Theories may be the wrong word, but I've seen it discussed elsewhere.
I think what ASOIAF shows us that this whole "rightful heir" business is highly problematic. Stannis is Robert's rightful heir, but Robert only had any right by conquest. Daenerys is Aerys' heir, and in a long line of succession Aegon the Conqueror's - whose only right was also by conquest. Technically, neither of them is more rightful than the other. They're both the heirs of people whose only "right" was having the more powerful army and killing all their rivals. Also, IF Aegon is real, Daenerys is not the Targaryen heir to the throne, Aegon is. I really hope that Aegon is real, because I'd love for Daenerys to have to deal with NOT being the rightful heir. I'm really curious what she'd do (probably just marry him, but that'd be boring).
I don't think Stannis wants power, I don't think he wouldn't bend the knee because he's greedy for the throne. I think he wouldn't bend the knee because right now he's operating in a logic in which the Baratheons are the rightful rulers of the Seven Kingdoms, not in a logic in which the Targaryens are. Similarily, Robb Stark and the other Northerners used the logic that nobody has the "right" to rule the Seven Kingdoms, but the North belongs to the Starks.
I hope you're right. I meant by cliché ending Daenerys coming back, winning the throne and ruling. That'd be cliché.
To me the storyline felt complete: his rise to power as Hand in ACOK, his success (defending King's Landing and basically destroying Stannis' army), and then his fall from power. The short moment of hope - Oberyn offering to fight for him - but it doesn't work out and Oberyn dies. It's a classical tragic story arc, and it felt complete. Were all issues resolved? Of course not, but how many people die with all issues resolved in their lives? Robb, Renly, Ned, Viserys, Catelyn, all of these people had unresolved issues in their lives and they still died; that's not a reason. Tyrion getting away after murdering his own father and completing a really beautiful tragic story arc for which his completely unjustified death would have been an amazing ending ... it feels cheap. I think Tyrion's death would have made for a better story, and I'm saying this as someone who really liked Tyrion before ADWD and loved reading about him.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2011-10-03 12:17 am (UTC)I think what ASOIAF shows us that this whole "rightful heir" business is highly problematic. Stannis is Robert's rightful heir, but Robert only had any right by conquest. Daenerys is Aerys' heir, and in a long line of succession Aegon the Conqueror's - whose only right was also by conquest. Technically, neither of them is more rightful than the other. They're both the heirs of people whose only "right" was having the more powerful army and killing all their rivals.
Also, IF Aegon is real, Daenerys is not the Targaryen heir to the throne, Aegon is. I really hope that Aegon is real, because I'd love for Daenerys to have to deal with NOT being the rightful heir. I'm really curious what she'd do (probably just marry him, but that'd be boring).
I don't think Stannis wants power, I don't think he wouldn't bend the knee because he's greedy for the throne. I think he wouldn't bend the knee because right now he's operating in a logic in which the Baratheons are the rightful rulers of the Seven Kingdoms, not in a logic in which the Targaryens are. Similarily, Robb Stark and the other Northerners used the logic that nobody has the "right" to rule the Seven Kingdoms, but the North belongs to the Starks.
I hope you're right. I meant by cliché ending Daenerys coming back, winning the throne and ruling. That'd be cliché.
To me the storyline felt complete: his rise to power as Hand in ACOK, his success (defending King's Landing and basically destroying Stannis' army), and then his fall from power. The short moment of hope - Oberyn offering to fight for him - but it doesn't work out and Oberyn dies. It's a classical tragic story arc, and it felt complete. Were all issues resolved? Of course not, but how many people die with all issues resolved in their lives? Robb, Renly, Ned, Viserys, Catelyn, all of these people had unresolved issues in their lives and they still died; that's not a reason. Tyrion getting away after murdering his own father and completing a really beautiful tragic story arc for which his completely unjustified death would have been an amazing ending ... it feels cheap. I think Tyrion's death would have made for a better story, and I'm saying this as someone who really liked Tyrion before ADWD and loved reading about him.