[TV] HBO Game of Thrones - Page 23

Respond in spoiler please. I've read all the books, but just how many wolves are left at this point?

Cersei's defining attribute is her beauty. It's part of what makes her such an important tool at Tywin's disposal, it's part of what makes her a solid marriage choice. In fact, I'd argue a major point of her character is to illustrate the deceptive danger of beauty. Even Robert agrees she is beautiful, but he also states she's a witch. But beauty aside, what's even more important is the blonde hair and green eyes, that's the defining attribute of the Lannister twins. They are famous for it. She is supposed to resemble Jaime in every way. When they were young, they could pass for each other and even Tywin could not tell the difference. In part, they so love each other because they love themselves. That's pretty important.

Littlefinger's defining attribute is his height. In fact, he's named for it. His height is the principle attribute belying how deceptively dangerous and brilliant he is. In his duel against Brandon Stark for Catelyn's hand, the major difference was that Brandon was this huge, fiery, hotheaded jock and the young Petyr Baelish was just this short, skinny, tiny kid. In fact, when Catelyn runs into Littlefinger at King's Landing, she remarks how he hasn't changed really, in terms of height, since the last time they met, which was after the duel with Brandon that left Petyr Baelish a broken man.

One of Arya's defining attributes is her appearance. She uses it to pass for a boy many times. Catelyn remarks that when the Starks had visitors, people often confused Arya for a stableboy. Yoren recognizes this right away and uses it to hide Arya on the way back to Winterfell. Arya herself realizes this, she realizes people like Sansa more because she's beautiful and womanlike and Arya is just this tomboy kid who plays in the mud. She thinks that because of her appearance and other attributes, she's not very womanly, so she's surprised at being compared to Lyanna (even though the two have almost identical personalities), because Lyanna is widely known for being the most beautiful Stark.

Tyrion's defining attribute is also his appearance. He has been victimized, ostracized, demonized, all his life for his appearance. This only gets worse after the scars he receives in the Battle of the Blackwater. He is called the Imp because he is known for being horrifyingly hideous. He knows he will probably never get a woman to love him because of his appearance, so he retreats to empty passion with whores. His physical appearance is the principle attribute that has shaped and defined his entire life. Thus it's a valid concern for him to be portrayed by this very handsome actor in Peter Dinklage.

Finally, Jon's resemblance to Eddard is perhaps the most important thing about him because it's to emphasize how similar he is to Eddard. I'm venturing into REALLY deep territory now so beware of spoilers, anyone. Catelyn despises him for this (and for being a bastard). She remarks that Jon Snow, this bastard child with an unknown mother, more resembles Eddard Stark than the five other children she has borne him, of noble blood. Robb Stark, Eddard's rightful heir, more resembles a Tully than a Stark, and so do all of Catelyn's other children. Jon is supposed to be like, a second-generation Eddard. He loves Eddard as his father and is willing to abandon the Wall to avenge him after his death. Even after infiltrating Mance Rayder's camp he tries to stay true to his principles, very Eddard-like behavior (honor before reason). The point is Jon, of all of the Stark children, is the most Stark-like, which makes actually perfect sense if his mother is indeed + Show Spoiler +.

Littlefinger despises the Starks and in a way, masterfully engineers the downfall of the entire family as revenge for Brandon, and then later Eddard, winning over Catelyn from him.

Sansa's and Robb's are the only ones that are definitely dead. Arya's is run off, and if her dreams are to be believed, is heading up a huge pack of wolves prowling the countryside. Bran and Rickon still had theirs when last we saw them, as did Jon.