Gem Windcaster, on 21 May 2019 - 04:01 PM, said:
QuickTidal, on 21 May 2019 - 03:30 PM, said:
Gem Windcaster, on 21 May 2019 - 02:28 PM, said:
The only thing I despise more than 'surprises' are vagueness where the creator wants you to make up your own story of what happened. Such a cop out. Not saying that's what they did here - and some things are fine being open to interpretation - but there are definitely more vagueness than needed in regards to what happened to Aegon/Jon.
Really? The whole series has shown two things about Jon Snow.
1. He never wanted/doesn't want the crown, or to "lead". (AND he's bad at it)
2. He has always felt
at home in the north, at the Wall as a Ranger/Nights Watch, or with the Wildlings/Free folk.
He gets exactly those two things in his happy ending. I'm not sure what else there would be to say about him? The open-endedness of his story is simply "What did Jon do with his time north of the wall with Ghost and Tormund" and that's not really something anyone would be begging to see IMHO.
I guess I'm just unsure how that's vague...
Interesting, I've always thought he was a natural leader lol - and he's definitely a leader at the Wall aswell - it seemed so to me although they weren't clear. Also I always thought they would make him 'grow up' and realize he had to take the throne if they weren't going to descend into another war. The fact that he doesn't WANT the throne doesn't mean he'd be bad at it - probably quite the opposite - and him taking the throne would be a sacrifice, which would ring true to his character. Maybe I've misread his feelings about the north, but to me he always seemed miserable at the Wall. He does like the wildlings though. I also disagree that nobody would want to see what they did beyond the wall - I have A LOT of questions regarding that. But sure, it's not THAT vague, otherwise I disagree with every point you made. Also I don't find it particularly 'happy', just sad. But then I find the entire GOT world sad - I don't think I'd want to live there.
He's definitely been a leader in the past, for sure, but he's not been a very good one when he's had that control. He has lost every battle he's led: Castle Black, Hardhome, and Winterfell (lost all of them, and badly), in the one that is called a victory, it's only such because his ass was saved by Stannis...I would give him a LITTLE leeway in Hardhome simply because his goals seemed to be "get the willings on side" which he achieved, but still....by the skin of his teeth and certainly not martial prowess or competent leadership. I mean, the character is written as "You know nothing Jon Snow"
As to how he feels about the Wall and the North? They produced the very best friends he's had his whole life (Edd, Sam, ect.), a father figure in place of his lost one (Lord Commander Mormont), and even a knowledgable grandfatherly character (Aemon) who it turns out was ACTUALLY his great-grandfather....as well as the love of his life (a wildling from north of the Wall) and he never wanted to come south for any other reason than to see his Stark family again. Perhaps it's more hammered home in the books? Jon Snow loves the North.
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Also I always thought they would make him 'grow up' and realize he had to take the throne if they weren't going to descend into another war.
Who are 'they'? And come to that, why on earth does it have to fall to a guy who has stated more than once that he doesn't want it to "have" to take it? That seems to do Jon dirty to me. "Sorry old boy, you can't have the life you want, gotta be king because of whose seed you were made from!"
As far as ruling goes, Bran is a brilliant choice. He has literally no interest in power...so it won't corrupt him...and the last 3ER lived for a thousand years, so no need to worry about succession. I think Jon gets what he wants (AKA not the throne) and he knows his brother-cousin will rule well and justly simply be nature of him not having any aspect of avarice.
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I also disagree that nobody would want to see what they did beyond the wall - I have A LOT of questions regarding that.
Are they intrinsic to the story they just told you though...or is it just that you like him, so want to follow his choices after the series? Because I can certainly see the notion of wanting to see how Chandler and Monica raise the twins after the series ended, but I think it was fine to end Friends where it ended with regards to their characters...if that analogy tracks?
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Also I don't find it particularly 'happy', just sad.
Sad how? He's gone to the place he loved, is with his remaining friends (Tormund et al.), his wolf, and lives close to the rest of the people he loves (his family). I don't see that as sad. Killing Dany? Yeah, I guess that's sad...but I still feel he's been given the happiest ending he could be given.
And yes, the world is grim....but if you've not read them, might I recommend the Dunk & Egg novellas? They really show you what the ASOIAF world can be when it's summer, and it's much more traditionally "medieval fantasy" filled with Fairs, and Jousts and happy journeying without the perpetual grimness that came about because of The Mad King, and Robert's Rebellion. Worth looking into.
"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora
“Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone.” ~Ursula Vernon