(no subject)

[fan_eunice]

I am now caught up with Game of Thrones, television version. So,

Man, I thought knowing Ned's death was coming would make it easier than when I hit it in the book an went OMFG NO, WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED. Apparently, it doesn't make it even the slightest bit easier. Instead of utter shock when the last minute reprieve doesn't come, there is anticipatory DREAD which the episode played on hard core, so much so that I think it was aimed just as much as those of us who knew it was coming as those for whom it would be a shock. Arya climbing the statue to see better...Sansa's relieved smile and gratitude toward's Joffrey (OH GOD), Cersie's self satisfied, yet clueless about her son's brutality 'I love it when a plan comes together' stance, Joffrey's fucking smirk (DIE IN A FIRE YOU HORRIBLE CHILD). And Ned. Ned throwing away his honor to keep his daughter's safe, choking that pill down, lying, denying what he knows and who he believes to be his rightful king to keep them safe...and the thing is, in the books I was way more focused on how fucking awful that moment was for Arya and Sansa. Somehow watching it here, I was struck with the gravity of the fact that the last thing Ned Stark knows in this life, the very last thing...is that it didn't work. He died knowing that the sacrifice of his honor, duty, and truthfulness DIDN'T KEEP THEM SAFE.

Oh, Ned.

I thought I had more to say about the tv series so far, but I think right now I don't. Just...oh, Ned you poor bastard.

Comments

[phoenix64]

I had a moment of horrible identification with Ned earlier on that continued through to the moment of his execution. It had to do with the fact that Ned tried so hard to be an honorable person and to do the right things but in the end not only did it not do any good but really made things worse because no one else could be counted on to play by the same set of rules. Sometimes a good person is just rendered so completely helpless.