Game of Thrones Season 5 Discussion [SPOILERS WITHIN]

[SteelCurtain]

Maybe I'm being over-analytical but I don't really know why the North is so attractive to people.

Not having read the books I'm guessing, but I think it has to do with the sheer size and, probably, number of people.  If Rob could raise an army of Northerners and challenge the king and actually give him a run for his money, I'm sure everyone in the South (i.e. not the North) thereby wants the North under control.

But, again, I'm guessing.

Yep. Power, the North, being so large, has the largest army with the most weathered bannermen in the realm. If you have the North, you have the war. It's the reason the Aegon the Conqueror sought the North to bend the knee first when the Dragon kings first left Valyria and then Dragonstone.

I think, and this is based more on TV clues than book ones, that Littlefinger wants what the Spider wants, a kingdom not at war, with a ruler who will help the people, not just worry about their own power.  I *think* Littlefinger is preparing Westeros for the eventual arrival of Danny.

Little Finger seems too ambitious to be satisfied with installing someone else to rule.  Although perhaps if that is his plan he's hoping to install someone he can control, and maybe he thinks because Dany is just a little girl he could control her... (?)

But his family comes from a medium keep in the Riverlands. He has no hope of being King, he knows that. Hand is as high as he could aspire, and being the most powerful man in the land, Lord Protector of the Vale, Lord of Harrenhal, and bringing the North and possibly a kicking and screaming Casterly Rock led by Kevan Lannister.

This, to me, is the most interesting storyline. This is likely because I have no idea what to expect. I think you're on to something with Theon saving Sansa from Ramsay's ladies. It would be even better if that moment was when she recognizes him!

I've been thinking about it and I don't think that Sansa and Theon would work out.  If Theon doesn't eventually spill the beans about his role in betraying Rob and why Bran and Rickon fled Winterfell, someone loyal to the Starks in the North will.  Sansa has shown herself capable of holding grudges against people who seem to genuinely want to help her (Brienne), so I don't for an instant think she would forgive Theon for his actions.

Also, as far as everyone but Ramsay Bolton knows, Theon killed Bran and Rickon. And that will count for an interesting encounter, when Ramsay looks to secure his place in Winterfell by killing his Lady Wife's brother and true heir to Winterfell. We should encounter something involving Rickon this season maybe. It may have been preempted by Sansa being back in Winterfell.

Oh she'll leave a Targaryen heir. And in keeping with a long Targaryen tradition.

So... you agree with my idea then?

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Of Jon and Dany?

I'm not actually sure this would happen.  It would be kind of fun, and it would probably leave the seven kingdoms in the best hands possible in terms of rulers (Dany, who is greatly concerned with justice and the well being of the people, and Jon, who is as honorable as his father, but not as dogmatically so) but Jon wouldn't leave the Night's Watch.

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I will preface this spoiler warning with this: everything that I will discuss in this spoiler is stuff left out of the series, but if you've read the books up to the point that the series is at, you have enough information to have dug this out yourself. This is a prediction, and could spoil the books if you plan on reading, but this prediction is based on the history of Westeros and also what you learn in the books to this point.

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Cersei Lannister was promised to Rhaegar Targaryen. Tywin was the Hand of King Aerys, and as such Cersei was a perfect match. Tywin was rebuked by Aerys, who said something along the lines of "Tywin, you are my most capable servant. Why would I wed my son and heir to a servant's daughter?" Instead, Aerys married Rhaegar to Elia Martell of Sunspear, which was a spurn to Tywin, and was a large reason for his betrayal and the sack of King's Landing by the Lannister led forces in Robert's Rebellion. What was the reason for Robert's Rebellion? Rhaegar abducted Ned's sister and Robert's betrothed and beloved Lyanna Stark and took her to the Tower of Joy on the edge of the Red Mountains of Dorne. He left her there to go fight and die on the Trident. When Ned gets to the Tower of Joy, he is met by three Kingsguard, including the Lord Commander of Aerys' Kingsguard. Ned slays all three, and goes inside to see Lyanna laying in a "bed of blood," this is a dream that haunts Ned many times throughout the first book.

So---what were the Kingsguard doing guarding Lyanna Stark and leaving their crown prince to fight at the Trident less three of his companions? They are sworn to defend the King and the royal blood. Lyanna Stark had a baby, and that baby is the heir to the Iron Throne. Lyanna Stark died as a result of complications of childbirth, and she knew at this point that Rhaegar was slain, and that Robert would sit the Iron Throne, and that any spawn of Rhaegar would be killed. This is why she made Ned swear to keep her secret. The secret was the baby, and the baby was Jon Snow, a Targaryen heir and the direct heir to the Iron Throne. This was Ned's "bastard." It's why he never revealed who the mother was. His honor required that he didn't say. But he knew Robert would have Jon killed (not only because he is a Targaryen, but also because he is Lyanna's son by another man), and he promised his sister. Jon has an even better claim to the Iron Throne than Daenerys.

And Targaryens have a long tradition of wedding brother and sister. Technically Jon is Daenarys' nephew.

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