KIERAN’s Reviews > A Game of Thrones > Status Update

Sandor just trauma dumped on/menaced a CHILD and then threatened to kill her, and yet ppl actually ship him with her? With Sansa? Sure, he saves her later, but that doesn't make up for all that!

Sansa is essentially experiencing the cycle of abuse and IPV at the tender age of 11 with zero guidance or notion of how to handle that.

Martin is just so good at capturing that preteen girl mindset.
And I can see why ppl are pissed at Sansa. Because no, Arya is not to blame for Lady's death.
But its important to keep in mind that's she is 11 and has come under the sway of very manipulative people.

Going into this with foreknowledge is interesting. Everything is a subtle little hint of foreshadowing.

And no, Ned, Renly isn't interested in Margaery. He's dating Loras.

Plus Ned is the only person in this story besides Jon that appears to be willing to accept a gender-diverse child (which Arya is in this ridiculously patriarchal setting. In ours, she wouldn't be, but different standards..."

They're not a child's "games" so much as " a child's unmet needs", Ned Stark. Both educational and emotional ones.

But since you are at least giving Arya some much-needed emotional support (which clearly nobody else is giving her), I'll let that slide. Plus, I get what you're trying to do. A house divided...

Septa Mordane, when she's not being an absolutely piss-poor guardian/educator, is more like a bad imitation/parody of the "stern but fair" guardian.

Ironically, Ned himself is the real deal example of a "stern but fair" guardian. He's willing to acknowledge his own failures, support Arya emotionally, but at the same time not coddle her for perceived misbehavior.

The fact that Ned and Cat are blind to Septa Mordane's objective terribleness as an educator (even and ESPECIALLY in the context of "making Arya a lady") and are content to take her word for it speaks volumes to their competence as parents.

Septa Mordane is probably supposed to come across as this stern but fair educator but in practice she absolutely does not.

I like that not five seconds after Ned arrives the first council scene happens. These bitches did that on purpose.

I also like that Littlefinger does his "time to meet up with Cat" thing not a minute after Ned adjourns the meeting.

One is intrigues, two is a conspiracy. You people are just trying to screw over Ned's sorry Northern ass.