#360 Little Green Cars - "Harper Lee" from "Absolute Zero" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHwMDr6dMHI
#359 Kelly Clarkson - "Wrapped In Red" from "Wrapped In Red" - The first of two Christmas songs by Kelly Clarkson to make the countdown, the only Christmas songs this year. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IFfZRVRbqM
#358 Chance The Rapper (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid, Lili K., Kiara Lanier, Peter Cottontale, Will for the O'mys, & JP Floyd for Kids These Days) - "Good Ass Intro" from "Acid Rap" - "Cremate your friends and freebase the ashes" - Pretty much says it all for this artist and this fantastic album. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjmiLp47Yg8
#357 Surfer Blood - "Gravity" from "Pythons" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qcmruH138Q
#356 Richard Thompson - "Good Things Happen To Bad People" from "Electric" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRtpzjzkYbc
#355 Laura Welsh - "Cold Front" from "Blalock's Indie Rock Playlist" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGkJwAGJFi4
#354 Swearin' - "Dust In The Gold Sack" from "Surfing Strange" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmpOntxlbcY
#353 Passion Pit - "American Blood" from "Iron Man 3: Heroes Fall" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4Rr5qAFXE8
#352 Paul McCartney - "New" from "New" - Sir Paul's fantastic album deserved more presence on this countdown, but it was a tough year. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-EX38A1Rlg
#351 MGMT - "Alien Days" from "MGMT" - MGMT continues to distance themselves from their debut album (and not in a good way), but every album has one brilliant pop gem and this is it for "MGMT". - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBu_bzxvgdI
Friday, February 20, 2015
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Game of Thrones Season 5 Speculation - Part 5 - Cersei Lannister
CERSEI LANNISTER
THE VALONQAR PROPHECY
Cersei Lannister is one of the "stars" of AFFC. AFFC marks the first time that she has been a POV character in the series and she provides most of the King's Landing (KL) story for AFFC and ADWD (Jaime also has KL chapters in the first half of AFFC, but he departs for the Riverlands midway through the book). Her POV opens with her learning of the death of her father, Tywin, at the hands of her despised brother Tyrion. With this murder happening in such close proximity to the death of her eldest son Joffrey (whom she believes was also murdered by Tyrion), Cersei's mental state is deteriorating rapidly into paranoia and delusion, a mental state only made worse by a prophecy she was told as a child, which seems to be coming true despite (or mostly likely because) of her best efforts. Throughout the course of AFFC, details of the prophecy in question are slowly revealed in dreams and flashbacks, but I expect that GoT will show most, if not all, of the prophecy at the start of S5.
As a young girl, Cersei attends a fair with her friends Jeyne Farman and Melara Heatherspoon, who goad her into having her future told by a maegi (like Mirri Maz Duur) that they refer to as Maggy the Frog. Cersei, who dreams of marrying Rhaegar Targaryen, asks Maggy whether she'll marry the Prince (Rhaegar) and how many children they'll have. Maggy tells her that she won't marry the Prince, she'll marry the King (by whom she means Robert Baratheon) and that she'll have three children, but he'll have sixteen. Maggy also foretells that Cersei will be Queen "until there comes another, younger and more beautiful, to cast you down and take all you hold dear". Cersei comes to believe that the prophecy refers to Magaery, though many fans believe that the yonger Queen is actually Dany or Sansa or possibly even Arianne Martell (my preferred theory). She goes on (unsolicited) to give her the following prophecy regarding her children:
"Gold shall be their crowns and gold their shrouds, And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you."
It's this prophecy that motivates Cersei's actions for much of her life, but especially during the events that will be covered in S5.
The Valonqar prophecy (VP) tells Cersei that all three of her children will be crowned and die before Cersei is killed by the valonqar, a Valyrian word that translates to "little brother". Throughout her life, the details of the VP (along with Maggy's prophecy that Melara would die the night of prophecy) begin to come true. She marries Robert after he becomes king and while she can't verify how many children he has, she has three children of her own. When Robert dies, Joffrey is crowned and his death, which she believes to be at the hands of Tyrion, leads her to begin taking actions that she believes will prevent the rest of the prophecy from coming true, starting with the attempted elimination of the person that she believes to be the Valonqar, her little brother Tyrion.
There are many different theories about who the valonqar who kills Cersei is, with Tyrion being the most obvious candidate from Cersei's perspective and Jaime (who is Cersei's twin, but was born after her) being the fan favorite (other theories say that it could be any number of other candidates, so long as the candidate is someone's younger brother or part of an order that calls themselves a brotherhood), but for the narrative of S5, it's only important to know that Cersei believes that it's Tyrion because this belief is beginning to drive her mad, with disastrous results for all of Westeros.
A source on the internet claims to have the details of the storyline for Episode 1 and the source claims that the episode will begin with a pre-credits cold opening of Cersei dreaming about the VP. While internet sources are sketchy to begin with and I doubt the authenticity of the rest of the leak, opening S5 with this scene makes perfect sense.
Maggie the Frog and characters that fit the description of young Cersei and Melara have been confirmed for S5 and given that the KL storyline in Season 4 ended with Tywin's death, it makes perfect sense for S5 to open with the immediate aftermath of that event. The show has famously avoided flashbacks (which are prevalent in the books) to this point and a big deal has been made out of S5 featuring the first flashback in the show's history. Putting this particular flashback (Young Cersei and Melara visiting Maggy) at the very beginning of the season puts us immediately into Cersei's mindset, which is important as her actions drive most of the events south of the Neck in Season 5. I believe that the season will open with Cersei dreaming about the prophecy (which will be revealed in full, though I don't know if she kills Melara during the dream or at all) and waking up to hear the bells that indicate that the body of Tywin Lannister has been found.
A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES
The death of Tywin Lannister and the young age of King Tommen leaves a power vacuum in King's Landing that is filled by Cersei in her role as the Queen Regent and it's possible that she might be the absolute worst person for the job. Her father famously (in a scene new to the show) told Cersei that the reason he didn't entrust her to contribute more to ruling the Seven Kingdoms was because she wasn't as smart as she thinks she is, and he couldn't be more right, as it turns out. In AFFC, Cersei surrounds herself with toadies, pushes away anyone who challenges her ideas, makes enemies at every turn and generally screws up with every decision that she makes.
AFFC opens with Cersei and Jaime investigating Tywin's murder, with both coming to the correct conclusion that Tyrion committed the murder and Varys helped him escape (of course, Jaime's role in the escape is suspected by Cersei, but never known for sure). The investigation also turns up a special coin from the Reach that is allegedly tied to Olenna Tyrell. Most readers theorize (and it's virtually confirmed in ADWDF) that this coin was planted by Varys to contribute to the collapse of the Lannister-Tyrell alliance and it certainly does help to turn Cersei against the Tyrells (not that she needed the help).
At Tywin's funeral, Cersei begins to alienate the Tyrells by denying Mace Tyrell the position of Hand of the King and giving Garth Tyrell the job of lord treasurer (in place of Tyrion) that Tywin had promised him, giving these positions instead to her toadies Harys Swyft (after Kevan Lannister turns her down) and Gyles Rosby. She also appoints Orton Merryweather as justicar (and begins a "close" friendship with his wife Taena, who is almost certainly a spy, either for the Tyrells or more likely for Varys) and Aurane Waters as grand admiral (to prevent the job from going to Paxter Redwyne, a Tyrell bannerman) to the Small Council and names Qyburn the new Master of whisperers in place of Varys.
Shortly after Tywin's funeral (and at the urging of Mace and Olenna Tyrell), Tommen and Margaery Tyrell are married, though the wedding can be annulled at any time as Tommen is too young to consummate the marriage. After the ceremony, Cersei arranges for pyromancers to burn down the Tower of the Hand, in part because of the events that happened there in ASOS, but also in part because she believes that Tyrion and Varys may still be hiding in the hidden passages in the Tower (she is probably right about Varys, though Tyrion is long gone), displaying the first signs of a paranoia that drive her decisions for the rest of the book.
A COMEDY OF ERRORS
With her Small Council in place, Cersei begins to take a series of actions, both official and in secret that will tear the Seven Kingdoms in two and quickly lead to her on downfall in ways both tragic and hilarious (the second reading of her chapters in AFFC reads like a slapstick horror movie). Thinking that the High Septon was an agent of Tyrion's (which was partially true), Cersei has Osney Kettleblack murder him. After Gregor Clegane died of the wounds that Oberyn Martell inflicted on him, Cersei arranges for Balon Swann to deliver Gregor's skull to Doran Martell and bring Princess Myrcella, her betrothed Trystane Martell and Doran Martell back to King's Landing, secretly plotting to have Trystane murdered by agents posing as outlaws allied with Tyrion. Her choice as grand admiral, Aurane Waters is unpopular, as he is a bastard and the highborn distrust bastards (in this case they're right, more on that later), as is her decision to fund the creation of a new fleet of ships by suspending payment of the debts owed to the Iron Bank and the Faith of the Seven until after the conclusion of the wars. Upon hearing that Davos Seaworth is treating with Wyman Manderly as Stannis' Hand, Cersei offers to free Manderly's heir (a prisoner at Harrenhal) if he executes Davos (not really a blunder on her part, but important to Davos' ADWD story). She also arranges to send 100 men to the Night's Watch with the secret mission of assassinating Jon Snow on the belief that Jon was allying the NW with Stannis.
That's a lot of conspiring for one Small Council meeting, but Cersei saves the craziest plot for the end of her fourth chapter in AFFC. Cersei instructs Osney Kettleblack (a spy of Littlefinger's who also spied on Cersei for Tyrion that hasn't been introduced or cast on the show yet) to seduce Queen Margaery, making both parties guilty of treason. Cersei intends to have Margaery executed for the treason and have Osney sent to The Wall for the crime, though his real mission is to execute Jon Snow. After executing Jon Snow, Cersei promises to give Osney a pardon and a Lordship. She even hints that she might marry him after the completion of his mission.
Later, because she doesn't have enough enemies, Cersei begins to plot to humiliate Loras Tyrell, have Bronn (who named Lollys's bastard son "Tyrion") killed, sends Jaime to the Riverlands to resolve the siege at Riverrun and sends Mace Tyrell to lay siege to Storm's End (which is actually a good idea... and Jaime's).
The blunder that affects Cersei most directly occurs when she travels to the Gret Sept of Baelor to treat with the new High Septon, a pious man who is often referred to as the High Sparrow, because he was the leader of a group called the "sparrows", who champion the smallfolk and represent the lower class of those sworn to the Faith. In exchange for officially recognizing Tommen as the King and forgiving the crown's debts to the Faith, Cersei allows the Faith to restore the Faith Militant and the Poor Fellows, giving members of the Faith the ability and authorization to use force to defend themselves and enforce the laws of the Faith throughout Westeros.
After news of Euron Greyjoy's invasion of the Shield Islands reaches King's Landing, the Tyrells demand that the Redwyne fleet be sent to the Reach to protect Tyrell lands. As the fleet is currently being used to lay siege to Dragonstone, Cersei seizes on the opportunity to send Loras Tyrell to Dragonstone to hasten the siege so that the fleets can be freed to defend Highgarden. Loras does lead the charge to take Dragonstone successfully, but he is (allegedly) mortally wounded in the process and is expected to die soon. With Loras at death's door, Cersei moves forward with a plan to replace him in the Kingsguard (Qyburn provides the candidate, an unknown knight who is almost certain a Frankenstein version of the remains of Gregor Clegane) and use the High Septon to eliminate Margaery. In her final move, Cersei commands Ser Osney to go to the High Septon and confess to sleeping with the Queen (this is technically true as he does sleep with Cersei before confessing, but not Margaery), kickstarting the investigation into Margaery's "treasons".
And then it all goes to hell.
Margaery is arrested by the Faith, but when Cersei visits her at the Sept of Baelor, she discovers that the High Septon has been interrogating Osmund Kettleblack, who has confessed to sleeping with Cersei (and denies sleeping with Margaery) and murdering the previous High Septon on her orders. The High Septon, empowered by the newly resurgent Faith Militant and Poor Fellows, orders that Cersei be arrested and detained until trial. She's taken to a cell and tortured with sleep deprivation for two days until Qyburn is allowed to visit her.
Qyburn reveals that Kevan Lannister has taken over the regency, the Tyrell armies are marching on King's Landing for Margaery's trial and the realm is currently be governed by Harys Swyft and Pycelle. He also reveals that Aurane Waters has stolen the royal fleet and was possibly heading north to join Stannis (a Winds of Winter preview chapter indicates that he's actually in the Stepstones, ruling as a new pirate king). Cersei has previously been informed that her plan to murder Bronn ended up with him as the Lord of Stokesworth (and aware that she tried to have him killed), but she's not yet aware that her decision to stop repaying the Crown's debt to the Iron Bank has caused them to fund Stannis' rebellion or that her plot in Dorne has been discovered, causing Doran Martell to send two of the Sand Snakes to King's Landing, which will doubtlessly end in blood-shed. Desperate for a champion, she writes a letter requesting help from Jaime, but he ignores her request, effectively ending their relationship. Fortunately for Cersei, one of her plots appears to be working in her favor, as Qyburn informs her that her champion, Ser Robert Strong (again, Frankenstein Gregor) is ready to defend her at her trial and he's eligible to do so thanks to the death of Arys Oakheart in Dorne.
Prior to her trial, Cersei is forced to walk from Baelor's Sept to the Red Keep naked and shorn of all body hair as atonement for her sins. During the walk, Cersei begins to hallucinate, seeing Tywin, Ned Stark, Sansa Stark and her direwolf Lady, Tyrion and Maggy the Frog. Cersei collapses at the door of the Red Keep, where she is picked up by her champion, Ser Robert Strong. Cersei's trial by combat and Margaery's trial before the Faith will be some of the key events of The Winds Of Winter.
A Dance With Dragons ends with Kevan Lannister responding to Aegon's invasion of the Stormlands, dispatching Harys Swyft to Braavos to treat with the Iron Bank and discovering the body of Pycelle, who was murdered by Varys and his little birds, who also murder Kevan because his competant leadership may stop Cersei from destroying the Lannister-Tyrell alliance and thwart Varys' plans.
SEASON 5 ADAPTATION
Cersei's storyline will be one of the most prominent of Season 5, occupying a lot of screen time and dominating the events in King's Landing.
There haven't been any casting announcements for Taena, Orton Merryweather, Aurane Waters, Gyles Rosby or Harys Swift. It's possible that these roles will be filled by extras, but it's more likely that they'll be written out of the show.
Eliminating Aurane Waters will likely eliminate the Royal Navy storyline, but this is covered because Stannis has already secured the support of the Iron Bank and the need to default on the loans is covered by the Season 4 where Tywin tells Cersei that the Lannisters' gold mines have been exhausted.
The various toadies can be replaced by larger roles for Mace Tyrell, Qyburn and Pycelle (which will help to sell the significance of his death in Episode 10). Mace will probably be named Hand of the King, as there's been no word that Ian Gelder, the actor who plays Kevan will be returning for Season 5 and the actor who plays Mace (Roger Ashton-Griffiths) is a significant enough actor to earn a larger role this season before going to Braavos late in the season. There has also been rumors indicating the Qyburn's role will be expanded from the books, with more specific details revealed regarding his "treatment" of Gregor Clegane.
Speaking of Ser Gregor, I am wavering back and forth on how the skull / Ser Robert Stone storyline will be handled. On the one hand, the whole "secret identity" thing is BS that doesn't fool anyone on paper, so it's likely that they'll just say that Gregor Clegane survived, but on the other hand the monstrous skull is what sells the Martells on the fact that justice had been done for Elia. I think (since I'm not being graded on this...) I'll split the difference and say that Gregor survived, but will be executed later. This is a more satisfying result for the Martells and it will enfuriate them next season when they learn that Gregor will be acting as Cersei's champion in her trial by combat, a move that will accelerate the Sand Snakes' actions in King's Landing, whatever they may be.
All of the Kettleblacks have been written out of Game Of Thrones to this point and there hasn't been any casting news yet for Season 5. With Meryn Trant heading to Braavos with Mace Tyrell, he can't be used as Cersei's pawn in her scheme to frame Margaery. There aren't really any other notable Kingsguard members unless she chooses someone random, Bronn and Jaime are going to Dorne (not that either would help Cersei in this mission) and most of the characters Cersei frames for having affairs with Margaery aren't involved in the show. I suppose she could frame Loras and Marge for having an incestuous affair, but that seems a little... on the nose for even Cersei to try to get away with it, so I'll have to leave the prediction vague until more information is available.
Leaked information from filming indicates that rather than sending him to Dragonstone, Cersei will use the Faith to have Loras Tyrell arrested, probably for being a homosexual. Unless he's executed, this will simultaneously take him out of the picture in the short term, but keep him in the picture in the long term, which may not be an option in the books, depending on the severity of his injuries.
Rather than sending Jaime to oversee the surrender of Riverrun, she'll send him to Dorne to bring Myrcella back to King's Landing. This will be done to enhance the Dorne storyline and make sure that the audience is invested in it as a part of the main storyline. Bronn will accompany Jaime (there's a lot of leaked evidence showing this), so Cersei won't be conspiring against Bronn this season.
Jonathan Pryce has been cast as the High Sparrow and there are many indications that the Sparrows will play a massive role in the events in King's Landing this season, raiding brothels and other sinful establishments and harassing Loras Tyrell (maybe they will go down the incest road, but it's more likely because he's gay) and Littlefinger (who I have to assume Cersei orders back to King's Landing). I expect this storyline to be carried out throughout the season and probably stick pretty close to AFFC and ADWD.
The Walk of Penance has been confirmed and much publicized. I expect that the hallucinations will be included as well, as Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister) has hinted that he'll be back this season (though that may just be as a corpse at his funeral) and the other actors shouldn't be a problem either (Robert Bean (Ned Stark) has hinted that he's interested in returning for flashbacks).
MY SEASON 5 PREDICTIONS FOR CERSEI LANNISTER'S STORY:
Season 5 will open with Cersei dreaming about her encounter with Maggy the Frog, who gives her the Valonqar prophecy. The discovery of Tywin Lannister's body and his funeral will be in Episode 1 and that Cersei will dispatch Jaime to Dorne to bring Myrcella back to King's Landing in Episode 2 or 3. Olenna Tyrell will be returning this season for Tywin's funeral / Tommen and Margaery's wedding, which will happen before Jaime's departure. Qyburn and Pyrcelle will have larger roles this season than they do in AFFC and Qyburn's experiments with Gregor Clegane will be given a much larger focus than they are in the books. The High Sparrow should arrive early in the season and the Sparrows to cause trouble in the name of the Faith throughout the season. Cersei will order Littlefinger back to King's Landing early in the season and he should arrive mid-season. Cersei will meet with the High Sparrow mid-season and authorize the return of the Faith Militant and Poor Fellows. She will dispatch Mace Tyrell and Meryn Trant to Braavos to treat with the Iron Bank in Episode 5 or 6. She will use the Faith to have Loras Tyrell arrested for homosexuality-related "crimes". Throughout the season, Cersei will frame Margaery Tyrell for treason. Margaery will be arrested around Episode 7 and Cersei to be arrested later that episode as the final scene of the episode. Cersei will remain in her cell until the Walk of Penance, which will take place either in Episode 9 or 10. After the Walk of Penance, Cersei will have a scene where the details of her trial by combat are laid out and she's introduced to her champion, Ser Gregor Clegane of the Kingsguard. One of the final scenes of the season, but not the final scene of Episode 10, will be the murder of Pycelle by Varys.
THE VALONQAR PROPHECY
Cersei Lannister is one of the "stars" of AFFC. AFFC marks the first time that she has been a POV character in the series and she provides most of the King's Landing (KL) story for AFFC and ADWD (Jaime also has KL chapters in the first half of AFFC, but he departs for the Riverlands midway through the book). Her POV opens with her learning of the death of her father, Tywin, at the hands of her despised brother Tyrion. With this murder happening in such close proximity to the death of her eldest son Joffrey (whom she believes was also murdered by Tyrion), Cersei's mental state is deteriorating rapidly into paranoia and delusion, a mental state only made worse by a prophecy she was told as a child, which seems to be coming true despite (or mostly likely because) of her best efforts. Throughout the course of AFFC, details of the prophecy in question are slowly revealed in dreams and flashbacks, but I expect that GoT will show most, if not all, of the prophecy at the start of S5.
As a young girl, Cersei attends a fair with her friends Jeyne Farman and Melara Heatherspoon, who goad her into having her future told by a maegi (like Mirri Maz Duur) that they refer to as Maggy the Frog. Cersei, who dreams of marrying Rhaegar Targaryen, asks Maggy whether she'll marry the Prince (Rhaegar) and how many children they'll have. Maggy tells her that she won't marry the Prince, she'll marry the King (by whom she means Robert Baratheon) and that she'll have three children, but he'll have sixteen. Maggy also foretells that Cersei will be Queen "until there comes another, younger and more beautiful, to cast you down and take all you hold dear". Cersei comes to believe that the prophecy refers to Magaery, though many fans believe that the yonger Queen is actually Dany or Sansa or possibly even Arianne Martell (my preferred theory). She goes on (unsolicited) to give her the following prophecy regarding her children:
"Gold shall be their crowns and gold their shrouds, And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you."
It's this prophecy that motivates Cersei's actions for much of her life, but especially during the events that will be covered in S5.
The Valonqar prophecy (VP) tells Cersei that all three of her children will be crowned and die before Cersei is killed by the valonqar, a Valyrian word that translates to "little brother". Throughout her life, the details of the VP (along with Maggy's prophecy that Melara would die the night of prophecy) begin to come true. She marries Robert after he becomes king and while she can't verify how many children he has, she has three children of her own. When Robert dies, Joffrey is crowned and his death, which she believes to be at the hands of Tyrion, leads her to begin taking actions that she believes will prevent the rest of the prophecy from coming true, starting with the attempted elimination of the person that she believes to be the Valonqar, her little brother Tyrion.
There are many different theories about who the valonqar who kills Cersei is, with Tyrion being the most obvious candidate from Cersei's perspective and Jaime (who is Cersei's twin, but was born after her) being the fan favorite (other theories say that it could be any number of other candidates, so long as the candidate is someone's younger brother or part of an order that calls themselves a brotherhood), but for the narrative of S5, it's only important to know that Cersei believes that it's Tyrion because this belief is beginning to drive her mad, with disastrous results for all of Westeros.
A source on the internet claims to have the details of the storyline for Episode 1 and the source claims that the episode will begin with a pre-credits cold opening of Cersei dreaming about the VP. While internet sources are sketchy to begin with and I doubt the authenticity of the rest of the leak, opening S5 with this scene makes perfect sense.
Maggie the Frog and characters that fit the description of young Cersei and Melara have been confirmed for S5 and given that the KL storyline in Season 4 ended with Tywin's death, it makes perfect sense for S5 to open with the immediate aftermath of that event. The show has famously avoided flashbacks (which are prevalent in the books) to this point and a big deal has been made out of S5 featuring the first flashback in the show's history. Putting this particular flashback (Young Cersei and Melara visiting Maggy) at the very beginning of the season puts us immediately into Cersei's mindset, which is important as her actions drive most of the events south of the Neck in Season 5. I believe that the season will open with Cersei dreaming about the prophecy (which will be revealed in full, though I don't know if she kills Melara during the dream or at all) and waking up to hear the bells that indicate that the body of Tywin Lannister has been found.
A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES
The death of Tywin Lannister and the young age of King Tommen leaves a power vacuum in King's Landing that is filled by Cersei in her role as the Queen Regent and it's possible that she might be the absolute worst person for the job. Her father famously (in a scene new to the show) told Cersei that the reason he didn't entrust her to contribute more to ruling the Seven Kingdoms was because she wasn't as smart as she thinks she is, and he couldn't be more right, as it turns out. In AFFC, Cersei surrounds herself with toadies, pushes away anyone who challenges her ideas, makes enemies at every turn and generally screws up with every decision that she makes.
AFFC opens with Cersei and Jaime investigating Tywin's murder, with both coming to the correct conclusion that Tyrion committed the murder and Varys helped him escape (of course, Jaime's role in the escape is suspected by Cersei, but never known for sure). The investigation also turns up a special coin from the Reach that is allegedly tied to Olenna Tyrell. Most readers theorize (and it's virtually confirmed in ADWDF) that this coin was planted by Varys to contribute to the collapse of the Lannister-Tyrell alliance and it certainly does help to turn Cersei against the Tyrells (not that she needed the help).
At Tywin's funeral, Cersei begins to alienate the Tyrells by denying Mace Tyrell the position of Hand of the King and giving Garth Tyrell the job of lord treasurer (in place of Tyrion) that Tywin had promised him, giving these positions instead to her toadies Harys Swyft (after Kevan Lannister turns her down) and Gyles Rosby. She also appoints Orton Merryweather as justicar (and begins a "close" friendship with his wife Taena, who is almost certainly a spy, either for the Tyrells or more likely for Varys) and Aurane Waters as grand admiral (to prevent the job from going to Paxter Redwyne, a Tyrell bannerman) to the Small Council and names Qyburn the new Master of whisperers in place of Varys.
Shortly after Tywin's funeral (and at the urging of Mace and Olenna Tyrell), Tommen and Margaery Tyrell are married, though the wedding can be annulled at any time as Tommen is too young to consummate the marriage. After the ceremony, Cersei arranges for pyromancers to burn down the Tower of the Hand, in part because of the events that happened there in ASOS, but also in part because she believes that Tyrion and Varys may still be hiding in the hidden passages in the Tower (she is probably right about Varys, though Tyrion is long gone), displaying the first signs of a paranoia that drive her decisions for the rest of the book.
A COMEDY OF ERRORS
With her Small Council in place, Cersei begins to take a series of actions, both official and in secret that will tear the Seven Kingdoms in two and quickly lead to her on downfall in ways both tragic and hilarious (the second reading of her chapters in AFFC reads like a slapstick horror movie). Thinking that the High Septon was an agent of Tyrion's (which was partially true), Cersei has Osney Kettleblack murder him. After Gregor Clegane died of the wounds that Oberyn Martell inflicted on him, Cersei arranges for Balon Swann to deliver Gregor's skull to Doran Martell and bring Princess Myrcella, her betrothed Trystane Martell and Doran Martell back to King's Landing, secretly plotting to have Trystane murdered by agents posing as outlaws allied with Tyrion. Her choice as grand admiral, Aurane Waters is unpopular, as he is a bastard and the highborn distrust bastards (in this case they're right, more on that later), as is her decision to fund the creation of a new fleet of ships by suspending payment of the debts owed to the Iron Bank and the Faith of the Seven until after the conclusion of the wars. Upon hearing that Davos Seaworth is treating with Wyman Manderly as Stannis' Hand, Cersei offers to free Manderly's heir (a prisoner at Harrenhal) if he executes Davos (not really a blunder on her part, but important to Davos' ADWD story). She also arranges to send 100 men to the Night's Watch with the secret mission of assassinating Jon Snow on the belief that Jon was allying the NW with Stannis.
That's a lot of conspiring for one Small Council meeting, but Cersei saves the craziest plot for the end of her fourth chapter in AFFC. Cersei instructs Osney Kettleblack (a spy of Littlefinger's who also spied on Cersei for Tyrion that hasn't been introduced or cast on the show yet) to seduce Queen Margaery, making both parties guilty of treason. Cersei intends to have Margaery executed for the treason and have Osney sent to The Wall for the crime, though his real mission is to execute Jon Snow. After executing Jon Snow, Cersei promises to give Osney a pardon and a Lordship. She even hints that she might marry him after the completion of his mission.
Later, because she doesn't have enough enemies, Cersei begins to plot to humiliate Loras Tyrell, have Bronn (who named Lollys's bastard son "Tyrion") killed, sends Jaime to the Riverlands to resolve the siege at Riverrun and sends Mace Tyrell to lay siege to Storm's End (which is actually a good idea... and Jaime's).
The blunder that affects Cersei most directly occurs when she travels to the Gret Sept of Baelor to treat with the new High Septon, a pious man who is often referred to as the High Sparrow, because he was the leader of a group called the "sparrows", who champion the smallfolk and represent the lower class of those sworn to the Faith. In exchange for officially recognizing Tommen as the King and forgiving the crown's debts to the Faith, Cersei allows the Faith to restore the Faith Militant and the Poor Fellows, giving members of the Faith the ability and authorization to use force to defend themselves and enforce the laws of the Faith throughout Westeros.
After news of Euron Greyjoy's invasion of the Shield Islands reaches King's Landing, the Tyrells demand that the Redwyne fleet be sent to the Reach to protect Tyrell lands. As the fleet is currently being used to lay siege to Dragonstone, Cersei seizes on the opportunity to send Loras Tyrell to Dragonstone to hasten the siege so that the fleets can be freed to defend Highgarden. Loras does lead the charge to take Dragonstone successfully, but he is (allegedly) mortally wounded in the process and is expected to die soon. With Loras at death's door, Cersei moves forward with a plan to replace him in the Kingsguard (Qyburn provides the candidate, an unknown knight who is almost certain a Frankenstein version of the remains of Gregor Clegane) and use the High Septon to eliminate Margaery. In her final move, Cersei commands Ser Osney to go to the High Septon and confess to sleeping with the Queen (this is technically true as he does sleep with Cersei before confessing, but not Margaery), kickstarting the investigation into Margaery's "treasons".
And then it all goes to hell.
Margaery is arrested by the Faith, but when Cersei visits her at the Sept of Baelor, she discovers that the High Septon has been interrogating Osmund Kettleblack, who has confessed to sleeping with Cersei (and denies sleeping with Margaery) and murdering the previous High Septon on her orders. The High Septon, empowered by the newly resurgent Faith Militant and Poor Fellows, orders that Cersei be arrested and detained until trial. She's taken to a cell and tortured with sleep deprivation for two days until Qyburn is allowed to visit her.
Qyburn reveals that Kevan Lannister has taken over the regency, the Tyrell armies are marching on King's Landing for Margaery's trial and the realm is currently be governed by Harys Swyft and Pycelle. He also reveals that Aurane Waters has stolen the royal fleet and was possibly heading north to join Stannis (a Winds of Winter preview chapter indicates that he's actually in the Stepstones, ruling as a new pirate king). Cersei has previously been informed that her plan to murder Bronn ended up with him as the Lord of Stokesworth (and aware that she tried to have him killed), but she's not yet aware that her decision to stop repaying the Crown's debt to the Iron Bank has caused them to fund Stannis' rebellion or that her plot in Dorne has been discovered, causing Doran Martell to send two of the Sand Snakes to King's Landing, which will doubtlessly end in blood-shed. Desperate for a champion, she writes a letter requesting help from Jaime, but he ignores her request, effectively ending their relationship. Fortunately for Cersei, one of her plots appears to be working in her favor, as Qyburn informs her that her champion, Ser Robert Strong (again, Frankenstein Gregor) is ready to defend her at her trial and he's eligible to do so thanks to the death of Arys Oakheart in Dorne.
Prior to her trial, Cersei is forced to walk from Baelor's Sept to the Red Keep naked and shorn of all body hair as atonement for her sins. During the walk, Cersei begins to hallucinate, seeing Tywin, Ned Stark, Sansa Stark and her direwolf Lady, Tyrion and Maggy the Frog. Cersei collapses at the door of the Red Keep, where she is picked up by her champion, Ser Robert Strong. Cersei's trial by combat and Margaery's trial before the Faith will be some of the key events of The Winds Of Winter.
A Dance With Dragons ends with Kevan Lannister responding to Aegon's invasion of the Stormlands, dispatching Harys Swyft to Braavos to treat with the Iron Bank and discovering the body of Pycelle, who was murdered by Varys and his little birds, who also murder Kevan because his competant leadership may stop Cersei from destroying the Lannister-Tyrell alliance and thwart Varys' plans.
SEASON 5 ADAPTATION
Cersei's storyline will be one of the most prominent of Season 5, occupying a lot of screen time and dominating the events in King's Landing.
There haven't been any casting announcements for Taena, Orton Merryweather, Aurane Waters, Gyles Rosby or Harys Swift. It's possible that these roles will be filled by extras, but it's more likely that they'll be written out of the show.
Eliminating Aurane Waters will likely eliminate the Royal Navy storyline, but this is covered because Stannis has already secured the support of the Iron Bank and the need to default on the loans is covered by the Season 4 where Tywin tells Cersei that the Lannisters' gold mines have been exhausted.
The various toadies can be replaced by larger roles for Mace Tyrell, Qyburn and Pycelle (which will help to sell the significance of his death in Episode 10). Mace will probably be named Hand of the King, as there's been no word that Ian Gelder, the actor who plays Kevan will be returning for Season 5 and the actor who plays Mace (Roger Ashton-Griffiths) is a significant enough actor to earn a larger role this season before going to Braavos late in the season. There has also been rumors indicating the Qyburn's role will be expanded from the books, with more specific details revealed regarding his "treatment" of Gregor Clegane.
Speaking of Ser Gregor, I am wavering back and forth on how the skull / Ser Robert Stone storyline will be handled. On the one hand, the whole "secret identity" thing is BS that doesn't fool anyone on paper, so it's likely that they'll just say that Gregor Clegane survived, but on the other hand the monstrous skull is what sells the Martells on the fact that justice had been done for Elia. I think (since I'm not being graded on this...) I'll split the difference and say that Gregor survived, but will be executed later. This is a more satisfying result for the Martells and it will enfuriate them next season when they learn that Gregor will be acting as Cersei's champion in her trial by combat, a move that will accelerate the Sand Snakes' actions in King's Landing, whatever they may be.
All of the Kettleblacks have been written out of Game Of Thrones to this point and there hasn't been any casting news yet for Season 5. With Meryn Trant heading to Braavos with Mace Tyrell, he can't be used as Cersei's pawn in her scheme to frame Margaery. There aren't really any other notable Kingsguard members unless she chooses someone random, Bronn and Jaime are going to Dorne (not that either would help Cersei in this mission) and most of the characters Cersei frames for having affairs with Margaery aren't involved in the show. I suppose she could frame Loras and Marge for having an incestuous affair, but that seems a little... on the nose for even Cersei to try to get away with it, so I'll have to leave the prediction vague until more information is available.
Leaked information from filming indicates that rather than sending him to Dragonstone, Cersei will use the Faith to have Loras Tyrell arrested, probably for being a homosexual. Unless he's executed, this will simultaneously take him out of the picture in the short term, but keep him in the picture in the long term, which may not be an option in the books, depending on the severity of his injuries.
Rather than sending Jaime to oversee the surrender of Riverrun, she'll send him to Dorne to bring Myrcella back to King's Landing. This will be done to enhance the Dorne storyline and make sure that the audience is invested in it as a part of the main storyline. Bronn will accompany Jaime (there's a lot of leaked evidence showing this), so Cersei won't be conspiring against Bronn this season.
Jonathan Pryce has been cast as the High Sparrow and there are many indications that the Sparrows will play a massive role in the events in King's Landing this season, raiding brothels and other sinful establishments and harassing Loras Tyrell (maybe they will go down the incest road, but it's more likely because he's gay) and Littlefinger (who I have to assume Cersei orders back to King's Landing). I expect this storyline to be carried out throughout the season and probably stick pretty close to AFFC and ADWD.
The Walk of Penance has been confirmed and much publicized. I expect that the hallucinations will be included as well, as Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister) has hinted that he'll be back this season (though that may just be as a corpse at his funeral) and the other actors shouldn't be a problem either (Robert Bean (Ned Stark) has hinted that he's interested in returning for flashbacks).
MY SEASON 5 PREDICTIONS FOR CERSEI LANNISTER'S STORY:
Season 5 will open with Cersei dreaming about her encounter with Maggy the Frog, who gives her the Valonqar prophecy. The discovery of Tywin Lannister's body and his funeral will be in Episode 1 and that Cersei will dispatch Jaime to Dorne to bring Myrcella back to King's Landing in Episode 2 or 3. Olenna Tyrell will be returning this season for Tywin's funeral / Tommen and Margaery's wedding, which will happen before Jaime's departure. Qyburn and Pyrcelle will have larger roles this season than they do in AFFC and Qyburn's experiments with Gregor Clegane will be given a much larger focus than they are in the books. The High Sparrow should arrive early in the season and the Sparrows to cause trouble in the name of the Faith throughout the season. Cersei will order Littlefinger back to King's Landing early in the season and he should arrive mid-season. Cersei will meet with the High Sparrow mid-season and authorize the return of the Faith Militant and Poor Fellows. She will dispatch Mace Tyrell and Meryn Trant to Braavos to treat with the Iron Bank in Episode 5 or 6. She will use the Faith to have Loras Tyrell arrested for homosexuality-related "crimes". Throughout the season, Cersei will frame Margaery Tyrell for treason. Margaery will be arrested around Episode 7 and Cersei to be arrested later that episode as the final scene of the episode. Cersei will remain in her cell until the Walk of Penance, which will take place either in Episode 9 or 10. After the Walk of Penance, Cersei will have a scene where the details of her trial by combat are laid out and she's introduced to her champion, Ser Gregor Clegane of the Kingsguard. One of the final scenes of the season, but not the final scene of Episode 10, will be the murder of Pycelle by Varys.
The Top 500 Songs Of 2013 - Part 14 of 50, #370-#361
#370 Tinie Tempah (feat. Labrinth) - "Lover Not A Fighter" from "Demonstration" - The song starts out rather slowly, but once the tempo picks up, it gets crazy good fast. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4vx0Cy5Hi4
#369 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - "Night Cafe" from "English Electric" - The legendary 80's New Wave band contiues to make great music under the radar. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPKzOAYu7qs
#368 Andrew Stockdale - "Long Way To Go" from "Keep Moving" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngLAhi3pQcY
#367 Kid Cudi - "Immortal" from "Indicud" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrbyNGVvgqY
#366 Danielle Bradbery - "Talk About Love" from "Danielle Bradbery" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxikfwcDLwY
#365 Jake Bugg - "Messed Up Kids" from "Shangri La" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5owbeIh2WBY
#364 Club 8 - "I'm Not Gonna Grow Old" from "Above The City" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACj976xkQ30
#363 Autre Ne Veut - "Gonna Die" from "Anxiety" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTbzfybCgNY
#362 The Lonely Island - "Spring Break Anthem" from "The Wack Album" - The Wack Album didn't do as well in my countdown as The Loney Island's last album, but it was still the best song parody album of the year, mostly because Weird Al took the year off. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUw4Qh9uFK8
#361 Paramore - "Still Into You" from "Paramore" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OblL026SvD4
#369 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - "Night Cafe" from "English Electric" - The legendary 80's New Wave band contiues to make great music under the radar. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPKzOAYu7qs
#368 Andrew Stockdale - "Long Way To Go" from "Keep Moving" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngLAhi3pQcY
#367 Kid Cudi - "Immortal" from "Indicud" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrbyNGVvgqY
#366 Danielle Bradbery - "Talk About Love" from "Danielle Bradbery" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxikfwcDLwY
#365 Jake Bugg - "Messed Up Kids" from "Shangri La" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5owbeIh2WBY
#364 Club 8 - "I'm Not Gonna Grow Old" from "Above The City" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACj976xkQ30
#363 Autre Ne Veut - "Gonna Die" from "Anxiety" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTbzfybCgNY
#362 The Lonely Island - "Spring Break Anthem" from "The Wack Album" - The Wack Album didn't do as well in my countdown as The Loney Island's last album, but it was still the best song parody album of the year, mostly because Weird Al took the year off. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUw4Qh9uFK8
#361 Paramore - "Still Into You" from "Paramore" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OblL026SvD4
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
The Top 500 Songs Of 2013 - Part 13 of 50, #380-#371
#380 Ian Rubbish And The Bizarros - "Maggie Thatcher" from "Ian Rubbish And The Bizarros" - Fred Armisen's hilarious parody of The Clash debuted on Saturday Night Live and released an EP shortly after. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsqW9Wm7bxE
#379 Say Lou Lou - "Beloved" from "Lucid Dreaming" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsZir4UBf74
#378 The Blow - "Make It Up" from "The Blow" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4rCdHb6ZZI
#377 Beyonce - "Pretty Hurts" from "Beyonce" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXXQLa-5n5w
#376 Sheryl Crow - "Give It To Me" from "Feels Like Home" - Sheryl Crow is still a master of the power-pop ballad, as evidenced here. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIlf_CqDVPw
#375 The Strypes - "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover" from "Snapshot" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tDLL6fngx8
#374 Lorde - "Still Sane" from "Pure Heroine" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8g8jQEBn_s
#373 Best Coast - "I Wanna Know" from "Fade Away" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wdf-nvPCSE
#372 Pacific Air - "Float" from "Stop Talking" - One of the lightest, breeziest songs on this year's countdown. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYyBmQf80XM
#371 Frightened Rabbit - "Backyard Skulls" from "Pedestrian Verse" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx7dF89a3z4
#379 Say Lou Lou - "Beloved" from "Lucid Dreaming" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsZir4UBf74
#378 The Blow - "Make It Up" from "The Blow" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4rCdHb6ZZI
#377 Beyonce - "Pretty Hurts" from "Beyonce" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXXQLa-5n5w
#376 Sheryl Crow - "Give It To Me" from "Feels Like Home" - Sheryl Crow is still a master of the power-pop ballad, as evidenced here. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIlf_CqDVPw
#375 The Strypes - "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover" from "Snapshot" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tDLL6fngx8
#374 Lorde - "Still Sane" from "Pure Heroine" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8g8jQEBn_s
#373 Best Coast - "I Wanna Know" from "Fade Away" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wdf-nvPCSE
#372 Pacific Air - "Float" from "Stop Talking" - One of the lightest, breeziest songs on this year's countdown. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYyBmQf80XM
#371 Frightened Rabbit - "Backyard Skulls" from "Pedestrian Verse" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx7dF89a3z4
The Top 500 Songs Of 2013 - Part 12 of 50, #390-#381
#390 Kerry Ingram - "It's Always Summer Under The Sea (Shireen's Song)" from "Game Of Thrones Season 3 Soundtrack" - The first of two Game of Thrones songs from Season 3 to make the countdown. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G06vHNw6sTY
#389 David Bowie - "(You Will) Set The World On Fire" from "The Next Day" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyMs58tyDT8
#388 Pusha T - "Numbers On The Boards" from "My Name Is My Name" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DawrlSwHUiM
#387 Lady Antebellum - "Better Off Now (That You're Gone)" from "Golden" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTnXZzuJsFc
#386 Ski Lodge - "Just To Be Like You" from "Big Heart" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ5DdErHjXQ
#385 TLC - "Meant To Be" from "20" - A welcome reunion for one of the best R&B groups of the 90's. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXSHxWJnjHI
#384 Sia - "Kill And Run" from "The Great Gatsby Soundtrack" - The second of six songs from the Great Gatsby soundtrack. The movie itself was middle of the road, but the music and spectacle were first rate. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylcg4m8UUPs
#383 Texas - "Detroit City" from "The Conversation" - If you told me that the singer from Texas was related to Debbie Harry, I'd probably believe you. The style and sound is remarkably close to that of vintage Blondie. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaqDQUmKop0
#382 Sky Ferreira - "Nobody Asked Me (If I Was Okay)" from "Night Time, My Time" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzl3GkRytnE
#381 Lorde - "Glory And Gore" from "Pure Heroine" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOks2HArHf0
#389 David Bowie - "(You Will) Set The World On Fire" from "The Next Day" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyMs58tyDT8
#388 Pusha T - "Numbers On The Boards" from "My Name Is My Name" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DawrlSwHUiM
#387 Lady Antebellum - "Better Off Now (That You're Gone)" from "Golden" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTnXZzuJsFc
#386 Ski Lodge - "Just To Be Like You" from "Big Heart" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ5DdErHjXQ
#385 TLC - "Meant To Be" from "20" - A welcome reunion for one of the best R&B groups of the 90's. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXSHxWJnjHI
#384 Sia - "Kill And Run" from "The Great Gatsby Soundtrack" - The second of six songs from the Great Gatsby soundtrack. The movie itself was middle of the road, but the music and spectacle were first rate. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylcg4m8UUPs
#383 Texas - "Detroit City" from "The Conversation" - If you told me that the singer from Texas was related to Debbie Harry, I'd probably believe you. The style and sound is remarkably close to that of vintage Blondie. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaqDQUmKop0
#382 Sky Ferreira - "Nobody Asked Me (If I Was Okay)" from "Night Time, My Time" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzl3GkRytnE
#381 Lorde - "Glory And Gore" from "Pure Heroine" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOks2HArHf0
Thursday, February 12, 2015
The Top 500 Songs Of 2013 - Part 11 of 50, #400-#391
#400 The Weeks - "Brother In The Night" from "Dear Bo Jackson" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPU8mu0ds9A
#399 Tegan And Sara - "I'm Not Your Hero" from "Heartthrob" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSGbOmW4AjI
#398 Iggy And The Stooges - "Burn" from "Ready To Die" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDGG2k3tbIw
#397 VNV Nation - "Everything" from "Transnational" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjnHGk98QRk
#396 The Generationals - "Spinoza" from "Heza" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGl2QJ1ReJY
#395 Big Sean (feat. Lil Wayne And Jhene Aiko) - "Beware" from "Hall Of Fame" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-rQZ6IGhCM
#394 Disclosure (feat. London Grammar) - "Help Me Lose My Mind" from "Settle" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBW9VEE29W4
#393 Brandy Clark - "Take A Little Pill" from "12 Stories" - 2013 was a great year for sad, thoughtful country music, the antidote to the bro-country that has turned country music into Top 40. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s9_gj29N2w
#392 Los Campesinos! - "What Death Leaves Behind" from "No Blues" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXfC9N-zm04
#391 The Preatures - "Is This How You Feel" from "Blue Planet Eyes" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8XmoroZ3zo
Part 12 will be delayed by a few days, as I'll be out of town and unable to post. It should be posted on Sunday or Monday.
#399 Tegan And Sara - "I'm Not Your Hero" from "Heartthrob" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSGbOmW4AjI
#398 Iggy And The Stooges - "Burn" from "Ready To Die" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDGG2k3tbIw
#397 VNV Nation - "Everything" from "Transnational" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjnHGk98QRk
#396 The Generationals - "Spinoza" from "Heza" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGl2QJ1ReJY
#395 Big Sean (feat. Lil Wayne And Jhene Aiko) - "Beware" from "Hall Of Fame" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-rQZ6IGhCM
#394 Disclosure (feat. London Grammar) - "Help Me Lose My Mind" from "Settle" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBW9VEE29W4
#393 Brandy Clark - "Take A Little Pill" from "12 Stories" - 2013 was a great year for sad, thoughtful country music, the antidote to the bro-country that has turned country music into Top 40. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s9_gj29N2w
#392 Los Campesinos! - "What Death Leaves Behind" from "No Blues" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXfC9N-zm04
#391 The Preatures - "Is This How You Feel" from "Blue Planet Eyes" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8XmoroZ3zo
Part 12 will be delayed by a few days, as I'll be out of town and unable to post. It should be posted on Sunday or Monday.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Game of Thrones Season 5 Speculation - Part 5 - Arya Stark
ARYA STARK
Arya Stark's story takes place across both AFFC and ADWD and thanks to numerous leaked scenes, photographs and images from filming, it seems as though Season 5 will be sticking very closely to the events in the book.
AFFC opens with Arya arriving in Braavos (instead of her intended destination, the Wall) aboard the ship that she booked passage on with Jaqen's coin at the end of ASOS / Season 4. The captain takes her to the House of Black and White, the headquarters of the Faceless Men (FM), where Arya meets the Kindly Man and the Waif, who teach her about the history and mission of the FM. Arya decides to begin training as a Faceless Man and surrenders her identity (sort of...) by giving up her worldly possessions, though she does hide Needle rather than throwing it away.
Eventually, her training allows her to assume the identity of Cat of the Canals, a young girl who sells oysters on the streets of Braavos. While posing as Cat, she saves Samwell Tarly from a pair of Bravos who are threatening him and learns that her brothre Jon has been elected Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. When Cat learns that Dareon, the singer who accompanied Samwell to Braavos has deserted the NW, she kills him, violating the rules of the Faceless Men. As punishment for violating the rules, Arya is given a potion that causes her to go blind, ending her storyline in AFFC.
Her training picks up in ADWD, as she learns how to function without eyesight. Her sight is restored after she identifies the Kindly Man as the individual who has been randomly attacking her as part of her training. Arya's chapters in ADWD conclude after she successfully kills a merchant by poisoning a coin that the merchant bites to test it's authenticity (the same trick that Jaqen H'ghar uses to kill Pate in AFFC) and she is assigned to work with Izembaro, the master of Mummers.
Ordinarily, I would leave out scenes from The Winds Of Winter, but the Mercy chapter that was released shortly before the start of Season 4 is clearly going to be included in Season 5 in some capacity. While training with Izembaro, Arya assumes the role of Mercedene (aka Mercy), an actress in a play written by Phario Forel (presumably the brother of Syrio Forel) that's based on the events of the first three books (Arya is playing a character based on her sister Sansa). In the audience of the play, Arya spots Harys Swift and his entourage from King's Landing who are in Braavos to treat with the Iron Bank. Of interest to Arya is Raff the Sweetling, who she seduces away from the playhouse, taking him to her room where he kills him by cutting his femoral artery. She then makes him repeat the last words Lommy said to him, before killing him the same way that he killed Lommy.
There has been a large amount of leaked information and officially released footage / images from the filming of Arya's story this season and the images confirm much of the storyline from the books will be included this year. Footage has been released showing Arya arriving at the House of Black and White and the Waif has been confirmed as a character, though the Kindly Man hasn't (more on that later), images of Arya dressed as Cat of the Canals have leaked and casting calls include characters that are almost certainly going to be the Bravos who Arya saves Samwell Tarly from. I expect these storylines to be adapted almost directly from the page to the screen. There have also been photos and interviews indicating that the Mercy chapter will be included this season, though with a different cast of characters.
Arya's first few chapters of arriving at the House of Black and White (HoB&W), choosing to become a FM, hiding Needle and training in the House of Black and White will take place as they did in AFFC with one major exception, which is that the Kindly Man will be replaced by Jaqen H'ghar. The actor who plays Jaqen has been announced as returning for Season 5 and while the character in AFFC remains in Westeros (possibly killing Balon Greyjoy and definitely killing Pate), but I don't expect to see the AFFC prologue or Balon Greyjoy's death (sadly, as I've looked forward to seeing that particular scene play out on-screen for years) on the show and any involvement he might have in the Citadel can wait until Season 6 if it's included. Jaqen provides a familiar face for fans of the show, so bringing him back helps to tie the Faceless Men storyline this year into the main story from previous seasons.
After training at the HoB&W, Arya will assume the role of Cat of the Canals for a few episodes and while I expect a few scenes on her own as Cat, her key scenes will involve Samwell Tarly and Dareon. Dareon hasn't been confirmed for Season 5, but I'm operating on the assumption that he will be involved, but be such a minor character that a casting announcement wasn't necessary. Saving Sam allows him to interact with another member of Jon's family, though Sam doesn't know that's the case and it sets Arya up to kill Dareon, which leads to her being blinded as punishment for breaking the FM's rules. In my opinion, Arya being blinded is an important part of her character development that needs to be included in Season 5 and the only violations that are serious enough for that punishment would be killing Dareon or the "Mercy" killing, which I think will be used as Arya's Season 5 climax. I think that Arya waking up blind will be the last scene of a mid-season episode, probably Episode 5 or 6.
I'm not sure how Arya's blindness training will be presented on-screen (which is one reason why it might be excluded), but I think it will need to be a multiple-episode storyline in order to be sold properly. I expect that she'll regain her vision in Episode 7 or 8.
That leaves the Mercy storyline and her first sanctioned kill to fill out the rest of her storyline, which I think will be combined into one storyline. Mace Tyrell will either be the Hand of the King or the Master of Coin in Season 5. Harys Swift and Gyles Rosby have been written out of GoT, while a relatively famous actor was cast to play Mace Tyrell, meaning that they intend to use him in a larger role than he was used in Season 4.
After the wedding of Margaery and Tommen in AFFC, Cersei takes Jaime's advice and dispatches Mace to lay seige to Storm's End, where he stays until the end of AFFC, when his forces make their way back to King's Landing for Margaery's trial. Later in The Winds Of Winter, Storm's End becomes significant again when it's attacked by Aegon and the Golden Company. I don't think that the siege of Storm's End will be a significant storyline in Season 5 because Aegon isn't being included in GoT. Cersei may dispatch a force to re-take Storm's End, but I think it's also very likely that Storm's End will be completely forgotten. Either way, it won't play any part in Mace's story this season, as photographic evidence leaked during filming proves that his storyline will run through Braavos this season, which means that Mace, or more accurately his guard Meryn Trant, will run straight into Arya's path this season.
In ADWD, while Cersei is imprisoned by the Faith (more on that later), Kevan Lannister dispatches Harys Swyft and a group of Lannister soldiers who previously served under Gregor Clegane to Braavos in order to treat with the Iron Bank regarding the Crown's debts. In TWOW, Swyft and his entourage are attending the play that Arya is peforming in under the guise of Mercy, who lures one of the guards, Raff the Sweetling (who Arya interacted with in A Clash of Kings when he murders her friend Lommy) away from the play and murders him by cutting open his femoral artery. Tycho Nestoris has been confirmed as returning for Season 5 and the actor who plays him has confirmed that he'll be remaining in Braavos this season (instead of going to the Wall, where Tycho goes in ADWD, an unnecessary plotline in the show, as described in my post on Jon Snow), so the Iron Bank storyline is definitely taking place this season.
Arya killed Raff The Sweetling in Episode 1 of Season 4, in a scene that mirrored the scene in A Storm of Swords where she killed The Tickler (whom she had Jaqen kill in Season 2 in place of Weese, who wasn't on the show). Not only did Arya kill Raff in Season 4, but she did it in the same way that she killed him in the Mercy chapter. It's highly unlikely that the show will use the same murder technique again in Season 5 and it's highly unlikely that Arya will seducing anyone on the show, so some sort of hybrid murder technique will be used to off the Raff substitute, Meryn Trant. One thing that I absolutely expect is some bad-ass variation on Syrio Forel's legendary Season 1 line: "What do we say to the God of Death? Not today." It's quite possibly too awesome not to use.
Arya has plenty of reason to kill Meryn Trant (and she doesn't even know about all the horrible things he did to her sister), the member of the Kingsguard who (we assume) murdered Syrio Forel. The show has reiterated this point several times in the last few seasons, most recently when the Hound mocked her because Syrio, who Arya claimed was the greatest fighter that she'd ever seen, was killed by Trant, who is regarded as a joke. The leaks that showed Mace Tyrell in Braavos also showed Meryn Trant there, where he'll be murdered by Arya before the end of the season.
One interesting possibility presented in the trailer is that Meryn Trant will be killed by Arya wearing the face of Mercy. This speculation is the result of a woman seducing an man whose identity can't be confirmed. The woman is new to the show and it's entirely possibly that she is Arya disguised as Mercy and the mystery man in the shot is Meryn Trant.
The reason that I think that the Meryn Trant murder from the Mercy storyline will be combined with her first Faceless Man murder from ADWD is that I view it as the one corner in Arya's storyline that the show could cut to streamline the story. While the completion of the first stage of her training is important to Arya's storyline, killing a random merchant doesn't drive the overall story forward in the way that killing Meryn Trant in the Mercy storyline will. The show is going to be cutting a lot of corners and combining these two chapters would be a great way for Arya to move forward in her training, close out her Season 5 story and set up Arya's storyline for Season 6. The method of killing might be the coin trick from ADWD, but I'm guessing that Arya will choose a more personal, more visceral method of execution for Trant, given their relationship. Also, there's a delicious irony to Meryn Trant being killed in Braavos because he murdered Syrio Forel, the former first sword of Braavos (and if they include the GoT meta-play from TWoW, at a play written by a relative of Syrio's) and the show won't ignore that opportunity.
It should be mentioned that the show may choose to replace the Dareon kill with the Meryn Trant kill. This would work, but the timeline would have to be shifted around considerably and it's unlikely that Arya is in the face-shifting stage of her training before she is blinded, so many more changes would be necessary for this option than the one I predict.
Either Arya's murder of Meryn Trant will be her final scene in Season 5 or the fallout of that murder (which hasn't happened yet in any material available before the publishing of TWoW) will be.
MY SEASON 5 PREDICTIONS FOR ARYA STARK'S STORY:
The captain from Episode 10 of Season 4 will bring Arya to the House of the Black and White. Arya will agree to train as a Faceless Man by Jaqen H'ghar and the Waif. While training, she'll learn the history of the Faceless Men and witness petitioners asking for and receiving their gift (death). Arya's training will continue when she abandons her identity as Arya of House Stark (though she only hides Needle rather than throwing it away) and assuming the identity of Cat of the Canals. As Cat, Arya rescues Samwell Tarly from a pair of Braavos, but violates the rules of the Faceless Men by killing Dareon for deserting the Night's Watch, leading to her being blinded as a punishment (note: this may happen at the end of the season as punishment for killing Trant). After a few episodes of blindness, Arya will earn her eyesight back and be assigned a mission related to Mace Tyrell's mission to the Iron Bank, leading her to kill Meryn Trant, partially for her mission as a Faceless Man, but mostly as revenge for killing Syrio Forel. Her season will either end with the murder of Meryn Trant or with the fallout of that murder, seen from the perspective of Mace Tyrell or in Jaqen reprimanding Arya for violating the rules of the Faceless Men.
Next Week - Cersei Lannister
Arya Stark's story takes place across both AFFC and ADWD and thanks to numerous leaked scenes, photographs and images from filming, it seems as though Season 5 will be sticking very closely to the events in the book.
AFFC opens with Arya arriving in Braavos (instead of her intended destination, the Wall) aboard the ship that she booked passage on with Jaqen's coin at the end of ASOS / Season 4. The captain takes her to the House of Black and White, the headquarters of the Faceless Men (FM), where Arya meets the Kindly Man and the Waif, who teach her about the history and mission of the FM. Arya decides to begin training as a Faceless Man and surrenders her identity (sort of...) by giving up her worldly possessions, though she does hide Needle rather than throwing it away.
Eventually, her training allows her to assume the identity of Cat of the Canals, a young girl who sells oysters on the streets of Braavos. While posing as Cat, she saves Samwell Tarly from a pair of Bravos who are threatening him and learns that her brothre Jon has been elected Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. When Cat learns that Dareon, the singer who accompanied Samwell to Braavos has deserted the NW, she kills him, violating the rules of the Faceless Men. As punishment for violating the rules, Arya is given a potion that causes her to go blind, ending her storyline in AFFC.
Her training picks up in ADWD, as she learns how to function without eyesight. Her sight is restored after she identifies the Kindly Man as the individual who has been randomly attacking her as part of her training. Arya's chapters in ADWD conclude after she successfully kills a merchant by poisoning a coin that the merchant bites to test it's authenticity (the same trick that Jaqen H'ghar uses to kill Pate in AFFC) and she is assigned to work with Izembaro, the master of Mummers.
Ordinarily, I would leave out scenes from The Winds Of Winter, but the Mercy chapter that was released shortly before the start of Season 4 is clearly going to be included in Season 5 in some capacity. While training with Izembaro, Arya assumes the role of Mercedene (aka Mercy), an actress in a play written by Phario Forel (presumably the brother of Syrio Forel) that's based on the events of the first three books (Arya is playing a character based on her sister Sansa). In the audience of the play, Arya spots Harys Swift and his entourage from King's Landing who are in Braavos to treat with the Iron Bank. Of interest to Arya is Raff the Sweetling, who she seduces away from the playhouse, taking him to her room where he kills him by cutting his femoral artery. She then makes him repeat the last words Lommy said to him, before killing him the same way that he killed Lommy.
There has been a large amount of leaked information and officially released footage / images from the filming of Arya's story this season and the images confirm much of the storyline from the books will be included this year. Footage has been released showing Arya arriving at the House of Black and White and the Waif has been confirmed as a character, though the Kindly Man hasn't (more on that later), images of Arya dressed as Cat of the Canals have leaked and casting calls include characters that are almost certainly going to be the Bravos who Arya saves Samwell Tarly from. I expect these storylines to be adapted almost directly from the page to the screen. There have also been photos and interviews indicating that the Mercy chapter will be included this season, though with a different cast of characters.
Arya's first few chapters of arriving at the House of Black and White (HoB&W), choosing to become a FM, hiding Needle and training in the House of Black and White will take place as they did in AFFC with one major exception, which is that the Kindly Man will be replaced by Jaqen H'ghar. The actor who plays Jaqen has been announced as returning for Season 5 and while the character in AFFC remains in Westeros (possibly killing Balon Greyjoy and definitely killing Pate), but I don't expect to see the AFFC prologue or Balon Greyjoy's death (sadly, as I've looked forward to seeing that particular scene play out on-screen for years) on the show and any involvement he might have in the Citadel can wait until Season 6 if it's included. Jaqen provides a familiar face for fans of the show, so bringing him back helps to tie the Faceless Men storyline this year into the main story from previous seasons.
After training at the HoB&W, Arya will assume the role of Cat of the Canals for a few episodes and while I expect a few scenes on her own as Cat, her key scenes will involve Samwell Tarly and Dareon. Dareon hasn't been confirmed for Season 5, but I'm operating on the assumption that he will be involved, but be such a minor character that a casting announcement wasn't necessary. Saving Sam allows him to interact with another member of Jon's family, though Sam doesn't know that's the case and it sets Arya up to kill Dareon, which leads to her being blinded as punishment for breaking the FM's rules. In my opinion, Arya being blinded is an important part of her character development that needs to be included in Season 5 and the only violations that are serious enough for that punishment would be killing Dareon or the "Mercy" killing, which I think will be used as Arya's Season 5 climax. I think that Arya waking up blind will be the last scene of a mid-season episode, probably Episode 5 or 6.
I'm not sure how Arya's blindness training will be presented on-screen (which is one reason why it might be excluded), but I think it will need to be a multiple-episode storyline in order to be sold properly. I expect that she'll regain her vision in Episode 7 or 8.
That leaves the Mercy storyline and her first sanctioned kill to fill out the rest of her storyline, which I think will be combined into one storyline. Mace Tyrell will either be the Hand of the King or the Master of Coin in Season 5. Harys Swift and Gyles Rosby have been written out of GoT, while a relatively famous actor was cast to play Mace Tyrell, meaning that they intend to use him in a larger role than he was used in Season 4.
After the wedding of Margaery and Tommen in AFFC, Cersei takes Jaime's advice and dispatches Mace to lay seige to Storm's End, where he stays until the end of AFFC, when his forces make their way back to King's Landing for Margaery's trial. Later in The Winds Of Winter, Storm's End becomes significant again when it's attacked by Aegon and the Golden Company. I don't think that the siege of Storm's End will be a significant storyline in Season 5 because Aegon isn't being included in GoT. Cersei may dispatch a force to re-take Storm's End, but I think it's also very likely that Storm's End will be completely forgotten. Either way, it won't play any part in Mace's story this season, as photographic evidence leaked during filming proves that his storyline will run through Braavos this season, which means that Mace, or more accurately his guard Meryn Trant, will run straight into Arya's path this season.
In ADWD, while Cersei is imprisoned by the Faith (more on that later), Kevan Lannister dispatches Harys Swyft and a group of Lannister soldiers who previously served under Gregor Clegane to Braavos in order to treat with the Iron Bank regarding the Crown's debts. In TWOW, Swyft and his entourage are attending the play that Arya is peforming in under the guise of Mercy, who lures one of the guards, Raff the Sweetling (who Arya interacted with in A Clash of Kings when he murders her friend Lommy) away from the play and murders him by cutting open his femoral artery. Tycho Nestoris has been confirmed as returning for Season 5 and the actor who plays him has confirmed that he'll be remaining in Braavos this season (instead of going to the Wall, where Tycho goes in ADWD, an unnecessary plotline in the show, as described in my post on Jon Snow), so the Iron Bank storyline is definitely taking place this season.
Arya killed Raff The Sweetling in Episode 1 of Season 4, in a scene that mirrored the scene in A Storm of Swords where she killed The Tickler (whom she had Jaqen kill in Season 2 in place of Weese, who wasn't on the show). Not only did Arya kill Raff in Season 4, but she did it in the same way that she killed him in the Mercy chapter. It's highly unlikely that the show will use the same murder technique again in Season 5 and it's highly unlikely that Arya will seducing anyone on the show, so some sort of hybrid murder technique will be used to off the Raff substitute, Meryn Trant. One thing that I absolutely expect is some bad-ass variation on Syrio Forel's legendary Season 1 line: "What do we say to the God of Death? Not today." It's quite possibly too awesome not to use.
Arya has plenty of reason to kill Meryn Trant (and she doesn't even know about all the horrible things he did to her sister), the member of the Kingsguard who (we assume) murdered Syrio Forel. The show has reiterated this point several times in the last few seasons, most recently when the Hound mocked her because Syrio, who Arya claimed was the greatest fighter that she'd ever seen, was killed by Trant, who is regarded as a joke. The leaks that showed Mace Tyrell in Braavos also showed Meryn Trant there, where he'll be murdered by Arya before the end of the season.
One interesting possibility presented in the trailer is that Meryn Trant will be killed by Arya wearing the face of Mercy. This speculation is the result of a woman seducing an man whose identity can't be confirmed. The woman is new to the show and it's entirely possibly that she is Arya disguised as Mercy and the mystery man in the shot is Meryn Trant.
The reason that I think that the Meryn Trant murder from the Mercy storyline will be combined with her first Faceless Man murder from ADWD is that I view it as the one corner in Arya's storyline that the show could cut to streamline the story. While the completion of the first stage of her training is important to Arya's storyline, killing a random merchant doesn't drive the overall story forward in the way that killing Meryn Trant in the Mercy storyline will. The show is going to be cutting a lot of corners and combining these two chapters would be a great way for Arya to move forward in her training, close out her Season 5 story and set up Arya's storyline for Season 6. The method of killing might be the coin trick from ADWD, but I'm guessing that Arya will choose a more personal, more visceral method of execution for Trant, given their relationship. Also, there's a delicious irony to Meryn Trant being killed in Braavos because he murdered Syrio Forel, the former first sword of Braavos (and if they include the GoT meta-play from TWoW, at a play written by a relative of Syrio's) and the show won't ignore that opportunity.
It should be mentioned that the show may choose to replace the Dareon kill with the Meryn Trant kill. This would work, but the timeline would have to be shifted around considerably and it's unlikely that Arya is in the face-shifting stage of her training before she is blinded, so many more changes would be necessary for this option than the one I predict.
Either Arya's murder of Meryn Trant will be her final scene in Season 5 or the fallout of that murder (which hasn't happened yet in any material available before the publishing of TWoW) will be.
MY SEASON 5 PREDICTIONS FOR ARYA STARK'S STORY:
The captain from Episode 10 of Season 4 will bring Arya to the House of the Black and White. Arya will agree to train as a Faceless Man by Jaqen H'ghar and the Waif. While training, she'll learn the history of the Faceless Men and witness petitioners asking for and receiving their gift (death). Arya's training will continue when she abandons her identity as Arya of House Stark (though she only hides Needle rather than throwing it away) and assuming the identity of Cat of the Canals. As Cat, Arya rescues Samwell Tarly from a pair of Braavos, but violates the rules of the Faceless Men by killing Dareon for deserting the Night's Watch, leading to her being blinded as a punishment (note: this may happen at the end of the season as punishment for killing Trant). After a few episodes of blindness, Arya will earn her eyesight back and be assigned a mission related to Mace Tyrell's mission to the Iron Bank, leading her to kill Meryn Trant, partially for her mission as a Faceless Man, but mostly as revenge for killing Syrio Forel. Her season will either end with the murder of Meryn Trant or with the fallout of that murder, seen from the perspective of Mace Tyrell or in Jaqen reprimanding Arya for violating the rules of the Faceless Men.
Next Week - Cersei Lannister
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