Showing posts with label King's Landing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label King's Landing. Show all posts

Walk of Shame

Author: Anonymous / Labels: , , , , ,

Filming has been underway for some time now in Spain and in Croatia. The controversial scene with Cersei has been filming, but under the strictest of schedules.

DB Weiss and David Benioff have also made sure that a skeleton crew are around to film a certain scene in which Cersei is forced to walk through the streets of King's Landing. The producers and directors of the show have made sure that only a handful of extras are around for the scene, in order to shoot the scene as quickly as possible and to also protect the actresses' modesty.

Book readers know that a major showdown will take place between Cersei Lannister and Margaery Tyrell.

This is going to be one hell of a catfight!

"V" is for Varys

Author: Anonymous / Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

He is often called the "Master of Whispers." Some call him "Varys the Spider."

If you've watched the series and read the books, you'll know that Varys is a man who's business is information and he has all sorts of little birds and spies scattered across Westeros and Essos.

I like Varys. Not too many people do. He does have a bit of a creepy appearance but really, when you look at the variety of people that make up the general population of Westeros, I think he fits right in. What I am interested in finding out is to whom Varys is loyal to. It seems he is opaque; there are times where I'm certain I know who he works for and then there are times where I am completely wrong. He doesn't come out and say who he supports and that just adds to his secrecy.

He is on the Small Council, alongside Grand Maester Pycelle and Lord Petyr Baelish. I always got the feeling that he really couldn't stand Baelish and just puts up with him, for the sake of the realm and the Small Council. The exchanges they've had are laced with sarcasm and subtle threats.

Having access to information from a great many sources makes Varys a powerful man. There's a saying - "Knowledge is power." Varys is indeed one of the most powerful people in King's Landing because of his ability to amass a wealth of information - near and far - and use it to his advantage, both personally and professionally.

It is said that Varys was able to master all of the secret tunnels and passageways in the Red Keep, therefore being able to move in and out of the area without being noticed and at the same time listening in on a great deal of secret conversations that contained highly sensitive material. He also employs many "little birds" - orphaned children that he takes in, teaches them how to read and write and procure information without arousing suspicion. Smart man, indeed.

Look at the relationships Varys has with the people in King's Landing: I don't think he respects or likes Pycelle and Baelish. Can't say I blame him one bit, because I really don't like those two, either. Although Varys provides information for the incorrigible King Joffrey, it almost appears as if Varys is dealing with a petulant child (also, feel free to add sociopath, while we're at it). Surprisingly enough, the one alliance I do like is between Tyrion and Varys. They are both equally wary of the way the Game of Thrones is played and understand that loyalty can get you killed but also weeding out potential traitors from allies will strengthen your perspective and help your survive a little longer.

Can you really trust Varys and all the information that he claims to have? I really want to believe that he is trying to help the realm for the greater good....and yet I have this sense of foreboding. I am about the start "A Dance for Dragons." *spoiler alert* I haven't heard or read anything about Varys for the length of an entire book. Will he make another appearance in Dragons? Will he do anything shocking? Will it be revealed to fans where the heck he was hiding out?

"P" is for Petyr Baelish

Author: Anonymous / Labels: , , , , , ,

What can you say about a man like Petyr Baelish?

Liar. Schemer. Manipulator. Genius. Businessman. Menace. Power hungry. Threat.

I think the list - as accurate as it may seem - could probably be a little longer and I'm sure Game of Thrones fans would agree. If any readers want to comment on what else they think Petyr Baelish represents, I say go for it and leave a comment! (interesting little aside - as I started typing this post, my husband suggested I look up the word 'megalomaniac; when I did, the definition eerily fit Petyr Baelish's persona, especially in Season II)

Petyr Baelish, or Littlefinger, as he is commonly referred to as, comes from humble beginnings. He was raised as a ward in the Tully household, alongside Catelyn and Lysa. Petyr has unrequited feelings for Catelyn and yet, had no problems having a secret relationship with Lysa before she was married off to John Arryn, the Lord of the Vale.

The way Petyr comes across to many of the characters in Game of Thrones is nothing short of sleazy. The man is a proprietor of several established pleasure houses. He also holds a seat on the Small Council and is in charge of the finances for King's Landing. He is a smooth operator - the man has a saying or a come back line for any given situation. He never breaks out into a sweat and his eyes miss nothing. I feel sorry for those that actually try to oppose him. He is a man who is well informed and he pays well for that kind of knowledge.

I believe that Petyr Baelish serves his own interests and is smart enough to conceal that by putting on on heck of a poker face and doing his duty but paying lip service to the Lannisters, or who ever has the most power to grant him money, power and titles. After all, this little man who came from nothing didn't get to being on the Small Council by being a willy nilly and naive fellow. Remember when he told Ned Stark "Distrusting me was the smartest thing you did since you got off your horse?" in Season I? Well, I can only imagine the sheer frustration and anger that many fans - myself included - felt when Ned was betrayed.

Season II turns out to be quite profitable for Petyr. He acquires a new leading prostitute, his own sigil and brokers a deal between the Houses of Tyrell and Lannister. Yes, he a pimp - the man is a machine who just doesn't stop. If he can make more money, acquire more power at court and gain powerful allies along the way, then perhaps we should also think of him as a survivor. The man has a knack for deceit as a talent.

My skin just crawls when he says to Sansa that she reminds him of Catelyn at that age. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing and because I've read four of the books, I happen to know just what a sleazy man Petyr Baelish truly is. He is a fantastic liar, especially when it comes to the Tully women and his supposed 'relations' with the both of them. I'll stop right now, before I get into too much detail (and possibly ruin it for other people who haven't read as far as me).

I'll say this: I'd trust Petyr Baelish with my money but not with my life!











"K" is for King's Landing

Author: Anonymous / Labels: , , , , ,

Ah, yes. King's Landing. A city that could easily be compared to medieval European cities, such as London, Paris or Rome. This jewel is the residence for the ruling King and his family and the royal court. King's Landing is the capital of Westeros and also the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. In that respect, I could compare it to Ottawa, which is the capital of Canada.

I'm not sure that I'd want to reside there. You see an awful lot of the rest of the city and how its' inhabitants fare. The poor live in cramped quarters at the bottom of the city, which is known as the "Flea Bottom" district. The peasants live in farms on property that surrounds King's Landing. It is built on a series of three hills and is walled, the way many European citadels were. The Red Keep is home to the infamous "Iron Throne." There is also the Great Sept of Baelor, where the most religious and fervent of Maesters come to worship.

I would not willingly want to visit or move to King's Landing anytime soon. In Season I, Arya Stark couldn't wait to leave and go back home to Winterfell. Call it a sixth sense or common sense, but from what us fans saw of King's Landing, there were too many evil things underfoot, too many people with ulterior motives in that nasty place. Sansa Stark was the total opposite - she thought the place was courtly and perfect, like something right out of a fairytale. And you wonder why I adore Arya - she has the keen ability to see things for what they are, instead of daydreaming of what the place could be like.

King's Landing seems to be the place for power hungry people to congregate to. That and all the liars, suck ups, back stabbers, spies, prostitutes, orphans, vying houses, tradespeople, soldiers and common folk flock to. I can see why George R R Martin compared King's Landing to medieval London or Paris. Those cities had various classes of people and all sorts of activity going on inside it.

The late Robert Baratheon sat on the Iron Throne. Now, his 'son' Joffrey sits on it and the Lannister family is the chief ruling family in King's Landing and in all of Westeros. King's Landing is no place to go for a vacation, or raise a family, let alone have one as power hungry and depraved as the Lannisters, rule from it.

I'm sure George R R Martin has a few surprises in store for us, especially in March 2013, when Season III debuts!

Blackwater Bay!!

Author: Anonymous / Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I've been thinking, while I was driving around today, running some errands. When I think of Game of Thrones, my mind is filled with all sorts of possibilities. But that's a whole other blogspot.  In honour of tomorrow night's EPIC episode, "The Battle of Blackwater Bay," two songs come to mind.

The first was Thin Lizzy's, "Jail Break," because there are several lyrics that are very appropriate for tomorrow night's battle sequences. The second song - and probably more ominous - is AC/DC's "Hell's Bells." Why that one, you ask? Well, um, hello?! Seven Gods in Westeros - the Old and the New....and because there is going to be a lot of action that goes down tomorrow night.

Some of the characters are going to survive. Others won't be so lucky. Certainly...some characters deserve to go to the deepest, darkest hell in Westeros, for all the misery and destruction they've caused in the last two seasons.

(I am aware that by rooting for the Lannisters, I am leaving myself open to criticism) I want to make it perfectly clear that I am NOT rooting for Prince Joffrey. Tyrion, show your animal side. After all, your sigil is a lion!

T-minus 34 hours and counting!