And Mik:
If anyone is watching the shows and they are confused about all thats going on I might give the back story. Now the reason GRRM is a good fantasy writer is that he plays with conventions and also there are certain biases going on but this is the official history from the point of view of the rebellion. I have theories about what might have really happened but this is for all intents and purposes what is written as history. I might be forgetting stuff so any one with better knowledge can correct me.
aerys targaryen was a bit of a cunt king. The targaryen family basically captured the iron throne centuries ago because they well literally flew around on dragons which is enough to win most wars. They were also incredibly inbred so there was the odd lunatic. Aerys was one of them. He had three children. Rhaegar, Visery and Daenarys (in the womb). Rhaegar was a bit older than they were and was married with child.
Lyanna Stark (neds sister) was a bit of a hottie and was to wed Robert Baratheon but Rhaegar kidnapped her and took her off to his rape castle. Brandon Stark (Neds brother) marched down south and demanded the Prince come out so he could kill him and take his sister back. The king took offence to this and arrested Brandon and sent for his and Neds father Rickard Stark to fight in a trial by combat.
Of course this is all a ruse and the King just executes the lot of them (referenced this episode with the chat between ned and Jamie who was a kingsguard...which is a highly prestigious position and Jamie through family connections and ability became one very young.
At this time Robert and Ned are being looked after by John Arryn (the dude who died in the very first episode to kick all this off).
The king is like umm John please send those two down to kings landing so I can execute them and this was when the revolt began. John, Eddard and Robert took up banners and marched, Rhaegar did the same. They met and Robert killed Rhaegar. Not long after this house Lannister the CUNTS felt which way the wind was blowing and Tywin Lannister (who should be entering the show soonish from memory) marched his armies to kings landing claiming to be there to ally with the king. He then betrayed the king when they entered and his son (Jamie) would then kill the king.
visery and his mother run away but the rest of the Targs ain't so lucky. Also lyanna dies.
That is pretty much the official history of the fall of the Targs. I don't think I have put anything spoilerish in here. I don't believe personally it really happened that way.
Thanks petey j I've jumped into this and while I'm getting a picture of whats up it's certainly not being spelled out for me. Which I suppose is part of the fun.
Good so far no doubt.
Wow, I'm absolutely loving this show. I went to watch the first episode earlier tonight and I've wound up watching all three shown so far, one right after the other. I knew nothing of it beforehand, I recorded them based simply on this thread and the hype you lot had generated, so I thank you for that.
Everything about the show is perfect. The setting, the characters, the pacing, the storytelling, everything - it's directed so beautifully. I've been wowed many, many times already at the attention to detail in every shot. I can't wait for the next installment, and I'll definitely be looking into purchasing the books once this series is over. Love it, love it, love it.