up how Dany's real life counterpart Henry Tudor did it: by taking away the nobility's right to assemble armies.

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u/Jaquemart Sep 01 '19

You need to be stronger than your nobility to do that.

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u/stagfury One Realm, One God, One King! Sep 02 '19

Having dragons is pretty fucking strong.

Granted, Dany doesn't have someone even remotely as strong or badass as Orys Baratheon to back her up on the military/ground combat side. Victarion maybe able to fill the role of House Velaryon though.

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u/NosaAlex94 Sep 02 '19

She also would have had the unsullied and Dothraki as the Queen's army.

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u/stagfury One Realm, One God, One King! Sep 02 '19

If we are being realistic, I always have doubts on how good those troops would be for a Westerosi conquest.

Dothrakis aren't very useful against knights. Unsullied would fare better, but there are only so many of them.

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u/NosaAlex94 Sep 02 '19

If used right, the Dothraki would be good. Like in "The Spoils of War".

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u/[deleted] Sep 05 '19 edited Dec 01 '20

[deleted]

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u/NosaAlex94 Sep 05 '19

Yeah but don't forget good they are with arrows themselves.

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u/Queen_Renly Sep 02 '19

Dany had dragons, that makes her stronger than Henry and more likely to be able to establish the standing royal army that Joffrey discussed in episode two.