It’s awards season once again and Game of Thrones continues to rack up the nominations as the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) Awards draw near. Cast interviews also come pouring in this time of year from members new and old for simply no one can resist dishing on what’s to come or reminiscing past seasons.
We also have another new cast addition to share with you today!
Firstly, let us all congratulate David Nutter for his DGA Award nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Dramatic Series (Game of Thrones – Mother’s Mercy)! For the full list of nominations, head on over to the Director’s Guild of America.
Next we have a full length interview with Larry King and Sean Bean where the actor discusses past projects such as Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and gender equality in Hollywood:
Notably, Bean says he’d like to play Ned again but doesn’t see it as a real possibility.
“Maybe as a zombie,” he jokes.
Lastly, we have a piece of casting news. British actor Tamer Hassan is reportedly playing a Dothraki role on Game of Thrones in season 6.
He revealed this at the premiere of Breakdown, while speaking with Bang Showbiz.
“I just finished doing Game of Thrones,” Hassan says. “I loved it. I can’t say too much about it but I’m part of that.” He mentioned, “It’s exciting what you’re going to see,” and added. “Learning that Dothraki language was a feat in itself… so I’ve given you a little bit but I’m not going to say too much!”
Wow at the number of Dothrakis with spoken lines this season !
Gonna be a big Dothraki BBQ
Hodor! I doubt that it was a joke!
Hassan tweeted about being in Belfast a couple months ago and I’d wondered if he was on the show, but there was no proof of any kind so…ah well.
No nomination for Sapochnik again? It’s surprising that he is being ignored this award season.
Even David Nutter has been nominated for Mother’s Mercy, not Dance of Dragons. Maybe these award shows balk at showing recognition for episodes with a high fantasy content in them, who knows.
ghost of winterfell,
I am very happy for David Nutter, and like you am disappointed for Mighel Sapochnik! A brilliant director overlooked again!
Nice interview with Sean.
A lot of Dothraki casting.
*the tears won’t stop*
Alan Rickman. My one and only Snape. He is gone, he is gone.
Rest in peace my dear Mr. Rickman. You will never be forgotten.
Like Bowie, he passed from cancer too, at the same age of 69…things tend to come in three’s. *whimpers*
and then….
Congrats to Mr. Nutter on his nomination.
*melts back down to a puddle of too much grief, too short a time*
JCDavis,
I cried when I found out. I love Alan Rickman and I don’t know what to do now: shall I watch one of his films again? Will it help or will it make me cry again?
I really want to see the return of Sean Bean in a flashback, or a vision; hell, I’ll take him woven into a tapestry at this point, I just want to see him one last time.
JCDavis and ShyLadyDragon,
I’m right with you. It’s difficult to think of anything else. I think I will watch Truly Madly Deeply and dissolve in my puddle of tears!
But to stay on topic, yay for Nutter….
I am in favor of headless Ned of the White Walking Dead.
Had to be said.
Arkash,
Looks like GRRM is really serious when he said dothraki are coming back with a bang in a big way during winds …can’t wait to see what’s going to happen …
Best wishes to Nutter
Yes, RIP Alan Rickman. What a shitty week for celebrity deaths, right?
Right? Yet another Dothraki character! By my count, we’re up to eight known cast members: Joe Naufahu as Khal Jhaqo, Andrei Claude as Khal Rhalko, Elie Haddad as another khal, Souad Faress as the High Priestess of the Dosh khaleen, Diogo Sales as a bloodrider, Staz Nair, Chuku Modu and Tamer Hassan. Then there are quite a few casting calls, which may overlap with some of those cast actors: two Dothraki by the name of Qhogo and Akrat; a long-haired Dothraki; two young Dothraki; a Dothraki in his 30’s or 40’s; and a group of “warrior widows” (the rest of the dosh khaleen).
Surely, most of them will simply have a few lines, though Khal Jhaqo may be a full-fledged character. Still, it’s quite shocking, after four or five years without a major Dothraki presence.
I am just getting in to work and I have to fight back the tears for real. Many don’t know it, but I was a moderator at a very large LotR’s site for years and my handle there was Severus Snape. I loved this man so. My heart aches for his family and all the fans.
I will hold you as we virtually watch a great movie together. ((hugs)) You bring the Kleenex. I’ll bring the butterbeer. *tears*
Edited:
bows to Luka and Roberta
We are going to need a larger theater and there just isn’t enough Kleenex on the planet today.
*slips Sense and Sensibility into the DVD player*
Casting compendium has been updated! http://www.bit.ly/1N0fv0m
God damn fucking diseases man,they suck !
I guess im old, I first think of Rickman as Hans Gruber. Cancer sucks
Shy Lady Dragon,
Lets see where to start: Truly Madly Deeply (which was one of the first movies my future husband and I watched. When I saw him tear up about the same time I did, I knew….) Quigley Down Under, Die Hard, Robin Hood (and he’s the only reason I’d watch it), and oh yeah Harry Potter….sigh Oh and Galaxy Quest and Emma…
It is hard not to think of Snape first….but my first impression of Alan Rickman and where I came to love him was as Marston in Quigley Down Under, then Die Hard. I loved him in Sense and Sensibility too. He was just a great actor, taken too soon as was David Bowie. *sniffles*
I just remembered him as the blue caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland, that great voice that he had, so recognizable.
Oops, not Emma, Sense and Sensibility. And he was Marvin the Paranoid Android in Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. Oh man….
Raise your wands, everyone. Rest in peace Professor Snape, a true hero.
Damn.. Alan left no children, so my thoughts go to his wife. My sincere condolences.
Yeah I loved him in his villainous roles , he was superb as Hans Gruber and especially awesome as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood prince of thieves .
oh and back on topic yay more Dothraki <3
Anguissette1979,
I think the link in Tamer Hassan is wrong.
ash,
You forgot my guilty pleasure, “Love Actually”
So sad…
On topic – congrats to Nutter!
Dang there are a lot more awards progroms than i ever heard of before now. I like the little kernel of hype this dude Hassan threw out. Poor Sean, i really do think he would have enjoyed playing on the show longer than he got to.
JCDavis,
Shocked when i heard. Sense and sensibility is a movie with him that i also own. I watched last night. Very sad. Excellent actor, professional, and great screen presence. 🙁
Roberta Baratheon,
Thank you. I haven’t seen TMD… by now, because I have just found it online and I’m preparing to watch.
“I’m going to find Robin Hood and cut his heart out with a spoon.”
“A spoon? Why not a knife?”
“Because it’s Dull you twit, it’ll hurt more!”
JCDavis,
A larger theatre it is! And apparently we are watching various films at the same time which is all right, only the sky is the limit. For me it’s Truly Madly Deeply, a treat like a wake.
ash,
Thanks for your suggestion! Truly Madly Deeply will play for me. I know nothing about this film and I’m anxious to find out. If art could cure life any time… *sighs*
ghost of winterfell,
Mother’s Mercy was the better of the two, which is probably why it was nominated
Just beautiful! I’m sure Alan would like that.
I wonder how big Hassans role is. Anybody seen him in The Foorball Factory. He had quite a large supporting role as the leader of a rival gang of hooligans, and he was terrifying, had a great screen presence. BTW still no news on the Damphairs casting? I realize Im becoming annoying with these questions, and I apolligise, but I’m dying here. I’m so affraid it’s gonna be like the varamyr Sixskins casting last year, a red heering, but I gues the reportage were solid enough as the Damphair was actually spotted. I’m espicially intriqued by the rumors that he sported long white hair and beard, instead of the black mane from the books. That sounds like an awsome visual gag for the character 🙂
By Grabthar’s Hammer, 2016 sucks. It’s Die Hard and Galaxy Quest for me today, I think.
A great Rasputin, leading to a great Snape…RIP Alan Rickman. Another unique voice lost too soon, but at least his voice and presence will live on in memorable tales for future generations.
—–
A great blossoming of Dothraki roles this season…Drogon shall never go hungry.
After so many Dothraki being cast it’s going to be funny when they get half a line each in a single scene and are never heard from again. It’s like if we cared this much before season 1 and were going nuts with speculation every time a Northerner was cast for the King in the North scene. Like, “Holy shit, that has to be Maege Mormont, so this other random dude must be Galbart Glover…they must already be setting up Robb’s will!”
RIP Professor Snape. Such sad news.
_____
@ Sean Bean – I LOVE HIS FACE!! NEDDDD <3
I dont quite get the excitement about the dothraki. They’ll each probably have a scene or two with like five lines. This one cast now however seems to be the bigger name, he might have more screen time.
Anyway…..the world needs more Sean Bean. Much more. My #1.
I’d be getting a complex if I was Sapochnik. It’s bordering on ridiculous.
Cancel Christmas.
This will end in tears.
A special toast to those of us who knew and loved him pre-Potter.
Cersei’s Brain,
I didn’t forget it; just didn’t want to disparge a movie so many people love. But for me, his scenes where the only part of the movie I found at all believable or interesting. He and Emma Thompson killed it – I would have loved a spin off with just those two characters
BTW Shy Dragon Lady, have boxes of kleenex ready!
Queenofthrones,
Even better: ”Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans! No more merciful beheadings! And cancel Christmas!”
https://www.omaze.com/experiences/red-hbo-game-of-thrones?utm_source=social-facebook-celeb&utm_medium=video-anouncement&utm_content=6&utm_campaign=aids-international&oa_h=xse6e5
Hasn’t filming been over for almost a month now?
Hans Gruber and Marvin were my favorite Rickman’s characters.
I’ve never watched a Harry Potter movie. I’m a horrible person, I know.
Dothraki overload. Mostly brawn and not much else. Can’t say they rock my boat tbh. The least interesting characters….thus far at least, sorry.
I see news of a Dothraki casting and think, yawn.
I recently rediscovered Alan while watching the Harry Potter movies this Christmas for the first time. When they came out I didn’t watch them because I didn’t like the hype. I had already seen Alan Rickman in Die Hard, Sweeney Todd, Love Actually, … and I was impressed with his special voice. But in Harry Potter he was amazing, he was by far my favourite character. I was really shocked when I read on my phone on the train that he had died. I would have loved to see him in more movies, but I guess I’ll have to rewatch the old ones… RIP Mr Rickman
And to be on topic. I would love to see Sean Bean again in Game of Thrones. I also knew him from before (Lord of the Rings etc), but I really started to like him since Game of Thrones.
Just wanna add my voice and say… dammit, all of these amazing, talented people are leaving us in the last month or so. Scott Weiland, Lemmy, Natalie Cole, David Bowie… and now Alan Rickman. Fuck everything. >:(
Anyway, congrats to Hassan… and here’s to a trailer for S6 sometime soon to hopefully help lift peoples’ spirits a bit.
Clearly he is cast as Jhogo, six seasons late.
Jack Bauer 24,
It says the dates are from July-December 2016 when season 7 films. Please read the article before you post it .
Dolorous (N)Edd,
You’re not, you made me smile.
We are truly rich in Dothraki for S6.
Tyrion the Myrion,
No need to be rude.
On another note, I would love to do that!
His last role will be as the Blue Caterpillar in Alice through the Looking Glass, it will be an emotional one hearing him for the last time at the cinema
Scott broke my damn heart. Alan Rickman may have caused a compound fracture.
Alan Rickman, what a talented and accomplished actor we’ve lost. His line in Robin Hood about using a spoon- that takes me back. Classic.
So with all these Dothraki cast, I’ve been thinking. Surely many are destined to join Drogon for dinner- but could we meet a couple Dothraki this season that may be around for awhile? Maybe cross the narrow sea with Dany? I hadn’t given much thought to any Dothraki actually making the voyage, but it seems if any Dothraki will follow her across it would make sense to meet some of the would be leaders of that contingent now.
Thanks for the heads up. That would be sweet to see Season 7 film.
Or rather they’ll be joining Drogon for a BBQ if you catch my drift 🙂
ash,
You were right, I’ve been crying almost during the entire Truly Madly Deeply, but what a film! I’m glad for you that you have found a husband to appreciate the same things like you.
After watching I felt intense gratitude that the man I love is alive. I guess one should be grateful for lots, lots of things one takes for granted.
Halfman,
At this point, I agree.
always good to get more news, really hope Nutter wins the award.
Wayne Gleeson,
Is there a better kind of dinner? 🙂
Is Deny really going to march 100 thousand, raping, murdering Dothraki into Westoros so that peace can break out?
I’ve been thinking the same thing. I’d bet one or two of these Dothraki will survive and become actual characters who follow Dany on her journey.
Anon,
I don’t see her winning westeros with a massive Dothraki army, nor do I see large army of Dothraki willingly following her across the narrow see- but I think she will definitely inspire some “bloodriders” if you will, to follow her west.
I see her establishing an army not unlike a “coalition of the willing”, comprised of Dothraki, sellswords, unsullied, and freed slaves- and I don’t think she will condone a “mass raping” of westeros. (DnD on the other hand….. Ok, that was a bad joke)
Edit: also- I don’t think her force will be massive- I expect her to “travel light” relatively speaking, and garner support once she has invaded. Perhaps Tyrion will do some recruiting from abroad
Hassan looks like just Cenk from TYT and What the Flick reviews of GoT.
I will miss Alan Rickman. By strange coincidence , my son and I were watching Galaxy Quest around the time he passed away. I really wish Ned Stark hadn’t been killed off so early in the series, but I guess it was necessary in order to advance the plot line. Sean Bean is a big favorite of mine.
Sister Kisser,
..me either. But so far, I haven’t heard any other plan from her but an army of some sort.
I can’t see how she’ll hold a coalition – that you suggested- together; but, just because I can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I suppose when you tell people they’re going to die, it focuses their minds?
Also, Westorosi don’t like “foreigners” very much. I can’t wait to see what DnD does with it all…as long as there’s no more raping.
I always think of Rickman as Hans Gruber, but I love his performances in Dogma and Galaxy Quest, as well. People keep telling me I should watch the Harry Potter movies, as well, so I suppose I should finally do so!
Props to David Nutter for the DGA award. Well deserved, although I think it should have been Sapochnik for Hardhome.
Sean Bean played poor, honorable Ned to a “T”, but poor, honorable Ned ignored too many signs of impending doom and concentrated too hard on “who fucked Whom.” It was his undoing. (I’m rather hoping that the same hard-headed concentration on who had illicit relations will be the undoing of the High Sparrow, but that’s another aspect.)
So sorry to hear about Alan Rickman. It seems impossible, and yet …
Off topic, but I’ve been playing beautiful Game of Thrones scores by Ramin Djawadi all day as I work around the house, and I keep wondering why this young man is seemingly not getting the love he deserves for his work. Am I the only one who loves this music? Play Valor Morghulis and tell me you don’t get goosebumps. Or the whole House Stark track, or ANYthing from the past 5 seasons. Has he been awarded and we just don’t know about it, or is he being overlooked time and again?
Thronetender,
Re Ned
He went and told Cersai – of all people – what he knew to have “mercy” on her children. I wonder why Ned didn’t show mercy for the poor boy who ran away from the Night’s Watch after he encountered Wights. He executed him, no questions asked.
Ned’s mercy is reserved only for some people, I guess. Namely the rich and powerful.
Anon,
It was because of Cersei’s children that Ned told her what he knew. He didn’t want the feeling that their blood would be on his hands.
RIP Alan Rickman. By Grapthar’s hammer, he will be missed. Condolences, Wimsey.
Great for Nutter, but Hardhome was truely awesome. All kinds of love for Sean Bean!
Anon,
The difference is that the deserter was not innocent. Cersei’s children were.
Sister Kisser,
Its always a given that dothraki will be there….in the letter of outline grrm mentions how she tales control of dothraki and invades …and in the show they have mentioned dany showing strength because that’s the only thing dothraki follows back in season 3 …
So they are always coming back its just matter of how big their coming back is going to be…
Grrm has compared famy to nymeria I imagine there is going to be another thousands ships sailing from east to west ..
They parallel the wildlings with jon. ….jon is going to be leading wildlings and dany dothraki both considered as savages in the eyes of others…..so in that case we need to have some characters in dothraki like we have tormund karsi lord of bones and so on …especially since they have killed of dany’s blood riders and handmaidens ..
Good to see so much Alan rickman love
Anon,
What peace are we talking about here ….
The timeline is important by the time she reaches westeros there won’t be much of anything
Westeros is already in ruins only thing dany’s conquest can do is a swift way if finishing all this wars among themselves ..
If she makes dothraki follow her across the poison water in a wooden horse she can certainly stop them from raping and pillaging
Thronetender,
I love the KITN or Robert marching and theons and rains of castamere and children
But if you ask me his best work always comes with dany …I know one may say iam biased but I think his best music comes with her …
Fire and blood
Finale
Mother of dragons
Dracarys
Mhysa
Breaker of chains
Blood of the dragon
Dance if dragons .
I would like to see the polls on which is the best soundtrack
Anon,
Who ever said that Dany would bring peace to Westeros? Maybe later down the line, but for now her motto has always been “I will take what is mine, with fire and blood.”
Anon,
That’s up to plot contrivance. If she does, then she does, blame Martin for getting these ideas.
Also, I dunno, she can burn the first few who try something funny, and the rest will probably fall in line.
dragonbringer,
I think Stannis’ theme music is dynamic. I dont even remember the music set to Dany or house Stark for that matter. Then again when i did a rewatch the volume has to be low cause orhers were sleeping.
Ser Oromis Locke,
“Rickman left no children.” While he and his partner of many years, whom he married only recently, Rickman and most of the adult cast of the Harry Potter films were among the most respected and even storied English speaking actors of the late 20th century: Richard Harris, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Dame Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Zoe Wanamaker, Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham Carter, Imelda Staunton, yes I know I’m missing a few people, but here’s my point: just because you do not physically have children does not mean that you cannot and do not impact the children and youth in your life as an uncle, godparent, teacher, coach or mentor. A generation of actors now in their 20s worked for 10 years (as impressionable kids) with Rickman and an entire faculty of talented individuals that deans at most college and university theater programs could only dream of hiring individually as a special lecturer. That is an amazing legacy. My regret, not seeing Rickman on stage. My condolences to his family, colleagues and fans.
Not as old as me then, for me he is Obadiah Slope ( anyone else remember The Barchester Chronicles? )
Ygritte,
I think that music is the theme for the Lord of Light, and as such not specifically related to Stannis? I am not sure. But that is my favorite piece of music too. I also really like Goodbye Brother (Stark theme), part of this music was played during Jon’s death. And rains of castamere, the children, theon’s theme and all of Dany’s music.
dragonbringer,
I like all of Dany’s songs too. A lot of them are variations of the same tune, still they are all really good. Almost all the music on this show is excellent.
ghost of winterfell,
Wasn’t sure either so I looked it up. The piece I had in mind is when he was leaving castle Black and heading to Winterfell with his army. Here’s the soundtrack: House Baratheon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9szldJEzD5U
The Melisandre/Lord of light is also on there and it is different variation of same tune. Of course, Rains of Castamere is excellent, haunting melody. What do you think of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_trbkZAt4DQ. When I first listened to it I thought it was funny but did enjoy hearing a twist on the GOT theme music.
Ygritte,
Stannis theme is good I enjoyed them in season 2 but you really have to listen to KITN and children for starks and theon’s music when he burns the letter to RObb in season 2 …
And then you should listen to all those songs I listed of dany …like ghost of winter fell said some of them are variations of same music but each one is best ….you can always start with finale dracarys breaker of chains and mhysa and dance of dragons
ghost of winterfell,
Yes he does the same thing with rains of castamere come up with lot of variations on the original one…but my two favorite scenes of rains of castamere is when tywin lannister marches into the throne room and says ” the battle is over,we have won ” I get chills every time I watch it ….second will be the trial of tyrion ” father,I demand a trial by combat ” and stare down between tyrion and tywin ….
Is it just me this year seems we didnt have many alleged leaks and leakers like patchface and some other guys ….even if what they are not legit it was always fun to see them claiming all sorts of thing
Riverhawk,
Wonderful post! I’m sure this great actor would have appreciated your admiration for his carreer.
Thanks for reminding me about his valuable theatre/ film family.
I thought Sean could came back as a Bran’s vision or a cameo in the
RIP Alan
dragonbringer,
Ah yes, Now I remember. Only ever really took note of the music when it peaks as Drogon is shown but I just listened to most of the Dance of dragons and Breaker of chains as you recommended, and I love it! Epic sounding. Myhsa and the Children have that religious choir/other-worldly vibe to it.
YgritTe,
I enjoyed watching the video, thanks for recommending it! A rap song in ode to Jon Snow 🙂 . It was funny, esp the chorus, but still I enjoyed it, the way they used the main theme and it was nice watching all the great Jon moments.
dragonbringer,
For me the favorite rains of castamere moment was when it starts playing just before the red wedding slaughter. Catelyn’s face, when the realization of the Freys’ betralyal hits her, just as the music is playing, nothing can beat that moment, IMO.
ghost of winterfell,
Yeah, I’ve never heard a British rap song before that 🙂 I’ve been enjoying listening to several of the tracks since the subject came up and the North remembers, then Goodbye brother came on in the background…*sad memories..sniff*
Oh yes the moment Catelyn realizes, and then Roose’s evil smile. That foreboding feeling on Cat’s behalf just gives chills.
Riverhawk,
Very well said. We do not have children, but we see our legacy in the children we have taught for the last 30 years. And I too would have given a lot to see Rickman on stage esp in Dangerous Liasons (didn’t realize that he was supposed to have done the film version as well but was passed over)
Getting back on topic – so many excellent British actors have been on GOT. Why not Rickman? Wonder if he was offered, and what part he would have played. Tyrion comes to mind, but then Dance was so marvelous in that role, so maybe not.
Another actor is playing young Ned.
ash,
When I first read where you said Alan could have played Tyrion I thought What? Is this guy on crack! Lol.
100 days until the premiere!
Don’t feel bad guys, no doubt Sapochnik is gonna get his awards after the Season 6 finale 🙂
Hope it’s a memorable one 🙂
Sister Kisser,
re Edit
Sure. And any Dothraki military action will have to be soon – before the first snow comes. They are not cold-weather fighters. She’ll have to hit strategically and withdraw…perhaps.
Abyss,
Well…if she doesn’t want peace, then what exactly does she want?! Surely, not the opposite of peace!
Deny still carries remnants of Viserys’ vision. I think she’s beginning to release all that, though, and formulate her own desires. For example, liberating slaves was not part of Viserys’ plan; nor was being a ruler to the Eastern peoples. I do think she wanted to go “home”. But, that’s a child’s desire. Part of growing up is reassessing where “Home” is. Deny may come to see that Westoros is no longer Home…and indeed, may never have been.
Deny also said she intends to “Break the wheel”. That has me very exited! I am rooting for her to succeed on that score!
Oooh ooh *raises hand* question for people who have the GoT soundtracks. There’s two bits of music from S4 I really liked and am wondering if they are available? I’ve listened to the clips on i-Tunes and none of them sound right, but you just get a short burst so I might be missing them. One is from the beginning of ep 3 when Dontos and Sansa are rushing through KL to get away after Joffrey’s death (yay! I will never tire of that phrase, shame it wasn’t more horrible!). The other is near the beginning of ep 10 when we see the ‘aerial’ shot of Stannis’s army attacking the wildlings in the forest. Any ideas anyone?
Oh and Shy Lady Dragon, I nearly finished your transcript then had to go back to work after the break and it’s been frantically busy. Will hopefully get it done this weekend 😀
Yaga,
As I said in another reply, Dothraki are not cold-weather fighters. Sister Kisser suggests they can be used in small numbers. If so, I think it would have to be very soon and a rapid, strategic attack, then withdrawal.
Deny may have to decide between executing her vision, or saving the whole world. And, saving the world is a thankless job, as Tyrion discovered when he did it on a small scale(Blackwater battle). Maybe that’ s GM’s true intention?
We’ll see.
dragonbringer,
You could be right. In that vision Deny has, she’s walking through the King’s Landing throne room that is filled with snow because the roof is burned out and open to the sky. It looks abandoned. I presume she’s seeing the future and some catastrophe has occurred. Is it a fire from war, or is it dragon fire that’s burned the roof?
I live in Canada and it’s considered multicultural; however, if Americans marched across the border to invade us, every Canadian Indian, Chinese, European, First Nations, Jamaican, Filipino, Arab…would band together to expel the “foreigners”. So I think Westeros had better be subdued before Dany marches in with her Dothraki.
Ashara D,
Ok. I accept that Cersai’s children were not guilty. But that poor boy from the Night’s Watch hadn’t really done anything grievous either. He was just terrified, and rightfully so. Ned had young boys of his own, had he lived, I do not see him executing Jon, for example, if Jon had deserted the Night’s Watch because of fear.
It’s human nature to pick and choose who we punish, and how harshly we punish them. Those decisions are driven by bigotry, prejudice, self-interest…and sometimes love. It takes hard work to be fair and just to each person, equally.
FreeParking,
Yeah, but he didn’t mind that poor Night’s Watch boy’s blood on his hands, though, did he?
Can you imagine Ned executing Jon, had Ned lived and continued as Warden? Jon tried to desert one time. Picture Ned cutting his head off. Ned wouldn’t have executed his own son(or nephew). That’s the inconsistent nature of Justice and Mercy in Westoros.
Anon,
Do you think Ned would have chosen not to execute the Night’s Watch deserter had he been high born? I think, no matter what “class” the deserter had been born into, he would have executed him just the same. It is the known duty of Northern Lords to execute deserters of the Night’s Watch, should they run across one.
As to whether he minded having that particular blood on his hands, he did not appear to take any sort of pleasure in doing his duty. Moreover, at the point in the story that execution takes place, there was no other hint we know of of what was starting to happen in the north, particularly north of the Wall. As the story progresses, more and more hints, beginning with the discovery of the direwolf pups, about something very different happening begin to trickle south of the Wall. I think, had Ned had the information available to some in the North later in the story, he would not have been so quick to execute, but instead tried to corroborate the deserter’s story with the Night’s Watch, first.
Nymeria Warrior Queen,
You make a very good point about Ned not having strong context for “White-Walker” when the execution occurs. Although, Rodrick gave Ned a certain look when Walkers were mentioned.. that might have been his response to fairy stories from old Nan.
My argument is that all sorts of things interfere in the delivery of Justice and Mercy in Westoros. Prejudice interferes. Bigotry interferes, and sometimes, love interferes.
Had the boy been high-born – even within context of Ned’s limited awareness of White-Walkers – Ned would have known him, or his family. They both would have come from a very small, privileged class (study each-others sigils and words is all the high-borns do, virtually from birth) They KNOW each other! We tend to have greater empathy for those who are like us and who we know personally. And, if the boy had been Jon instead – there’s no way Ned would have executed him, and there’s not a single person who would have opposed that decision.
So, Judges do have some discretion in following the law. What informs their discretion is not always pure, is all I’m saying.
I went back and listened specifically to Dany’s themes, yep they are pretty good. Is there more chorus/voices used with hers than other themes? Loved that “incoming missle” sound in Dracarys.
For that matter, loved the Dracarys moment in the show, when Dany and the tiny dragons were chained in the House of the Undying. Pyat Pree in all his skinny, purple-lipped glory, is telling her she will be chained there with them for “a thousand thousand” seasons. She says Dracarys to the little dragons, and Pyat Pree is toast. Chained for thousands of years, indeed. Not Dany. She’s the breaker of chains.
Aw, just getting nostalgic. Can’t wait. Hey, no announcement of IMAX this season? Damn. I think it had already been announced by this time last year. Didn’t it make enough money to do again? I bet the attendance would be even greater this year; after hearing from the people who attended last year how great it was to see GoT on the movie screen, even more people would be curious to check it out.
Nymeria Warrior Queen,
…PS
No, Ned is not the sort of guy to take pleasure in killing.
Anon,
I remember the look Rodrick gave Ned. I also remember the look on Ned’s face after they found the direwolf pups (I can’t remember if he had a line, but I remember the line about there being no direwolves south of the Wall). I interpreted it as, “oh, shit, the kid I just executed may have been telling the truth.”
I totally agree with what you say about the delivery of justice and mercy in Westeros. I also don’t think many other characters were as single-minded about their duty as Ned. That said, were it Jon, while I do think Ned would have given him a choice, return to the NW, or be executed, if Jon refused to return, Ned would have carried out the sentence. I can’t see Eddard Stark condoning Jon living as a fugitive, nor could I see him assisting in it in any way. Maybe that’s just my view of Ned, and you see him differently.
Nymeria Warrior Queen,
Yes…There was growing evidence that something was terribly wrong.
Maybe I’m a cynic, but that choice of life or death that Ned would have given Jon – in a hypothetical execution – it would have short-circuited Justice. And how privileged Jon would be to be given an offer that no man in his right mind could refuse.
Maannn..I’d love to see what you say played out on screen. Then, I would love for hypothetical Jon to call Ned’s bluff and refuse. Then we’d see what Noble Ned is really made of! 🙂
Anon,
There’s only one thing that keeps all of those convicts at the Wall and under control: knowing that certain execution awaits them if they desert or mutiny. Period. If Jon Snow had deserted, Ned would have chopped off his head. Is it way harsh? Compared to our standards of justice. But justice is different when you don’t have maximum security prisons. This is the world of an eye for an eye, where death is as frequent as any other sentence.
ah … the story started out with signs, clues and portents missed and forgotten. Right there in front of their faces, then taken home with them (direwolves) yet still not properly placed into the weave of the tapestry. Poor fricken’ Ned. Poor all of them, spouting: “thus and such hasn’t happened in a thousand years.” when it’s right there in front of them.
Life lesson, I guess. Granted, we can’t spend all our time and brainpower clutching the past or adding weight to every detail that floats across our paths; but there must be some place in our brains to store those pesky red flags; a human random-access-memory storage, so-to-speak, so we don’t continually miss the things that will grow to have the most importance.
Lately, I’ve tried to do a regular red-flag assessment in my own life. As in: How the f**k could I have missed that? Aw, don’t mind me, I’m in a nostalgic mood today, and I hate it. This is the kind of mood, if I were so inclined, that could lead to drunk dialing and such. I’d better get out of the house. Game of Thrones music off … coat on. See you guys later.
Ginevra,
I agree that execution is a deterrent. Those black cells are worse than Maximum Security….you never, ever, ever escape from those dungeons.
I know that theirs is a harsh world, but even in that harsh world of harsh laws, the privileged are favored. Do you believe that Jon is Rhaegar and Lyanna’s son? If so, think of what Ned did to save the boy. Noble Ned lied to his own wife and suffered her bitterness for years. Ned lied to Robert. Ned connived. Ned even sent the boy off to Frozen Hell to keep him out of Roberts’ eyesight. Ned lied to his children and his community to save Jon. I’m thinking that after all that, Ned’s NOT chopping Jon’s head off! He would not kill Lyanna’s son, and his foster son and nephew.
I would love to see Ned forced to make such a decision.
But, alas, wealth and privilege protected him from it.
On that note, given Winterfell isn’t even the northern stronghold closest to the Wall, I wonder what evidence other Northern Lords have heard about, or seen?
Nymeria Warrior Queen,
Maybe the Umbers, for instance, are closer? I don’t know what gossip or stories they’ve heard.
What I know for sure, from the show, is that Maester Aemon directed Sam to feed and prepare 44 raven to fly out with a letter composed to all northern lords. The letter tells about the White Walkers. I know that Davos received that letter on Stannis’ behalf. I know he read the letter to Stannis and the Red Witch. That’s the most credible evidence I think they have, so far.
But I think you mean more along the lines of talk and gossip and stories. I don’t think there’d be sightings, as the Walkers – to my knowledge – haven’t crossed the wall.
Seems you simply don’t like Ned. You’re allowed. The NW took care of Jon’s ‘broken oath’ (in their mind, anyway).
Thronetender,
Sometimes the realization we missed a red-flag can lead to a greater awareness should the red flag, or something similar, present itself in the future.
Anon,
Yes, I meant in terms of talk, gossip, and stories. The Umbers are the first ones who popped into my mind, the Mormonts were second. Looking at the map, the Skagosi are closer to the Wall than Winterfell, too. I think, at least in terms of the show, we’ll be learning what sort of information has come to the Umbers. We know Osha took Rickon there. I would think, Wildling, or not, given all she’s done to prove herself trustworthy, what she has to say won’t just be dismissed. I’m guessing they’ll have info/rumors/what-have-you from other sources, as well. I also wouldn’t be surprised if we learn the Mormonts have heard some things.
I agree with you the best evidence is Aemon’s letter. The letters Sam sent out would be more recent evidence. We have yet to see what, if anything, will result from the receipt of Sam’s letters. I believe, had not basically all the men of fighting age been with Robb, at least some of the Northern Lords would have sent men to the Wall to help.
Pigeon,
Considering that Ned is a collection of traits and attributes – all fictional – Yeah, I can’t stand his guts!
I wouldn’t go that far. But, he’s definitely not as Noble as he’s made to seem. He’s a flawed man. His sons are flawed men too. As the Hound tells Sansa: Stannis is a killer. Your father was a killer. You sons will be killers one day.(paraphrasing).
Ned being forced to make such a choice would have made him grow as a character and develop empathy. The only other way he could develop empathy was by being poor and ragged like the boy he killed.
But, Ned wound up getting his own head cut off for a crime he didn’t commit – after confessing to the crime! He learned empathy. Too bad it was the absolute last thing he learned.
Pilou teases Euron http://www.ign.com/videos/2016/01/16/game-of-thrones-star-teases-euron-greyjoy
Why does he say “next year” twice? The premiere is in 3 months…
Jack Bauer 24,
Thanks for the link, I’m going to go watch it, now. I’d guess he says “next year” because the interview was conducted back in December, or before.
Edit: I just watched the interview. Wow, he has a fantastic voice. I’m just imagining
Anon,
The ideas of honour and loyalty and oaths and bears, oh my, in Game of Thrones is a tricky one. Ned promised Lyanna to look after Jon – could it be that his honour only can come secondary to his initial promise? I think of Brienne and her ‘oaths’ – did she break the one she gave to Catelyn because she missed Sansa’s candle? I don’t think so – she was fulfilling her FIRST oath to Renly at the time. It’s all interesting to think about.
Of course, I’d likely be a citizen in the lower class of Flea Bottom were I in the GoT universe, so I wouldn’t have to worry about these things. 😉
He could mean next season, maybe?
I have not been this excited for a Character since Oberyn Martell. I truly hope Euron comes in like a bat out of hell.
Jack Bauer 24,
“There’s no one like Euron Greyjoy.”
No kidding. I like Pilou already.
I’m with Pigeon on this one: the Crow’s Eye is one of the characters I’ve looked forward to the most in the show. I’m glad they didn’t cut him like so many thought.
I cannot recall if we know that he lied to his family. I imagine that he came home from the war with a baby and told his wife something like, “This baby is my flesh and blood. Please forgive me. It will never happen again, I swear.”
So Ned is a liar when he was pushed by Robert, his king, on who Jon’s mother was, yes. He told a lie to protect the truth that he swore to protect. But if you personally know one person who has never told a lie, that is more than I know.
The black cells that Tyrion escaped from? Or different black cells?
Funny thing is it sounds like if he wasn’t spotted filming HBO would have never announced it, so it would have been a total surprise.
First, I will miss Alan Rickman, a great actor and a very decent man, by all accounts. So many genius performances–from Gruber to Love Actually to Snape and on. In GoT, he would have made a great Marwyn.
I almost think Dan and Dave owe it to us to bring Sean Bean back, even briefly, in some sort of flashback. First, because he’s Ned and Ned deserves some sort of vindication after his awful humiliation by false confession and then murder. (For what it’s worth, I’m convinced Littlefinger insinuated Joffrey into dispatching Ned.) Second, because while the show a monster success now, Bean was the big name who launched it at a time when success was very much a gamble. A lot of people who tuned in that first year dis so because he was the star. Now the show has grown its own stars, but a lot was on the line in 2011.
And Anon–you are entitled to your opinion of course. But Ned was utterly a man of principle. As not only a lord but a descendant of the KIngs of Winter, he led the family so entwined with the history of the Wall and the Watch. Plus, he was also Warden of the North, which meant he enforced the laws. He HAD to believe with his whole being that the Watchers on the Wall were the bastion who would defend the realm when WINTER finally came. No chink in that wall can be permitted. Moreover, despite your allegations, he didn’t seem to care much about either class or wealth. With such convictions, if Benjen had been the deserter, the result would have been the same. Or Robb. Or Jon probably.
The countdown is officially under 100!
Ginevra,
Tyrion: another rich, privileged, Westerosi asshole? That Tyrion?
The reason he was in there in the first place is that he’s one of the ugly and unwanted.
In the bigot’s hierarchy, rich scarred dwarf still ranks well above poor low-born. Prejudice is a complicated and troublesome thing!
I don’t know if Tyrion was in a black cell, truly. I understand that black cells don’t have windows, and if memory serves, I think Ty’s cell had a window. In any event, his stunted body put him there, and his wealth set him free.
In the first 10 minutes of the first episode, Nedd goes from doting father to killer. He gathered his sons round him to watch him kill. HE WAS TEACHING HIS SONS – INITIATING THEM – HOW TO KILL!
Isn’t it ironic, then, that when Ned loses his own head, that his children are made to watch (this time, his daughters)?
I think the irony was lost to him though, just like his head.
Stark Raven’ Rad,
Why are you accusing me of hating Nedd. I am simply facing up to the truth of the fictional man.
I’m still hoping for a secretly filmed cameo from Sean as Ned this season. No, he’s given no clues in interviews, but think back to season 1, he knew he was going to die onscreen, yet was quite good at keeping that secret.
Anon,
I could say that “different times call for different measures” or that “Westeros isn’t the land of lollipops and teddy bears” or that “this was the last opportunity for the two heirs of Winterfell to learn that he who passes the sentence should swing the sword,” but I still wouldn’t convince you because you don’t want to be convinced and because this isn’t a provable point. So feel free to villainize Ned if it makes you feel so much better.
Anon,
I think most likely the Dothraki that do join Dany will do so out of their own volition. I dont think the Dothraki will provide a huge army for Dany, because I see a lot of them opting not to cross the poison sea.
YgritTe,
Glad you liked it…..
LIstens to others also you will enjoy it iam sure
ghost of winterfell,
Of course red wedding goes without saying …but since it involves cat and robb dying and i like to focus only on lannister based for Rains of castamere
Anon,
Home is all dany want …that’s why she goes onto help those people in the first place because they can’t fight for themselves
Regarding the vision of KL ….well there is a character who has only threatened to burn down the city of KL to ashes only three times in the last two season …and what’s good is that she got humiliated by the people of that city the last time we saw her
Thronetender,
Glad you liked it …
Yes I think she gets more chorus ..the only other music track which has chorus is I believe children from the ending of season 4 ..
Yes from the HOTu straight to dany locking xaro and jorah in his dothraki and dany walks away with dragons while playing mother of dragons is one of the scenes i like to watch again and again and same goes for dracarys and season 1 finale .. .the chaining of dragons is so emotionally done. .we get to know the pains of dragons as well as dany ..
It would have been nice to see hardhome and dance of dragons in IMAX
Sister Kisser,
The dothraki will do what their dosh khaleen and tSWMTW say …
Actually, it was Pycelle who kept urging Joff to deal with Ned in the most harsh manner. I hadn’t realized that until I rewatched the seasons – Pycelle never lost a chance to talk about traitors being dealt with harshly.
Thank you for that. Yes, hindsight is a wonderful thing if we use it right. You want to know the odd thing, though. Upon a closer look, it wasn’t so much that I missed the red flag events or that upon seeing them, I didn’t get a quick glimmer of what they meant. It’s just that either I didn’t want to do what had to be done to deal with what the portent was, or that I wanted to and didn’t know exactly WHAT to do to deal with them, or that I was so carried along by the momentum of what was going on at the time that I couldn’t deal with the stuff. Like, I didn’t have the strength to swim against the current, or some shit like that.
I think that’s what happened to Ned, and to all the rest who see the signs, and disbelieve. So, let’s all have a drink and hope for the strength to swim against the current, and know in what direction to swim, when the time comes to deal with red flags.
I get a little of where Anon is coming from. I am a big fan of Sean Bean. I believe he did a great job of portraying Ned, exactly as Ned was written: as a strong, reliable soldier, as an excellent Warden of the North, but with absolutely zero desire or talent as a politician. It was the distaste for and lack of talent at the politics that got him killed. He couldn’t play the Game of Thrones. Hence, he was the first man out when the game finally came to King’s Landing. GRRM’s first example of the players playing, and how important it is to have the stomach for the politics.
He could have been the King, just by stepping up to the Throne. No stomach for it. Not a politician. Not a player. Do not pass go, do not collect … He was written to be that way. We, the readers are supposed to understand that, to be shocked by the realization that this is indeed a different kind of story, and that Ned, the proverbial White Knight, so to speak, is not going to save the day on his white steed.
As you have written, he was a worthy and honorable man. Yet, as honorable as he was, he was out of his element; he did dumb things because he applied the wrong set of rules and had no understanding of the motives of the other players. Worse, he had no desire to learn the new rules. Note how Tyrion learned the “rules” and relished “playing” the game. Ned couldn’t. He lost at the game and he’s gone. GRRM was very effective to that end.
Pigeon,
I remember Jaime when he was Robb’s prisoner, telling Catelyn something like: “So many oaths! Serve your king! Honour your father! Protect the innocents! But what if your father despises the king and the king intends to kill innocents?” (I was paraphrasing, of course.) I think that, so some extent, this dilemma can apply to many characters and the concept of choice is so important.
Ginevra,
I think the exact words have never been mentioned. You are right, it’s plausible that Ned used such a euphemism, deliberately leading people to believe that the baby was his bastard.
Words of wisdom, indeed! I frequently pray to be able to understand the signs. I should add to be given the strength and courage to act according to that understanding.
I think that’s one of the main reasons I admire the character of Jon so much, and detest Alliser Thorne. Jon saw the red flags and always came up with some kind of plan to deal with them. He was one of the few in the entire story that took action regarding those signs of the oncoming doom.
One of my favorite scenes, maybe because I also saw it on IMAX (hint hint to the showrunners, or whomever decides such matters) was the morning after the battle at Castle Black, with Jon striding through the courtyard, determined to go talk to/kill Mance Rayder, and Sam was begging him not to go. He says “You’re right, it’s a bad plan. What’s YOUR plan?” He had the strength to swim against the current, and made a decision about which way to swim. (Kit was masterful in season 5, imho. I wish he got more recognition for how beautifully he portrayed the transformation of Jon from boy to man.)
Thronetender,
Jon was not one of my favourite characters in the beginning, but he had gradually won my respect and admiration. And Kit proves that is a very talented actor, I hope he’ll get many roles to prove his skill.
After the first sentence, I wholeheartedly agree with every detail you’ve said here (as I often do with your posts). That’s exactly how I’ve read the character: worthy and honorable but very much out of his element in politics.
I’m sure that George did this deliberately. I see Jon and Tyrion and the political powerhouses: both could rule so well. The biggest reason I’m Team Jon and not Team Dany when it comes to sitting the Iron Throne is that I would feel so much safer with Jon making the decisions.
Ginevra,
Honour and politics are, very frequently, in contradiction. GOT is no exception to the rule.
Shy Lady Dragon,
Most unfortunately, yes! I almost hate to vote in November. Maybe I’ll write in “Jon Snow.”
Ginevra,
Sometimes I felt lost when I went to vote because I had no hope from any candidate. I sometimes chose what it seemed the lesser evil. But I have always gone, determined to make use of my right.
I have recently seen Sufragette, with Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep. I had been familiar with the sufragette movement (I love history), but while watching I was overwhelmed by gratitude for those women who put themselves in danger so that we shouldn’t be considered inferior.
dragonbringer,
We’ll see what the Dosh Khaleen say. Perhaps Dany gives the old Widows the freedom to choose for the Dothraki after roasting a few Khals, and perhaps they see some signs that she is TSWMTW and make the order to follow her across the Narrow Sea. But I don’t see Dany forcing anyone to join her on her voyage west. That is not her style.
dragonbringer,
The Dothraki may have a slave uprising of their own. Don’t their slaves outnumber them? They may find, in retrospect, that Deny’s insistence that they marry their slaves was a very wise idea.
dragonbringer,
But what is “Home”, and where is it? Is Home where you were born, where you grew up, where you were happiest? When you marry and have children, does Home change? Is it a geographic location, or is it where the people you love are?
In Deny’s vision(show), she reaches out to touch the iron throne but is distracted by something else calling to her. She goes through the tunnel in the Castle Black wall and outside, sees a tent in the snow. Inside is Drogo and baby Rhaego.
Deny is a wife and mother with an empty womb and empty arms. She is still mourning loss of a husband and child. Home is not where Viserys said it was. Home is where her dead family is: The Shadowlands…or just outside them. Too bad she has to DIE to get there!!!
Ginevra,
Golly. …And I thought we were friends.
Sister Kisser,
That’s a strong point about the old women! If Deny can make them allies it will be enourmously helpful to her!
The hyped-up, macho men of the Dothraki are not inclined to follow her. And, in all her other conquests, Deny’s successfully used an aggrieved majority against an oppressive minority. The only aggrieved majority among the Dothraki are perhaps their slaves.
And then, as you say, there are the old widows. Allying with Deny might definitely be in their interest.
Sister Kisser,
Forgive me if I’ve replied already. I’m digging my way out of notifications.
It’s just a hunch, but I think Deny’s army will be the hundreds of thousands of poor, starving King’s Landing residents. That is, if she follows her pattern of engagement. Deny uses the suffering ‘many’ to conquer the oppressive ‘few’. Thus far, Deny hasn’t resorted to all-out war, opting to use the Unsullied as a kind of police force and as bodyguards.
But, that’s just the Capital. As for the rest of Westeros, there are certain people she might be able to work with, like the King of Dorne. But that is if he survives his political troubles long enough for Deny’s arrival. To deal with the North, her best bet will be The Wildlings, as an army. The Wildlings are the only people accustomed to snow all year long. They know the territory, how to keep warm, how to find food etc.
Wouldn’t it be something if the Wildlings turn out to save the world? But, of course, I’m just speculating like everybody else.
-Cheers
Thronetender,
Funny enough, Thronetender, that Nedd was a reluctant politician is the characteristic of his that I’m most sympathetic to.
I can totally understand a man not understanding guile and not wanting to wallow in it’s muck. What I can’t tolerate is simple bigotry cloaked in honour.
Anon,
You keep saying Deny. This is distracting to me 🙂
YgritTe,
Sorry. Nerd joke.
Daenerys is a DEnial of Aerys, the mad king. In other words, a DEnial of madness; therefore, DEnaery, or Deny, for short.
lmao.
YgritTe,
Says YgritTe 😉
Anon,
I like the idea of the shunned wildlings saving Westeros. It would also work well with GRRM’s love for Bastards, Cripples, and Broken Things. Perhaps they will provide the van in the final battle.
Also- you may be onto something with Dany recruiting the poor masses of KL- it would be a formula that has worked for her in the past, and remains compatible with her moral framework. (many people have thought she will go full Aerys mad and burn everyone- but we have not seen anything in her behavior yet to suggest this. And this will likely be Cersei’s move)
What I mentioned earlier about Tryion “recruiting” from across the pond had to do with gathering more support from around Westeros from any lords who may be interested in restoring the Dragon on the IT. I think he will be instrumental in garnering Sansa’s support- once she rules the North. I suppose she may be the only one willing to work with Tyrion, at least initially… Also yes, this is all speculation of course.
Sister Kisser,
Oh no she is not going to force them …it will be like what happened with the earlier dothraki’s who followed dany once she came out of fire …I think similar a demonstration of power and strength will make them follow her to the end of the world …
And from what we know of shooting spoilers ..I think am right
Anon,
Thats what she is looking for A House with Red DooR…
The only time she has been happy is when lived in the house with red door or at the dothraki sea….she thinks she will find the home in westeros ..but it will not be the case because westeros will not be the same of how she thinks …she will always be an outsider to people be it dothraki or meereen or westeros ….the only family she will find it is in jon and arya and stark kids because they have went through the same sufferings that dany has gone through
Anon,
I see! I thought you were misspelling but since there is meaning behind it, that’s cool 🙂
dragonbringer,
Agree re. Dany finding other “family”. That theme – that you mention here – that suffering binds people together, is woven throughout GoT.
EG: Sansa goes from not caring what Ramsay did to Theon, to actually asking Theon what Ramsay did to him. She asks only after several nights of torture, and while still believing that Theon has killed her brothers. Maybe she was just desperate for his help? But, I like to think these two became bound together by suffering in a way they never could be while growing up together at Winterfell – Lady Sansa was kind of a brat, back then! Mutual suffering is a way to become truly “kin” with someone.
When She placed her hand into Theon’s and takes that leap of faith from the wall… I think she was transformed! Some people have to learn compassion and empathy the hard way!
YgritTe,
..As Deny mutters to herself at night before she falls asleep: I am not my father… I am NOT my father….!
Sister Kisser,
Indeed! Cersai is the crazy one! And those two women are natural opponents!