silverducks
My Random Fandom Musings
Once there was a boy from the sea, who fell in love with a girl from the desert.
But he wondered if a boy from the sea and a girl from the desert could ever survive together. He feared that she might burn him alive or that he might drown her. Until finally he stopped fighting it and set himself on fire for her.
~Amani and Jin, Hero at the Fall, Rebel of the Sands book 3
by Alwyn Hamilton
Hi! I'm from the UK and this blog is just a random mix of my thoughts and feelings of various fandoms, stories and ships I come across.
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At the moment my latest obsession is Game of Thrones and especially Jaime and Brienne, by far my favourite characters and relationship in the show. I’ve also got hooked on some great books this last year, including the Folk of the Air trilogy by Holly Black and the Rebel of the Sands Trilogy by Alwyn Hamilton. If you haven't yet read these amazing series, just stop everything you're doing and read them right now...
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Reblogging this, because it really is so true. Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but I don't think we ever really saw him just laughing and smiling around Cersei - even when things between them were meant to be ok.
I love how he looks at Brienne though, as if he can't really believe what's happening, or that she's really real, but it is and she is.
I really cannot wait to read in the future books as Jaime starts to consciously realise he's falling in love with her.
#Which is why Jaime's endgame is so darn nonsensical!
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So glad to see a slowed down gifset of this. It's one of my favourite little scenes, because I love how Jaime just totally can't help but notice Brienne. It's as if he just can't help but be pulled towards her. (Something we see a number of times with them, growing stronger as the show goes on).
It's over so quickly in this scene, but that it's there means a lot. Especially as the camera focuses on it for a reason.
Like Jaime is just minding his own business standing around in what is likely the same place for a while, looking kinda bored. And then suddenly Brienne walks past and Jaime stands to attention. Like he looks up and his eyes just follow her.
Then he moves, he walks a bit, seems suddenly restless and keeps on looking at her. He doesn't seem at all bored now, more like he's agitated and is not sure why. Like he wants to watch Brienne, but tries not to, but looks anyway.
And the last two gifs, with Jaime watching whilst Cersei and Brienne are talking... His expression is so telling, like he's uncomfortable, seems to know they're talking about him and he's watching and wondering and not at all happy. His lover/sister is talking to his friend and he's very uncomfortable about it. And that's because, imo, Jaime is starting to sense his attraction to Brienne and it's making him restless.
And Cersei, well, her look says it all. She's jealous and not very happy as she too seems to sense that Jaime is paying too much attention to that "cow."
On a side note, I find it really interesting that Jaime never told Cersei about saving Brienne. IMO, it shows how much he knows he can't really trust Cersei and that she would not at all like to hear he helped Brienne. Very telling that Jaime and Cersei don't have the healthiest of relationships and don't really understand or know each other as much as they think.
#I just love little scenes like this #The actors really gave J/B everything they could #Shame D&D were too into their icky twincest
JB Week 2017 - Day 2: Gold
S4E2 - The Lion and the Rose: cinematography appreciation
“[…] cinematography is more than the mere act of photography. It is the process of taking ideas, words, actions, emotional subtext, tone, and all other forms of nonverbal communication and rendering them in visual terms.” - (x)
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Yay! Another Mischief and Mistletoe
Can't believe it's been a decade of all the wonderful Sifki fics and fanworks
#Definitely need to catch up on Loki TV show in prep for this. #Like that gif and that Sifki is now CANON is just epic.
Mischief & Mistletoe 2021
Greeting Mischiefmakers! The leaves are starting to change colors and the air is getting crisper, which means Sifki is in the air. Here is a quick rundown of what the schedule for our 10th annual Mischief and Mistletoe Loki/Sif exchange will look like:
Sign-ups: October 15 - October 31
Assignments Out: November 1
Last Day to Drop Out: December 15
Assignments Due: December 22
Fanworks Posted: December 25
Author/Artist Reveals: January 1
We’ve updated all the Rules and FAQs with the new dates and our info. When sign-up go live on the 15th you can sign up here. 10 years of Sifki! Please help us spread the word to fellow shippers and start thinking about your most desired prompts. Follow this page for more updates and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask, we promise we won’t cut off your hair or punch you in the face!
- Ann and Amanda ( @psychoticgirl & @elizabethkween)
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Seriously, this ship and the way the show ended their story...
I don't think I'll ever be over it.
Such an amazing ship with soooo many different themes going on, amazing acting and out of this world chemistry for the two characters
Other than their end game, I don't think ships get much better than this for me.
#Although a nice ending for them in the books would definitely help #If we ever see the last two books
let me ask you a question...
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Love this drawing!
I totally see NCW as Jaime now that I'm reading the books, but I can definitely see this as a younger Jaime.
Love the expression he has and the shading too.
GOT wallpaper: Lannister Gold by ~McNealy
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Have I said before how much I adore the contrasts in their relationship.
They have grown so far and so much as the series developed and it was incredible to see.
And that the three things Jaime was ridiculed for, Kingslayer, Oathbreaker, Man without Honour, were all changed/proven untrue through his relationship with Brienne.
#These two #I'm still not over it #And what the show did to them
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I do love how much Bronn ships Jaime and Brienne.
I mean, he saw the way Jaime stared after her when she left Kings Landing, and Bronn's no fool.
My favorite lighter moment from the finale…
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And people still think Jaime and Brienne are only meant to be platonic...
I bet when they get married in the books (because only GRRM can prove me wrong on that) people are still going to think they married "as friends."
unbidden, his thoughts went to brienne of tarth…
jaime + thinking/speaking of brienne.
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You know what I love most about this, at first it's just a casual look, like, hey there Brienne. And then he kinda blinks and the heart eyes come and his casual glance has knocked him for six again.
And then that cute little smile at the end, like he's sooo dopey over her, it's adorable. And it's so natural and organic.
It's one of the things that visual media, like TV and films, has over books, much as I also love reading. All those little details like this, which no writer can always include, especially when there's lots of characters in a scene. Yet seeing these little details can have such an influence on the story and your impression of the characters. Like so much of the Jaime/Brienne ship in the show was all about these little moments, the little details, because they had way too little actual screentime together series 5-7.
#So glad we had such amazing actors for Jaime and Brienne #They made the ship so special despite D&D #And why it's so frustrating D&D had to screw it over #Imagine how it could have been #Sigh
the biggest heart eyes in all of westeros
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I don't even care this is a spoiler for Loki's TV show, which I haven't watched yet and so understand zero about the context.
I suspect when I know the context, it'll give me a lot to think about and I wonder how it will affect my Loki/Sif headcanons.
But I'm just here now for the fact that MCU Loki/Sif is canon. Actual canon! After over 10 years of shipping this, OTP of OTPs, we finally have payoff and validation!
#Just going to scream internally for a bit #Like I know I need to watch the show asap #But for now, I'm going to bask in understanding nothing but #SIFKI IS CANON!!!
Wow. So Natalie Holt confirmed in multiple interviews that Sif and Loki slept together. That's what the scene in episode 4 was about. I think a lot of us suspected this, because why else would he have access to her while she was sleeping??
"That scene with Sif, after he's cut off her hair after they've been together. He's not had an easy love life." [X]
"Loki seems to have a really terrible time connecting with love. And he's, you know, you see Sif. He's cut her hair off after they've had an evening together. And he struggles with love." [X]
No wonder Sif was so furious. They spend the night together and she wakes up to see that he cut her hair?? What the hell, Loki. Of course you never had a meaningful relationship before now.
I always headcanoned that he had unrequited feelings for her, making his rivalry with Thor even stronger. But this confirms it wasn't always so unrequited between Loki and Sif.
It's no wonder her insult was so personal. "You deserve to be alone and you always will be."
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I forget how perfect Amy and Rory are sometimes when so many other ships sink for awful reasons. I guess I remember the bad better than the good.
So when I see gifsets of the Ponds it warms my heart because they are so perfect and whilst their ending was so bittersweet, it was still them together, no matter what.
They went through so much, had their problems and ups and downs, but it was always Amy/Rory and they were so amazingly perfect for each other and that's just beautiful.
And I love that such a mainstream TV show took the trouble to not only develop such amazing characters, but build such an amazing and nuanced relationship between them.
Who By Elevens | Eleven Relationships
Amy Pond and Rory Williams - “So, you and me. We should get a drink some time.” “Okay.” “And married.” “Fine.”
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End of series 7, oh how I miss you. When there was so much hope and everything was starting to come together for the ship, finally finishing the journey they'd started on years ago.
Seriously, I cannot think of another slow burn romance as epic as this. This gifset shows how much their relationship grew and changed and flourished in such an amazing way.
Actually, they just need to stop Jaime/Brienne on the "Jaime has chosen to stay in Winterfell" bit and I'd've died happy.
But seeing this gifset, like they totally and delibrately set up Jaime and Brienne as endgame, and the actors did such an amazing job in expressing it all so well, only for D&D to throw it all away last minute.
Now I just have to stop any YT vids before they get to that nonsensical scene in series 8, episode 4.
#Still, it makes me convinced GRRM himself pushed for J/B #And I wonder if D&D screwed it over out of spite #As well as their icky Twincest kink#I just need the last books ok #So I can know the real ending
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@mary1andonly I love your endgame for Brienne, I'm adding that to my headcanon. And I may have checked the GoT map to see how how close Tarth is to KL. Totally doable :-)
It's interesting to hear there's lots more to Brienne in the books. I loved her on the TV show, but they didn't focus on her nearly enough as a character. I really can't wait until I get to meet all the character's properly in the books.
I'm glad book Bran is a good character. He's one of my favourites and like you, I always suspected he'd make a great Lord of Winterfell (I always knew Robb wasn't going to make it...) I've seen lots of theories about Bran becoming really evil, so I was getting worried. I was pretty disappointed how little D&D did or cared about Bran and his powers in the later series. You'd have thought with his endgame, they'd have at least tried. Oh well, I trust GRRM and really looking forward to learning more about how his power really works. I suspect that is one of the reasons they'll have him be King. The reason in the show was just weird...
And yeah, I really dislike the whole redemptodeath thing Hollywood loves. Sometimes it's ok, but usually it's just lazy writing. A character doesn't need to die to be redeemed. On the contrary, it's much better for them to carry on continuing to be a better person and do good deeds imho. That I think suits Jaime much better. Especially as I'm going with theory that not only the hand thing was his "punishment," but he's had his death already, metaphoricially anyway. And in the arms of the real woman he loves, Brienne of Tarth in series three's Harrnenhal baths. I do love the idea that was his "rebirth." And that's before we even know what LSH has in store for them...
My take on the end of the Weirwood dream is that it means Brienne will save him, as her twin sword still has flames. And it'll be during the battle with the Others too. Those swords have got to have a deepr meaning (and book Jaime will get Widow's Wail like show Jaime). And I think that's why the whole dream happened - so Jaime could rescue Brienne (sent by Bran imo as 3ER, so Jaime lived to be his Hand, but that might be reaching! LOL!)
Saying that, I did like the redemptodeath for Theon in the show (even if it's execution was silly). Sometimes it works, but for Jaime, it just feels like there's much more reason to keep him alive. I don't get the Night Watch thing either. Perhaps they'll be a reason they still need one, but for Jaime it's too similar to his series one KG role. And I've never thought of Jaime having much connection to the NW, not like he does with Bran. Tyrion is better matched to the NW and less to Bran.
Just need the books to come out now :-)
Hi! I read your recent Brienne & Jaime post & it was very interesting. Just wanted to say I'd love to hear your reasons for Jaime becoming Bran's Hand in the books. It's a theory I only read this week, as it's not discussed much, so curious on your thoughts. I love it myself. Maybe people just think Tyrion is default because of the show? Also, as only a show fan at the moment, I still love Jaime, Brienne & the ship, so luckily D&D didn't ruin them completely :-)
Hi! I’m so glad you enjoyed my post. And I’m really glad D&D failed in throwing away all the hard work GRRM put in in creating those two.
The first time that theory was presented to me, was thanks to this amazing post (maybe it was the same one you also saw?!). And later on, after I re read the books again, I found many hints about that theory being true.
Even though for now you’re only a show watcher, you probably have heard or read about how Book!Tyrion is descending into a darker path. And people don’t say that lightly. From the moment he brutally raped a slave in ADWD, I knew he wasn’t going to have the same sort of ending he got in the show (I only started reading the books after s8 wrapped up). In the show, Tyrion never did anything so horrible and disgusting, he stayed more or less the same character throughout all seasons, and D&D felt comfortable in giving him what we can probably call a happy ending. In the books tho, where Tyrion is slowly but surely following Tywin’s footsteps in becoming ruthless, Jaime is going into the opposite direction…(hence why I think D&D simply picked the other Lannister to become Bran’s Hand in the show, compared to the books)…
Continua a leggere
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Is it bad how much I just LOVE this scene. I'm not sure if it's because Jaime is all Brienne>>>>>>>>>Cersei and she notices, or just that look on Jaime's face as he gets caught staring at Brienne. It's like not only a "oh no" but a "blink, wake up from the daydream" first :-)
#As much as I hate the endgame #The actors sure did all they could to help the ship to sail
Jaime gets caught looking at Brienne, full vid ;)
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Thanks for your wonderful reply and taking the time to explain. It's very interesting what you say about him already starting to develop the needed skills, especially if he's good enough to know to *not* do what Tywin would!
And I totally agree. Or at least that's what I'm 99% 90% sure of will happen, especially the Jaime and Tryrion endgame swap (well, I think Tyrion might get Jon's ending tbh).
More than anything, I just love the symmetry of starting Jaime pushing Bran out the window vs ending Jaime being his advisor. And all the Hand metaphors, LOL! Although I have a very show orientated view of Bran at the moment, so it'll be interesting if I change my mind on his character when I read the books.
I hadn't seen that post, so I'll definitely have a read. In fact I only read about the Jaime being Bran's Hand through a post about Tyrion becoming much darker in the books. Another thing I didn't know until last week too.
It'll be interesting to see how my opinions change or grow when I read the books - I'm hoping, as I'm a very slow reader - WoW will be out by the time I finish them.
More than anything, whilst I'm 99% sure we won't get Jaime and Brienne's show endgame, I just need the validation of reading it in the books. Also, most theories seem to kill Jaime off or, for some odd reason I don't get, have him join the Night Watch. So it's great to hear this much better endgame for him.
It's totally my headcanon now, thanks for sharing :-)
Actually, on that note, what would be your thoughts on Brienne's ending with Jaime as Hand? I kinda think LC of the KG *could* work, but only if they did allow her to marry Jaime too and it wasn't sworn for life, so they could both leave for Tarth when they're older or something. LOL! Maybe a bit too Disney like? Still, they are Beauty and the Beast :-)
Hi! I read your recent Brienne & Jaime post & it was very interesting. Just wanted to say I'd love to hear your reasons for Jaime becoming Bran's Hand in the books. It's a theory I only read this week, as it's not discussed much, so curious on your thoughts. I love it myself. Maybe people just think Tyrion is default because of the show? Also, as only a show fan at the moment, I still love Jaime, Brienne & the ship, so luckily D&D didn't ruin them completely :-)
Hi! I'm so glad you enjoyed my post. And I'm really glad D&D failed in throwing away all the hard work GRRM put in in creating those two.
The first time that theory was presented to me, was thanks to this amazing post (maybe it was the same one you also saw?!). And later on, after I re read the books again, I found many hints about that theory being true.
Even though for now you're only a show watcher, you probably have heard or read about how Book!Tyrion is descending into a darker path. And people don't say that lightly. From the moment he brutally raped a slave in ADWD, I knew he wasn't going to have the same sort of ending he got in the show (I only started reading the books after s8 wrapped up). In the show, Tyrion never did anything so horrible and disgusting, he stayed more or less the same character throughout all seasons, and D&D felt comfortable in giving him what we can probably call a happy ending. In the books tho, where Tyrion is slowly but surely following Tywin's footsteps in becoming ruthless, Jaime is going into the opposite direction...(hence why I think D&D simply picked the other Lannister to become Bran's Hand in the show, compared to the books)...
Losing his right hand, his sword hand, put a stop into whoever he was, or what he (and us initially) thought he was: a ruthless warrior. Initially, when he had to deal with the Riverrun situation in AFFC, after he lost his hand, he tried to follow in his father's footsteps, but it's just not something that came easily for him. Book!Jaime's naturally able to be respected and beloved even by kids who are supposed to be his hostages. He's slowly becoming someone who can very well be a respectable political presense...which it's something he NEVER wanted to be.
I've noticed that GRRM likes to tease future events by making his characters claim the opposite. One example I always think about is Bran's "I never fall", right before he went and fell from the Tower (yeah, I know he technically didn't "fell" on his own, he was pushed, but still). And the same thing happens to Jaime, the guy that started his POVs thinking nothing bad could happen to him now that he was going to KL... I've mentioned in my original analysis, that the fact Cersei first asked Jaime to become the Hand barely seconds before Jaime pushed Bran (changing the course of their lives) is something that always got my attention. And in the following books, when Jaime and Cersei got POVs, we saw this happen time and time again: Jaime being asked to be the Hand (by Cersei or others, he was asked to become the Hand a suspiciously amount of times.) and always refusing, because he doesn't think he could be anything but a warrior, because he's not interested in politics and because he doesn't think he could be good at it. Unfortunately for Jaime, GRRM loves to prove his characters wrong, about what they want and what they think of themselves, like Brienne being coinvinced she could never find love or become a mother, Martin wants to prove her wrong. And like it's stated in the post I linked, GRRM thinks the best political figure is the one who doesn't want it, the one that understands the burden that comes with it.
I also think it could be a good thematic finish to Jaime's storyline to end the books by completely redeming himself from his fist villainous act. We, of course, don't know what the state of Westeros could be by the end of ADOS, and what Bran being King could actually mean. But I love the parallel between Jaime as an Hand compared to his own father as an Hand. Where Tywin had to deal with a Mad King, while Jaime could form a cool partnership with someone who wants the best for people.
I'm sorry if this ask turned out to be another long rant. Sometimes I just can't help myself.
I hope this can help you, even just a little bit, and I'd love to also read your opinions on it :D
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I think one of the things I like most about this gifset, is it really highlights what Jaime's feeling. He doesn't want to look at Brienne (which is unique in itself, considering how much he was staring at her earlier in the scene).
He keeps on turning his head slightly as they talk, but he can't do it. He can't face her, because he knows he's let her down. He knows he's chosen the wrong side and doesn't want to face her judegement and disappointment. Ever since series three, Jaime has wanted and strived to achieve Brienne's good opinion and that last gif just sums it all up perfectly.
She makes him look at her, makes him not run from her and this bad decision they both know he's making. And you can see how much this pains him, how conflicted he is in that last gif. He doesn't want to let Brienne down, but he's 100% torn at this point - honour vs loyalty and, as Brienne rightly says, f' loyalty.
And, what does he do in his last scene of this episode, exactly that. He leaves Cersei and the dishonest and dishonourable choice she made, breaks free completely from her. He leaves her, this woman who he's been caught in the manipulative, toxic spider web of for most of his life. He leaves her and chooses to listen to Brienne, to follow Brienne.
Because he knows it's the right thing to do - to leave Cersei, for Brienne, and the honourable side in this war.
#Which is why his endgame in series 8 is sooooo frustrating #Just look at that last gif #At the final scene where he leaves Cersei #And try to convince me his endgame makes sense #Because it does not
Some things are too strange and strong to be coincidences.
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Jaime Lannister – A theory on his ending in the books
So, as you can probably tell from my blog, I’m not quite yet over the ending of Game of Thrones, which I binged watched and finished about a month and a half ago now.
The main issue is the ending, or the last 3 episodes to be more precise, where so many things didn’t make a whole lot of sense. The main one being, for me, how the story ended for Jaime Lannister.
So, whilst writing all my super long character analysis for Jaime is definitely helping, (I’m about half way through the next one), I’ve also been reading about possible ways his story could go, and how it might end in the books.
And today I came across a theory I really, really like. It’s become my new headcanon for what will happen in the books and I’ve added a mix of other theories I’ve read to it as well.
Now, show and book spoilers beneath the cut.
First off, I’d like to say I haven’t yet read the books, so this post is based on the show and what I’ve read happens in the books. None of these theories are my own, but I’ve combined them all together in a way that actually makes a lot of sense to me. So until the books prove me wrong – or I come across an even better theory, this is my new headcanon.
(I don’t have any links as they’re random posts/comments etc I’ve found on the net on my phone, but I’m not claiming these ideas as my own, just putting it all together, so I hope the lack of links to source is ok.)
So without any further preamble, the theory is that Jaime and Tyrion’s story arcs and endgame in the book were reversed in the show. This would mean that the main plot points the writer, George R.R. Martin (GRRM) told the screenwriters (D&D), were swapped around between the two characters.
That would mean that it would be Jaime who became the hand of the King, not Tyrion, and Jaime who put forward the idea of the Bran becoming King.
And I love this theory, because it would be such a fitting end for Jaime. And below I will explain why.
Firstly, the idea of Jaime becoming the Hand of the King for Bran is a wonderful final step in his character arc – he’s gone from throwing this kid out of a tower to try and kill him, to serving as his main advisor, trusted with the power and command of the King. Jaime and Bran’s character arcs are already connected, much more than Tyrion’s ever was, and for the similar reason why Bran gave it to Tyrion, he could give it to Jaime – in fact it makes more sense!
And rather than a redemptodeath for Jaime, he doesn’t have to die, and can instead have a fulfilling life, continually making up for past wrongs as the Hand, and with the real love of his life, Brienne. She could still be Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, as per the show, but married to Jaime (they’d change that outdated celibacy/non marriage rule easily enough), giving her a much more satisfying ending. And why does Jaime have to die? He’s atoned for his past wrongs, lost that darn hand that (symbolically in the show), did push Bran out the window, and it doesn’t serve any other higher story telling purpose… And by becoming the Hand of the King, after he lost the hand that hurt said King, is even more symbolic.
I know Jaime has refused to be Hand before, but that was old Jaime. And if we assume Jaime continues on his road to self-betterment, then he can continue to learn and improve the skills that would make a good Hand. He’s becoming more honourable, but has seen enough of the world to know sometimes there’s a conflicting choice (unlike Ned in series one). He’s been learning to rely on his own wits and brains much more since he can’t now just fight his way out of everything – and is proving pretty smart. He is proving to be a good commander of the army and has been a Lord Commander for the Kingsguard. And has enough Lannister cunning, but with actual mercy and honour, to make it work. A stark King with a Lannister Hand!
Imagine, ending the very first episode of the show with Jaime pushing Bran out that window, to ending with Jaime by his side, advising (and also of course) protecting him. How good is a full circle/reflection piece for Jaime as that!
And in a similar vein, Jaime can be the one to put forward to the council of Lords (I assume something similar happens in the books, but much better written), that Bran should be King. That being the all-knowing Three Eyed Raven means he’s a good match. And surely the other Lords would more likely listen to Jaime – who is a good commander – than Tyrion, who hasn’t really won over many of the Lords in Westeros. After all, he was sentenced to death for killing a King (they don’t know it was a set up), and also killed his father and escaped. He’s been in a foreign land serving a foreign (to them anyway) ruler who has just sacked their Capitol city. Doesn’t it just make so much more sense that they’d listen to an alive Jaime? Yes he killed the King too, but he also did a lot of other good stuff as per his redemption arc etc.
Anyway, I just think it makes more sense – and then the Kingslayer Jaime, becomes the Kingmaker Jaime – again another wonderful full circle arc for him.
So, from a storytelling theme, symbolism and arc perspective, I think it just makes so much sense!
But when you also look at the show itself, in comparison to the books and where the show sort of went wrong, it makes more sense too.
So, just to give a bit of background on it, the theory I read today about Jaime and Tyrion’s role reversal was in a post mainly looking at how Tyrion’s character seems to be going in a very different direction in the books versus the show.
The idea is that book Tyrion is in a much darker place in the books than show Tyrion, and this, in the upcoming books, could continue. This could send book Tyrion down a difficult, morally dark path, which could result in him becoming more of a villain type character, perhaps taking on more and more of his father’s bad traits. This makes sense to me, as Tyrion was most like his father and was certainly cunning. And where the books start to properly deviate from the show, after series four, Tyrion could go either way. He has just killed his father and his lover. And in the books he also falls out with Jaime when Jaime tells him the truth about his first wife (that she wasn’t a whore like Tywin said). Being in this foreign land with all these dark thoughts and deeds haunting him, I can definitely see him turning into more of a bad guy.
So, basically, a completely different story arc for Tyrion.
In terms of his endgame? Well, if he’s swapped with Jaime’s then I guess it means he might die. Maybe after killing Cersei, hence them dying “together.” Or at least be punished such as sent to the Wall or something. I don’t think GRRM said either Lannister brother actually dies in Cersei’s loving arms, so I’m guessing they took some differences in both Jaime’s and Tyrion’s endgame, if the theory is correct.
And I’m tempted to believe it is, because it helps explain Tyrion’s kind of dodgy characterisation in the later series of the show. He just wasn’t really the same after series four, which at the time, I just put down to D&D not being clever enough writers to write a clever character such as Tyrion. But with this theory, it actually makes more sense. Tyrion was such a fan favourite character in the show, the underdog, clever, snarky good guy, I can understand why D&D didn’t want to take him down this other, darker path. In the books, there’s much more time and details and PoVs to make it work, whereas the show would struggle, especially against such a popular fandom character.
It also explains why Jaime never told him the truth about his wife, or they had their big fall out in the show.
And by changing Tyrion’s story arc so much, they didn’t really know what to replace it with (I think we all agree D&D are not the best writers), so his characterisation was not only off in later series, but it meant they took Jaime’s end game and gave it to Tyrion instead. And this further makes sense as they might have thought having just Cersei (a female) the only bad Lannister at the end was too much, especially when one of the other main female characters, Dany, was also going bad. So, they made Jaime “hateful” in the end to better match and even out Cersei, because it was supposed to be Tyrion…
(I do think D&D were also unhealthily obsessed with Cersei and Twincest, so they probably thought it have them an extra good reason.)
And there’s a really good reflection in this between the two brothers – Jaime starts out the villain, but ends up the underdog hero, Tyrion starts out the underdog hero, but ends up the villain.
But, in changing Tyrion’s character, if indeed it does, it then also has a knock on effect for so many other things.
The theory also said that he might negatively influence Dany, when they meet. For example, help to slowly bring out her suppressed mad/dark side, encourage her to take Kings Landing (which the theory points out Tyrion actually ends up hating because of how the people there view him.) So perhaps if Tyrion’s influence is so vengeful in the books, maybe’s Dany’s own turn to madness makes much more sense. And the lack of Tyrion’s negative influence in the show, undermines this. And this could then make Jon’s decision to have to kill her much harder etc.
So, I do think it’s quite possible, looking at Tyrion’s side, that they gave him a very different story arc, and so had to swap it up with Jaime’s endgame.
The show has certainly mixed and matched up characters from the book, so this would help explain why the main beats are still GRRMs, but why they didn’t just work for some of the characters. So not completely made up and ruined, but they just weren’t able to make the pieces fit together properly in their changed version. (And I do think they could have easily done a much better job, so I’m not letting D&D off the hook.)
Now, back to Jaime, because as much as I love all the characters, I’ll be honest, it’s only really Jaime and Brienne who I obsess enough over to properly theorise about.
Why do I think this works so well for Jaime? Well, first off, the whole him dying in Cersei’s arms just does not make any sense at all to me (hence all my super long posts about it). Especially if we take into account how over Cersei show Jaime seems in series 8, until that scene in episode 4. He behaves like he’s completely cut ties with her, fallen out of love with her and has fallen truly in love with someone else instead – Brienne. This is even more obvious in the books, where Jaime actually burns Cersei’s letter where she’s begging for help. And when he looks back on it later, he’s dreading retuning to Kings Landing and facing her. In fact, he thinks that Cersei might well die, but there’s nothing he can do anyway and perhaps she deserves it. Granted we do have 2 more books to go, but this is like the complete opposite of his ending in series 8, that I think it’s highly unlikely it was meant to happen in the books. A LOT of stuff would have to happen for book Jaime to change his mind now.
But as they gave Jaime’s ending to Tyrion, as per our theory, then what do they do with Jaime? Well, why not have him die in Cersei’s arms and fulfil their Twincest fix. Have Jaime be the bad brother Lannister, not Tyrion.
In fact, I don’t think D&D knew what to do with Jaime either, as he changes so abruptly in the show. It’s like they had to try to cover Jaime’s actual plot points from GRRM (which I’d assume were things like fighting the dead, getting together with Brienne), but then suddenly have him change his mind and rush back to Cersei... Also, as much as I loved Jaime in early series 8, he doesn’t really do anything pivotal. If you take him out of the equation and have him never even in series 8, the actual storylines all stay the same anyway. So, for me, this further adds weight to the idea that, in swapping Jaime’s endgame with Tyrion, they were left with the same problem, what do we then do with Jaime?
It’s like other aspects – they try to change one thing, but by changing that, it affects everything else so what you’re left with doesn’t make sense for the characters.
Now, so far I’ve talked mainly about the show, because overall I do think the main plot points in the show will happen in the books. And if you consider the role reversal between Tyrion and Jaime, it makes more sense why what happened did happen (which makes no sense in the show story itself).
But this is where I start to tie the various theories I’ve read together – it also makes a lot of sense in the books, for Jaime to not die, but instead be Bran’s Hand.
Other than the wonderful symmetry we’d get, as mentioned above, there’s a few things that happen in Jaime’s arc just in the books that make it even more possible, which I’ll talk about now.
So, most of this comes from Jaime’s fever dream, or also called his Weirwood dream. Now, there’s lots of analysis on this dream on the net, and there’s lots of ideas, some conflicting, of what it could mean. It’s not all relevant to this particular theory, so I’ll just summarise it. Basically, in the books, Jaime doesn’t go back to save Brienne from the bear straight away. Instead he travels quite far away with Bolton’s men, and goes to sleep on, what we assume, is a Weirwood stump. At the same time, Jaime is also suffering from a fever due to his hand becoming infected. Now, that means he’s potentially delirious, but also the dream is potentially prophetic. The Weirwood trees are those magic trees that Bran uses to have visions and to find the first Three Eyed Raven. I’m sure there’s more about them in the books as well. But it’s this potential for it being prophetic that I’m most interested in here.
Ok, so the dream starts a bit like a nightmare – Jaime is led somewhere underground that’s dark and feels dangerous by lots of ghosts. He first assumes it’s under Casterly Rock, and indeed he thinks he’s surrounded by the ghosts of the Lannister family. He’s scared and naked (eg vulnerable) and his father, sister and Joeffrey come. Cersei is holding a torch – the only light in the world for Jaime, but they leave and Jaime is left scared again in the dark. Before they go, he begs them for a sword, which Tywin says he gave him, and he begs Cersei to not leave him. Jaime finds a sword and as he touches it, the blade flames blue, providing some light. Now, a lot of analysis on this part of the dream tie it to Jaime’s metaphorical death, (ie of the old Jaime going to Hell) or breaking away from his family so they leave him. The light of Cersei’s going out, and instead a new light on Jaime’s sword coming, could also then symbolise that he’s breaking away (or about to) from Cersei and finding himself, his own light, instead. I also think, as we know Tywin and Joeffrey die later in the books and show, that it’s also foretelling their deaths. Which means it’s likely that Cersei dies before Jaime in the books, hence why he leaves her and he can’t follow. So this firstly means Jaime can’t die in Cersei’s arms.
Now, the next bit of the dream gets interesting, because who shows up next, after Cersei and his family has gone? Brienne of course! She appears (also naked) and Jaime imagines she looks not only more like a woman now, but also that in the light she could also be beauty, and a knight. This is generally taken to show Jaime’s growing (and so far subconscious) attraction to Brienne – and that he sees her as both a warrior and a woman. Now she asks for a sword, and also asks to be able to keep him safe, as she has pledged this and must keep her oath. A sword appears and Jaime gives it to her, and it also starts burning with blue flames.
Now, I think these two swords represent Oathkeeper (the one Jaime gives to Brienne in series four) and Widow’s Wail, which Jaime gets after Tommen dies in series 7. And these are two Valyrian steel swords that were from the melted down sword Ice, which used to be Neds. Now, I don’t think this is coincidental, but again I’ll come back to this.
Brienne is there to help protect Jaime, but she also asks him what’s down in this dark place (which may or may not still symbolise Casterly Rock or another place). Jaime says doom, and Brienne is worried it’s a bear (foreshadowing her being in the bear pit later). We hear, but don’t see Cersei saying that if the flames go out, Jaime will die.
In the next part of the dream ghostly, mist like figures appear and Jaime recognises them as his former Kingsguard and then Rhaeger, the heir to the throne before he was killed in Robert’s rebellion. These ghostly figures accuse Jaime of not keeping his oaths and seem about to attack. Jaime tries to plead with them and give his reasons, and Brienne is still there ready to defend him. These ghosts likely represent the internal guilt and self-hatred Jaime still has for killing the Mad King, but also for not saving Rhaeger’s own children, which were murdered on Tywin’s orders. As the ghost like figures continue to accuse Jaime, the flame on his own sword goes out, and the ghosts rush in, and then Jaime wakes up. As soon as he wakes up, pretty much, he demands Bolton’s men take him back to Harrenhal, where he then saves Brienne just like in the show.
Now, I read a lot of people saying this foretells Jaime’s death, that his flame goes out, but I disagree. I think the fact that Brienne has a matching flame, on a twin sword to his, means that Jaime doesn’t die – after all Cersei says flameS. Instead, I think this ending to the dream foretells that Brienne will actually save Jaime – that as long as she is alive, Jaime will also be.
Now, onto more foreshadowing theories from this dream – I think the ghostly, mist like figures also represent the White Walkers, and that him and Brienne are there facing them means that they will indeed (just like in the show) stand together to fight them in the books. As this has also happened after Cersei has left Jaime with his now dead father and son, I think it means she’ll already have died by this point.
I also think his guilt and the mention of Rhaegar’s children, which Jaime feels guilty about failing to protect, will also tie into Jon’s storyline. As the only surviving child of Rhaegar, I think once Jaime finds out, and Jon, Jaime will pledge himself to protect/serve Jon to make up for this guilt. I then think, based on this, that Jaime will effectively save Jon’s life in the battle with the White Walkers and then, Brienne will have to save Jaime’s. After all, she says in the dream she pledged to protect and save Jaime.
Now, the reason I think the end of the dream means Brienne saves Jaime, is not only because her flame keeps burning in the dream, but also because, as soon as Jaime wakes up, he decides he has to save Brienne. As we are going with the idea that this dream is prophetic from the Weirwood stump, it seems very important that Jaime rescues Brienne, so she can be there to fight with him. And what better reason than having to save him, when his own light (the sword flames) has failed?
And those swords – two halves of one whole, from Ice, the Stark’s sword. Turning into blue flames and helping them in the battle against the dead. Likely at or near Winterfell like in the show… When the books have a theory about a special sword called Lightbringer, wielded by the hero Azor Ahai to defeat the Others..
Soooo, perhaps this is really going into the realms of fan theory, but I definitely think that ICE could be Lightbringer, and that Brienne and Jaime, with Jon (who imo is the Azor Ahai character) will be imperative in helping to defeat the White Walkers. And that Jaime will fall in this battle, and Brienne will have to be there to save him so he doesn’t die.
Now, you might ask, what does all this random dream theorising mean for Jaime becoming the Hand of the King? Well, first of all I think it foreshadows that both Jaime and Brienne have a major part to play in the battle against the dead – much more than in the show. And that as Jaime is near death, it was super important for Brienne to be there to save him. And that it was super important for Jaime to give Brienne the sword Oathkeeper, and have Widow’s Wail himself – two halves of the same sword. So, all this must happen, and Brienne must save Jaime, which is why Jaime was given the prophetic dream in the first place. After all, if he hadn’t of saved Brienne, none of the above could go as it should…
And, this is where Bran comes in and this is more my own idea than anything else, so forgive me if I’m just not understanding the books properly. But as Bran himself sees visions through the Weirwood trees, which I suspect are due to them being sent either by the old Three Eyed Raven, or markers from Bran himself in the future, or perhaps fate or another unseen magical force. Then I wonder if the reason why Jaime was sent this vision, is because of Bran – and also the White Walkers. That Jaime had to help in the fight, but also had to be saved by Brienne. (Maybe even because it’s through his interactions with Brienne that he does become a better person and chooses to fight). And he had to be saved, because it was his destiny to be the Hand of the King to Bran. And also to save Jon so Jon can defeat the White Walkers. And that perhaps, this saving of Jon by Jaime is another reason why he is chosen as the Hand of the King.
I would also like to add in here, my other theories for book Jaime, which can lead him up to being Hand of the King, and tie up other loose ends in his story arc. So, the books and the show deviate a lot for Jaime after series four – he breaks away from Cersei much earlier and he’s currently off on an adventure in the Riverlands with Brienne in the books. A story arc not put into the show, featuring Lady Stoneheart (LSH). Now, she is a re-resurrected, zombie like version of Catelyn Stark, who is hell bent on revenge for the Freys and the Lannisters for the Red Wedding. She’s threatened Brienne with the death of Pod, unless she brings her Jaime. (At least that’s what most people infer from the books, it’s left open ended on a bit of a cliffhanger.
Now, my theory on this is that somehow Jaime and Brienne will have to fight each other in a trial by combat (echoed in the show itself by Brienne’s line about maybe having to fight Jaime). Of course they won’t be able to kill each other and will somehow be able to escape from, or kill Lady Stonehart.
So, why am I mentioning this? Well, GRRM himself has said he was disappointed they didn’t include the LSH plot in the show. Instead, D&D completely cut it out and sent Jaime to Dorne instead (as in series 5, which isn’t in the books). But for GRRM to say he wanted it in the show, makes me think there’s something very significant that is going to happen from it – either to the characters, or their relationship. Something which will later prove to be important in the rest of the story. This makes me think that Jaime and Brienne have a much bigger impact on the overall story arc than they were given in the show. And if it is more important, it makes the idea they’d have an important ending as well – Hand and LC of Kingsguard respectively – make more sense. And perhaps add more weight to the idea that Jaime HAD to save Brienne.
Now, after LSH, my idea is that Jaime will have to go back to Kings Landing and Cersei – but not in a romantic way. I think, like in the show, Jaime’s going to have a story arc that takes him on the role of commanding the Lannister’s forces against Dany’s when they get to Westeros. And if we assume Cersei does die before the battle with the undead, maybe this is also when Jaime kills Cersei – if he is the Valanqar, the one prophesised to kill Cersei. Or it could be someone else…
I then think the battle for Kings Landing will happen before that of the White Walkers, so Jaime then goes to help in the North, and catches up with Brienne again, who has been busy saving Sansa after her and Jaime parted ways (on good, but still unrealised and not yet acknowledged romantic terms) after LSH. I then think, like in the show, Jaime and Brienne will get together near the end, but this time not only will there be no Cersei for Jaime to rush back to (and throwing his character arc out the window like he does in the show), but he will still live to then become King Bran’s hand.
Of course, there’s still so many unknowns, and all, none or bits of this could happen, so I really hope we do get to see the last two books and find out what really happens.
But until then, I’m going to stick with the idea that Jaime marries Brienne, and becomes the Hand of the King and survives!
There, that’s the end of my theory – several all tied together really. I’d be interested to know what people think.
I know that my later reasons are more random ideas, but I do think, above all, the idea that Jaime is going to be the Hand of the King, not Tyrion, helps explain why the show didn’t really make sense for those characters (Jaime's 180 change at the end being the main one). But also just the wonderful symmetry of a redeemed Jaime fulfilling the role of Hand, for a King he once tried to kill, after he became a better person after losing his own hand…
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