agh again with this fandom...
I was reading a forum thread that was like “if Theon had returned to Robb instead of defecting what would his position have been in Robb’s forces?” and the overwhelming majority of replies speculated a rather…bleak future for Theon. The most pessimistic suggested that Theon would basically be a POW, either literally or effectively (i.e. with limited movement potential, always watched, never fully trusted by anyone or with anything important). (I’m excluding the couple of grim outliers who suggested even that Robb’s bannermen would demand Theon’s execution and Robb would do it.) The most optimistic ranged out to him having a fairly high ranking post (Captain of the archers or Master of ships if the North got a navy) or otherwise a (puppet) Lord of the Iron Islands, installed after Balon’s defeat/death, but having little respect for the Northerners (because lbr he never had any and was unlikely to gain any) and would be despised (understandably) by his own people. Also probably looked down on by everyone everywhere for turning against his blood family because these people tend to be these kinds of hypocrites. Some in-between things were suggested, including kind of humiliating things like being relegated to Robb’s personal guard but not really having independent command due to lack of trust, etc. (We’re not even touching the personal toll on Theon re: going against his own family/people.)
And the thing is…I don’t really disagree with the overwhelming majority of these opinions. There are literally zero good options for Theon in this situation, and going back to Robb is something that would have pleased the audience, not something that would have objectively been good or easy for him or obviously the right choice. And, as we see, people actually understand that (even if they refuse to admit it when asked directly).
And yet, everyone then turns around and bitches about how awful Theon’s decision to defect to his family was. How it was such an obvious choice to stay loyal to Robb.
I can’t tell if I want to cry or laugh more.