The UK’s Telegraph has a great interview today with a Game of Thrones star we don’t hear from as frequently as some of the other cast members- Iwan Rheon, who plays the wicked Ramsay Bolton, formerly known as Snow.
The Welsh actor covers a variety of topics including his casting, the show’s hardworking extras, Ramsay’s future, acting, and the question of nurture-vs-nature.
Some of the highlights from the interview:
On his casting: “I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone about it from the beginning of filming to the broadcast of the end of season three, I was supposed to say to everyone, ‘oh my character is Boy,’ which was really embarrassing.”
On working in the cold of Northern Ireland: “You can see Scotland. The winds coming in November, you’re so cold your mouth starts to seize up, you’re getting blown around by the wind, it’s like, are we actually doing this now? You’re mad. But then you look down and the poor extras in little blankets, no protection. They’re not looked after properly, it’s not really the vibe. It’s bloody cold sometimes.”
Nature vs. nurture: “What’s weird about Ramsay is there is obviously something wrong with him and there always has been. I don’t think you can learn that kind of behaviour. If you are not nurtured correctly it can come out of you but I think he was a little s— anyway. The nature-nurture argument, its obviously a bit of both, but nurture could have helped a lot. But it didn’t happen so he’s just a complete monster.”
He has an especially disturbing moment to play this year: “Some of the things he does really disturb me. I worry about the preparation, it’s not like learning it at home, it’s ‘Oh god, this is horrible.’ Then gearing myself up to do it, and then when I get on the set to do it, in my trailer, that day, I really don’t want to do it. And then you’ve got to slap yourself and say “come on, it’s not real, it’s not real, just do it.” I had a real moment like that this year, I had to really pull myself together.”
Is Ramsay’s time almost up?: “He’s gonna get one hell of a horrendous death. Imminent death. I just hope it’s not this year, because I’ve just bought a flat. I need him to keep doing terrible things until I’ve paid for it! Next year, fine. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s weird, because everyone’s anticipating season five, but I feel like that’s done, next! I won’t be doing that for a while. I don’t even know if I’m in it.”
Check out the Telegraph for the full interview for more on Rheon’s thoughts on acting, Game of Thrones and his singing and song-writing.
Oh? Well, there goes some speculation…. 😉
The most recent book strongly implied that Ramsay forced a girl to have sex with one of his dogs, threatening to cut off her feet if she didn’t.
Or at least…that’s how I read her line about that. I’m not sure if I’m the only one.
The exact line was: “Tell him, you tell him. I’ll do what he wants … whatever he wants … with him or … or with the dog or … please … he doesn’t need to cut my feet off,”
What do you guys think?
I…I don’t know if even the TV series could show, or even ALLUDE to that happening, in dialogue.
Ramsay is one sick fuck.
Lovely actor and he does so well in the part, Ramsay is so awful -“He’s gonna get one hell of a horrendous death. Imminent death. ” – hopefully!
The Dragon Demands,
It didn’t even occur to me that they’d go there in the TV show. Thanks for putting that thought in my brain. EEEEEK.
Great actor, I’m pretty happy Kit got the job instead of Iwan. Iwan is the perfect Ramsay for me. I wonder is his f**ked up scene is the same as Sophie’s controversial scene.
Ooh. There’s a few questions right there….great to hear from Iwan Rheon. He just released an album as well, and is very talented. Love how he looks forward to Ramsay’s ‘imminent’ death.
Please, please don’t kill him. I know it may sound weird, but he’s one of my favorite characters. Iwan is one hell of an actor, one of the best that the show has, he’s really underrated.
I would eat bread crumbs out of Iwan’s belly button. Thank you.
I love to see Ramsay gored by a White Walker. Then he could come back as a wight and we’d kill him twice. He’s a vile guy, though Rheon makes him so weirdly charismatic.
I disagree with him, I think Ramsay will get a very lame death that’ll be nowhere near Justice Town. Probably a stray arrow to the heart, dying relatively quickly in Roose’s arms…
Ramsay: “Father…I…I never loved you.”
Roose: “Ditto, kid. Ditto.”
Or frozen in a hedge maze chasing Theon who tricks him by backtracking in the snow and then Ram Ram is thawed out 1000 years later so he can get back to hunting in the final book’s epilogue. “Heeeeere’s Ramsay!”
. Not a huge spoiler, but I can see why they wanted to put a moratorium on him doing interviews a couple years ago. 🙂
The Dragon Demands,
Although obviously they shouldn’t sow that then I’d have no issue with them referencing it. Show Ramsay is not nasty enough for my liking (no fault of Iwan’s who does a great job with what he’s given). The book version really was repulsive. Think they need to make him absolutely despicable as he sometimes gets dangerously close to being likeable bad…if you know what I mean! Will make the payoff of him ‘getting his’ a lot more satisfying for the viewer.
Was that Jeyne who said that?
Off topic but I’m thinking epidose 5 kill the boy will have a double meaning that will reveal the griff and young griff stuff in it
Well I don’t even mean “showing” it, even the book didn’t “show” it, I mean mentioning that it occurred “off screen” – I’m not sure how they weigh things that occur off-screen (i.e. they don’t actually SHOW Gregor raping Elia while covered in her children’s blood, but they mention it)
TheNorthRemembers,
Trying to stay spoiler-free here, ser.
A hot iron poker up Ramsay’s bum would do nicely, I reckon 🙂 Historical precedent too.
This whole thread – ew, just ew! Guess that’s appropriate for Ramsay.
The only time his character was EVER likable was when he was pretending to help Theon. And I am cold hearted enough that I’ve never felt sorry for Theon, either, but I’d love to see Reek somehow get his revenge on Ramsey. That would be perfect.
I agree. Iwan plays a good Ramsey but, Gods, I can’t wait to see his grisly demise.
So Iwan Rheon initially auditioned for the role of Jon Snow before the series began – and he was one of the final two actors who were considered for the role? Damn. I never knew that. I’m sure that he would have done a great job with the part, but man, is it strange to consider that possibility now. At this point, Kit Harington’s excellent portrayal of Jon Snow is so cemented in my mind that I have a hard time imagining anyone else in the role. Furthermore, Iwan has done such indelible work as Ramsay that to envision him playing another character in this particular universe – particularly one who is, as he notes in the interview, the polar opposite of the character he plays now – is quite a mindfuck.
It’s an interesting “What If?” to think about, I suppose, and a testament to Rheon’s range as an actor. Still, I have to say that I’m glad things worked out the way that they did.
The Dragon Demands,
You are absolutely correct, and I suspect that’s the part he’s talking about. (Ew shudder closes eyes)
KG,
Why would he have to psych himself up just to vaguely imply something in dialogue? I doubt they would actually show that on screen. I REALLY hope not. But they must show something pretty bad. I’m very worried for Sansa…
Jared,
I have a hard time seeing Rheon as Jon Snow. Harrington doesn’t particularly look like how I pictured Jon either, but he’s closer than Rheon. That said, Rheon is a terrific actor, so I imagine he would have delivered a credible performance.
Sorry! I thought we were of the
opinion hereabouts. Didn’t mean to ruin anything.
Unrelatedly, I’d never noticed before how silly-looking the Bolton guardsmen’s helmets are.
Seven hells. And I messed up that comment.
Sean C.,
They look like a cross between conquistadors and….well let’s just say the Battle at Winterfell may be a little like this!
TheTouchOfFrost,
Close to being likeable eh?
Yea I don’t think so. I know there’s a few Bolton fans out there but that’s where I would like to believe draws the line.
I will say that Ramsay is quite more interesting of a character than those sorry Greyjoys for sure.
King Stannis,
He’s got charisma which means they really should be going out their way to not let that overtake his unpleasantness (look at Joffrey to see a perfect example of how to do this). His tendencies involve torturing and killing but I just think the way they’ve presented some of it has been almost comical at times so doesn’t bring the full realisation of how psychotic he is to bear. Plus he’s generally been doing it to other unpleasant characters. The only time he’s done it to someone reltively innocent was that hunting scene. I hope they reveal how twisted he is more this season because he isn’t as detested as he should be at this point in time.
I don’t like Iwan Rheon as Ramsey and I probably would have liked him even less as Jon. That said I did like him in Misfits. Heck he was the only reason I kept watching that show and the sole reason I stopped watching after he left, so most likely is the writing of his character what I dislike and not the acting.
Josla,
All he needs is a long black wig.
TheTouchOfFrost,
That’s some fine boiled leather Ramsay is wearing.
Nothing boiled about that leather. It’s quite supple and tailored.
I’ve loved Rheon in the role ever since his delivery of “If you think this has a happy ending you haven’t been paying attention” in 3×06. Definitely one of the most underrated cast members.
I love the Boltons as villains, and definitely hope they stick around a while. McElhatton and Rheon are more than capable of filling the massive void left by Dance and Gleeson. I do wonder if they make it to Season 6, though.
I think Stannis will tear him a new asshole this season. Fingers crossed!
KG,
You sure? It looks pretty hard and stiff to me. To be honest I have no idea how GRRM imagines his boiled leather.
Anyway I really love the Bolton’s style. The helmets look a bit strange but there were some very similar ones used historically. I wonder if we will ever see some plate armor for Roose or Ramsay. That flayed man suit would be pretty bad ass
Hodor’s Bastard,
I think he’s too prominant to die ‘off-screen’ as it were.
I reckon Roose will die before Ramsay, who will hang around and be a dangerous loose cannon until someone finally puts him out of his misery…hoping Theon although Nymeria’s pack hunting him through the woods would be very fitting!
TheTouchOfFrost,
I think Roose still has a long ways to go, especially if those fan theories about him have any truth to them.
One of Roose Bolton’s leeches,
Perhaps. Genuine ‘bad guys’ are getting a bit thin on the ground now with the Boltons, Freys and Mountain being the only completely unsympathetic characters left…oh and the Whitewalkers…maybe!
Everyone seems to forget that Roose too is a psychopath, just not as sadistic, or rather much more refined in his sadism.
Roose gets a bad rap, the war was basically lost once Karstark’s, their allies and the Frey’s left the army in conjunction with the Lannister/Tyrell alliance. The North could never have defeated that combined alliance. But Robb wouldn’t let go, the North needed to prepare for winter and gather has many crops as they could beforehand. Furthermore too many families had become short handed by then. Therefore Roose is a hero in my book.
This storyline has not really translated well to TV, most of the audience is not interested in it. I think Iwan has the potential to play Ramsay right but the writing is off. He is written often times comical. He jokes around, smiles, and laughs a lot. He is not frightening like he should be and therefore doesn’t have effect on the audience that he should. Yes, he is crazy and sadistic in the show but not in a creepy frightening way that he should in order for the storyline to work. He is just a crazy gimmicky sadistic character instead of the iconic bad guy that he has become in the books. Therefore the character has not had the same impact on TV watchers as he has had on book readers.
Roose set up 2 north forces to die. Once by sending them on the fools mission to that random village. Then again en route to the wedding, leaving a force on the other side of the river to be ambushed. He is no hero; a turn cloak will do it again, his reputation is as bad or worse than walder freys
tyjon,
If you read his backstory, he is pretty psychotic. The story of how Ramsay was conceived is particularly harrowing!
JamesL,
Oh, I think he’s pretty frightening in the show, I think Unsullied get that. I actually think that’s what makes his storyline kind of a turnoff to some. His scenes are so uncomfortable for some viewers they dread seeing it. They hate him, but they don’t love to hate him, so watching him do terrible things tp people over and over again isn’t appealing. Let’s hope it gets better when we see him in conflict with other main characters
OMG, Ramsay is going to survive this season?! Unless he gets a Jaime Lannister type humbling, I don’t think i can endure more comic book villainy.
I hope Rickon adapts to cannibalism on Skagos and ends up eating one of Ramsey’s feet in front of him, while Shaggydog shares in the meal, when he reclaims Winterfell.
I’ve always been a fan of the Stark ~ Bolton rivalry too. I believe it goes back into history and Martin has sometimes referred to it in the books.
I like this actor a lot but I don’t think Ramsay ever reached his potential with the casting. I always pictured a 20 year old Jonathan Rhys Meyers when I visualized Ramsay in the books. Penetrating frightening eyes, long dark hair. For the show, they did not give Ramsay these very specific PHYSICAL traits that were striking, creating the kind of presence that would have cemented him in the psyche of millions. He has not attained iconic status in the same way Joffrey has and I believe that is because the visual look was neither arresting or unforgettable – and it is the LOOK, the manner of the thing which always generates the charisma in the actor’s being. Most viewers consider Ramsay a credible villain but that’s about it. This is what he should have been: http://data3.whicdn.com/images/19324277/original.jpg
Lucian,
Please explain how he is like a comic book villain. There are people in this world just as bad as him.
Galli,
Show-Ramsay doesn’t have a look that would easily translate to a Funko-Pop figure, that is true.
Nevertheless, I like Rheon’s physical presence a lot: the eyes, the leer, the curly hair, the voice. He’s like a demented hobbit.
One of Roose Bolton’s leeches,
He’s a comic book villain in his almost moustache twirling glee at the vile things he does. He’s very straightforward in that sense, without dimensions and that is not compelling television. It gets stale, quickly. It already got stale by the end of Season 3 but they see fit to drag this out and make of a fetish of his ‘ways’.
I really don’t think that’s the problem. The viewing audience, from what I’ve see, already finds this character extremely off-putting. Making him even more sadistic would just turn people off more, in my view (this is a rare case where I prefer the TV show’s version, honestly — a little goes a long way, and I think GRRM goes way overboard).
Lucian,
Yea well that’s just like your opinion man. (Overused I know) I don’t find him stale at all and I think his small backstory is pretty interesting in the books.
Andrew,
As long as some fans are happy with show Ramsay, that’s all that matters – they can’t please everyone. In my opinion, TV Ramsay not becoming as iconic as his literature counterpart will ultimately benefit Iwan in the long run. As a result of playing an ‘everyman’ villain as opposed to a ‘strange’ one, he will not be typecast, which is probably what would have happened if his Ramsay attained the kudos of, say, Heath Ledger’s Joker.
Pretty sure Iwan is doing a fine and iconic job himself here. I had a bratwurst at the soccerclubcantine Thursday.. and me mates start joking about the shape.. And all I need to do is look at it, look back eerily, and back again, and say: “What? Noooo… you think I’m some sort of savage?” and they instantly get the reference.
You, my friend, win the internet today..
Somebody mentioned the cinematic version of Alex in Kubrick’s Clockwork Orange as an obvious influence for TV Ramsay. What say you folk? The sunny disposition is there, if not the musical taste!
Sean C.,
I’m not saying he needs to be more sadistic. Being sadistic doesn’t automatically make a character frightening. The issue isn’t that the character isn’t sadistic enough, it is that he is often written comical. Book Ramsay is disturbed and frightening, he isn’t laughing and joking around like the TV version.
Galli,
That’s venturing into hallowed ground there, ser. Alex wants you to come get one in the yarbles!
Ser Oromis Locke,
I would totally buy a Ramsay Funko figure.
JamesL,
I agree with you, James. Do you remember Javier Bardem in the movie No Country for Old Men? That’s the kind of energy I envisioned for Ramsay too. That was bloody eerie.
Galli,
I actually think Iwan could pull off the look pretty well. All he needs to do is grow his hair out and have it straightened. Here is what I’m talking about.
https://www.facebook.com/RooseBoltonofDreadfort/photos/a.549465425109232.1073741840.386656531390123/414129825309460/?type=3&theater
One of Roose Bolton’s leeches,
It suits him! Thanks for the link!
Galli,
Considering Ramsay is described as being rather ugly, I think your casting would be even worse than what we have.
Ser Oromis Locke,
I saw a review of an early episode of the series which had Ramsay in which described him as being like a Hobbit sex offender.
I think he owns the role. He has just as much of the piercing pale gaze as JRM, who has already had his shot at a wonderfully sadistic narcissist in The Tudors (love him as I do, I won’t get into the unfortunate Dracula). His translucent complexion and smile is right on. Roose is even more chilling – his quiet control is terrifying, really.
Not trying to be mean, but that just looks god aweful and unrealistic.. He’s a Bolton now, not a Dracula.. -.-
I mean despite frequent bath-scenes, I doubt Ramsay is predisposed with tending to his hair to get that look..
Ser Oromis Locke,
What, you don’t think people have hair like that? I did a while back but I cut it due to some of the reasons you mentioned. I don’t think it looks that bad however, plus he is supposed to look kind of ugly/fucked up.
Anyway which Dracula are you referring to? There are so many adaptations and I haven’t found time to watch any of them.
What possible evidence is there for this statement? At any rate, Theon’s storyline (for which Ramsay is just a foil) has played out very well on TV. B&W did a great job of adapting it to fit last year’s story about love-hate conflicts. I doubt that the audience had much problem seeing that, even if it often was painful to watch.
Hardly. Comic book villians are traditionally just “evil.” Ramsay is a psychopath. Now, modern comic book villains are psychopaths or sociopaths: but that’s because they figured out that real “villains” are psychopaths or sociopaths. But people do not behave like Ramsay unless they are psychotic or sociopathic, so why try to portray him as something else that he could not be?
Wimsey,
You say “Comic book villians are traditionally just “evil.” Ramsay is a psychopath.” – I beg to differ. He’s ‘just evil’. There’s no mental illness or manic affliction. Joe Pesci in Goodfellas – THAT was a psychopath. Ramsay is just evil, like the comic book caricatures, as you noted.
Hodor’s Bastard,
Direwolves would be especially appropriate for the task
edited: oops someone thought of that already Great minds think alike!
ThisArticleisDarkandFullofSpoilers,
I just had sex with your boyfriend.
Ser Oromis Locke,
See I think that’s part of the problem. Ramsay is meant to be a disturbing character but they’ve shown the disgusting things he’s done in too much of a comical light so he loses that ( the almost comedy cut to flayed Ironborn after they were promised their safety being another). I hope they lose the comedy edge with him this season as it’s detracting from what his character should be.
ThisArticleisDarkandFullofSpoilers,
Here’s a spoiler for you;
YOU GET BANNED FROM THE FORUMS
TheTouchOfFrost,
And I have sex with his boyfriend
TheTouchOfFrost,
What’s the point of having a character like Ramsey in this story- none except to activate others. Unlike Jon, he doesn’t have a deeper motivation than just getting his father’s approval and now that he’s got it, he has power- or some semblance of it. Still his only purpose to to activate Theon and maybe Sansa. The real villain with true power is his father. GRRM can be pretty sadiayic and that’s worrisome- what’s the point other than to titilate? He’s long past establishing that this is a dog eat dog world, so why is someone like Ramsey still around?
Witless wonder,
Ramsay is around to drive Theon’s eventual redemption and self acknowledgment.
Witless wonder,
Because we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. He could find new motivations, or he could be extremely important to Roose if this particular theory I read is true.
Agree with Turncloak, maybe not so much with Leeches. More and more it seems that there doesn’t seem to be an effective plan with the secondary characters. Even if GRRM is in the process of transferring relative power to secondary characters there are so many of them, off playing their wee games, with large and haphazard consequences, that it’s almost a relief to find a précis in the TV version. While I agree Ramsey is there to play off of, some of the others don’t work as effectively in terms of making a link to a primary/ core level character. The actor of course is quite superb, but is written as one- dimensional, both in the show as well as the book. Other than tactical thinking, which is often short-term, his father’s thinking is usually long-term strategy. Perhaps Ramsey is meant to be a foil to his father’s forthcoming machinations?
Sorry, another point of contention and maybe misplaced in this thread; the recent Sansa chapter reads like it’s written by a 12-year old in the throes of ecstasy. It’s terribly written, terribly edited and the tone is so awkward. Something about is it very irksome. The vale and Weefinger’s plotting is all part and parcel, because we’ve seen some of that in previous books, but Sansa doesn’t seem to have grown at all. Is there a part of her supposedly layered make-up that even in POV form we’re not privy to? Somewhere the realization that this level of engagement must be based on anger only seems appropriate, yet there’s no anger in the character- why?
On a side note, I’m a first-time poster and therefore have a lot of questioning to do. I also write non-fiction for a living, and so don’t have fiction chops so to speak. Cheers.
Rygar,
It’s funny because you are calling someone gay as an insult.
TheTouchOfFrost,
I do not get how some think Ramsay’s actions have been portrayed in a comical light. Has anyone laughed, or seen someone else laugh, during any of his scenes? His scenes have been some of the darkest and most uncomfortable scenes to watch. I suppose the hunting down and murdering-by-dogs of Tansy was supposed to be comical because, what, Ramsey laughed and smiled about it? Of course Ramsay laughs! Of course Ramsay sees everything he’s doing in a comical light, that’s the character! Just because Ramsay does, doesn’t.mean the audience does. That’s like saying The Dark Knight is a comedy because of how much the Joker laughed, even dressing up as a nurse at one point.
The people who complained about Ramsay’s scenes in S3 were not complaining about how comical it was, or that the tone was inconsistent because Ramsay was enjoying himself. The tone was very clear. Maybe the show has messed up in portraying the character somehow, but it hasn’t been via some comedic portrayal some are imagining.
Hodor Targaryen,
“Of course Ramsay laughs! Of course Ramsay sees everything he’s doing in a comical light, that’s the character!”
But that’s not the character in the books. Ramsay in the books does not laugh and joke around like he does in the show. Not saying a bad guy can’t ever smile, laugh, or joke around but for a character like Ramsay I feel it lessens the character.
I’ve been trying to think why Joffrey is more iconic, more entertaining for people (including me) than Ramsay. I think part of it is that Joffrey always made sense as a character. From the get go we know he’s a prince, so his being a spoiled bully made complete sense. And by the time he had his true villain moment (“Bring me his head!”) it was an action that made sense for a character that we had gotten to know over time.
But Ramsay’s sadistic villainy was a surprise, it was abrupt. His character was a mystery, so his torture of Theon is S3 elicited more “Who the fuck is this guy?” than “Oh man he’s evil!” We were expected to be invested in this villain without knowing squat about him.
I think they remedied this in S4 though. Giving him daddy issues goes a long way in helping explain why he does what he does- he goes to extremes to try to be a true Bolton, to impress his dad. It doesn’t make him more sympathetic, but more understandable, and therefore more compelling.
Just my two cents
I was replying specifically to the idea that the show itself is putting his actions in a comedic light, that the actions should be disturbing but instead are comedic. No matter how much fun Ramsay is having, it doesn’t really reflect too much on what light the audience sees it in, his actions definately disturb just about anyone whose watching the show.
I get what you are saying, that maybe a quieter,
not really a spoiler more like a speculation;
sireno,
sorry for the quote mark! im not quoting anything its just my speculations
Iwan is such a nice, lovely guy and a great actor, I loved him since he was Simon in “Misfits”, he played such a cute, super-shy guy there… and then I saw him as Ramsay in GoT – disturbing.
But it shows his great talent that he can play everything, from e.g. Simon in “Misfits”, to Ash in “Vicious”, to Ramsay in “Game of Thrones”!
Rygar,
Bigger spoiler would be that he hasn’t got a boyfriend or girlfriend as…ya know…who would want the honours?!
One of Roose Bolton’s leeches,
In a weird way, I kind of want that to happen as would show how deeply repulsive his character is. Which is weird that torturing and killing men and women hasn’t fully got that over yet but rape would. Again, I think it’s the innocence of the victims as well as how it is presented that has been the problem for me in that regard.
Hodor Targaryen,
It’s not the character”s reaction itself, it’s the way it has been presented. The sausage scene was just ridiculous and Theon’s mutilation was almost made light of. It’s a shame as the scene where he actually did it was well done and if they’d just had the ‘more parts of Theon’ part then the message would have got through strongly. Also the Ironborn surrender of Moat Cailin where they cut from the Ironborn chap’s face to his flayed remains is a technique often used in comedy to contrast two opposites for humerous purposes.
They’re minor quibbles at the moment but I just don’t think Ramsay is inspiring the kind of abhorrence that characters like Walder Frey and Joffrey have done which he reallly should be doing. He’s not as bratty as he is in the books which adds to his unpleasantness as his tantrums were really added to how his character is so volatile: cold and calculating one moment then wildly and emotionally lashing out at people the next. Hopefully that will be remedied this coming season, especially if they manage to recreate the tense atmosphere of mistrust in Winterfell and there’s a proxy for Little Walder. The more I think about it the more I’ll miss the intrigue and mistrust in Winterfell from the books. I hope they have a suitable equivalent.
“But it didn’t happen so he’s just a complete monster.”
Ooh, what are you saying, Iwan? You mean, show!Ramsay is not a relatively “nice” and reasonable guy that could be a decent betrothed/husband for our heroine to skillfully manipulate and have a great political match with? You mean, he’s actually worse than your average arrogant snobbish nobleman whose biggest crime is that he has a couple of bastards? I thought being a sadistic psychopath who loves to torture, mutilate and kill people for sport was not such a bad thing! Oh, Iwan, I’m sure you’re disappointing quite a few posters on this website…
Annara Snow,
Annara, I see you are still doing well after hearing about the leaked marriage that’s happening ;). I think we need to wait and see how it plays out before criticizing that decision
The real issue is not whether it’s repulsive, the real issue is how exactly it makes sense in terms of their story for Sansa, which is supposed to be about her becoming this badass “player”, who can deal with stuff and manipulate and get what she wants and who’s not just a helpless victim as she was before… (But more of a victim?!)
And that’s without even getting into the issue, why the hell would “Alayne” want to marry Ramsay Bolton, and what’s in there for her? What’s in there for Littlefinger, for that matter? Being the wife of widow of Ramsay Bolton (apart from the delights that come from being raped and tortured by a more dangerous and sicker version of Joffrey) is sure as hell not something for her to use to boost her chances for popularity in the North, and if she’s to be revealed as Sansa Stark eventually, why the hell would she need a Bolton marriage for, and how does that help her in any way?!
Yeah, sorry folks, that idea doesn’t get any less stupid than it always was. if D&D are actually doing it, it only means that they’ve totally lost the plot.
I haven’t heard about any leaked marriages (sounds dirty), I’m only aware of the speculation in comments on this website, and my favorite new argument that “Show!Ramsay is just like Harry the Heir”.
(Yes, I know there’s to be a marriage, but I don’t think there’s been any confirmation as to between who it is. Then again, from the show that gave us the Jaime/Cersei “we accidentally shot rape” scene last season, I probably should be prepared for just about anything, no matter how little sense it makes, and I don’t mean in terms of the books, but in terms of the their own internal story consistency and logic.)
Annara Snow,
Apparently they are just straight revealing her as
. I do find that odd but again I need to watch the episodes to see if that part will make sense to me.
Annara Snow,
You might want to check out the last few comments of the “First Reviews of Game of Thrones season 5” thread.
Some of spoiler leaks are discussed there.
I can’t see Rheon as Jon Snow, but I wish his old pal Aneurin Barnard had auditioned for Jon.
Yes, that makes even less sense. But quite a few things on the show barely made sense in the previous seasons, though not to this degree.
Annara Snow,
Sansa’s AFFC storyline would never work on the show. They can’t just have her sitting around the Eyrie all season. Combining her with the Winterfell plot is prefect because not only does it give her something more exciting to do it also ups the drama by using a Stark instead of pulling some random “Jeyne” out of thin air. Most viewers have not cared for the Reek/Ramsay storyline but incorporating Sansa into it could change that. I actually think it has the potential to improve the plot.
My question is what on earth is Brienne going to do this season? I thought they’d intertwine her and Sansa’s stories seeing as neither really has anything to do.
Sansa going north is a strange one for me. Although she needs something to do, I thought the Northern story worked well as it was. Wedging her into it seems strange and kind of forced. At the moment it makes absolutely no sense for her to be there. If she’s to marry Ramsay then I can’t see KL condoning it as she’s still under suspicion for killing Joffrey ( and technically married to Tyrion). Also, they wouldn’t want to give the North a Stark to rally around. Her marrying Ramsay as Alayne makes even less sense as why would he want to marry a lowborn?! I’m hoping if she’s up there it’s not to get married but maybe sow descent in the Bolton/northern camp (Wymanesque). This would ease her naturally into learning how to play the game and fit with LF’s style. Marrying Ramsay is a silly move and LF wouldn’t risk his prize asset on such a bizarre move. Still hoping that she fills that infiltrator role but is perhaps found out by Myranda (Ramsays actual bride) so she and/or Theon have to kill her. I must say I’m interested to see what they do but also quite worried!
Hodor Targaryen,
As a show-only person, most of what you say rings true to me. I’d also argue that Joffrey was more compelling because he was far more integral to the story insofar as he interacted with many (most) of the other main characters. He just seemed more important and therefore more compelling.
I love the show and have faith, but I am very concerned that this season is going to suffer because there are no longer any compelling “villains” central to the plot. Joffrey and Tywin were among my favorite characters because they created so much conflict for so many characters.
Most of the other storylines just do not have that. The reason I lost interest in the Dany plot – apart from its meandering nature – is that there was no adversary, at least one you care about. Same was true of the Wall. And now, what made King’s Landing so compelling is completely absent with Tywin and Joffrey gone. The show runners have their work cut out for them transforming the Boltons or the Others or whoever into compelling, complex adversaries. .
Oh come on, people. Obviously
For whatever it’s worth, as a sort of unsullied, I think Ramsay’s sadistic nature has come across quite well and that the “comical” moments only underscore his psychopathy. The “What? You think I’m some kind of savage” line was both funny and chilling.
The problem with Ramsay and Roose as villains is not their characterization. It’s that despite their importance to a few story lines, they’ve been pretty tertiary characters. I suppose that could be a fault of the show, but the central conflict set up has been for the Iron Throne, which is in King’s Landing. Their power and proximity to it is part of what made Tywin and Joffrey compelling.
Ramsay is not a satisfying villain compared to Joffrey for an essential reason: Joffrey’s hubris was at odds with his grotesque personality and incapability and it was highly amusing to watch him as a result, Jack’s performance as a result was wonderfully campy (in the same way Christian Bale’s Pat Bateman was) and extremely rewarding for us all of as consumers of the series. Ramsay on the other hand does not project a personality that is at odds with his actions. His actions and his personality are in sync and as a result, he is cartoon like to some viewers and not particularly memorable.
TheTouchOfFrost,
I think the adverseries are there they’re just not as black and white or good and evil as they have been. Whether the two opposing factions need to be so clearly defined for the viewer to stay interested remains to be seen but, personally, I don’t think they do.
slimchicken,
I think the adverseries are there they’re just not as black and white or good and evil as they have been. Whether the two opposing factions need to be so clearly defined for the viewer to stay interested remains to be seen but, personally, I don’t think they do.
EDIT: Decided to reply to myself! Any sign of the Edit button making a reappearance!?
TheTouchOfFrost,
I don’t think it’s an issue of being black and white. For me it’s more an issue of scope. Opposition in other story lines is far more limited in terms overall impact, thus far anyway. Even the Red Wedding, while perpetrated by the Freys and the Boltons, was a direct result of actions by Tywin. His power was more far reaching and therefore, to me, far more compelling. And there were more people working at odds with one another in King’s Landing in a way that was central to what seems like the main story. It’s why Oberyn can come in and immediately make an impact in a way that whoever Dany’s latest challenger can’t. That’s just my opinion, anyway, but where I think the showrunners biggest challenge is going forward.
TheTouchOfFrost,
And for whatever it’s worth, I never considered Tywin evil – not in the same way I consider Joffrey and Ramsay that, anyway. I happened to think Tywin was Westeros’s best chance at anything resembling a functioning unified seven kingdoms.
Lucian,
That’s a terrific point. Agreed.
I just hope they dont try to make Ramsay a nice misunderstood guy.
And dont dare to touch Sansa!
slimchicken,
I’d agree with there not being a focal point adversary in Dany’s story. She’s fighting the culture itself, which is interesting but I think that culture needs to be given a figurehead. Personally, I’d be happy if they brought back Xaro Xhoan Daxos for the Siege of Mereen (if it ever happens) as he would be a good representation of her past actions in other cities coming back to haunt her and would be a familiar face to add that focus to the Qarth/ Astapor/ Yunkai forces.
In other areas, I think the Faith Militant, Dornish, Freys, Boltons, White Walkers are all there to act as antagonists to the main characters but they do lack the ‘Big Boss’ type figure Tywin was. Perhaps that sort of character will come to prominence this season. I think the closest to a Big Bad there is now is Cersei, but she is a lot more sympathetic than Tywin for example but does display the not-fully evil but does some very unpleasant things traits of her father.
TheTouchOfFrost,
I think Roose comes pretty close as well. I might even say he is just as good as Tywin.
But who cares about the books ? Ramsey will be Sansa’s husband. It was planned from the beginning. They do not need that caricature from the books.
He needs to be more human.
slimchicken,
It is very simple. Don’t worry. Tywin and Joffrey was interesting because they interact with Sansa, Ned, Tyrion, Robb,…
Boltons only interact with Theon. For the time being. But in S5 they will be part of one big storyline with Sansa, LF, Stannis, Jon, Brienne,… It will be very good.
They will reach their full potential in S5.
One of Roose Bolton’s leeches,
He’s of a similar mould but on a less prominent stage. Plus I think he has much more psychotic tendencies as Ramsays conception proves! If he get’s more screentime he could develop into a Tywin like mastermind.
mau,
Thanks. I do have faith that they’ll have the Boltons rise to prominence and fill that role and provide the needed conflict. Just see this as the showrunners’ biggest challenge. Not an easy thing to replace.
Thanks, I had a good laugh at that.
Annara Snow,
I’m glad to hear that.
Because many book purist’s tears will be spilled in the next few weeks..
I can’t wait…
slimchicken,
Cersei will be very strong villain this season as well.
And Dany will have a very specific enemies.
True. “Hard” isn’t necessarily “evil.” You have to be a cold-hearted bastard to be in charge of even a small company; running a kingdom? That needs cruel calls to be made.
Glad to see a purist laugh around here. It’s a sign that the purist are finally developing slowly. Proud of you!
Now remember, Book is a book and show is show.
Show Tyrion=Actor=Peter Dinklage.
Book Tyrion=Book Tyrion
Next week I’ll teach you about budget and running time vs page flipping 🙂
I wish more people took your approach. I, too, am really wondering about what it sounds like they’re doing, but I’m not about to judge it before I see it. Unfortunately, some have already started in on the “D&D are hacks, blah, blah, blah.”
As far as show Ramsay, I guess I can see why some think the “comedic aspect,” of his character diminishes how evil he is, but I see it almost the opposite way. That Ramsay can do what he’s done, yet make jokes about it tells me he is reveling in his actions the way only true psycho could. Even the sausage-eating scene, which, yes, made me chuckle for a moment, after the initial chuckle, I found it so twisted he would, after cutting off Theon’s dick, not stop there, but make jokes about it, as though the act itself wasn’t torturous enough.
mau,
Glad to hear it on the Dany front. I think that’s been the biggest problem with her story that last couple of seasons. For me, there just hasn’t been much drama/conflict. It’s all felt a bit distant. And without something pressing, it’s pretty easy to fall into the “get to Westeros already” trap.*
As for Cersei, I’m really interested in what transpires with her. Although I enjoy her character, I do feel my interest has mostly been in her relationships with others in King’s Landing – Tywin, Tyrion, Sansa, Jamie, etc. From what I can tell, only Margaery is left. I know there will be new characters for her to play off of and scheme with/against, but I guess, in some ways, I think that underscores the challenges D&D have this season. Everything is upended and dispersed. The pieces are again all over the board and without clear direction. It’s a great opportunity, but it’s also difficult not to have the “comfort” of King’s Landing (and it’s large concentration of principle characters) to return to and ground the overarching story.
* That said: Get to Westeros already!
slimchicken,
This season they will adapt Cersei’s story from AFFC. Before that, she was barely a character in the books.
Show drastically expanded her character in the first four seasons. Her true story only starts now.
It’s beyond my comprehension how some of you still label characters as either villains or good guys. One of the core concepts of ASOIAF is not having black and white characters, they all have good and bad sides. Not even Joff was a completely “bad guy”, even though he was the one that came closer to being one.
Witless wonder,
Your opinion is basically the oposite of what most people thought. On that thread everyone was commenting on how much sansa developed in such a short period of time, with sarcastic and witty comments, understanding more of the politics, etc and how GRRM’s writing syle was basically the same, with all the food descriptions and inner monologues and stuff.
RandomSand,
Joff was completely a bad guy. By pretty much any standard. Ramsay and The Mountain are monsters without any redeeming qualities, they are villains. People love to overstate the grey morality of Martin’s world, there are quite a few straight up villains.
Pfft, everybody knows that show’s budget demands that Sansa marries Ramsay. Obviously.
And anyone who thought Jamie raping Cersei made no sense was a silly book purist. Including the critics and fans who had never read a page of ASOAIF.
Also, since there’s no page flipping on the show, Podrick had to have his sex god thing with three hookers.
But I’m sure all those silly purists, including those who haven’t read the books, will come to realize that GoT is the best thing evah and that everything about it makes sense and is perfectly logical, even if it doesn’t look like out Earth logic.
I think that Ramsey’s redeeming quality is loyalty to his father and Boltons. The Mountian on the other hand is an idiot. Cartoonish character.
Because man who who tried to kill child, who killed his cousin and who committed many other crimes will become a completely different person if you cut off his hand?
And Cersei never interpreted that as rape. Because that scene was never written as rape. The mistake was on director who made an ambiguous scene.
That would be nice, but I’d settle for purists not being such humourless bastards.
I think this comes closest to accurately diagnosing Ramsay’s problem. Completely agree
TheTouchOfFrost,
Well, even with the way it was presented, I don’t think anyone saw those scenes as comedic, or that they took away from how disturbing Ramsay came across. His sausage joke was an example of making him more depraved and sadistic, not less. And as for the quick cut from alive Ironborn to flayed Ironborn in S4E8, I don’t think a quick cut from one image tp another, slightly different image is necessarily comedic. Again, who laughed at that? The quick cut to the flayed Ironborn was meant as a punch to the gut, not the funny bone.
I think it’s interesting that you bring up Walder Frey as a contrast to Ramsey while also criticizing how comedic Ramsay is. Inlike Ramsay I think Frey is intentionally written as a somewhat funny character (sometimes). But his bored listing off of his daughters, for example, may have made us laugh, but it didn’t take away from how evil he comes off a few scenes later. I think the difference between the two lies more in what slimchicken is saying, Frey has made a big impact on the story, but Ramsay spent a couple years torturing a supporting character in a minor storyline.
Making sense?!? Let’s see….
Jaime pushing brandon out the window
Catelyn kidnapping Tyrion
Ned telling Cercei his plans
Robb Stark marrying Jeyne
Catelyn releasing Jaime
Stannis killing Renly
Everything the Greyjoys do
Robb going back to the twins
Half the shit Cercei does
I can go on about making “sense” here but I don’t need to remind you about ASOIAF.
We can pull the books out right now and have a bible mass if you would like.
Hodor Targaryen,
It’s obviously all ambiguous but I don’t think I’m the only one who thought some of Ramsey’s actions were unintentionally comedic. The sausage thing and “savage” line were undoubtably comedy. It made his tortuing and mutilation too cartoonish…heck it was borderline Carry On film stuff! Ramsay isn’t meant to be be amusing he’s mean to be vile. I want to be disgusted by the character not amused!
I’ve not met one person who’s found Walder Freys peadophilia and general shittyness entertaining. He’s been portrayed perfectly as a repulsive scumbag which is exactly what the show should be doing with Ramsay. Pile the unpleasantness onto these guys. Make us hate them…deep hatred not pantomime booing!
On a sidenote, come on guys. Can we leave the childish book vs show crap alone please. It’s unecessary and pretty boring.
Amen
lol if the “Bolt-On” theory ends up having any credibility…
Poor Jeyne Poole, firstly put into the hands of LF and “trained” and now Ramsay and it’s nearly as terrifying as what happened to Theon.
People talk about Sansa being mistreated but she was protected by her birth and hasn’t had it as hard as Jeyne Poole.
Only Theon has suffered more
As for the interview, massive lol at “please not this year I just bought a Flat I need to pay off” lol. I do reckon he might get killed in Season 6 though in the show
Roose will be a much more trickier kill, I suspect Barbrey Dustin may do Roose in
To be fair I don’t think it was comedic relief at all
Book Ramsay is purely about sadistic perversion/torture, though show Ramsay is a mix of psychological torture (the Kyra escape attempt filling him with high hope of rescue/escape and then utterly destroying it all) and sadistic torture,
The point of the Sausage was to psychologically rub it into Theon after he had been castrated and it worked as Theon breaks down and begs to be killed, same with having Myranda and Tante seduce him shortly before that act
All of this is vile, and one can argue it’s more multi-dimensional than just the straight-out sadist in the books, though for mine book Ramsay would be more terrifying to come across than show Ramsay who has been humanised into someone with Daddy/legitimacy issues
Yeah its a bit like when someone once mentioned Stephen Dillane auditioned for Davos
Davos is perfect and Dillane makes for a perfect Stannis
Pretty ironic because Stannis isn’t meant to be charismatic yet we have heaps of “Stannis the Mannis” fans and Renly was meant to be highly charismatic and a younger version of Robert with the common touch but that wasn’t borne out in the casting or the dialogue where he was made out to be some kind of dweeby smart-alec Highborn Lord
Agree, after seeing the Alayne chapter release
There’s a speech LF gives to Alayne about seeing the horrors of the world etc which I think will be part of the “avenge them” speech
And in return Sansa/Alayne is taking on the Jeyne Poole/Barbrey Dustin/Wyman Manderly role
The idea of Brienne and Podrick taking on the Umber role of waiting for Reek and Jeyne Poole to jump off the Castle Walls may make sense if Ser Shadrich in the Vale is the Mad Mouse who talked to Brienne earlier and ends up taking Sansa to Brienne to smuggle her out of the Vale (and join Varys Aegon faction), instead of fetching her out of the Vale the show are having Brienne fetch her out of the North instead
Ghost’s Lunch,
Though Myranda is as different from Myranda Royce as Ramsay is from Harry the Heir, the fact that Ramsay’s girlfriend is named Myranda makes me think they were planning this for a while now. Since season three! Which eases my concerns —it means they didn’t put together this storyline in a panic.
In terms of Sansa’s plot, the plot may be unrecognizable in detail, but what’s happening is that the overall ADWD Winterfell arc has been amalgamated with Sansa’s major plotting stepping stones from the end of AFFC and the beginning of TWOW: Littlefinger arranges Sansa to be married to a prominent heir so that she can ultimately become the Lady of Winterfell and Wardeness of the North, supplanting the Boltons. More importantly, Sansa’s story most likely remains the same, though we cannot know for sure until TWOW is released.
What I’m saying is this: people freak out more about changes when they cannot see why they were made. Since TWOW hasn’t been released, the suggestion of Sansa marrying Ramsay seemed absurd to many of us, and I include myself. After the release of TWOW Alayne I, I see where they are going with it, and I’m sure that when TWOW is released we will understand what they were doing exactly in season five.
Changes just as major have been made in the past, and in season five as well —many book readers are angry about Jaime going to Dorne, but few are confused. Jaime can have his personal story anywhere —he must try to feel less guilty about Tywin’s death by “becoming” Tywin 2.0 and then refuse Cersei when she needs him the most; for that, he only needs to be far away from her sister’s influence. As for the plot, it’s easy to see he’s taking the place of Balon Swann, though with a much greater impact in the goings-on, of course. So, some book readers will miss the Riverlands story, but few will be feeling panicked about why the hell D&D decided to do what they did, or wonder if maybe they’re going in a completely different direction. Because we know how the Dornish story setup ends in ADWD, and we know how Jaime’s story goes, so it’s easy to guess how they will be amalgamated. With Sansa, it was tricky to see what they were doing by marrying Sansa to Ramsay; now it’s pretty clear, and I suspect the worry and confusion will decrease considerably when TWOW is released in full and we get a more comprehensive picture.
Oh yeah
Bolton Helmets are fine
It’s the Lannisters that look odd, helmets for Foot soldiers should be simple and easy to create, having the eye visor things that fold out adds unnecassary complexity
Mind you this is the Lannisters so they can throw their money into unnecassary things
Ghost’s Lunch,
It’s different opinions at the end of the day. Could keep going over why I don’t think he’s coming over the way he should be but it’s re-covering old ground. Let’s just say I’m hoping they up the repusiveness of him this season. Although if Sansa is going to seduce him (which I still find a massive stretch in believability) then I’d hazard a guess they won’t. Ramsay was the most despicable of the ‘bad guys’ left in the book. I think the show will miss the presence of someone like that with Joffrey having gone. If Sansa is to marry Ramsay then, I’m sorry Sansa fans, I want him to be an absolute shit to her as it will fit his character more and will make for a more interesting plot/tension of how she’ll get away/end it. Will make much more compelling viewing than Joffrey/Margaery II.
Luka Nieto,
Yeah a lot of things are making more sense to me now I’ve read the Alayne chapter and a few ideas that were initially quite off-putting starts to make a bit of sense adaption wise
After Myrcella leaves they can turn Trystane into Quentyn and do the “Fire and Blood” Doran speech to Allaria instead of Arianne and seek to align with Dany instead of Aegon
Jaimie can head to Riverlands and meet up with Brienne (nd perhaps the Blackfish and BwB) who has Sansa and they fulfill the oath in the TV show.
I am beginning to suspect in the books Ser Shadrich/Mad Mouse is going to get Brienne and by extension Jaimie and perhaps even Blackfish (who knows the Vale inside out as he was there for a long time) to help fetch/abduct Sansa/Alayne out of the Vale as he can’t do it himself. So they’ll fulfill the oaths in the books this way
^^^From that perspective, having Jaimie in the RL in Season 6 instead of Season 5 begins to make a lot more sense too and i can prospectively see how everything elegantly ties in. Emphasis on the world prospectively because I have to see it
As we know from Crasters they struggle when deviating, I understand the show is an adaption so if they are at least always borrowing and making nods to the books and absent characters out of respect I don’t mind so much as I respect they can’t literally put everything.
TheTouchOfFrost,
I think the wedding can give nice Ramsay dynamics.
I’m not concerned he’ll look less mad and crazy than in the books. Quite the opposite imo :
With having to look nice and correct anytime with his bride, he’ll need, I think, to “decompress” somewhere else and as soon as she’s not around, he’ll revert to his true self.
Which can be interesting if he has a new plaything to torture (obviously wont be Sansa, and I doubt it’s gonna be Theon or Myranda). So yeah, I think there will be a new minor role for Ramsay to torture this season still !
Yeah agree
Thing is I think because they want to play the “Sansa is becoming a player” line, she’ll know how to manipulate Ramsay through LF techniques as Marge did with Joffrey
This way Sansa/Alayne cunningness is preserved ala Harry the Heir dealings and the despicability of Ramsay is also portrayed ala Jeyne Poole and both plotlines are covered
I agree in essence what you are saying, I was playing the Telltale game, the idea of book Ramsay coming to Ironrath was much more terrifying than show Ramsay. Once you know show Ramsay has Daddy issues he would be easy for someone like Littlefinger or Varys to manipulate ala Cersei (which is probably what Sansa will end up doing).
Someone like book Ramsay, there is no manipulating/controlling him ala Joffrey, he is probably the most corrupted character in the books
Yeah we saw at the start of last season he was very polite to Walda Frey, his new Mother in-law
I reckon this picture is the Boltons greeting LF, Sansa and hopefully some Vale Lords so he will have to be polite to them and Sansa so people are unnecassarily “worried”.
Joffrey only fully turned against Sansa when the war started, before that he was obliged to be polite
I don’t think they will get as far as an actual wedding, it will be like Joff and Marge in S3 or Cersei and Loras for last season where it lingers in the air for a long time but the Showrunners will delve into the fear of it to keep viewers on edge.
Arkash,
Well , we can hope! I think Theon will continue to be toyed with! Myranda is a possibility but I think it would have more impact if he did it with Sansa. There’s a big part of the fandom that is incredibly protective of Sansa so it would really peak their interest/hatred if he started mistreating her. To be honest, it would do Sansa as a character some good to as she needs some more raw material instead of the novel of manners stuff she normally gets.
Ghost’s Lunch,
I just think expecting her to handle Ramsay who is nowehere near as stupid as Joffrey and is a lot more twisted is unbelievable considering how wet she’s been so far! They need to ease her in to playing the game as throwing her in the at the deep end isn’t the kind of thing the calculating LF would do and also changes her character too quickly. Perhaps she has some initial success with manipulating him but then slips up and gets overwhelmed by his psychotic tendencies and has to get away to save herself from him perhaps deviating/abandoning LFs plans as she realises he’s just using her?
Another porblem I have is if Myranda becomes his victim. Myranda is a pretty vile character herself, so again we have the situation where he is torturing or killing other nasty characters. This doesn’t generate the same kind of hatred as if he was doing it to innocents or at least likeable characters. It’s a bit like how the Kray Twins used to be viewed by the public or for a more recent reference Dexter in that show. They’re doing awful things to people but because those people aren’t nice then it is almost morally condoned. Ramsay needs to start abusing nice people…Sansa fits that role perfectly.
TheTouchOfFrost,
I’m almost certain Myranda won’t be Ramsay’s victim but continue on as his partner in crime. Myranda, I assume, will be enraged by Sansa and seek ways to terrorize her. I think Myranda will meet a sticky end at Sansa’s hands, who will probably snap after so much degradation and they will physically fight, leading to Myranda’s death most likely.
Charlotte Hope has exuded such incredible menace in a very tiny role – I actually find her much more disturbing than the actor who plays Ramsay. It’s amazing how much she has done with so few scenes. Her smiling down at Theon as he is about to be castrated. Her deranged screams as she ‘strangles’ Ramsay during sex. I’m looking forward to seeing what they’ve got in store for her. We don’t have any pure female psychopaths – I still don’t know if Cersei really qualifies (we have seen her conflicted and vulnerable) and I certainly don’t perceive Melisandre to be any type of sadist, just a fanatic – albeit, the most powerful female in the series IMO. Myranda is the first real full blown female villain this show has had. I want to know more about her. She began with a religious calling – what experiences made her into the monster she has become? Does it tie into the fact that she is a servant and so is basically powerless unless granted power privileges by high-borns? Does she love Ramsay and harbor hopes of becoming his wife?
Lucian,
I hope so. I think she’s a good proxy for the Bastards Boys as well as being a good substitute for fArya in a wedding situation. Her dying mysteriously ( or not so mysteriously) would be a good catalyst for the forces at Winterfell to become suspicious of eachother and would also send Ramsay into super-psycho mode!