Ned Stark was really bad at the Game of Thrones | A Song of Ice and Fire | Poor Eddard Stark

Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire are the books and TV Show that will be debated for years and years! One thing I didn't think was up for debate was that Ned Stark really sucked at the Game of Thrones. Ned Stark isn't a bad person, he's actually the most wholesome person in the story but Ned Stark was not a politician, not a good one! When Robert Baratheon made Ned Stark his hand of the King, Ned Stark was doomed! In this video I will go over the Politics of Eddard Stark and how exactly he lost the Game of Thrones! Thanks for Watching!
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Sources Used! ASOIAF Novels, GRRM's works HBO Series Game of Thrones, A **Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and A World of Ice and Fire, The Princess and The Queen (Dangerous Women) , The Rouge Prince (Rouges), The World of Ice and Fire App, Sons of the Dragon (Book of Swords)
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[@GrayArea]

Double Standards are coming.. which characters would you like me to compare first?

[@zachparrish4055]

Sansa, Cat, Dany, Theon

[@ieatzebraarah]

GrayArea I can't believe I'm even saying this but Stannis & Dany.

[@nikolajurican8704]

Do Catelyn video next

[@pierrelhommet1118]

@@ieatzebraarah Good idea, there is no reflexion on KZbin about the relation on Stannis and Dany.

[@samanthamorris5340]

Catelyn because she's such a complicated character. (I dont like her at all but I'm a try not to be biased here) On one hand, she is a caring mother, but she's also abusive to a motherless child. She likes to think of herself as open, but every thought in her head is judgement. Logic can be told straight to her face, and she will refuse to either believe it, trust it, or keep doing whatever it was she was doing. But there are still some great traits and damn that makes Martin such a rich writer.

[@Scrapluv]

Ned didn't seem like he trying to play the game. Like, at all. He was playing Uno at a chess game.

[@molliethomas2585]

That's the best analogy I've heard in a long time 😂👏👏👏👏👏 Bravo

[@janwouter5215]

Ned: "When can I use the reverse card?" Varys: ...

[@shaquanmonet]

Well said

[@silvertemplar8061]

Exactly. As he said that not taking the throne was not his greatest mistake.

[@startrek1992]

Eddard Stark did not try to play the Game of Thrones. He aimed for a solution that would not end in any casualties. Gave even Cersei a chance to escape. It was his mercy that led to his death. The same man hid the identity of Jon Snow from everyone and his strategies during wars shows that he was not stupid. He also treated smallfolk with respect, which works better than fear and caused to loyalty not seen oft.

[@houselorebridge]

“Just because you are critical of a character doesn’t mean you don’t like them.” THANK YOU! 👏🏻 I’m tired of having to reiterate that.

[@j.e.9737]

House Lorebridge thank you!

[@neuralmute]

@@j.e.9737 YES! Ned is the best person in the entire series, as far as being a good, honest, brave, kind, and honorable person, who lived completely by his moral code, and didn't deviate from it. Apart from being kind of stiff, Catelyn loved him as a good husband, the Stark kids and Jon loved him as a good father, and the people of Winterfell and the North in general all seemed to look up to him as an ideal Lord. All those qualities were exactly what spelled his doom in King's Landing. He was an idiot at intrigue. Which was sort of the point.

[@AntonyN]

People actually disagree with this? Ned’s honor is literally his intended character flaw.

[@thesciguy4823]

We disagree because Ned's plan is actually sound. The problem is he put his faith in his wife and trusted littlefinger when he previously hadn't trusted him. Cersei was lucky. Period. She rolled a 7; all other of the 1/6 possible outcomes she loses. His loss had little to do with his honor and more to do with an unlucky draw. Cersei's plan is stupid: get Robert Drunk and hope he gets mortally wounded; and for a guy who is always perpetually drunk...can you really bet that's going to happen?

[@AntonyN]

@@thesciguy4823 but that has to do with his honor, he had a chance to leave and return with an army with Renly but chose not to. The problem was because of his honor, he didn’t want to play dirty, and he assumed that others were just as honorable or would keep their word. If Ned played just as dirty as everyone else He’d likely be sitting on the throne.

[@thesciguy4823]

@@AntonyN Ned had all the leverage...there are smaller things he could have done like send Loras Tyrell (who wanted to do it) to arrest the Mountain instead of Berric Dondarrion, but that's using hindsight bias from our perspective of knowing how things end up; or send Ilyn Payne...but Ned's plan falls apart as soon as Cersei rolls a 7 on her first try. Ned Stark DID play dirty, just in a different way. He calls Tywin to court and sends men under the king's banner to arrest the mountain. He's guaranteeing that Tywin's bannermen will be labeled a traitor and puts Tywin in the same position his father Rickard Stark was. If Cersei doesn't roll a 7, Ned's plan is geniusly executed. Will all the planning/manipulation the Lannisters did they STILL had to rely on luck to win in this situation; which is a stupid plan.

[@spirittammyk]

He's not that honorable. He knew Jon was the true heir to the throne, and yet he let him ride off to join the Night's Watch, which a life sentence. I sure would like to know why Ned never tried to stop him????

[@lIlIlIlIlIIIlIllIIllIII]

Wouldn't necessarily call it a 'character flaw' but it was something that lead to his death. The problem with the criticism of Ned being 'bad' at the game(s) is the fundamental presumption that he wanted to be good at it whatsoever. Ned's clearly a smart guy - perhaps not as scheming or cunning like Varys or Littlefinger - but he makes up for it with his gravitas. Even though the video makes pokes fun at him and suggests the best thing for him to do was 'run back to Winterfell' cause he knew nothing about the South... Ned Stark shows up in a completely foreign and extremely hostile environment with a bunch of people who've been 'playing' the game for their entire lives and uncovers like 5,000 crucial mysteries in a week (Jon Arryn's illegitimate children, Joffrey's true lineage, Lannisters' plot against Bran, Jon Arryn's assassins, etc.). Ned Stark builds leverage against all of them and decides not to completely wreck them out of a sense of honor and, honestly, probably boredom. Ned doesn't want to get wrapped in those trifling matters. Also, he held out and always took the 'honorable' routes because of his love - despite Robert 'not being the man he used to be,' Ned Stark still loved him like his own brother. Honorable men don't forget their brothers, I guess. Til end, he only confessed cause of what he thought his daughters might have to endure without him. He was never afraid of death as mentioned in the scene with Varys in prison. He knew he could've been pretty good at the game, it just would've cost him his true identity.

[@rhondadenis3469]

Ned was honorably to a fault. The wolves don’t belong in the South. Period

[@natt3346]

@@jlord9638 but he still a stark tho

[@doryedouard3786]

@@natt3346 true

[@Brandonhayhew]

Wrong! Honour never works. Never be honorable instead be a ruthless backstabbing like everyone

[@rhondadenis3469]

@@Brandonhayhew So you agree, he was honorably to his own detriment.

[@Brandonhayhew]

@@rhondadenis3469 he was stupid and his son inherited that made him make bad decisions. Both are honorable but make no difference they are not smart. Honour is not worth, I think that’s Martin message is

[@justineharper3346]

You know, I never thought about it, but Stannis really would have been the perfect choice for Hand.

[@luciamota1249]

As much as I like him he would have been a mess as well! So many conspirationists to deal there. Varys and LF would be in his way. He is just so stiff, don't you think so? He would end up also dead, or creating a chaos since nobody liked him. Even if he did kill Varys or LF that would be problematic and to be honest quite difficult if we consider the posterior Varys' plan with fAegon. And to be honest, if Bobby B did it since the beggining Stannis would have started trying to execute Cersei, Jaime and their kids. It would be a freaking mess, just as it was later. As much as I disliked Renly and his usurpation I think Ned should have accepted when he told him to be Joffrey's regent. I mean, at least to gain some time. Now if you were only talking about how he being a just man would be a great ruler weeeeeell, it might be at least he would try but to much to deal with there. It would have been the same Wot5K but sooner.

[@wisdommanari6701]

Sadly no Stannis lacks flexibility

[@fuzzylumpkin49]

@@wisdommanari6701 True. And if he won't bend, he'll break.

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

@@luciamota1249 He would have executed these two before the end of the day.

[@luciamota1249]

@@legrandliseurtri7495 Yeah but even when they are no ones they are so much smarter than him, so by the moment Stannis gave the order to execute them they had already fled or plan something to kill him like they did with Jon Arryn or Kevan. That's precisely why LF planned to kill Jon Arryn and betray Ned, cause he knew Stannis would kill him immediatly so he took advantage quickly.

[@adrianneedwards6179]

The “honorable Ned Stark” became synonymous with not smart throughout the series. A cautionary tale.

[@saymyname2417]

Are people really surprised that *THIS* series paints an absolutely honourable and good character unfit for power, unfit to rule?!

[@alexstewart9747]

Reread the early books again. It becomes very clear that both Catelyn and Sansa got Ned killed. Catelyn got Robb killed too. Both didn’t do what they were told. Implying that Ned died because he was honourable is what George wants you to think whilst the real truth is hidden in plain sight.

[@Winskl9010]

Not really, it wasn’t used to imply not smart, it was more of “naive” and unfit to play the game

[@angiehobdari506]

@@alexstewart9747 I don’t agree with this at all even if Sansa and catelyn weren’t involved Ned stark would have been in danger in Kingslanding because of all the choices he was making on his own.

[@theaansel8738]

The tragedy is realising that you are a Ned Stark in the Kings Landing of the workplace 😭

[@Borderose]

That sounds like a Littlefinger thing to say.

[@lisamorrison214]

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@HisameArtwork]

truth, I got shoved under the buss so many times and whenever my spidy senses were tingling I always thought I'm being paranoid. Glad it was only a metaphorical bus each time.

[@uncommon_name9337]

True

[@shannond7437]

Preach! And thank you for pointing out Catelyn is the catalyst for SO many tragedies that befall the Starks in this story. Our show only peeps don’t see this. Her choices and direction led ALL of the Starks into their hardships and the early demise for the elders. Every word from George matters, he perfectly designed the game!

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

Her son was almost assasinated twice. Her reaction seems reasonable, meanwhile Tywin started a war because his son was simply captured, which his ego couldn't stand.

[@jakealter5504]

Another random Tristan her trusting petyr and everything after that was what doomed the starks

[@Ignisan_66]

@@legrandliseurtri7495 Catelyn had no right to capture Tyrion. She had no other proof except that dagger. But Catelyn was stupid enough to trust Littlefinger and got played by him.

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

@@Ignisan_66 And Jaime and Joffrey had no right to murder someone. Tywin had no right to attack the Tully.

[@GoldenRose116]

honestly Ned is just as much to blame for the hardships of the starks and Cat was, if not more, especially with Sansa.

[@hasraf3418]

“Dany is honorable and merciful” D&D:𝓓𝓪𝓷𝔂 kinda forget about her character arc and she was the descendant of the mad king..

[@hiddendagger7291]

we saw how much merciful she was when she crucified people without even doing proper inquiry who was wrong and who wasn't

[@salemsremnent1247]

@@hiddendagger7291 Nah not people, slavers. I didnt see you crying when Robert got his big hammer and crushed the skulls of his surrendered enemys. Add Ned to that list too, fuck house stark. Stannis is a complete scumbag in ths books too, whats the point of a double standards video??.

[@TempermentalTart]

I'm still traumatized by that bs plot turn. 😵😵👎

[@luciamota1249]

Oh here we go again... Dany lovers vs Dany haters, in a freaking Ned Stark video ffs!!! Dany is that character that gets so much undeserved hate from people but also the one that gets so much undeserved love from the rest. She, as fictional as it is, It's just a human, no perfection and she should be read that way, capable of both being good and evil. ...Now appears the Dany fan that is unable to consider the bad deeds done by her and call me hater... Or the Dany hater that will come and revolve in my comment and will never acknowledge the good things she did, or just ignore them cause it's not in line with their opinion.

[@donone352]

@@luciamota1249 STFU Stannis Fuckboy you've already exposed yourself as a complete Cheerleading cockroach for stannis lame character 😀

[@johntshorter]

I had the exact argument with a close friend of mine recently. I genuinely loved and respected the hell out of Ned, but I didn't hold back about blaming him and his political naivety for the shitstorm the Starks endured after his downfall and execution.

[@luciamota1249]

Robb was the one to blame for that, or well his Lords. In the moment Robb accepted the KITN crown, he was doomed.

[@johntshorter]

@@luciamota1249 oh for sure, but he wouldn't have been in that situation had Ned not gotten himself killed

[@angadsingh9314]

Lucía Mota no. The moment he accepted to become the King of the North AND the Trident, he was doomed

[@luciamota1249]

@@angadsingh9314 Oh, I've never thought about it that way... I mean the Trident was important but even if it was just the North it would be the same. I don't think that any king who win(Joffrey, Renly or Stannis) would have accepted to lose the North. It's huge! Renly said he would have let him to keep JUST the title but it will be the same that Dorne, just a title. And Stannis specifically called him an usurper. Why do you think the Trident would make a difference? I'm sincerely interested in your answer, cause it might happen that I've missed something. It was an honest question, not arguing or anything.

[@angadsingh9314]

Lucía Mota because had he only been King in the North, he could’ve returned North and held Moat Cailin and repelled any southern invasion. But since he was also King of the Trident, he could not abandon them to go North.

[@MichaelDouglasBell]

"One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous it is to trust them." -Thomas Sowell

[@atomicsunrise85]

The first read, I wondered how book 1 ended like it did. The 2nd read, it was almost painful to read, seeing all the dumb mistakes he made.

[@derontemann7899]

Sansa literally said that Ned and Rob made mistakes that got them killed. Ned never wanted to play the game.

[@Winskl9010]

Lol the audacity of her to say that when she’s the reason her father died

[@angelus823]

This is the way I see it with Ned. It's not to say that hes "stupid".. the problem with honorable people is that it's impossible for them to imagine the depths that dishonorable people will sink to to achieve their aims, which leaves them at an enormous disadvantage. They cant predict their enemies motives or next moves

[@lastjohns9717]

What GRRM tries to show us is that the Starks govern very differently to every one else. What he shows us is that the Starks rule while everyone else tries to play Cyvasse, for instance Bran and the Reeds (total TV show title) were travelling to the three eyed raven when they meet a traveller who tells them that when there's a Stark at Winterfell a maiden can travel the Kings road in her maiden's dress without ever being molested, (the real foreshadowing in this series, a stranger telling this to Bran the broken). In essence Ned was never meant to win and calling him stupid is missing the point, Ned never got the chance to remove the lions and replace them with wolves, he couldn't pull a Tyrion because the King came to personally recruit him, and he could only match the numbers the king brought to Winterfell with lest he comes under suspicion. Ned was always reacting, and let's not forget the five things he told Cayelyn to do when she returned to Winterfell knowing that war was coming, all of which she promptly ignored and kidnapped Tyrion instead.

[@MM-xm5vx]

Last Johns and Ned was a good leader in the north, he was respected by his banner man, and he kept the ambition of the major houses in check,.

[@coollary1]

Ned: *gets tossed into a shitty situation* Ned: I’ll keep a level head and try to salvage the situation. Surely I’m not the only decent person here. Everyone else: Off with his HEAD! (I know you have a lot of criticism about Ned and some are valid. Still I feel like he was given a bad hand every turn n tried his best. He just kept getting screwed by people around him even though it was technically peace time n there shouldn’t have been so much fucking fighting to start.)

[@wisdommanari6701]

He Did not Adapt!! Even the shit with Cercie people call it mercy but it's idiotic for him to have told Cercie b4 he told Robert

[@alanpennie8013]

Littlefinger very carefully dug a trap for him. I'm not sure how much he can be blamed for falling into it. When someone plots your downfall so elaborately is it really likely you'll escape?

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

@@wisdommanari6701 It is not idiotic. Robert clearly showed he had no shame in killing children. Ned didn't want that so he offered Cersei to escape. He couldn't know about Lancel.

[@kianghorbanpor9988]

@@legrandliseurtri7495 thats why it was idiotic

[@Rex73777]

@@legrandliseurtri7495You are the only smart person I have seen in this comment section. 😂

[@angadsingh9314]

If only Robert’s small council wasn’t so full of traitors, Ned would have been a great Hand

[@Brandonhayhew]

Really oh please don’t choke on with that. Medieval people aristocrats play the political game. Bribery was common and in today’s world it’s still is common. In William Shakespeare’s play King Edward the force best friend William Hastings was a good man and he was killed by under order of King Richard third.

[@leotamer5]

@@Brandonhayhew The rest of the Small Council wasn't playing political games, they were all plotting high treason. Something that gets your head cut off if you are found out. The one person who wasn't was murdered when he started to suspect something was off, and he wasn't even murdered by the person he was investigating.

[@daniyalvirk6302]

I always thought that because Ned came from the north, there wasn't any real game there. Everybody kinda had to trust each other (besides boltons) because it was the cold harsh climate and winter was coming. When Ned went south he wasn't used to these games. Robert knew exactly how the game was played and he just didn't care, "there's nothing left of the realm but schemers". Bt once littlefinger went north with sansa he tried to use the same chaos is a ladder thing but he couldn't because the game is played different in the north, sure maybe dnd didn't write it well but that's how I interpreted it.

[@OneAngryDragon]

It's not that he's stupid he just underestimated Cersei but really it was JOFFREY, Even Cersei thought he was going to the Wall, Joffrey killing him was random, He certainly let his pride get in the way of things and he paid for it in the end, Robb had little honor and HE paid for it, Jon Snow used the same honor and got HIMSELF killed, Littlefinger had absolutely NO honor and look where it got him, Ned thought he had time, he didn't expect them to kill King Robert even though he was warned by Varys, that boar got really lucky btw, Lancel's plan somehow went perfectly with the wine, he also trusted his wife when she told him to trust Littlefinger, that was not a good move, he tried at least but he just didn't think everyone was that nutty lol

[@rayleighsilver8264]

Underestimated my ass, Cersei was very very very lucky. Ned had all the cards, until Cersei rolled a 7 on the dice. ned’s plan was very good, make the mountain an outlaw and force Tywin to come to kingslanding essentially what happened to rickard stark.

[@carlrood4457]

Considering that House of the Dragon just showed how a royal hunt really goes, the fact that the boar got anywhere near Robert is absolutely unbelievable.

[@fightingmedialounge519]

Honour didn't get jon killed.

[@childofpersia1213]

People doubt that Ned Stark is politically dumb?! PFT THAT BOI THICK AS A CASTLE WALL

[@Mochalolo1928]

Child of Persia 🤣😂🤣😂

[@startrek1992]

He was not stupid, he had to much mercy for that world.

[@Mochalolo1928]

Warden of the North that’s called being stupid 🤣😂 if the situation doesn’t call for mercy, why in the world would you give mercy unless you have no clue what your doing? He was out of his depth and now he has no head

[@fightingmedialounge519]

​@@Mochalolo1928 not exactly. It was choice between morality and power.

[@Mochalolo1928]

@@fightingmedialounge519 it was a choice between protecting his life, family, and people or holding up an ideal that wasn’t useful in the situation he was in… he made his choice and it wasn’t a smart one

[@thisguy8106]

I love Ned, but he is the most frustrating character in the books.

[@thomasfrey859]

Ned did not have the character for the Game of Thrones, which is in essence, lying. Like nearly all the characters in the books, Ned assumes that everyone else will act like he does. He is honorable, and cannot understand those who act without honor. This blinds him, and thus he is unable to compete against those who ARE dishonorable.

[@Brandonhayhew]

Ned Stark really was an honorable fool and his decision lead to ruin of his family and they suffered enough from season 1 to season 6. Edit: I think Martin is trying to send us a message is that being stupid decision will have terrible consequences. Being honorable is stupid

[@jmace2424]

“I did warn you not to trust me.” Ned trusted Littlefinger = Stupid.

[@erikthomsen4768]

Admittedly, charming characters can make such lethal possibilities seem trivial.

[@jmace2424]

Erik Thomsen true. Littlefinger and the Moon Door comes to mind.

[@angadsingh9314]

J Mace it’s Cat’s fault tbh. She told him to trust Littlefinger

[@made-line7627]

@@erikthomsen4768 Or enticing.

[@9822703]

he had no choice in the end but to trust him

[@bromixsr]

If Stark was going to have any role in The South, it should have been on some war council. While his sense of honor may have handicapped in some roles...on a council he would just be one voice. Besides he knew war and tactics, and would have done more good that ill. But his ideal position would have to stay in The North and do what he does best.

[@mitch1833]

It is a testament to the genius of GRRM that he could make the reader love and admire a man as inept and naive as Ned Stark. We know all his failures, but we love him so! But, I seriously hope Dany, and especially Jon, learn from The Warden of the North's mistakes. We can only hope.

[@angadsingh9314]

Mitch what failure? Then only reason he lost was because Robert died. No one could’ve predicted that. It was just bad luck tbh

[@Hernameispamela]

Angad Singh are you kidding? He literally went to Kings Landing BECAUSE Jon Arryn was killed and the next one would be Robert.

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

@@Hernameispamela Cersei had weeks to kill Robert, already failed once, and choose that exact moment to not even trully attempt a murder, simply hoping Robert would drink to much wine, which she was lucky enought to see happen. It was bad luck.

[@Hernameispamela]

Another random Tristan dude pay attention please. The way he died wasn’t exactly an accident. He was intoxicated by wine on Cersei’s orders while hunting dangerous animals. Of course he could have survived or maybe not even seen a boar that day, and Cersei wasn’t really counting on him dying that day specifically but she was planning on it! And Ned knew it. It was a matter of time and not bad luck on Neds side.

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

@@Hernameispamela A matter of time, yes. Had Robert been hurt even on the very next day, it would have saved Ned. And my original comment mentionned the wine, idk what you are trying to say?

[@justincurll1110]

And yeah with Stannis as the Hanndis of the Kingis would have put the Lannis(ters) in a much tougher spot. Aw damn, Stannis V Tywin!

[@reneebarger5194]

Alas, poor Ned. A sheep in wolves clothing, getting sheared & then slaughtered. This is why I have always wondered what really happened at the Tower of Joy. Ned was never a “kill them all & let the gods sort them out” kind of guy. But we may never know, The odds do not favor GRRM ever finishing his story.

[@Jasmijn98]

I hoped to see Robert's reaction when ned told him his bastards were bastards. That would hace changed the whole plot. Unfortunately this never happened.

[@lejigglyqueenteemo6029]

Yeah Ned is on the slower side 😭

[@nikolajurican8704]

What about Catelyn ?

[@lejigglyqueenteemo6029]

nikola jurican Bad judgement for sureee

[@Twobeless1]

@@nikolajurican8704 I despise Cat. So much.

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

@4LIFE1DEEP1 Stop quoting this loser Littlefinger. Brandon was dumb. Ned wasn't.

[@juliemagana40]

I have always wondered why the tv show had Catlyn not want Ned to go to King's Landing when the book was the complete opposite.

[@9822703]

it was to make her more sympathetic

[@juliemagana40]

lol I don't think it worked but you're probably right

[@alanpennie8013]

@@9822703 Exactly. GRRM gave ammunition to the Cat haters in some scenes.

[@sophiawilson8696]

They like changing things.

[@saulpaul8422]

I suppose it's different in the book because in the show Catlin doesn't stop telling him not to go and Ned is the one that says he has to go.

[@EmmettMontanaro]

Ned Stark's older brother Brandon was raised to lead I'm pretty sure they mention it in the show, and Ned walked into a spider web of different plots and alliances as they were culminating in the War of 5 Kings anyone that might have been able to stop it was already involved.

[@sophiawilson8696]

maybe

[@barrilrayder]

Amazing video, love your style. I am wondering if obsidian nights is ever gonna return. You and Quinn were awesome together.

[@eddyrobinson1956]

Great video, keep up the good work! Could you do a video on Brynden Rivers?

[@OfAndalu5]

Love Ned. But yeah, he earned his early grave. He wasn't prepared. He cared little for the game, yet was at the centre of the storm. Tis a shame. I truly respect the honesty and noble and honourable nature of Ned. But he wasn't suited for the snakes of the capital...

[@suveshan_]

2:10 stannis the mannis ♥️

[@pierrelhommet1118]

The one true king !

[@salemsremnent1247]

Fuck Stannis, he's going to kill his daughter in the books too and get put down like the mad dog he is

[@chitownboyz]

@@salemsremnent1247 shut up and bend the knee boy

[@donone352]

@@chitownboyz Nah to a man who burn his daughter Alive, let's all hope brienna takes his head in the books too. . Stannis is so lame he couldn't even perform for Mel😀

[@wisdommanari6701]

@@donone352 lol yeah that's not gonna happen in the books but good try though

[@tootieq6527]

While pulling weeds in my rock garden today, this quote from Cersei kept running through my mind...”You want to be hand of the king? You want to rule? This is what ruling is. Lying on a bed of weeds ripping them out by the root one by one before they strangle you in your sleep” 🤣

[@angadsingh9314]

Tootie Q Cersei is even more delirious than Ned though. AFFC proved fhat

[@famousmadlad6361]

Ned was never a politician, he is a commander and has too much of a heart to get into the dirty business that is politics. Ned tried to do the honorable thing, but I gotta admit, having a non biased third party read that letter wasn’t half bad, sucks Cersei didn’t care.

[@loungeblogger]

to me, it's completely irrational for the king to ask the second most powerful man in the kingdoms (warden of the north) to abandon his kingdom and serve him. this doesn't make any sense.

[@wisdommanari6701]

Tywin was the 2nd most powerful man in the kingdom. The north is the largest, but the Reach had the most people.

[@AttackoftheJoe]

@@wisdommanari6701 Tywin is of the Westerlands, not the Reach but yeah. Definitely viewed as the second most powerful lord.

[@AttackoftheJoe]

You’re holding Robert Baratheon to a standard of rationality?

[@ygknight1478]

🗣 your voice warms my heart on this cold winter morning 💙and your right on ned

[@ngawaiking6003]

OMG I HAVE MISSED YOU!!!! I lost track of my KZbin channels and have finally come back. That was a looooong winter night without juice 😢 sooo happy to be back

[@zachparrish4055]

I can't even imagine why anyone is disputing this lol I thought literally every GoT fan agreed on this

[@Hernameispamela]

Zach Parrish the die hard Stark fans think the Starks can do no wrong and are all very good people... like, Neds first scene he kills a man and then “teaches” his son he should always look a man in the eyes before killing him because he might not deserve to die. GOOD ONE NED 👏🏻👏🏻 remember Gary who you just killed? He did not deserve to die!

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

@@Hernameispamela How did he not deserve to die? He betrayed his vows. Not only that, but he was in the night guard to escape the consequences of his crimes. We can question if the punishement of death should even exist, but that has nothing to do with Eddard.

[@Hernameispamela]

Another random Tristan because of the reason he deserted! He was running away from the Others. For his life! Anyone would have done the same and that is why he didn’t deserve to die. If Ned had listened to his own advice and looked him in the eyes he would have realized that. Because there he would find fear of someone who has seen the supernatural easily overpower the human and how to you fight that?

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

@@Hernameispamela This dude had other reasons to fear-being executed. Ned didn't even believe in the existence of the Others.

[@Hwoman1123]

when did catlyn want ned to go as the king's landing, she had objection right from the beginning even before robert arrived.

[@primierose1725]

I love king of the North Robb, Jon Snow, The Hound, but I started watching Game of Thrones for Sean Bean. I've been watching him since The Patriot Games with Harrison Ford. I love Sean Bean so much I didn't get mad when he tried to take the ring from Frodo.

[@malirabbit6228]

Thank you ever so much for this wonderful analysis of Ned Stark! I am just hoping that George stays alive long enough to complete the series so that we may get more of these great character breakdowns, there, I said it !

[@Bumble-bee_]

Can you do a character sketch of Tywin Lannister and the explanation of what happened politically at Tourney of Harrenhal?

[@edwardmartin5860]

When or if jon comes back wonder if he's going to be blind like his uncle or if he gonna be different more in tha grey area.Great fkn break down grey as always have a good weekend.

[@bradpara]

The whole point of the Character was that he was so noble and honorable that it translated into him being politically deaf, dumb, and blind

[@khaleesiamde6215]

New subscriber here. Love your vids!

[@ikkewang1870]

Very good and convincing job grey👏🏽

[@blackwidow4564]

If I was in ned stark shoes, I would have had some spies so I could know what was going on. I certainly wouldn't have told cersei anything. Robb I would have betrothed to a manderley girl. Willas and sansa betrothed. Arya fostered at bear island or dorne. Found some way to increase trade to get enough coin to rebuild most cailin and queens crown. More importantly I would have stayed north and worked hard to improve it.

[@Manngotti624]

I blame Catelyn "Stoneheart" Tully for everything that happened to Ned!!!!!

[@FraJa1980]

How about Lyanna? If that stupid bitch hadn't run off with Reagar without telling her father and brother Brandon Ned would never be with Cat in the first place. He would have been safe in Dorne having fun with his wife and bro in law at star fall.

[@destinitaylor4360]

FraJa1980 She’s not withstanding of course it’s her fault to 😆 but Catelyn fucking Tully is the person responsible for the starks nearly being fucking wiped out with her stupid ass

[@cindyharrington5958]

I agree with you. I disliked her more than any character. He was stupid for listened to her.

[@bklyntraveler9705]

@@cindyharrington5958 then that means he is stupid, right? How can it be her fault because HE listened? He could have told her he wasn't going to listen to her. That makes is his fault for not tell her no.

[@graciesmom1477]

@@bklyntraveler9705 So true.

[@4Texsty4]

Ned was so loyal and good at heart he expected the same from the world. That’s where he fucked up ..

[@meglosthecaramacking]

Oh Gray Area, my darling, how is it that you can brighten up any drizzly English winter day? Keep these character videos coming. Incidentally, knowing that you are also a fan of my other favourite book series Memory, Sorrow and Thorn - I highly recommend Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb. Girl, you will fall in love with the characters and the setting.

[@persassybedammed]

i love your content!

[@chadgalloway7344]

i love all of your videos i cant wait for the new books.

[@heliopolitan444]

It's always gonna be a good day when Lady Gray uploads in the morning! It's so true. The politics, even irl, is all backstabbing, manipulation, etc and Ned was an honorable and moral light in a sea of darkness. RIP IN PEACE NED

[@Tinkerbe11]

I fully agree! Ned was a good, honorable man, and he was much too good and honorable to play the game of thrones. Cersei said "when you play the GoT, you win or you die, there's no middle ground". And Ned had no chance to win whatsoever. He was incapable to play to win. He was not stupid overall, but his honor won over his intelligence every time.

[@juliie007]

Ned stark won the game in the end. He showed what it truly meant to be a leader with a conscience and you may literally have to put your life on the line. The sacrifices he made weren’t easy and coz many of the characters in the show opted for the easy or most convenient way out. Ned stark true legacy is his children he prepared them well mentally and psychologically for challenges ahead thats why the Stark are survivors compared to the other families Lannister, Tyrell, Baratheon, GreyJoy, Frey, Boltons, Targaryens etc

[@purplebanana6420]

Varys tried to tell ned how to play the game but ned was like I dont want it

[@williamst.romain7393]

Robert would never name Stannis Hand. Bobby did not trust his brother. Or like him. Stannis would certainly be better at it. But he would not have gotten along with Robert at all.

[@alanpennie8013]

That's the truth. Stannis would have been the perfect choice as Hand if only the two brothers had not disliked each other so much.

[@DRush76]

The fact that Ned Stark wasn't a politician makes him more admirable in my eyes than many of the other characters.

[@xXfunk36Xx]

I liked the idea that little finger was a foil to Ned. Ned went south and try behave with honor instead of playing the game and died for it little finger went north and tried to play the game instead of behave with honor and he ended up dying for it

[@RizztrainingOrder]

Ned was bad at the game of thrones, which is why I love him. He is bad at it because his highest value does not coincide with backstabbing, dishonorable, scheming that takes place. Which is what’s required to maneuver in kings landing.

[@everfragoso6313]

I agree with you. Was up all the way from Mesa Arizona

[@jarredhurley9572]

One of your best!

[@vorborinov4054]

Ned Stark & his great mistakes, 1. he goes against his own best instincts by reluctantly going to Kings Landing, 2. he does not prepare, 3. after warning his own children about the dangers of raising dire wolves, he travels to Kings Landing with Robert's family with his own children & their dire wolves - unbelievable!, 4. he builds no solid alliances in Kings Landing, 5. he takes the lead of Littlefinger against his own suspicions, 6. he allows himself to be led by Cat, 7. he takes responsibility for Cat apprehending Tyrion (which she had no right to do) instead of offering to negotiate with Jaime to get Tyrion released - & I could go on & on & on..... Ned's mistakes are literally constant & it makes me wonder how he was able to rule the North for 15 years without messing that up - although the Nights Watch is admittedly in bad shape. Ned is a disaster. I actually think that GRRM made a huge mistake here, because it is just not convincing. I love GoT & all ASOIAF books, but for me, the weakest part of the story is Ned's in GoT. Rulers make huge mistakes all the time, that is realistic, but GRRM made Ned to be a total idiot & fool, which is not convincing when you read Ned as a character, he does not come across as a fool, & he is not, so why does he make so many obvious & avoidable mistakes? I think GRRM brushed up in later books to make them more realistic, because the mistakes & errors have to be believable if you are trying to write a convincing story, & you can say it is wisdom in retrospect, but just Ned having his daughters with him is a massive mistake in itself - & their dire wolves! I could not believe that, Ned himself warns about handling dire wolves, & then he travels with the King's company down to Kings Landing with two problematic daughters & their dire wolves, an obvious obvious recipe for disaster. When I read that section, I just could not believe it, Ned could easily have made excuses to Robert to call for his family to join him later, especially with Bran in a coma. Ned could have used the Bran situation to leave his whole family at Winterfell, as if Robert would have complained & Cersei would hardly care, or Jaime. It is not convincing that Ned is compelled to go to Kings Landing, but then has to tag his family along, knowingly placing them at risk, & having the dire wolves along. I thought GRRM could have done better there, I know it's part of the story, but he could have made the story more convincing. And I love Ned, what happens to him is gut wrenching, I am still waiting for WOW in the hope that the Starks will get revenge on the bastards that destroyed their lives, the Lannisters & Freys in particular, I want them to suffer, & to suffer badly.

[@alexone5045]

Thats cuz Ned didnt try to play the Game of Thrones he wasnt politicing, he was just trying to look out for his old friend.

[@momi2453]

But I think his honor got him killed

[@gorillatitty5537]

"The wolf is of the North. She deserves better than a butcher." Oh Ned Stark. It's still painful to talk about his downfall, but you're right. Ned never belonged in the South and was not cut for the game of thrones. Rest his soul.

[@XellossBoi]

Great evidence! Thanks for saying it! Can't believe people don't read closely enough to see it.

[@tirianna2445]

I enjoy listening to your very intelligent and thoughtful analysis . I fully agree with you, that the North is quite different from the South and Ned Stark was not astute at playing the “game”, which he never wanted to do . He was, unfortunately, not able to discern, the very Machiavellian world in King’s Landing. Please keep up the good work !

[@PedroLucas-mg5je]

Robert should have called Stannis or Tywin to replace Jon Arryn as hand!

[@eternal47777]

I like your spirit and you made a lot of interesting points that no one ever brought up. Please make one on how Robb stupid lol

[@chickenlegsTV]

That's kinda of the point of his character, he's so honorable and loyal to the point of being dump, and in more than one occasion all men starks are described this way.

[@NancyLebovitz]

At this point, when I reread, I'm going to look at the question of whether it's plausible that Ned Stark could even be a capable administrator in the North.

[@captainziggy82]

Best video you’ve made in a while. I always said his biggest mistake was showing mercy to Cersei

[@sillwullivan83]

Ned Stark was an honorable warrior, who got dragged into a nest of vicious political schemers. He was out of his depth and failed to adapt.

[@jimbeaux89]

Ned Stark was so politically incorrect. And yes, he really didn’t know how to play the game of thrones. I just rewatched the first season this weekend. I could count around 10 monumental mistakes he made.

[@N1mr]

Her juice brings all the GOT GEEKS to the yard..... I respectfully disagree though number one he hired the trainer for aria absolutely a plus and we do not know what really happened to him because I believe in my heart the books are going to be different than the show GRRM is giving a big middle finger to HBO and he’s going to change the ending and close up the plot holes properly there are way too many clues that Ned is still alive I also am a big believer in the N + A=D , Plus the writer already said there’s going to be another changes to a character that is dead in the show but Alive in the books. At this point we really don’t know if net was good or bad at playing the Game of Thrones until the books come out

[@v.robinson5302]

Ned was bad at politics but a great strategically. He training Arya to fight was is fatherly and his military training kicking in which he never second guess. His savior instincts kicking in.

[@N1mr]

Vanessa Robinson there’s a very small part of me that believes that if Ned had hired the first former sea Lord of bravo‘s then he knows who the faceless men are and if he knows who the faceless men are then Syrio could’ve been a faceless man and Ned could have been trained in bravos for all we know something inside me believes that we don’t know everything about Jorah My gut tells me that Jorah still has a secret he tried to tell Danny when he came back from the fighting pits and spoke to her in Mareen when he said can we have a moment in private and also I think he tried to talk to her when he returned to Dragon stone but got interrupted by John. I believe either Jorah was on a redemption mission from Ned to protect Danny, Ned’s daughter with a Ashara Dane or Jorah is actually Ned this whole time. Again we will not find out until we read the books that haven’t come out yet

[@rynctv]

I really like the idea of N + A = D but Dany is such a typical Targaryen that I don't think it is possible. The baby switch theory is gun but honestly not likely at all.

[@saranonimus9211]

TAKE THE DEAL, DUMMY!!! ~me, yelling at Ned. Gah!

[@fantanofanfiction5451]

"Water is really wet"

[@ryanelliott71698]

Ned telling Cersei what he knows wasn’t really stupid without hindsight. Ned never knew Robbert was going to be killed by a boar. I would argue it was the most unlikely situation to happen. He was more likely to pass out drunk, sprain and ankle or at worst break a leg. Let’s just say Robert lives. Ned tells him, if Cersei’s in the city, she dies. If she’s not, well war with the Westerlands was likely going to happen after Tywin found out what happened to his daughter (and maybe headless grandsons/ daughter). No divided Stormlands under Roberts control with at this point an unbloodied North. I wouldn’t be surprised if Renly goes full on his plan to marry Margaery off to Robert, bringing in the Reach. Even without Dorne, it’s really game over for Tywin, all if Robert didn’t get boared

[@wisdommanari6701]

It was stupid. It was Arrogant and it started a civil war.

[@angelafrimpong1026]

@@wisdommanari6701 I totally agree with you. He was sworn to Robert and not Cersei. He had no business telling Cersei before the King. Especially when you have been told by Varys that they are trying to kill the king, how can you still be merciful?

[@MichaelNight]

I actually liked how a show that is almost entirely about “the rules of the game” began with teaching us that not everyone has the same sense of honor as you do, that you can be a just, honorable person and still lose if you are not involved in the game you are playing, that not everyone will appreciate you being honest and open about your intentions and may even take advantage of that, and to trust your gut (in reference to Ed’s eventual trust of Littlefinger). I don’t want people to lose their faith in the power of good, and I do not think that that was the show’s intention either. It just showed that wisdom doesn’t hurt either. Like, I am not preaching here, but even in the freaking BIBLE, where you would least expect there to be any guidance on knowing how to play the game, a passage instructs the reader to be “as wise as serpents and yet as harmless as doves” and to “be on your guard against men.” It’s a universal, crucial part of adulthood and life. Experience and wisdom also teach us when to just be ourselves and turn it off.

[@taotaostrong]

Ned is not even savvy enough to be a Real Housewife. He wouldn’t make it.

[@GrayArea]

😫😫😫😫😂😂😂😂😂

[@teddybradley]

This was actually better than I thought made me realise a lot

[@AVerySillySausage]

I've never seen a single book reader or show watcher that disagreed with this point.

[@GrayArea]

Kris go on Twitter and scroll

[@alanpennie8013]

I disagree.

[@haydennoble9253]

I knew Eddard Stark was going to die pretty early and I was still pissed when he died. I remember thinking “You motherfuckers. Eddard Stark was the best person to fix Robert’s mess and you killed him. He didn’t want the throne. He just wanted to fix shit and help people.” Damn Jack Gleeson and Sean Bean are great actors.

[@Sorrus-B4lyfe]

That’s the point of his character… a Stark who lives all the way up north in the cold. Being on King’s landing is the last place he wants to be. His whole story = Honour is what killed him. The metaphor of how Honour makes you a loyal / trusting fool.

[@angelaavery7602]

Your videos are my favorites

[@christopherbrown1391]

Great video totally agree all the way

[@Amanning15007]

Game of thrones, if anything, is a book that shows you the consequences of your actions. Make dumb choices, win stupid prizes... In GRRM universe its death.... When you play the Game of Thrones you either live or you die.

[@mackenziethecreator]

he didnt wanna play in the first place

[@stealth11]

Ned's worst move was not to take Renly up on his offer. His whole family was in jeopardy at that point, and it was the only way out. Foolish.

[@AUTHORASEERA]

Couldn't agree more. He brought honor to a backroom alley brawl and paid for it with his life. But I loved him.

[@ratstar4102]

Even if he is right that Jofrey is a bastard, his evidence is still not a fact .... since his nephew Jon Snow has black hair means he is not Rhaegar's son?

[@jgiledw]

Bravo Gray Bravo!!

[@ddavis8988]

The problem isn't that Ned is honorable. The problem is that he expects other people to act honorably as he does. Whoch also is something that was a problem with Robb Stark and even Jon Snow, too. He trusted people to act honorably like he did when he should've that they were the deceiving snakes that they were.

[@fazediamond5671]

He also underestimates Cersei And he gets screwed over by his family

[@freefansonly69]

All of the Starks were politically stupid except Cat because she's a Tully. The only reason why Sansa and Jon turned out the way that they did was becaused the world forced them to. Not one of them should have left Winterfell.