Robert’s Rebellion Series But In Keeping With GRRM’s “no King Pov Policy” We Watch Robert’s

I know this has probably already been done, but consider: A stereotypical trope-heavy sitcom family, but it turns out that all the annoying toxic clichés that seem to be in play are actually subverted in ways that are conversely wholesome.

Like a husband who keeps making morbid, almost sadistic Boomer Jokes about how much he hates his mother-in-law. Turns out that his wife's childhood was wildly abusive, and it is entirely reasonable of him to not forgive people who tortured the love of his life when she was a child. Wanting to throw that horrid old witch into a wood chipper is the least that he could do.

Town baker who's buff as hell from whisking every batter and kneading every dough by hand. And those who don't respect her at least have the common sense to fear her, because if you don't, she'll knead the air out of you, too. She's the first one in town to start selling gluten-free bread. Save for the one family who requested it from her, nobody in the town knows what the fuck gluten is. Nobody else is allowed to buy the gluten-free bread before she's made sure that this one family has gotten theirs.

Nobody else is entirely sure what gluten-free bread is, but if the baker says there's no fucking gluten in this bread, then that's final, that's all they know about gluten. Nobody knows how she takes it out of the bread, either, but the most popular theory is that she beats it out of the dough, somehow. She makes a dough and then beats the gluten out of it. Yeah, that's probably how these things work.

Once better information starts trickling into town, and people gain a better understanding of what celiac disease is and what gluten has to do with it. But the people do still agree that if anyone could beat the gluten out of bread, it would be their town baker.

knitting/chrocheting while hanging out with friends is so funny like everyone shut up for a few minutes i have to count to 115. twice

😭

From a narrative standpoint, Elia Martell's brutal death has two main consequences:

1. give nuance to Robert's Rebellion.

At first, Robert Baratheon and his allies seem to be in the right. They are supposedly the heroes who raised an army to depose the tyrant and pyromaniac king, as well as “rescue” Lyanna Stark from the “clutches” of Rhaegar. Like in a fairytale, the noble warriors go against the evil dragons.

Yet, as the story progresses, we find that's not the truth. The main warrior, namely Robert, is not noble and good. The supposed main evil dragon, Rhaegar, is not evil — he is actually a tragic figure, just as Lyanna is.

Just as Elia Martell is.

Her death in the sacking of King's Landing is one of the most brutal and unfair of the Rebellion. Thus, as readers, we ask ourselves: was it really worth it? The rebels were supposedly fighting against Aerys II's tyrany and ineptitude to rule, against the unfair and cruel death of innocents like Rickard and Brandon Stark. Yet here it is this woman who is coldly murdered; Robert laughs at the corpses of her children and rewards Tywin Lannister for his loyalty.

The question of “was it really worth it?” is posed by GRRM himself in an interview, when asked about Robert's Rebellion.

To sum it up, he wants his readers to reflect and arrive at their own conclusions. And he does pose the question: was the violence in Robert's Rebellion justified?

Well, one thing is for sure: he gives nuance to this happening. Elia's death, as brutal as it was, serves this purpose.

[Personally, I frown upon the brutalization of Elia and other female characters, but that's not what I'm discussing on this meta.]

2. putting Dorne into play.

Elia was the beloved sister of Doran Martell, the Prince of Dorne, and Oberyn Martell. After her death, they spend years, up until the timeline of the main series, planning their revenge against the Lannisters and their allies. That involves a Targaryen restoration as well (first with Viserys, now with Young Griff and Daenerys).

It is clear, thus, how Elia and what happened to her are the main motivators for Doran and Oberyn Martell. The Lannisters are their enemies and will pay for what happened to Elia and her children. The themes of vengeance and war are explored here, especially through Doran Martell.

He wants to avenge his little sister, yes; but he also hesitates. He knows the costs of war and is wary of it. Innocents always end up paying an unfair price.

In conclusion, Elia's death is not even about Rhaegar and Lyanna and their relationship. There are more layers to it.

Amazing work from @mimles on insta