A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Throne Books. Spoilers)

[AniX]

It's pretty clear to me that Jon is all but confirmed to be Azor Ahai

, which is why he isn't.

[AniX]

Buzzfeed has horribly maligned this just to include the fact that he's writing people into the book for $20,000. Cue people complaining about what a high fee that is. Honestly, I don't really think that is that bad, considering you'll be immortalized in a series which is sure to be recognized for quite a while in the pantheons of both literature and television.

Also, it isn't like he is going "I need a new car. Cash for character!". He is giving the money to charity.

[AniX]

No Stannis, No Peace.

[AniX]

That has to be a bluff, since otherwise Brienne's entire plot makes zero sense to include. The entirety of her wandering around is to eventually get her to Stoneheart, almost get hung, say something that lets her go free, and track down Jaime.

[AniX]

The big thing I see of her exclusion is it severely challenges the notion that Dorne will join with Young Griff.

[AniX]

People complain about everything. Why post in a thread about the discussion of the book-to-show adaptation if one is so angry? Those going in with any specific limitations on what people will post were just setting themselves up for disappointment.

Get the eff over it.

[AniX]

People complain about everything. Why post in a thread about the discussion of the book-to-show adaptation if one is so angry?

I do not know. Maybe an angry person could answer you. Know any?

How

dare

people complain about legitimate issues of representation in material they love.

The book and the show are not the same material. Do you love the show? What is the difference between legitimate and illegitimate issues of representation? Do you even know? How do you know that the omission of one character constitutes a legitimate issue of representation if you have not yet seen the show? Do you know with complete certainty that the show will not deal with the omission of our poor, rather dull Arianne in some way that is satisfactory? Or are you just complaining about things you have not yet seen?

If you were talking about how amazing Arianne is, fine. But this has, obviously, become rather insipidly political.

How dare they intrude in the enjoyment of people who never have to worry about being

able to relate to characters

in the books/movies/TV series they like.

Ah. I see the problem. Protip: Your indulgence in fiction would be much more constructive (not to mention positive) if you focused less on relating to character. And no one owes you anything, and no one has erred by omitting Arianne Sand from the show.

By the way, I never worry about being able to relate to characters because I never can relate to them anyway. Even if I could, what a puerile way to engage with fiction.

Must be a terrible burden that is being imposed on those who would otherwise not give a fuck, being

forced

to read about issues of representation and diversity on the internet.

No one is forced to read anything, silly. That is the flipside of the freedom of speech.

Radical thought: it's possible to like something and also have issues with some aspects of the work/author/creator and

point them out

.

It is also possible to point them out rationally and calmly. And to withhold judgment until one actually sees or reads or listens to the thing one is criticizing.

Rhinox: why is your focus immediately on the "Game of Thrones hates women" line instead of on the fact that

Arianne is an important element that shows that Dorne does not follow the same patriarchal notions that the rest of Westeros does

? A woman who enjoys sexual freedom and is going to inherit Dorne in her own name

is important

. (For the most part; there's still a lot of bullshit, but a lot

less

than in the other kingdoms).

To you. And you are legally allowed to make your opinion known. But please do not speak as if the provincial and dogmatic (always the most harmful of combinations) outlook that you have on "representation" is something that is inherently worth caring about outside of one's individual desires to see something particular on screen or on page. I really do not care whether the societies in the books I read are matriarchies or patriarchies or hagiarchies or iatrarchies or hoplarchies or anarchies or tetrarchies or kritarchies or plutarchies or any other form of government. Why? I take in what is provided and cogitate upon it, rather than possessing an unbelievably unjustified sense of entitlement that others owe me a particular artistic vision. Sometimes my meditations end in a rejection of what is written or shown, but that is my own assessment, and not an expectation that the creator should have done things differently.

The fact that Trystane Martell is the heir to Dorne does not mean that Dorne no longer has absolute primogeniture. It also could mean that any number of narrative factors are at play that work better with a male heir apparent. Or something else. Or it was a mistake. But we will not know until the show airs, so maybe we should all shut the hell up until then, yes?

The bile is both moot and premature.

The show just so happened to remove one female character with true independence

and

make the Sand Snakes all look similar (because ~reasons~, I imagine; that's a whole different gripe). As far as we know, either way--I still hold out hope against hope that they will include Arianne, the Targaryen motto scene isn't the same thing if said to one of the Martell boys.

Or the showrunners decide to use their Oscar-nominated Obara Sand to her full potential.

You saying that it "is really a non-issue" when it's a matter that clearly doesn't bother you but rightfully bothers others... ehhh. Perhaps you should ignore the sensationalism and try to understand why it bothers some fans before shrugging it off.

Maybe said fans should wait for the product instead of running their mouths and exhaling what can only be described as hot air, at least until

the show actually airs

.

If your calm is a rambling attempted rebuttal, you must be a real peach when angry.

[AniX]

If your calm is a rambling attempted rebuttal, you must be a real peach when angry.

I really would not know what I would be like. Rambling? You can do better.

So can you, but if you aren't going to try I'm not either.

[AniX]

Syrio = Kindly Man

I missed it. Could you refresh me?

[AniX]

In a series of books where there are no less than three different forms of undeath, being alive and surviving are not one in the same.

[AniX]

In a series of books where there are no less than three different forms of undeath, being alive and surviving are not one in the same.

white walkers, LSH, qyburn's experiment?

Bingo.

[AniX]

^That one. Dany's brother who was suddenly alive at the end of the last book.

Nephew, you mean.

[AniX]

We are all 100% agreed Cleganebowl is happening next season, right?

[AniX]

Yeah, I see strange bedfellows being made and then immediately backstabbing each other. Can't you just imagine a situation where Brienne comes to the rescue of Stannis from being killed by a horde of White Walkers in that classic "One rival saves another from a bigger threat" and after dealing with the White Walkers with Oathkeeper, kills Stannis too.

Or really any Character A doing the same for any Character B. There are certainly enough sworn enemies on this show.