Team Jaime Lannister

So, like most people, I’m stoked for the Game of Thrones season seven premiere. I wrote this nifty little blog post in the show’s honor for work, and now, I’m feeling compelled to elaborate on my deep admiration for Jaime Lannister.

We’ve all watched the season seven previews/trailers (some of us multiple times!), which imply that the claim to the Iron Throne is coming down to Cersei (who, I’m sad to day, is most likely nearing the end of her days); Daenerys (whose power hungry antics have made her increasingly more unlikeable) and the obvious hero: Jon Snow.

Now, as much as I heart Cersei (call me crazy, I know, but I can’t help it…I adore her!), I know she’s not fit to rule. I can’t stand Daenerys. Though I realize that my issue with her lies more with the actress than the character, and I believe the character would have been better served by casting a dynamic actress who could have brought depth to the role. I’m so tired of her “I’m-so-tough” faces. You can SEE her acting and you should never be able to see actors acting.

And what’s not to love about Jon Snow? I’d be glad if the King in the North took the Iron Throne. Yes, he seems to be the obvious choice, but I think the show is going to throw us a curveball or two before the final episode. That being said,  I still stand by anytime I said that I would be happy to see Tyrion prevail.

However, as I’ve been re-binging seasons one through six in anticipation of season seven, I have found myself rooting for someone else to win the titular game: Jaime Lannister. Yes, I love the Kingslayer. But before I loved him, I hated him. Loathed him. I despised him immensely for the first two seasons (as did most viewers), then he got a humbling in the form of one of the cruelest acts ever carried out on any of the show’s characters. Then, he had that scene with Brienne in the bath in which he showed vulnerability and was therefore humanized. It was like a baptism of sorts for him as soon after, he began to change and in doing so, he grew on me (i.e. he went back to save Brienne from the bear, then later gave her his sword so she could keep her word and bring the Stark girls home). He officially won me over completely at the end of the season four finale when he helped Tyrion escape, and I’ve been hooked on the Kingslayer ever since.  In subsequent seasons, Jaime has won me over many times. The so-called “oath breaker” evolved into not just a man of honor, but also a man of his word. It’s wild that the Jaime most of us have come to love was the same man who pushed Bran Stark off the tower in the pilot episode!

Game of Thrones is known for its unpredictable twists and turns, and what could be a more perfect plot twist than not having one of the top contenders take the Iron Throne?  That’s why I’m rooting for the Kingslayer! I know I could be completely wrong about this as I have nothing to back this up other than my sheer fondness for the character…but I could also be right! And if not Jaime, then I’d love to see Arya rule the Seven Kingdoms.

I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I have at thing for the Lannisters (except Joffrey!).  Firstly, their emblem is a lion and I love lions. (If I wasn’t an Aries, I’d want to be a Leo….but we’re both fire signs, so I’ll take the ram!) As I mentioned, I love Cersei and I loved/hated Tywin. I know he was ruthless, but he was smart.  So smart, in fact, and I admired his brain.

Now, I know it seems like no one has a chance in hell against Dany dearest and her dragons, but I feel like there’s something out there that can stop them. Just like the childhood game rock-paper-scissors (scissors cut paper which covers rock which crushes scissors), there’s gotta be something in George R.R. Martin’s world that can prevail over them.

So, the countdown to 9pm EST on 16 July is on! I sadly won’t be watching the premiere in real time because of the time difference. It does air at 3am Italy time on Sky Atlantic, so I’ll be recording it, and I can’t wait to get out of bed Monday morning, the 17th, to watch it, like I did last year! A ritual that birthed some positive new habits.

I know the series is A Song of Ice and Fire, and I’ve only just touched upon the “fire” component, but this is my first foray into “TV writing,” so gimme a break, okay? 😉

Anyhoo, here’s to the Kingslayer!