The Winds of Westeros

Alright, Ladies and sers!

Two more days! So many articles being posted on the Internet. Not that I'm complaining!

:)

Well, that does it! There's going to be a 60 hour Game of Thrones marathon, starting on Friday.

For those of you who want to get into the series, now is your chance.

I'm going to go off the grid this weekend. Between cleaning my house for Sunday night's party and going through this marathon, I don't want to be disturbed.

I'll check in either Sunday morning or Monday afternoon.

Cheers!

We are officially down to single digits.


On that note, it's been a very long winter and even worse, a longer wait for this season.


However, the time is almost upon us. Preparations for a season premiere party have been made. Invitations have been issued. Food is going to be prepared. A cake has been ordered to celebrate this occasion.


I've also bought the Vanity Fair and Entertainment Weekly magazines that came out this week, with new pictures and behind the scenes musings about Game of Thrones, D B Weiss, David Benioff and of course, George RR Martin himself.


I bought 2 copies of the Vanity Fair magazine. One for my possession and the other for my friends and family to look at. Yes, it's a peculiar habit I have, but oh well. Deal with it! LOL

Yes yes yes!!! The feels!  The epic wins! Fans of the realm, rejoice!


Several artisan trailers and more teaser trailers for all to enjoy!

As if HBO's Game of Thrones marketing blitz couldn't get any cooler, they decided to have a live event streamed from NYC on Facebook!

Awesome! Lots of pictures have been posted, lots of posts have been to added to many famous blogs.

As well, Entertainment Weekly magazine and Vanity Fair have published Game of Thrones articles and spreads of the actors and actresses. This means I must purchase 2 copies of each. One copy that I tuck away and the spare copy, in case people want to read the articles, they can peruse through that one.

I also got the third graphic novel delivered to my door. So all in all, it's been a very good week!

At first, I was skeptical.

But then, I was like, "Okay, I just heard three tracks - 'Arya's Prayer,' 'The Ladder,' and 'The Mother of Dragons.'

And I was like, "Damn! Some of those tracks are pretty tight!" You must hand it to the savvy folks over at HBO. This is a different genre to be linked to Game of Thrones. A very clever marketing strategy, because you expose two different genres of pop media (fantasy/sci-fi and rap). Thus, doubling your audience.

The result: is AWESOME.

Guess what arrived in the mail today?? I came home to a big box and I just KNEW what it was about!

Now, I have a total of 20 Game of Thrones Funko Vinyl dolls.

Next on my wishlist: the Dragon Egg plushies and the Stark Direwolves plushies.

Did I mention that I had only $100 left on my Visa?!

Oh well. So much for being debt free at this point in time!

No, I'm not referring to my age.

We are now under 40 days left to go until Game of Thrones Season IV premieres! I don't know about you, but winter here in Ontario has been absolutely wretched, to say the least. Copious amounts of snow and horrible windchills have made this one of the worst winters, ever.

Not exaggerating. Just Google Toronto Ice Storm 2013 and you'll know I am not exaggerating.

38 days left in the realm. The intensity is building up. The excitement is raging through our veins.

HBO just put out little teaser trailers and posters.

It's right around the corner.

Valar Dohaeris!

Oh yeah! Once again, Toronto is on the list for another HBO Game of Thrones exhibit.


I went to the first one (March 2012)at the Bell TIFF Lightbox, downtown Toronto. As an extremely enthusiastic Game of Thrones fan, I felt it was rather bare.


Fast forward to March 2013. The second HBO Game of Thrones exhibit was held at the Design Exchange, downtown Toronto. This one did not disappoint! I took so many pictures - 500, to be exact!


Hopefully, the third time is a charm! For all the fans in the realm, the third one will be held back at the Bell TIFF Lightbox May 14 to 18. Again, it's a free event and sure to be sold out within minutes of the ticket box office opening.


I plan on getting mine as soon as the box office opens. Maybe even get a few more this time around!


Booyeah!


#GOTExhibit

Sansa Stark and the word controversy really don't belong in the same sentence.


The reason why I write this blog post is because I posted a link in which George RR Martin has stated that in his future book, 'The Winds of Winter,' apparently there is going to be a really shocking chapter. As in awful. Controversial. And it has to do with Sansa Stark.


Here is my take on what the controversy could be:


Theory #1 - Sansa, using courtesy as her armor, is so scared and fearful for her life that she leans on and completely trusts Petyr Baelish and ends up marrying him and having a child. Of course, she is known as 'Alayne Stone' - his supposed illegitimate daughter but Petyr being the crafty scumbag that he is - will find a way to say something to the effect of, "Well, I only had her interests at heart, because there could have been attempts made on her life or someone may have wished to kidnap a wealthy heiress."


I don't like this theory, but it is controversial in the sense that Sansa is still a maiden and she will end up marrying a man, who though much back stabbing and scheming, betrayed her family and tore them apart.


Theory #2 - Sansa will become a ruthless and cruel woman, exactly like Cersei Lannister. She will become vindictive and hateful, not caring who she hurts and what her actions do, down the line to other people. She will become so hateful that the only thing that'll keep her going is the thought of going back to Winterfell. If she's still with Petyr Baelish, she could turn out to become a mastermind just like him: a liar, ruthless and cunning, except that nobody would think she was capable, because she is this sweet, proper young lady.


For Sansa to become ruthless and strike out at people would mean that she would have to develop a backbone and very thick skin. Not sure I am liking this theory, either.


Theory #3 - Sansa will play the sweet, head in the clouds young lady that she was brought up to be. She will fool everyone and play her party so well that nobody would even think that she had a seed of hatred in her heart. Until the time was right and she reveals who she is and ends up murdering Petyr Baelish, gaining the loyalty of the people of the Vale of Arryn and heads back to the ruins of Winterfell to try and live out the rest of her life, in peace, but heavily guarded. She will trust no one and go to great lengths to make sure that Winterfell is rebuilt and that the northern banner men protect her, for the rest of her life. She will never marry, after what she has gone through.


Well, this theory would be ideal, if Sansa could find the audacity to go through with getting rid of Petyr Baelish. Besides, nobody would miss him!


Theory #4 - Almost like #3 except Petyr finds out what she does and before she has a chance to get rid of him permanently, he assaults her. She manages to fight him off, but not before some serious damage is done. She escapes with her life and turns to the Maester and Septa of the Eyrie to help her recover. She decides to go back to Winterfell after being traumatized. On her travels north, Arya senses that Sansa was going through something terrible and warged into Nymeria to confirm this. Arya, almost completely initiated into the Faceless Men, decides it's time to travel back to help save her sister. They run into each other and head back to Winterfell together, trying to rebuild a semblance of a life. When Sansa tells Arya what happens, Arya makes it a point to go back and exact her revenge on Petyr Baelish. She does so with careful consideration. She stalks his brothels and plants poison in a few of them. Many of the prostitutes die. Many of the clients die mysterious deaths, too. It's all made to make sure that Petyr's brothels begin to suffer and business starts to decline sharply. To make matters better, Arya finds out where she can locate a Brother from the Iron Bank of Braavos and tell him that Petyr Baelish is skimming his accounts and not paying any and all interest owed to the Iron Bank. To further complicate matters, Arya somehow, someway makes it back to the Vale and speaks with the remaining banner men of Jon Arryn and the late Lysa Tully Arryn and tells them everything that Little finger had done: that he murdered Lysa, framed the singer and murdered Robyn Arryn, all so he could gain titles, lands and a greater link in an attempt to lay claim to Winterfell. Then, she tells the banner men of the Vale of Arryn the heinous crime of what Littlefinger did - that he raped her sister. For this, the crime is death. Outraged, the banner men swear allegiance to the young wolf pup of Winterfell.


With a considerable amount of man power behind her, Arya now travels to Riverrun, and meets up with her great Uncle, Brendyn Tully. He joins forces with her and rallies men to her cause. Dispatches to the Brotherhood with Banners come calling and join her. The northern banner men of Winterfell leave an armed garrison behind to safely protect Sansa and the rebuilt castle and community of Winterfell. Arya marches south. She finds the scum, Petyr, at King's Landing, as he was making an attempt to hide out and eventually get into the good graces of Queen Margaery. Due to the might and strength of her army, and the fact that Margaery is now Queen, they arrest Petyr on charges of murder, unlawful seduction, rape, embezzlement, fraud and fraudulent funds. Justice is swift - Arya decides that he will die, but a quick death is not suitable for him. Arya personally delivers the sentence and sees to it that he suffers. He is hung, drawn and quartered and his head is eventually placed on a spike at King's Landing, for all to see.


Queen Margaery is very pleased with Arya Stark and offers her a place at court. Arya respectfully declines but suggests a few loyal, northern banner men stay at court to guarantee safety and security. Queen Margaery and King Tommen write a peace treaty with Houses Stark, Arryn and Tully and they develop a lasting friendship. Queen Margaery asks Arya  about Sansa and inquires after her health. In time, Sansa recovers from her traumatic ordeal and the Queen goes to visit her. They become close and a future betrothal between Ser Wilas Tyrell is successfully proposed. Sansa moves to Highgarden and marries Ser Wilas, but remains quite close to her little sister.


As for Arya, well, a strange howling is heard now and then in the distance. It is when the full moon rises high above the towers of Winterfell, that Nymeria finally sees Arya. And the two kindred spirits are reunited. Nymeria, it seems, has brought a guest with her.


Aegon looks upon the young wolf pup to see how lovely she has grown and falls in love with her on the spot. Through a lot of bitterness and heartache, the Stark girls are finally given the happy endings they deserve.


Theory #4 - I am all in favor! This would be controversial, due to the awful event that Sansa has to go through. However, what Littlefinger reaps, he finally ends up paying for.(okay, yes, I made this whole theory up but that is what dedicated fans do these days)

I have successfully recruited three colleagues to the realm.


I know.


Either I'm awesome or I am kind of borderline obsessed/crazy.


I prefer to think of it as having an extreme level of enthusiasm.


:)


PS - I am totally liking Oberyn Martell.


I'm going to Dorne!

Sansa Stark will always be regarded as the Stark daughter who has the genteel breeding that was traditional of a young girl in a medieval society, like Westeros. She is accomplished at needlepoint, poetry and chatelaine duties. It seems to me that her sole duty is to marry well and into a high born family, as befits her own family's station and status in the Seven Kingdoms. She is elegant and poised and to quote her directly, "Courtesy is a lady's best armor." Really?! How about armor is your best protection against the enemy - both protective to your body and your wit?! Sansa may be the perfect daughter, but she lacks the ability to see through people's motives and has no thought to the idea that people have the ability to be malevolent. However, Sansa's biggest priority is getting engaged to a dreamy prince of the realm and making her parents happy.

This bugs me. As in to no end. Yes, I understand that she wants to make her family happy but what about how she is going feel, think and act? It bothers me to such a degree that women are regarded as the silent gender in A Song of Ice and Fire and Sansa embodies this well. Be seen but not heard. No thought to your own wishes and will, but the will of your lord and master.

I think that perhaps a little cunning and intelligence are the order of the day. Let's face it: Sansa dreams of a world where everybody is kind and gentle and they all adhere to the notions of courtly love. Being betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon was no picnic and for viewers of the show and readers of the books, we all know how she was mentally and psychologically abused. She was isolated and used as a pawn by others who had plenty of power over her. In short, Sansa is a victim and has no real power over her own life. Choices are made for her. When Sansa chose that spoiled wretch, Joffrey, over her sister and Mykah in Season I, that is when I lost all respect for her. Joffrey was a maniac and I thought to myself many times, "If that was a preview of what your married life was going to look like, good luck with that one. You deserve that pompous ass for a husband." That and - Arya is YOUNGER than you and can see through people's b.s. and you can't?! (shaking my head right now)

Season II and III fare no better for her - but we do catch small glimpses where Sansa is beginning to understand that people in King's Landing can be duplicitous and it doesn't hurt to have a protective mask in place and perhaps...even lie once in a while! Everyone else at court is a liar and a user, so you might as well try to beat them at their own game.

Being married off to Tyrion Lannister, in my opinion, was the safest thing that could've happened to her. As the wife of Tyrion Lannister, she had the protection of the Lannister family, plus the wealth to go along with it. And Tyrion is not Joffrey, not by a long shot. He might be a "half man" but by the Old Gods and the New, he is an experienced man and ladies, you get my meaning. Sansa could have had a chance to be happy with him, if she allowed herself to look past the fact that he wasn't so golden like one of the Tyrell sons or that he wasn't her perfect picture of a man. In those days, it was rare enough to have a true love match. However, having the Lannister name was an ace up her sleeve.

Will Sansa develop a stronger sense of worth? Will she develop a back bone and start to see all the dangers and intrigue around her? Or will she always be that ignorant little girl who dreams of courtly love, from Winterfell? Or will she surprise all of us fans and end up seated on the Iron Throne, with an army to back her up?

I have been thinking lately of all the times when I used to make fun of my older brothers. They were and still are huge Stark Trek and Star Wars fans. While I totally loved Star Wars, I couldn't get into the Trekkie thing. Both of my brothers collected the toys, figurines, magazines - anything with the Star Trek crew.

The turn of the tide has come full circle - as I look back on the past few years and look at the incredible amount of A Song of Ice and Fire collectibles that I have purchased. I have spent a small fortune on books, magazines, graphic novels, exhibition tickets, drinking steins, magazines, detailed map books, Funko Vinyl figures mugs, shot glasses, hats, graphic prints, framed portraits, essay books and plushie dolls.

If that wasn't bad enough, I read last night on 109 We Come from the Future an article about GRRM and hos he weaves yet another compelling tale about the politics of war and how much dragons play a part in his newest novella, "Dangerous Women."

My poor husband. I already told him that he has to order the third round of Funko Dolls for Valentine's Day next year. Now this.

Dangerous, indeed, for a woman like me!

So....

Apparently GRRM loves AMC's "Breaking Bad." My husband and I have checked it out from time to time, although I confess, I have been WAY too obsessed with HBO's Game of Thrones, with the second runner up, Boardwalk Empire, to actually start following "Breaking Bad" on a regular basis.

I will admit that I am a little bit obsessed with "The Walking Dead," too.

GRRM blogged about how he felt that "Water White was a bigger monster than anyone in Westeros."

Yikes! Really?! I don't know if I agree with that, GRRM. One poster, on the "109 We Come From the Future" website, wrote his points on an excellent article about GRRM and Breaking Bad, that Walter White was like Tywin Lannister.

I thoroughly agree with his points, as they were well thought out and eloquently written.

I'll be posting links to those amazing articles on the right hand side, where the Game of Thrones links are.

Sweet.

I just discovered that the lady I go to for my manicures and pedicures is reading A Song of Ice and Fire!

Come ON already! That is totally awesome!! Shout out to N! You rock, lady!

Oops!

I did something bad.

I kind of ordered 6 of those Funko vinyl figures. You know, the ones for Game of Thrones. Can't imagine how that happened?!

Somehow, as if by magic, or by unseen forces, the Hedge Knight, volumes one and two, were also ordered.

Um, the next Visa bill is going to be pretty interesting!

I think I need more shelf space.

Or an entire room in my house. :)

I've been subscribing to Elio and Linda's http://www.westeros.org/ website.

These two people are amazing! I love this website - so comprehensive and full of links, forums, pictures, articles, fanfare and episode reviews.

Elio and Linda upload a weekly review of each episode. There are fan forums that people can post discussions on the books, the television series, theories, fan works, etc. I love it because it is everything a A Song of Ice Fire Fan could ever want for (with the exception of GRRM's website).

I follow Elio and Linda on Twitter. I totally recommend this website for people who need to get immersed in the GRRM culture.

Keep up the good work, Elio and Linda!

Less than a week to go.

My cake lady e-mailed me today, confirming that she would be making two amazing Game of Thrones themed cakes for this Sunday's party!

Oh yes, one more thing.

I got my MOM into Game of Thrones. All because she mentioned, "Oh by the way, I watched an episode, where I think it was a good man, he was surrounded by a lot of enemies and he was stabbed in the leg with a spear. Then, there was another man, very smug. He got rid of his own man for that action. I think the man who got hurt in the knee, his name was Ed? Or was it Ned? I can see why you like that series so much. I found it enthralling."

OH YEAH. MY MOM is AWESOME!

I went and bought her the first two books, in larger editions.

Yay for moms!

It's not March.

Nope, not in my humble opinion. Yes, we said "goodbye" to February.

This month will be officially known as "Game of Thrones" month.

Brace yourselves, FB, Twitter and blog friends. More annoying status updates are on their way!

Less than 30 days.

AWESOME.

BRING ON THE DRAGONS, THE UNSULLIED, THE REEDS, MANCE, THE WILDLINGS, TYRION AND ARYA.

Those are the words of my husband.

I finished reading Pearson Moore's Season Two Essays on Game of Thrones. I only received the delivery less then a week ago.

I know. I get it. Sigh. I have issues where A Song of Ice and Fire is concerned.

I tried my best to put the book down. But...Pearson Moore has a way with words. His essays on each chapter are insightful, provocative and challenging. I enjoyed the book immensely and hope that he releases a third one, later this year.

75 days left to go.

I have report cards that need my undying attention.

I really need to prioritize my time. I am going to try my best and NOT read the next book...the one by William Jacoby, "Fear Cuts Deeper then Swords" which is a philosophy book about the characters and story lines of HBO's Game of Thrones.

I give it 48 hours before I succumb to temptation.