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Jaime, Brienne and the Dog

  
Game of Thrones Spoilers!
   Hey, everyone. It is a rainy, cool July day here at the author's green retreat and I had a toothache.(No commercial intended.) So, I curled up in my recliner with some painkiller and began to work my way through the massive tome of A Storm of Swords. I must say that it is not as much fun, reading the books, once you have watched the shows. The HBO folks have done a fabulous job bringing these characters to life and I catch myself growing fond of certain characters, rogues though they may be.
     I'll give you a 'for instance'. Jaime Lannister, for all his Kingslayer ways and devout kinkiness, has the rudiments of a good dude in there somewhere. The almost childlike naivete of the Knight girl (Knightess?) Brienne has restored in Jaime the desire to be a true knight. That is, to embrace those high ideals on which a knight hangs his hat. All that corny stuff like loyalty, chivalry to women, fierce devotion to honor, protecting the weak. I see Brienne sitting on one shoulder as a force for good and Cersei sitting with her pitchfork on Jaime's other shoulder.
      My goodness, how did HBO find all these hitherto relatively unknown actors (At least to me.) and make such a masterpiece of art? It boggles the mind! It must keep the production crew and cast awake at night, knowing that 100 years from now, this will still bring pleasure to millions of yet unborn fans.
     I want to see Ser Jaime and Brienne marry. I do. I know the innocent lass loves the rogue. I know that he has certain familial obligations we won't speak to. Yet, I would prefer that happenstance even to the joy I felt when Joffrey had just a bit too much wine and Lord Tywin Lannister chose the wrong time to visit the privy. It was so much the time, and more, for some of the evil Lannisters to truly "pay their debts". I think they should call the Imp Debt-Payer henceforth. Didn't you just love what the bald adviser did when he heard the bells from the castle at King's Landing that dark night? He said not a word, nor returned for any possessions. He merely retraced his steps on board the ship and sat down next to the crate that contained Tyrion. A marvel of understatement in this film is this scene.
     So, as I work my way through the third, fourth and fifth books, I await the return of this special show to my television screen.
     Man, did I thrill when Bolton's men had placed Brienne in the bear pit and one-handed Jaime jumped right in there with her? I was proud of the Kingslayer. Funny how a good woman can awaken the honor in an unredeemable bloke. Then, at King's Landing, when Jaime gave her the sword made from Valyrian steel, he asked what she would name the weapon. To which she replied, Oathkeeper, because he had kept his word to Catelyn Stark. The story of these two characters alone make the whole tale worth while. My heartfelt thanks to George R.R. Martin and the entire cast and crew of Game of Thrones.
      By the way, was that a truly epic fight between Brienne and 'The Dog'? Wow. (Speaking of despicable characters that redeem themselves somewhat.) Arya may have repeated the Dog's name every night on her death list but he saved her butt many, many times. I have no doubt that he was fond of the little waif, and I was disappointed that she left him to die, even allowing for his past crimes. Hey, maybe Brienne will find his shattered body on the rocky ground and nurse even him back to health and perhaps... honor. If she bore a nickname, it should be Restorer.
     I'm CE Wills.
P.S. I was reading on the web the other day and saw a letter that Martin had written to a Marvel comic (Fantastic Four), as a fan, back when both he and I would have been teens. I had the comic and had probably read the letter, many moons ago. Cool. It is funny that he complained at the lack of exciting content in the plot of the story. He felt the story was mundane. No one accuses him of that in his books. Ha, ha.
P.S.S. I am looking forward to Arya going into an apprenticeship of killing with the faceless man of Bravos. I liked his style. "The girl says a name, the man does." Is this guy supernatural or what? Is he good or evil? I feel she'll learn much more than a 'water dance' from that guy. Also, I close my eyes and see Jorah Moremont riding his horse up that lonely hill after the Khaleesi gave him the gate. At least she didn't take his head.
     I just read the part in the book where the wildling girl died in Jon Snow's arms. Bummer. They'll always have the cave, I suppose.
      I want to see the Imp join forces with Khaleesi and invade Westeros. They should bring along an older, more lethal Arya. After all, there are three dragons to ride.... Arya could clear her 'death list' and the Impster could clear the books with his sister. He should know that he won't draw a safe breath as long as Cersei is alive. I know he loves Jaime but he may have to dispense with that relationship if he would survive.
        Are we about to see Sansa Stark Lannister Bailess drop her innocence and become an arch plotter? Of all the people of the show, she has the most debts to pay.
     Sorry about the unorganized blog, but I just had a few thoughts and wishes to share. Good day, and congrats to the talented Rory McIlroy who won the British Open in remarkable fashion.
    CE Wills.

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