A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 24

Welcome back to the South of the Wall reread. In today's reread the shit does truly hit the fan. (Have I said that before? I think I have. Well the shit tends to hit the fan pretty often in this book - I should probably just invest in an air conditioner). ANYWAY, Ned Stark's constant poking around finally produces a result.

As always, these posts contain spoilers for all published Song of Ice and Fire material, up to and including Feast for Crows.

And away we go...

A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 23

And we are back with another fun-filled installment of the South of the Wall reread project! Today we will be taking our long trek through the Eyrie. I hope everyone is reading along, because from here on out I think the summaries will have to be scaled back some. The chapters are getting longer, and they are all densely filled with information, and there is no real way for me to cover everything the chapter talks about. I'll still quote any particularly relevant or cool passages, but you should really read along to experience all of George R. R. Martin's great writing and eye for detail.

And don't forget the standard spoiler warning applies. The posts and comments will all include spoilers for all currently published A Song of Ice and Fire material.

And without further ado, the post:

Game of Thrones - Episode 2 - "The Kingsroad"

The second episode was even more enjoyable than the first. Sure, not as much happened this episode, and it was mostly spent just moving characters around, but this week we actually got to spend quality time with many of our characters. We get to see them just going through their life, and really getting to know who they are.

In these reviews/recaps I discuss possible spoilers for all the currently published books, so if you're okay with spoilers, read the rest of my thoughts after the jump.

A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 22

Just a short post tonight. The Eddard chapters start coming more frequently, but none of them are very long. In other news, I hope everyone saw that HBO already renewed Game of Thrones for another season. So we will have the show at least through Clash of Kings, which is great news.

Remember, spoilers are likely and all that. I need to type up a standard spoiler warning that I can just cut and paste here.

Now, let's see what our good friend Ned is up to.

A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 21

Welcome back to South of the Wall. Sorry for the long wait between rereads. I really need to figure out a schedule I can keep and stick to it. Until then, enjoy the irregular reread posts!

This recap may get a little long, as there is a three or four page conversation that I find to be one of the most intriguing portions of the whole novel. Of course, it's overheard by a young girl chasing cats, so she doesn't understand the importance of the conversation.

Standard Spoiler Warning: This post may, and probably will, contain spoilers for all published books through A Feast For Crows.

Game of Thrones - Episode 1 - "Winter is Coming"

I wasn't planning on writing anything substantive about the premiere of Game of Thrones on HBO, but then I figured - why not? This won't be a review per se (there are plenty of those out there already) but more just my general impressions, focusing on how close it hews to the book or if there are any substantive changes that I either like or dislike. For anyone wanting to read an actual review of the show, please check out What's Alan Watching at Hitfix. His reviews are always interesting, and I have great respect for him as a TV critic. Plus, he's never read the books so you get a fresh take on the show.

Spoiler-filled discussion after the jump.

A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 20

What's that? Only three more days until Game of Thrones debuts on HBO?? Man, well it looks like we'll have to do 14 chapters a day in order to finish this reread in time. Get ready for the longest post in history!

Okay, that was a lie. Still going to stick to one or two posts a day (well, most days). I'm only human! Who else is only human? Tyrion the Imp! And with that god-awful segue, let's get on to the reread.

If you missed the post yesterday, please check it out, and tell me any theories or predictions you have for the rest of the series. As always, spoilers for all published Song of Ice and Fire works, up through Feast for Crows.

Tell Me Your Theories

Hello loyal followers of South of the Wall! Unfortunately I'm taking another skip day from the Game of Thrones Reread. I was at the Yankees game last night (and got to watch them defeat the first place Baltimore Orioles!), and I got home too late to write up a post.

Instead of just not posting anything at all, I thought I'd ask you guys a question. What is your favorite theory or prediction about the series? It could be a theory about someone's parentage, a prediction as to what you think (or hope) will happen, or even an insane guess that's probably not true but might be cool anyway. I thought this might be a fun exercise to expose everyone to different theories, and to give me things to look for in the reread.

I'll start things off with probably the most popular theory, that Jon Snow is actually the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark (or R+L=J as it is often referred to). The basics are that Rhaegar and Lyanna fell in love during the tournament at Harrenhall. Later, the two of them eloped together. This, of course, led to Brandon Stark going to King's Landing to attack Rhaegar, believing his sister was kidnapped, which led to Aerys killing Brandon and Brandon's father, and ordering Jon Arryn to provide Ned and Robert to be executed, and I think we all remember what happened after that.

Anyway, flash forward in the war, Robert kills Rhaegar on the Trident, Ned reaches King's Landing and finds that the Lannisters butchered all the Targaryens that were there, including the women and children. His friend Robert is perfectly okay, and actually pleased at this, which leads to Ned and Robert becoming estranged. Ned then travels south with only a few close friends to the Tower of Joy to retrieve Lyanna. There they fight three members of the Kingsguard and win, although Ned and Howland Reed are the only ones to survive the battle. Inside the tower Ned finds his sister in a bed of blood, in a room smelling of roses. There she makes him promise something. Under this theory, the bed was bloody because of the childbirth, and the promise was to protect her son. Knowing Robert's hatred of the Targaryens and his penchant for allowing babies to be killed, Ned lies and says it is his son, to protect him.

And that's pretty much it. So what other theories and predictions do you guys have?

A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 19

Ah, another look in at the goings on South of the Wall. The Hand's tourney is only half over, with some more intrigue and shady dealing to come. And that's not limited to the tournament, as Ned will continue his investigation into Jon Arryn's death. He's already been manipulated by Littlefinger, so now Varys takes a turn. Oh Ned. Stupid noble Ned.

Please remember, as always, that South of the Wall is NOT a spoiler-free zone. We are literally covered in spoilers. Dripping in spoilers. They are everywhere! So if you haven't read through A Feast for Crows, proceed at your own peril.

A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 18

What time is it? It's time for another South of the Wall Game of Thrones reread post! But you knew that right? Well if not, you do now. Sorry about missing another post yesterday, my work schedule has been irregular the past week. I'd like to say we're back on track now, but who knows what tomorrow will bring? There's a post today, anyway. I think to help keep the schedule I will just be doing one chapter a day, at least for this week. We'll see how it goes.

Now let's witness the Hand's tourney through the eyes of a stupid naive young girl!

As always, these posts may contain spoilers for all published Song of Ice and Fire material, up through A Feast for Crows.

On with the show!

A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 17

Welcome back to the South of the Wall Game of Thrones Reread! I'm so glad to have you. Please, make yourselves comfortable. Everyone settled? Good! Now let's watch as the Lady Stark has a comfortable evening at the Inn at the Crossroads.

As always, possible spoilers for all currently published Song of Ice and Fire novels (up through Feast for Crows).

A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 16

It is time for another entry in the reread. Looks like it is another one chapter post today, but one is better than none, right? Today we follow Ned as he does some investigating around King's Landing.

Spoilers for all published Song of Ice and Fire material, so watch out.

A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 15

So I got stuck at work late again tonight, so another one chapter post. Yeah, yeah, I know but these posts take time to write up!  Without further ado, let's see what Jon is up to at the Wall.

Spoilers for all published material are possible, so be wary.

A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 14

Greetings, Singers of Ice and Fire. Welcome back for another installment of South of the Wall's Game of Thrones reread! Today we will see Eddard begin his investigation of the death of Jon Arryn. I'm pretty exhausted typing this up, so just the one chapter today.

Spoilers for all the Song of Ice and Fire books and novellas are fair game, so forearmed is forewarned. Everybody ready? Let's go.

A Game of Thrones Reread - Part 13

Free Men of Westeros! Lend me your ears! Well, I guess your eyes. Just read the post already, I just babble up here for a paragraph or two anyway. Nothing of note. Move along already!

I don't know if I posted this in awhile, and I'd be surprised if people just jump in on Part 13, but anyway, spoilers for all current Song of Ice and Fire material, this includes the four published novels, and the three Dunk & Egg stories (although I'm pretty sure they won't factor in, but better safe than sorry).

Onward!