Looking Forward Season 4, Part 3: The North Remembers

Oz of Thrones:  I’m still pissed.  Authoring this chapter of Looking Forward S4 has brought back to the forefront all of my memories of an event that will inevitably never vacate my being.  Emotion and anger….. and over a freakin’ TV show nonetheless!  I guess I should grow up.  But I refuse, and I am not alone. The North Remembers, and we will never forget.

Fear not, my fellow companions of WiC…… I am not here to analyze and dissect the RW for the 85,457^th time.  It would prove very unkind of a man to subject a bunch of good, happy people to reliving a tragic, horrible event while attempting to enjoy a weekend.  House Oz promotes optimism in lieu of pessimism.  So read forth without sorrow, for you are safe…

Again, I am not here to rehash the RW.  I would just as soon be flayed by Ramsay than have to relive it in words or on screen or otherwise (ok, maybe that is a bit extreme, but you get the point).  Regardless, what I do want is reckoning.  Robb could have made better decisions.  Cat could have held Jaime captive.  The probabilities are endless as to how things could have had a better ending for the King in the North.  But that is not how it was written, and we are left waiting for some sort of redemption.  How long will we wait?  Is there even redemption in the world of GRRM?

Please don’t misunderstand the intent…. I am not a good guy/bad guy kind of guy.  The nature of good vs. evil could unleash an argument that lasted until March of 2014 about why certain Houses are perceived as good and why some are bad.  Much of that discussion would be highly subjective.  However, deep within me lies a weakness for the victory of the underdog (or in this case, the underwolf).  This could possibly explain my fixation with American college football and why Ozzette can’t get me off of the couch on Saturdays in the Fall: there is always an underdog.  The odds are against them. Their opponent is almost always stronger and faster.  Their field generals are often well-versed and better prepared.  Their gear is sometimes shinier and sturdier.  Their game plan is more rehearsed.  And they usually have more experience in leadership positions.

But even against those odds…… sometimes, every now and then, the underdog prevails.  This is why I root for what is left of the Starks.  Here are the Underwolves, accompanied by their respective Starksitters:

Rickon

Status: Currently in the care of a Wildling.

Future:  Headed to the Umbers with Osha, Rickon has been the least talkative on screen of all other House Stark members.  Show viewers really don’t know much about him except for the fact that he is quiet and looks to brother Bran as to what he should do next.  Getting sent off to the Umbers broke his heart, but it is seemingly a smart move by Bran considering where he is headed.

Odds of Killing a Lannister: 10%.  Osha mentions that the Umbers are great warriors and will teach Rickon how to swing a sword.  I hope this is true.  My wish would be for Rickon to emerge in later years as a great warrior as I do not expect to see much of him or Osha in Season 4.

Sansa

Status:  Currently in the care of a Lion.

Future:  Difficult to speculate on where our dear Sansa is headed.  Sooner or later, Paw Paw Tywin is going to push the issue for a grandson/granddaughter, and here is where desperation may run its course.  At this point, I think it is safe to say that we won’t see Tyrion and his young wife honeymooning in Dorne anytime soon.

Odds of Killing a Lannister (or Joff): 30%.  Sansa does not translate on screen as a potential harm to anyone, and maybe this is a blessing to her as she comes across to her captors as a soft, heartbroken young girl.  Sansa could surprise us all.  I upped the odds on Sansa over Rickon simply because she resides in the Lion’s Den and opportunities may present themselves.  After all, she did contemplate pushing Joff over the edge at the end of Season 1.  That being said, when the time comes I think Sansa opts for escape.      

Bran

Status:  Currently in the care of a Hodor.

Future:  Journeying beyond the wall with winter coming and White Walkers roaming the streets would likely not be the deceased Ned’s recommendation for Bran. But as Bran stated in the tower during the Hodor thunderstorm, Jojen hasn’t been wrong yet.  While others are running to the wall to escape, Bran, Hodor and the Reed kids are off to find the three-eyed raven with dragon glass in their pockets.  Let’s hope that there is a huge payoff for the chance they are taking.

Odds of Killing a Lannister: 80%.  Even in his crippled state, it’s obvious that Bran has got some special powers at his disposal.  Assuming he survives the beyond-the-wall adventure (I know, assume nothing), warging into a human could be quite beneficial on a field of battle.  Of course, this speculation is also based on the assumption that Hodor is not the only human Bran can warg.            

Arya

Status:  Currently in the care of a Hound.

Future:  All we really know is that she is with Sandor and they are going somewhere, hopefully killing more Frey bannermen along the way.

Odds of Killing a Lannister: 95%.  Considering the tutelage of the people Arya has come in contact with over the course of her journey, she is being cultivated into becoming one hell of a warrior princess.  Think about these names alone:  Ned, Syrio, Gendry, Jaqen, Anguy, and now the Hound, not to mention her brothers and whoever else may have trained her while growing up in Winterfell.  Remember, she could shoot an arrow better than Bran in Season 1. And we can’t forget the words of the Red Woman when she and Arya briefly met during the Gendry trade…..

Melisandre: “I see a darkness in you.  And in that darkness, eyes staring back at me.  Brown eyes. Blue eyes. Green eyes.  Eyes you’ll shut forever.  We will meet again.”

I love powerful women, and Arya is on her way to becoming one.

Jon Snow

Status:  Currently in the care of Crows.

Future:  Let’s save this one for the Night’s Watch Part, shall we?

By the way, any chance that Benjen Stark is still alive?  As usual, don’t answer that.

**Disclaimer: Odds and percentages noted above are simply personal guesstimates and are not scientific in nature.  They are for entertainment purposes only.  In other words, don’t bet the house on them.  You will lose.          

 Overall Thoughts:  Although Season 3 ended harshly on the Starks, there is some room for hope that all is not lost for the great House of the North.  Somehow, the Stark kids are going to have to survive for a while to give them time to grow and refine their skills if there is any chance of regaining the North, and that is always easier said than done.  Remember that Ramsay knows that the Stark boys are alive.  Ramsay is connected to Roose.  Roose is connected to Tywin.  And Tywin will want them eliminated since Sansa is considered the key to the North.  Damn you Paw Paw!

Unsullieds….. what are your thoughts on the Starks?  Sullied….. feel free to chime and give your thoughts or just say hello, but NO TAGS, NO BOOKS, NO SHOES, NO SHIRT, NO SPOILERS!!!

Personal Notes:  On the last installment (Part 2), there were a few unkind book readers who felt the need to insert certain book facts about Stannis which could have been detrimental to myself and the Unsullied readership at WiC.  Luckily, I was away from the site for an extended period of time and don’t think I was subjected to any of it.  I understand that these speculative posts can be quite tempting, but I respectfully ask you to refrain from such acts in the future.  With that being said, the vast majority of the Sullied here are overwhelmingly respectful of the non-book readers and even help in protecting our virginity.  For that, I will always be appreciative.

On another note, last night I was fortunate enough to meet three fine gentlemen who are big fans of WiC and recently discovered that I was a contributor.  So, here is a quick shout out to Collier, Quinn, and Parker….. it’s always fun to hang out with people that love the show and enjoy discussing it, even if it involves a hangover the following morning.  Cheers fellas!….. and pass the Alka-Seltzer.

I shall return soon for Part 4 of our ongoing series.  Who shall we discuss next?  If you missed it, here are the first two:

Looking Forward Season 4, Part 1: Lysafinger

Looking Forward Season 4, Part 2: Stannis

As always, thanks for taking the time to check out my unrelenting obsession with the best show on television.  Enjoy the weekend, and may there be peace in your realm. –Oz

“Unbowed.  Unbent.  Unsullied.”

• Published on 07/26/2013 at 11:07 AM CDT
• Last updated on 10/21/2016 at 12:01 PM CDT