GoT: books vs show rant
I know I'm late to rant about this (and I'm sure many people did a much better job of it than I can) but I've been thinking about this a lot and I need to get it out.
WARNING: Spoilers for GoT s1-3 and ASoIaF books 1-4.
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WARNING: Spoilers for GoT s1-3 and ASoIaF books 1-4.
( read more )
Sansa is one of my favorite characters, too. But she has a lot of growing up to do before she can be a player in the game of thrones. I interpret the scenes between Sansa and Tyrion as illustrating how two people who feel incredibly awkward about the situation they are in attempt to find some common ground (pretty hard when his family has been systematically destroying hers). I don't see their conversations as romantic at all; more - well, here we are, might as well try to get to know each other a little bit. I do think Tyrion is attracted to Sansa, but he is a realist about the situation, and he also loves Shae.
Now, I am totally creeped out by any hint of a romantic pairing between Sansa and the Hound, but I know that there are many who love the idea. IMO Sandor is just too incredibly damaged to be changed by 'the love of a good woman'. He's attracted to Sansa; he cares for her in a rather brutal way and has saved her life, but he's never going to be a kind compassionate lover. It's just not in him. He's a rapist and a murderer. I can see Sandor dying to protect Sansa, but I just can't see them together as a couple.
Now, on the other hand (ducks), I can see Sansa and Tyrion together as a couple - in the future. He has to be humbled, and learn that women are not all whores; she has to learn hard lessons about intrigue and power (probably from Littlefinger - who I hope and pray she ends up killing. Pushing him out the moon door would be a nice touch.) But who knows. One of the great things about the books is that you don't know what's going to happen around the next corner.
I am hot and cold on Stannis. I thought he was awesome at the Blackwater, but I hate seeing him almost groveling around Melisandre. I'm terrified that she is going to convince him to sacrifice Shireen at some point. Speaking of child sacrifice, historically, rulers seeking victory in war did sometimes sacrifice children of royal blood to gain them advantage with the gods.
If Stannis, or anyone, hurts Shireen, they are dead to me forever. For some reason, she's always been a favorite of mine, even though she's such a minor character.
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Nonetheless, as a proud SanSan warrior, I feel compelled to argue my case! So bear with me. :P
1. I ship them in the far, far future, when Sansa grows up and Sandor returns from the Quite Isle all "quietened" and enlightened.
2. I believe he has it in him to be a gentle lover. His interactions with Sansa are often described with a word "gentle" in it after all. When he wipes the blood from her lip, for example.
3. She does dream about him, sexually, and she does imagine the kiss that never happened and thinks of it often, so I assume his attraction to her is not unrequited.
4.a. I don't remember any implications that Sandor was a rapist in the books. He kills people, sure, but not a word was ever said about raping. He doesn't even go to brothels, as far as we know (some fans even think he's a virgin altogether, because he has these burnt face issues). Tyrion, on the other hand, is a rapist in canon. He raped his first wife after his father's soldiers were done with her. Now there's an argument that can be made that he was forced to do it. But when Tyrion described these events he didn't see this as rape. He saw it as a whore doing what she was paid to do.
4.b. Of all Sansa's pairings (meaning SanSan, Sansa/Tyrion, Sansa/LF), Sandor is the only one we never see hurting a woman. Both LF and Tyrion killed women they had previously had a sexual relationship with.
5. Sansa and Tyrion in the books have zero attraction to each other. (Well, Tyrion does want her on their wedding night but it's pure physiology.) They were bored and outright miserable every time they had to spend time with each other so I can't imagine them together at all.
But, yes, I do realize that different people ship different things and what works for me won't work for somebody else. :D
Also Sansa/Littlefinger with a Littlefinger/Moondoor endgame is my second favorite pairing for Sansa after SanSan. :D
Oh, I love Shireen, too!! :D She's such a sweet, smart kid! :D I hope she has some awesome big part to play in the future!
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Tyrion's attitude towards, and actions with, women are very problematic. I never know what to think about his actions with Tysha. He loved her, he felt betrayed by her because he believed his father, his father ordered him to have sex with her - I'm sure Tyrion didn't see it as rape at the time. In fact, I picture him as being hysterical, probably crying, while everything was happening. That made no difference to the harm done to Tysha though, so it was still rape. I admit there are definitely major problems with Tyrion/Sansa.
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Uhm... Well... Sorry about that random outburst. O_O
I do see Tyrion more as a tool in that situation (with his father being a real rapist) than a rapist. His "woe is me, my wife was a whore" attitude though... Yeah, it's a tough question.
I don't think there is one single pairing in ASoIaF that isn't problematic in one way or another.
GRRM is a true champion when it comes to screwing with character's lives. O_O
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