Game of Thrones - Chapter 21-28

[Webster]

I'm bundling several chapters together because I missed commenting last week. Lots of goings on at the capital, with the Hands Jousting tournament and the scandals of the death of John Arryn and the proposed murder of Robert Baratheon. Ned is getting into a nest of vipers with all the problems he's dealing with. He keeps unraveling more and more problems. If people killed John Arryn and are attempting to kill Robert what is to stop them from killing Ned himself? I think he's going to be up against a rock and a hard place when he finds out that Catelyn has taken Tyrion hostage for the attempted murder of Bran. I'm not sure if Tyrion really did anything though. He's very good and making plausible excuses for why he's innocent. Do you think he tried to kill Bran?

Sansa is a real ray of sunshine in this dungheap of a world. She only sees things in simple terms. I was surprised by her interactions with Joffery. I thought he was a jerk until this chapter. From her view I can see how he could be seen as a gentleman but she's not very good at picking her friends. She blames Arya for most of her problems but that is usual with sisters. I thought it was a pretty touching moment with Sandor Clegane. I feel he is showing his good side to Sansa. She doesn't really deserve his interest.

Jon is such a stand up guy. He is helping all the downtrodden. Out of all the people in this series he is one of the most honorable. He obviously takes this from his father. The Starks are an honorable sort. I'm super impressed, at age 15 he's got more honor than the king of his country. He helps the little guy and treats all his compatriots with respect, as brothers. I'm excited to see where his story goes.

Bran is another wonderful character. His interpretations of his dreams make me wonder about his future. Why did the Raven tell him he could fly? Is that going to be something he will become? I've seen a lot of the tv series and the book seems to be pretty slow (similar to the series) They keep on saying Winter is coming but who knows when that will be. I feel like it's a tease. We'll have to wait till book 5 to see what is really going on. I can wait but it makes me frustrated to see so many people do terrible things and not get their comeuppance. In the TV series it seemed like the story was told from many different points of view, in the books we only see a few people's views. I keep on thinking that Cersei is an awful person and what is going on in her head but we never know.

Who is your least favorite character and who is your most favorite? When will winter come and will it actually be winter or a metaphor for death?