Ranking Every ASOIAF Prologue & Epilogue

[@Can_Kanal]

Seeing how Quinn is so productive despite the fact that we're still waiting TWOW for more than 13 years makes me wonder about the new contents he would be giving us if we get the book eventually.

[@QuinnTheGM]

I’d explode

[@AK-tr6lo]

I remember in a livestream either Alt shift x or alt schwift x speculating that TWOW releasing is going to be like a whale fall that might help boost an entirely new ecosystem of content creators.

[@AnotherBrokenMan]

@@QuinnTheGMto hell with law school at that point

[@GRB-tj6uj]

​@@AnotherBrokenManI hope mr. GRRM is considerate enough to publish that news on a Friday. Because when that announcement drops, I'm going to want to watch some KZbin

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

@@GRB-tj6uj I hope that Mr. GRRM is considerate enough to publish that news on a Friday because when that announcement drops, every winesink, tavern, and beerhall from Eastwatch to Oldtown will be overflowing with celebrating geeks.

[@matthewparker9276]

The got prologue is also the most important because the rest of the book is very grounded, while there is talk of children of the forrest and dragons its mostly legends and history. The prologue tells us that yes, this is a land with zombies and magic and things that go bump in the night, all the rational characters are wrong. Its a great little bit of dramatic irony.

[@mintw4241]

Definitely, I think its the lynchpin of the whole story - establishing from the very get go that the monsters and magic are real no matter how rare they’ll be in the rest of the first story is vital. A song of ice and fire is a magical and alien world, no matter how many small council meetings are spent rearranging deck chairs on the titanic.

[@saberstrike000]

While I wouldn't quite call it eldritch horror, I think one of the points Martin is going with is the sheer alieness and ineffability of fate, especially in the form of prophecy and conspiracies. For the former, I believe that one of the points he's making about prophecy is that everyone is trying to make prophecy fit the patterns they want or they see. It really came to me with the scarlet comet, but crystalized during "everyone is the prince that was promised" part of Dance (part of why I'm pretty sure it is Jon is that so far as I can tell, no CHARACTER has suggested it.) But basically, almost no one who has directly received a prophecy has actually witnessed and understood its resolution. Part of why I'm okay with Melisandre getting a perspective when it wasn't needed for direct narrative is that it hammers home that our most prominent agent of divinity is operating on pure faith (and a hefty degree of the sunk cost fallacy.) Contrast that to Jojen who is probably the most accurate/effective future-seer who does so by basically abandoning his agency. And the latter (and this is a again something that didn't become clear to me until the stuff with Aegon in Dance) is that none of the 'brilliant masterminds' has an insanely complex perfect scheme...they can't (because of Xanatos Pileup if nothing else.) The fact that Doran, Varys and Illyrio are making shit up on the fly in response to everyone else's tomfoolery made me see it in parallel: there is no grand plan, but you can adjust to make the patterns/prophecies work in your favor. Part of why Cersei and Tyrion fail isn't just that they think they're smarter than everyone else...its that they think they can ALWAYS make the system work in their favor. I think one of the points Martin is going for is that it's not just magic that is truly unknowable and uncontrollable: it is life. He writes not to subvert the audience's perspective, but the CHARACTERS (yes, we all bought into Ned as the protag, but I think this was done to show how none of the characters anticipated Joffery violating societal norms/logic and completely derailing their plans.) "Rational" characters are praised for trying to make sense of the meaningless, but as you said, it doesn't mean they're not WRONG. Afterthought: A friend of mine recently rewatched BSG and said, "I think part of the point was 'even though this is sci-fi, it doesn't mean god isn't real.'" And now I'm wondering, 'maybe the point is that just because this is fantasy, it doesn't mean the gods ARE real.'

[@samclontsii3548]

Varimyr’s is my favorite…not only does it shed so much light on warging, it also forces us to look at Bran differently, (poor Thissel), foreshadows what may happen with Jon, but also sheds light on what most likely happened with Robb (which you didn’t mention)…Robb most likely warged Grey Wind before he was killed, meaning he died twice that night…

[@ingen_nate_kenny6588]

Merrett is probably my favorite. Interesting about the -logues. Undeath is a big theme. Will probably becomes a wight after he dies, and we see Royce as a wight kill him. Chett becomes a wight. Merrett reveals to us the resurrected Lady Stark. Pate dies, but lives on through a Faceless Man. Varamyr lives his second life in One Eye. Really interesting pattern.

[@Bigyeet1106]

Kevan is high key goated, he almost fixed everything cersie did in like a month. he was too dangerous to be kept alive because he's sane

[@sassquatch212]

Kevan’s epilogue is by far my favourite, followed by Cressen. Kevan’s is easily one of the best chapters in the series.

[@thepunisher6674]

I think kevans epilogue is the most underrated chapter in the series it’s a great chapter that gives a lot of clarity and is incredibly enjoyable kevans internal monologue is great he has the classic Lannister sass while being very shrewd

[@eiran_o_ddwywent]

The GoT prologue just takes the cake tbh, instantly grabbed my attention while reading it

[@lukebarroso449]

I agree. My favorite of the prologues second place goes to cressen for me.

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

I remember reading GoT for the first time, maybe 20ish yrs ago, and that prologue had me from the start. The description, the mystery, the slow realisation that these guys are completely screwed in the face of something beyond our understanding... It's practically perfect. And Cressen's prologue for Storm might have made my eyes leak a little. Damn onion ninjas.

[@eiran_o_ddwywent]

@@thing_under_the_stairs Those onion ninjas are deadly

[@eiran_o_ddwywent]

@@lukebarroso449 Cressen or Varamyr for me, it's hard to choose between them tbh

[@hogndog2339]

“The Others gave no response” immediately got me hooked on the series

[@lukebarroso449]

The first prologue is amazing. It has a creepy tone, shows how even if the night's watch is supposed to have earned positions a young noble is higher in rank to more experienced men. The threat of the Others/Wights. Absolutely love this prologue. "Dance with me then" and many other iconic lines.

[@layzboi2250]

He was no longer a boy but a man of the Nights Watch, Ser Waymar Royce!

[@lukebarroso449]

@layzboi2250 Loved that line so much. The man is staring death in the face and he meets it sword in hand.

[@layzboi2250]

​@lukebarroso449 the others provide such horror into the story I hope we get more in winds

[@thelastbrickbender2139]

Tbf. though a noble would have more knowledge of command than the average peasant, simply by matter of upbringing and education and he did show himself to be quite capable in this chapter

[@GRB-tj6uj]

@thelastbrickbender2139 and his decisions only turn out bad because they have to deal with something that hasn't been seen for 8000 years.

[@7thmizukage]

Ngl, Cressen made me cry on my first and second reread. He just loved his son so much but he was doomed to be a king. He is an image of a Catelyn Stark allowed to grow a bit older and more desperate.

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

You're not alone on that. Cressen broke my heart a bit.

[@M0rganKane]

Great video as always! I have Merrett as nr.3 after Cressen and Kevan. Merrett is just so fun to read. "The Gods gave me no gifts but birth - and they stinted me there" is one of my favorite quotes from the whole series.

[@andilea-mab4199]

Nothing beats the very first prologue in the series with Waymar "Dance with me" Royce

[@memeaficionado]

I think Kevan's epilogue is not only my favorite prologue/epilogue, but perhaps my favorite chapter in the entire series. Only a few come close for me. Brienne's chapter with septon maribald's broken man speech, Danerys meeting with the undying, and a few of Jon's chapters north of the wall. Mixing big (but reasonable) spectacle with huge worldbuilding implications just takes the cake. The GoT prologue is phenomenal too tho

[@williamfrank962]

I really like how Royce went out in the starting chapter too. With how Tropes often go you’d think the boaster would turn coward or die meekly but instead he goes out fully knowing he’s doomed and does so with some ballsy last words to the other worldly entities that were once thought to be myths. It’s the equivalent of a hunter finding a big foot charging at him and yelling “bring it furball!”

[@masterplokoon8803]

Not gonna lie Chett looking at a wholesome moment of Sam's friends encouraging him and helping him improve his archery skills and increasing his confidence, only to feel complete disgust and revulsion for it was kind hilarious and showed how messed up his mind really was.😅

[@tylerreis-sanford5234]

A case for Chett's prologue to bump up over Pate's (I'm currently rereading ASOS with my GF, who's on her first run through of the books so I'm getting to re-experience a first time reader as well) Chett's prologue does call back to a character we've already met, and like the best prologues it's someone who represents a viewpoint we don't normally get. Although Chett doesn't really have any important information within the world, he provides context for one of ASIOAF main themes, what it means to be a hero. What it means to be brave. He's a bully, mean, spiteful, and full of himself. The opposite of Sam, and yet Chett's actions act as a foil to so many of the internal conflicts our protagonists are dealing with, while facing down the very real, very important threat of the White Walkers. As you said, we haven't seen the fist of the first men for a while. Not only that but the Others/Wights haven't been mentioned in a VERY long time. They're sitting in the background all through Clash, and the wildlings have become the central focus of the NW. I think this chapter does a great job of thematically reminding us A) how divided, hopeless, and broken the NW is as an organization, and B) that the wildings are in fact, NOT the real threat (as paired with Jon's late chapters in ACOK). It not only shatters the importance of the political scheming that SEEMS to be the focus of ASIOAF, but reminds us of the real threat as Chett literally pisses his pants in fear. It's a fun shift from ACOK which is by far the least magical/most political book, and sets the stage for the grim fallout in ASOS and beyond. "Three blasts for others" is such a chilling way to end the chapter as Chett pisses himself. It's a visceral, gritty reaction to an impending doom. We don't hear from Sam until 250 pages into ASOS, which is long enough to presume that a number of our favorite characters in the NW are dead, and when we DO hear from Sam, we get all those great details of the battle, of undead bears, and of course his run in with the Other. Rereading this with my gf she was convinced Sam was going to lay down and die, or that Grenn or another lovable character (RIP SMALL PAUL) was going to kick it. It's all subjective of course, I just think it's the natural first step in progressing to the more magical and overtly "interesting" chapters later on. Gotta have levels, ups and downs, and I think Chett walked so Varamyr could run.

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

Chett plotting his mutiny, and then wetting his pants when the horns are blown, in front of Sam, no less, is some beautiful irony, too.

[@quindariousgooch9399]

If I remember right Chet’s chapter has some really good foreshadowing for the attack on the fist with the dogs and the bear tracks. Gives it a pretty eerie vibe imo which puts it in a higher spot for me

[@molleh3180]

This is a correct list, actually. Kevan's chapter is one of my favorites in the series.

[@thelastbrickbender2139]

I’d definitely rank storm’s prologue higher, the entire time reading it you know what’s coming, this whole chapter is a bomb with a lit fuze and you’re just waiting for it to go off, which it finally does when the horn is blown not once, not twice, but thrice

[@scoliosis9478]

i planned on commenting something similar but you said it better than I could. Extremely well written prologue in terms of tension, maybe doesn’t add as much to story or feed the theorizing crowd but it definitely sucks you into the book and makes you want to read more.

[@thelastbrickbender2139]

@ yeah exactly, like when they’re going through the woods after the bear tracks the constant thought in your head is just “shit it’s happening, any second now” I feel it’s kind of a case of the books having been out so long, that these chapters have been reread and scrutinised so many times and so thoroughly, that people just have entirely different views on them than when first reading and analysing them for what they are, rather than how much juicy theorising potential they offer just to get that one more clue for the future

[@scoliosis9478]

@thelastbrickbender2139 true, idk also i think i’ve noticed a weird thing among the fandom where people like to bring down ASOS and downplay how good it is.

[@Broogli]

i finally figured it out, quinn is the "khan academy" of ASOIAF

[@QuinnTheGM]

Is that a good thing or a bad thing

[@MacTac141]

Lmao saw it in my recommended and thought “Huh, don’t think I’ve seen this video before”. Turns out it’s because it came out 10 min ago As always thanks for the content Quinn!

[@CulinVlau]

Chett does die in the battle at the Fist, but it's true that we don't have a scene where he's about to meet his end like the other characters.

[@benjamingrunbaum3601]

I think I agree you 100 percent on your rankings. Well done.

[@MeetThaNewDealer]

I genuinely love Pate's POV prologue. Mainly because his life painfully mirrors mine.😓😥😢😭

[@Grace-er9ep]

I basically just nodded along in agreement to this entire video

[@youngretro5829]

Any details on the lego build of Varys killing Kevan? Couldn't find it anywhere lol, looks fantastic.

[@roebuckmckinney]

Nothing tops the ASOS epilogue for me. The sense of building dread and the big reveal of the Lady can’t be beat, all these years later. It’s the ultimate “I’m coming back and I’m bringing Hell with me” moment in sci-fi or fantasy if you ask me. Maybe in modern English fiction, honestly.

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

I love this one too. The Lady Stoneheart reveal is so well played, and the deep horror in the realisation that Catelyn has come back... and she remembers. I also feel at least a bit of empathy for poor, stupid Merrit Frey. Yes, he's a wine soaked oaf drowning in self-pity, but he's also another example of how well GRRM writes pain and disability. Remember, he drinks because of his debilitating headaches. I live with severe, chronic migraines, and were it not for modern treatments like Botox injections, triptans, and trips to the ER for the good stuff when it gets *really* bad, I'd be a pathetic, wine soaked oaf too, just to escape the pain. Apart from a couple of cases like the Mountain, GRRM makes all his characters so human that I'm even feeling a bit of pity for a Frey here.

[@Music-AsLife]

I was such a sweet summer child the first time through when I got to Kevan's POV. I was so excited to be in his head. I love the idea of Tywin's far more stable brother holding power over his far less stable niece and nephews. The implication didn't hit me right away. I even thought for a second he was in on the conspiracy and then it hit me. A Lannister never bets against the family, even when they should. Tyrion wouldn't be special if it worked out for Kevan too.

[@kkordis]

I really put Chet and Merrick much higher, not because the characters are likable but because of how they end. Those two chapters had the most chilling endings in the series.

[@Sianic12]

I would've swapped #1 and #2, but otherwise I would've ranked them exactly the same, surprisingly. Though I agree that #1 to #4 are extremely close to one another.

[@brandonabram7954]

Perfect time to post ser I am abt to eat my burrito before work and listen!

[@jj947]

Cressen is like Stannis’ Alfred

[@booyakuhsha24]

Man do I love me a good list! Totally agree on number one and two. I would have had Mr.six skins on the podium as well. I started reading ACOK after watching season 1 of GoT. First chapter I read was Maester cressen, and I hadn’t read a book in a long time. Makes me feel better when you acknowledged how long that chapter is lol

[@mihaelo7333]

Quinn the GM more like Quinn the goat

[@phnompenhandy]

The power of the ADWD epilogue makes the wait for the next chapter in the series all the more painful.

[@niallgaffney2475]

Kevan’s epilogue is such a great “oh shit, here we go!!” moment for then nothing to happen for 15 years 😅

[@efrent-vr3bm]

Which characters are candidates to be the prologue and epilogue POVs in TWoW?

[@patriarkh_]

Page numbers ranked when

[@paulcourtemanche3549]

Quinn once again failing to not mention JonCon

[@thelastbrickbender2139]

0:30 Future Events, sure like those are a thing

[@shadeofthelamp1218]

In my mind, Varamyr’s POV is the best prologue and additionally one of the best chapters in asoiaf. It’s one of the most horrifying and emotionally affecting pieces of writing I’ve ever read.

[@monkeydlink4960]

Crassen's chapter is really particular... First of all, its present Stanis who has been mentioned during all AGOT, and will be in the heart of ACOK. We have also the presentation of Davos. In fact, it would have been strange if we had a chapter of him without know him ( Martin did this after with Areo Hotah but he had "rules" in the firsts books ) Finaly, it's really emotional. Th alone prologue who is really emotionnal for me ( I felt nothing with the others in fact, they werz only interesting ). With all of this, it's the better for me.

[@elijahrodriguez647]

great video, adding a comment for the algo

[@justinrogers1807]

The prologues and epilogues are my favorite chapters

[@nickfinan6031]

Pate being ranked 6 is an insane choice

[@AprilTindall-t6m]

For real though, the FIRST words of the story are about going back. Always to go forward, we have to go back. That's the first rule of the Game. Keep looking back and it starts to make sense in a super crazy way.

[@zachseatdriver9671]

Im wondering if pate's chapter will be more impactful post winds of winter

[@ryanvalderrama9413]

Man one of the few times I've disagreed with you Quinn. The three horn blasts in Chett's prologue just elevates that to one of my favorite chapters

[@sanyaspotify]

3:21 me literally being born in 2005 😭

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

Me graduating from uni in 2000... XD

[@markhenzel4637]

Can you tell me about what your thoughts on the theory that Ned Stark's sons name are foreshadowing on what will happened to them? Robb Stark died like Robert did because like Robert who mentioned Lyanna's name on marriage bed with Cersei, Robb died being with Jane Westerling instead his current duty of which for the Freys. Jon probably ended up as Hand of the King (which I never think of until this theory came in) instead of pursuing as king. Or just like Jon Arryn who defined Mad King to bring Robert and Ned, Jon would defined Night's Watch to save someone (which he did technically). Bran ended up like Brandon Stark who died confronting Mad King Aerys. Maybe he confronts Bloodraven or Euron in some magic standoff and died. Rickon Stark is like Rickard Stark, Ned's father probably ended up as Lord of Winterfell and Warden of North. This is more evidently with Stannis, Davos and Manderlys subplot in Dance of Dragons to bring Rickon back from Skargos.

[@JaCob_101_]

AGoTs prologue is just so good

[@Outis402]

I knew the GoT prologue would be No1. It's just stunning from start to finish and hooks you from the get go.

[@tylerlachney1616]

Where do you get the artwork of all the characters in the one style?

[@jacobseed2123]

7. Chett 6. Merrett Frey 5. Pate 4. Varamyr Sixskins 3. Will 2. Cressen 1. Kevan Lannister

[@jimmckinney1935]

My list is very different, but to each their own.

[@KofiKom]

Kevan is the goat

[@haydenanello748]

just in time for my morning shower

[@aabbccdd4710]

Chett no.1 best POV character

[@QuinnTheGM]

Many people are saying

[@OtherWorldAmbience]

So, you’re going to rank every single chapter, yes? 👀

[@Dreadfort-ho8lg]

Thank you

[@dontGetMunsoned]

Wasn't a huge fan of the Kevan one because Varys sounded like a Bond villain.

[@jo0ls_dee]

Samwell's last chapter is probably about s old as Samwell is 💀

[@kostadindimitrov1921]

My opinion: 7. ADWD: Prologue 6. ASOS: Prologue 5. ACOK: Prologue 4. AFFC: Prologue 3. AGOT: Prologue 2. ASOS: Epilogue 1. ADWD: Epilogue (one of my favourite chapters in the series)

[@masterplokoon8803]

Cressen and Kevan are by far the best.

[@KeithTingle]

you ranked in reverse order

[@jorgevarela3722]

For Robert!!!!!

[@purplepanda8805]

I'm torn between Varamyr and Cressen

[@LSK1]

Great

[@gunpowdergelatine6358]

Flip pate and cwressen

[@BIGBOG103]

BigBog

[@stewart2449]

Not so fussed about Cressen but then I’m not so fussed about Stannis. Merrett is excellent until the big reveal - I am not a fan of Lady Stoneheart as a character, at all. Varamyr is magnificent. 1) Varamyr 2) Will 3) Kevan 4) Pate 5) Cressen 6) Merrett 7) Chett

[@AlexM-ei3yk]

Personally Kevan>Cressen>>>>all>>>>>>>>>>Pate

[@j-Gappy-h]

Diddylog

[@justinrogers1807]

1st

[@unreal306]

Varamyr is 6 as it just does world building and does not add for the story and the writing of it is quite bad

[@capitancoolness942]

1 view 1 min fell off

[@Chu9947]

2nd

[@nickfinan6031]

Chet is for sure the least interesting