How many people were outraged when Ned Stark...(spoilers)

[Trueflame]

I loved it. Granted, I read the books first, so I knew exactly what was coming, so in the show I didn't really even feel much about it, other than vicariously enjoying the surprise of all my friends. In the book, it was a pretty sad moment, because it made you feel for Ned a lot more than the show did, imo. I was still pleased and impressed with it though. It meant that the characters wouldn't be coddled, as they are in so much other fantasy, and I love that. I can't wait for people's reactions to this season.

 

[Ishal]

Honestly, I was pretty much expecting it. Mainly because they picked Sean Bean to play the part.

Spoiler

Since we all know that Sean Bean dies in everything.

Pretty much this. Oh, and having read the books as well, I could safely expect Ned to die. It didn't cut back on the emotional charge, though, and I still was outraged, at least in a certain sense. I'm really looking forward to Joff getting kicked out of the playing field.

Props to Jack Gleeson for playing a murderous sociopath so well, I guess. I hear that actors have to come to live with the fact that some fans aren't going to be able to discern between the character and themselves, which can lead to some pretty odd instances of complete strangers flipping the bird at you...

Gleeson has even said had some "fans" want to pick a fight with him. Fandoms... fandoms are just odd sometimes, in a sad kinda way..

OT: Ned Stark was an utter moron, his honor got him killed. I know a fair amount of people considered him somewhat sexist too. I mean that was parlance of the time, true, but his honor kept him from taking Cersei seriously even when other more competent characters warned him.

But I will say this, if you couldn't handle Ned Stark biting it, stop reading or watching RIGHT NOW. There is a certain event coming up that will turn your stomach and scar your mind. Its one of the bloodiest nastiest things ever put to paper.

Spoiler

The Red Wedding

 

[klaynexas3]

Not really, I had been on the internet before I read it or saw it on the show, so it wasn't some great shocker. Though, when Robert died I was slightly surprised. My biggest shockers were:

Spoiler

A: When Shae turned out to be just another whore, and Tyrion killed both her and his own father.
B: When the Viper of Dorne was killed.
C: When Jaime actually turned out to be a sympathetic character.

 

[DeimosMasque]

If my favorite character (Cersei) is still alive and kicking, all is right with the world.

If she died...

RAGE RAGE RAGE... sudden realization I have never read any of the books or watched any of the episodes and only like the character because she the closest thing the world will ever get to a competent real-life Azula.

Read the books. You will realize who she is: a fucking monster. Narcissistic, manipulative and in no way the sort of person who should be given power. She is an absolutely wretched human being and I eagerly await the moment when she dies.

Hell I've just watched the series and I realize that. The thing is, she felt very much likeable through the first half of season one and then the mask started to break and you saw her for what she was.

 

[funksobeefy]

I stopped reading after the first book, too many main characters were dead and the second just started asking me to learn and care about new ones. Fuck that my heart can only handle so much loss

gosh captcha did not want me to post this, never gotten so many errors in my life

 

[Trueflame]

Not really, I had been on the internet before I read it or saw it on the show, so it wasn't some great shocker. Though, when Robert died I was slightly surprised. My biggest shockers were:

Spoiler

A: When Shae turned out to be just another whore, and Tyrion killed both her and his own father.
B: When the Viper of Dorne was killed.
C: When Jaime actually turned out to be a sympathetic character.

Event B seriously shocked and saddened me in the books as well. It felt like such a waste in every sense of the word, even more than any other event from the books.

 

[SirPlindington]

Having read the books, twasn't no suprise. Wait... Twasn't not no suprise ain't no none surprise zero no thank you por favor. I think. I think it's silly to stop watching because he died. I mean, it's fucking Game of Thrones (or Ice and Fire, I suppose). People gon die. It's the way of the world.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

People are ignorant. If you didn't see Ned's death coming, you just don't know anything about how stories are written.

 

[Tom Waits' hat]

Went into Game of Thrones blind. My friends and I just sat on the couch in silence while credit rolls.

 

[loc978]

It's funny... I actually had a similar reaction... back in 1999, the first time I read A Game of Thrones.

I re-read that chapter a number of times before I moved on... after I finished the book, I put down the series for a number of years. My teenage brain recoiled quite horribly from the sheer brutality of it. Didn't pick up A Clash of Kings until 2002.

Oh right... why...
Because I was used to good guys winning. Because they're the good guys. Eddard Stark was the honorable, moral, badass quintessential good guy (if a bit past his prime... more of a grizzled veteran good guy archetype, really)... and the story was still open for him to get out alive... until he didn't (at the time, it was already cemented in my head that he was going to the Wall. That was one gut-punch of an upset). That's damn good storytelling. Martin got our hopes up, kept them rolling, and then utterly crushed them.

The most recent main character death in A Dance With Dragons, though... it was sad, but I saw it coming a long way off. I think I even know what happens after. Still, it was like the death of a friend I've known since high school. One who has been struggling with cancer for a few years. I'd say Rest in Peace, but I know that's not going to happen with R'hllor's servants around...

 

[emeraldrafael]

Honestly, I was pretty much expecting it. Mainly because they picked Sean Bean to play the part.

Spoiler

Since we all know that Sean Bean dies in everything.

Isnt he playing zues in the new percy jackson film? I dont think they can kill off zues but i havent read the series so.

 

[RedDeadFred]

People who were outraged are the kind of people who aren't suited for the 'reality ensues' aspect of ASOIAF.

Spoiler: A Storm of Swords spoilers

Robb's death pissed me off a lot more, but my outrage was mainly directed at the Freys and Boltons. My main non-story complaint was that it was basically just a repeat of what happens to Ned: standard fantasy hero is doing well, bad shit happened but he seems to have overcome it, he makes a mistake and blam, reality ensues.

Except for:

Spoiler

This was partially brought upon Robb by himself. Ned was betrayed because he KEPT his honor would not allow him to see the deaths of Cersei's children. Robb was berayed because he BROKE his honor by breaking his promise to the Freys. Tywin seized opportunity after this mistake and set things in motion for the end of the war. Yes it's similar in that the character you are routing for dies but their circumstances are quite different.

 

[Bat Vader]

Honestly, I was pretty much expecting it. Mainly because they picked Sean Bean to play the part.

Spoiler

Since we all know that Sean Bean dies in everything.

Isnt he playing zues in the new percy jackson film? I dont think they can kill off zues but i havent read the series so.

I just checked IMDB and it does say that he is playing Zeus. I will be interested to see how Sean Bean plays a Greek God. It also says Nathan Fillion is playing Hermes which sounds pretty cool.

 

[Ieyke]

was executed? Apparently there were some strong reactions to this development. Like this for example:


Some people even vowed never to watch another episode because of that. What I'm wondering is...why? Why are people so outraged that a main character died? When you actually revisit the previous scenes that Ned Stark was involved in before he was captured in the throne room, he basically dug his own grave. Both Renly and Littlefinger offered their allegiances and he turned down both of them.

Because Ned was the most badass guy on the whole show. He was built from solid honor with wrecking balls of steel.
Clearly the most worthy person in the entire setting for the position of wise and mighty king.

He refused to betray his honor to the very end. Dude was utterly willing to die for what he stood for, and so he did.


He was the just and mighty benevolent hero, slain by cowards, traitors, knaves, tyrants, adulterers, and bastards.



But yea, all that aside, Sean Bean is a living spoiler....of death.
If you see him in something, HE. WILL. DIE.

 

[Cheeseman Muncher]

I'd read the books in advance so I knew it was coming, them casting Sean Bean just rammed the point home. If anyone was outraged, they really missed the point of it. Ned's death is symbolic that honour has no place in the political machinations at the top. It's all about trying to solidify your own position while eroding that of your opponents, regardless of the cost. It also very nicely sets up the rule of Joffery, who in a way follows in his "father's" footsteps by doing what he wants regardless of the counsel of others.

 

[xaszatm]

If my favorite character (Cersei) is still alive and kicking, all is right with the world.

If she died...

RAGE RAGE RAGE... sudden realization I have never read any of the books or watched any of the episodes and only like the character because she the closest thing the world will ever get to a competent real-life Azula.

Read the books. You will realize who she is: a fucking monster. Narcissistic, manipulative and in no way the sort of person who should be given power. She is an absolutely wretched human being and I eagerly await the moment when she dies.

OT: I was not surprised. I'm not sure why. I hadn't read the books when I saw the episode, but I saw it coming I guess. It made me sad, but I see what purpose it served to the narrative.

So...in other words...she's Azula.

OT: Not surprised. My reasons have already been stated on the posts of others.