The Last Eddard - A Game of Thrones | Obsidian Nights Podcast | A Song of Ice and Fire

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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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[@ohhhmindy4380]

If we believe Rhaegar set up this tournament as is hinted, we also have to consider he may have been given information in the form of her prophetic dreams from the Ghost of HH. Now, if we take this quote from Ygritte to Jon as she told the tale of Bael the Bard: “Now as it happened the winter roses had only then come into bloom, and no flower is so rare nor precious.” We know blue winter roses are extremely rare. It therefore follows that the Starks of Winterfell were probably asked to bring some to the tourney. And I think the fact that the Queen of Love and Beauty’s crown wasn’t just of blue winter roses, but of Lyanna’s *favorite* flowers, shows us Rhaegar had a prophecy based plan before the Starks even left Winterfell. Furthermore, if you do the math, the tourney was announced a full year before the tourney was held, while the realm was still deeply entrenched in winter. How did they know there would be this 2 month long false spring in order to plan a tourney and have the high lords pack up and travel to Harrenhal from all over the realm? ✨

[@tonysled6796]

dam Melinda. you are on fire with this one...

[@girlnettles]

Farewell Big Daddy Ned. You were the best dad I never had 😭😭😭😭

[@Munchaussen]

I have my own issues with Rhaegar and his bs in the story, but they did not let him win at Harrenhal, everyone agrees he was super talented. Agreed that R+L was not about love for him, it was what he thinked his duty demanded of him (I don't agree at all with what he did, it was stupid, but it was not for love for sure)

[@nikkiward1715]

This was a great chapter. Poor Ned😔

[@micahmcfadden8082]

Ive been rereading and I think the riddle varys gives tyrion about the king the holy man and the rich man was his way of telling him little finger was the one that convinced joffery to kill ned

[@ashleyofnaath]

Nice catch. I think George said in an author's annotation that Littlefinger had a certain "hidden influence" on Joffrey's decision to send the catspaw after Bran, so it wouldn't surprise me if he also influenced the decision to execute Ned.

[@thomasbowe9956]

I was always curious about that riddle

[@ashleyofnaath]

I don't think the jousting competitors were letting Rhaegar win; at least not all of them. In ADWD, Barristan reflects on the tourney "bitterly" and thinks: "If I had been a better knight...if I had unhorsed the prince in that last tilt, as I unhorsed so many others, it would have been for me to choose the queen of love and beauty..." Given that this is nearly 20 years after the fact and losing still bothers Ser Barristan, I'd say he was genuinely trying to defeat Rhaegar. If there had been a plot to let Rhaegar win, why wouldn't Barristan, one of the few entrants capable of defeating him- have been in on it?

[@micahmcfadden8082]

Or maybe his regret is that he sacrifice his honor and lost on purpose

[@jonstark153]

@Sketcher's *a great swordsman can't necessarily win a tourney. If it's was elsewise then arthur dayne would have won every tourney he participated. Take robb and jon. Robb is better in Hunting, better lance and a better rider and marksman. Bt jon is the better sword ⚔️

[@jonstark153]

Yes i agree rhaegar was good in jousting

[@lordofcastamere9376]

I think Rhaegar won because of love. He met Lyanna as the Knight of the laughing tree and wanted to win for her. This parallels with Jorah and Lysenne Hightower. Jorah is just be knighted and felt in love with Lysenne. Because of that he could win, even from Jaime Lannister

[@ashleyofnaath]

@@micahmcfadden8082 Well his words don't sound like a man who's regretting sacrificing his honor; they sound like a man who gave his best effort and came up short. Sort of like the NBA playoffs this year when Kevin Durant thought he hit a three pointer, but his toe was touching the three point line so the shot counted as two points, meaning the Bucs won the game as opposed to it tying and going into overtime.

[@iamsecond411]

I just noticed during this livestream that Ned thinks about Jon and opens and closes his hand just like Jon does after the encounter with the wight. Foreshadowing or coincidence?

[@vinnieharper]

05:45 - It just just occurred to me. The way Littlefinger threatened Ned, is the same way Arya took him out.. How fitting.

[@traumer9622]

I don't think Arya will take him out like that in the books tho, it goes against every principle of house stark (he who passes the sentence) and Sansas arc as well. I think Sansa will be his downfall (but not in a slit-his-throat kinda way)

[@EAraceliMD]

Sweet Summer Mama, I have missed you so much!!!🖤

[@The_Red_Woman]

Thanks for acknowledging that Catelyn is the root of everyone’s problems. She really screwed everything up.

[@mohorbose]

The tourney was almost definitely supposed to be a coup but I don't think Rhaegar winning was rigged. They say Brandon fell to him. Brandon Stark doesn't seem the type to take that kind of hit to his rep. And if he was in on it, Ned would know and he never talks about it

[@tonyaniehaus3296]

Cersei had her spies watch Ned she knew he was going to come to the truth sooner or later and that's why she was already in the process of killing Robert.

[@eleanorpfeferman1608]

Have you stopped doing obsidian nights? For some reason I can't find new episodes after the last Dany in GOT... I really love your analysis and hot takes.

[@downhere5413]

On Spotify she did a few of the first chapters from ACOK, But stopped at the start of February, hopefully she’s just taking a break from all her socials in general, and will be back eventually! Maybe she’s trying to align the podcast up to finish ADWD with the release of Winds of Winter, LOL.

[@capricornyearofthetiger]

I wonder if Littlefinger hired Jaqen H'ghar with his own plan to take Ned out before he got to the Wall. That's probably how Jaqen H'ghar was in the cells.

[@briennesfatsister4788]

I love Obsidian Nights. My favorite podcast!

[@gracejackson2739]

I love this channel and hate that I literally have to stop listening every time the Catelyn hate speech starts 😩 how do characters like Jaime Lannister get handled with so much more nuance and understanding? I love his character too but his attempted child murder gets excused more readily than Cat’s attempts to get her children back safely.

[@micahmcfadden8082]

I cringe at the bran hate speech they hate bran so much

[@datsweetsansabooty]

I'd totally make you my queen of love and beauty.

[@-Melkor]

It’s because Cat hates on Jon for no good reason. Her bad decisions have led to the downfall of house stark.

[@lorigarry371]

Because he is portrayed as a bad guy and it is continually reinforced by other characters including Ned. While Catelynn is excused in universe and people never call her out. Ned didn't even stop her from sending Jon away. The only place Catelynn gets shit is in the Fandom. And rightfully so.

[@wisdommanari6701]

@@lorigarry371 I'm sorry what? She is constantly called out, she's under house arrest after she freeze Jamie, people talk about how she made things harder for them., her uncle and her brother and her son all say it.

[@bevindennett]

GRRM PLANNED IT ALL

[@ivancastro365]

Thank you for doing this. Is this the last one??

[@QueenDaenerysTargaryen]

Interesting👍 🔥🔥🔥

[@AUPackmule]

Another awesome podcast!

[@MotherOf-Ferrets]

Around 8:15 you start talking about which cells Ned is in. On it as always Gray 🙂 In ASOS Chapter 77 Tyrion XI, when Varys is getting Tyrion out of King's Landing he tells Tyrion about the 4 levels of the dungeon. Ned and Tyrion both were kept in the 3rd level, the black cells. 😉 Amazing as always Gray, I enjoy these soooo much. I always enjoy listening to you and your guests talk ASOIAF 🥰

[@micahmcfadden8082]

Thank that was bothering me i knew there were multiple levels with every lower level being worst i jus couldnt imagine even with treason they put ned in the black cells thats where they send prisiners to die

[@MotherOf-Ferrets]

@@micahmcfadden8082 Yah those cells are awful and besides Ned there has been some big names in the black cells. Grand Maester Pycelle, Tyrion, poor Prince Viserys during Maegor's reign, the Sea Snake, I couldn't imagine being stuck in that nasty place.. In Gray's Discord we read Ch. 77 of ASOS not long ago in book club and had a great discussion about it. This series is just so awesome, with soooooo much to talk about!!! 🙂

[@tph951]

Y did it end 😢😢 we need more obsidian nights

[@comicdog5097]

Yeah where is the rest of this book at least please Grey please.... I'll be a guest if you need help there

[@annafield3136]

Why is this the last video in the playlist? Did you not make any more? I'm really enjoying them!

[@GrayArea]

Due to limited time and availability I had to move them to podcast format on Apple, Spotify, Alexa… anywhere u listen to podcasts. The entire AGOT is on there and just starting into clash of kings

[@annafield3136]

@@GrayArea thanks! I switched over but they seem to have finished now. Will you do some more soon? I love listening to your take on events!

[@ricodan7617]

Beautiful

[@Craigravon]

Perfect timing 👌

[@traumer9622]

Does this continue on spotify only?

[@JoniukasVader]

Gray Area!!!

[@mschell8022]

It sounds really dumb to blame Catelyn for every single polical move every other character made

[@jessjones2766]

They do that with Sansa too. I think it was two Sansa chapters ago they were implying that Sansa talking to Cersei is the reason Robb went to war and she's therefore partially to blame for the Red Wedding or something. I don't ask them to be completely unbiased but it is frustrating to watch when we're ten moves ahead in this game and they keep harping on that one thing like the complex politics of this story only involved one to two actors and not several moving pieces with their own motives, goals, and responsibilities.

[@mschell8022]

@@jessjones2766 Wow you said that really well! I agree, the whole point of this series is that events happen because of several character storylines intersecting at once lol. Its totally ridiculous to say that just Sansa is to blame.

[@micahmcfadden8082]

Its not that i blame her for others actions its just her actions forces the actions of the rest of her family. Her actions cost Ned his life, robb a portion of his army and his life, she is the reason Ned went south in the first place not to mention she was the idiot catspaw little finger uses to start the conflict between the starks and lannisters Brans fall was a happy accident.

[@micahmcfadden8082]

I do hate how gray shits on bran tho

[@mschell8022]

@@micahmcfadden8082 Everything you just said is literally "blaming her for other's actions". You're directly blaming her for everything everyone else did.

[@lilpatchface4325]

Behold!!!!! Area of House Gray!

[@girlnettles]

Ayyyyeeeee 🙌

[@danjordan1]

JUICE TIME!!!!!!!

[@filbertrocko]

1st level has windows. 2nd just arrow slits. then black cells. no light no nothing. ******robert did not know the kids were bastards *****

[@micahmcfadden8082]

She meant stannis

[@vickonstark7365]

❤️

[@micahmcfadden8082]

I dont think they let him win anymore because he went against brandon stark and bronze yohn royce and i dont think they would let anyone win

[@ashleyofnaath]

This just conjecture, but my take on Lyanna and Rhaegar is this...He crowned her queen of love and beauty because, after discovering she was the KOTLT and the motivation behind it, he thought she deserved it. As for the rest... I think Rhaegar saved Lyanna from being taken by a group of men sent by Aerys, and the ensuing confrontation looked like an abduction to the lay person who didn't realize what was going on. Lyanna would've obviously left with Rhaegar WILLINGLY because he could keep her safe. I'd also wager that as Cat did after seizing Tyrion, Rhaegar announced loudly and repeatedly that he was going to King's Landing but in actuality took Lyanna to the Tower of Joy. Hence why Brandon was told Lyanna was in KL. Rhaegar has so many parallels to Lancelot, and Lancelot absconded w/Gwynevere to save her from being burned alive after being accused of treason. Maybe Aerys learned Lyanna was the KOTLT and sent men to seize her/bring her to King's Landing for a "trial" like her father eventually got, but Rhaegar intervened as Lancelot did. I could see someone like Varys manipulating Aerys's paranoia, outing Lyanna, and telling him that she and Rhaegar arranged this stunt as a means of endearing Lord Rickard to Rhaegar's cause. We do know Aerys considered the KOTLT to be a "traitor" and wanted the knight caught to "expose their perfidy", so if he learned Lyanna was the knight and knew she was fostering in the Riverlands I think he'd send men to get her. It's also worth noting Lancelot took Gwynevere to a tower/castle as well, though I don't recall the name. As to love...I think they grew to love each other in time (like Lancelot and Gwynevere). Ser Barristan confirms it in ADWD to Daenerys. Also, in Theon's prophetic dream in ACOK, Lyanna is depicted in a bloodstained white gown. In this story, white gowns are almost exclusively associated with marriage. Marrying Lyanna wasn't politically savvy; in fact it was a disaster for Rhaegar in that regard. Maybe it was another way to keep her safe, but I'm inclined to think he married for love.

[@ashleyofnaath]

As an aside, I also wonder if Rhaegar might've managed to get word to Lord Rickard about what happened, that Lyanna was safe, etc etc because there's no mention of Rickard asking about her once he's in King's Landing. It's just that Rickard didn't have the chance to say what he knew because he was immediately put on "trial" to answer for Brandon's actions, and both were killed. Once that happened it was too late, and Rhaegar and Lyanna really didn't matter because Aerys had drawn first blood and was demanding more. Talk about a tragedy...

[@countbalerionofhousetatter2624]

the reason joffrey gets to cut ned's head off is that no one stops him. it ought to have been cersei to make the decision, not joff. joff is only a minor, his word means nada. i saw the entrance to a dungeon at bolton castle. creep city.

[@bAmMoD216]

Interesting about the Summerhall sacrifice, because if you question some of Aerys actions (since all the history of him is tanted by Tywin and Pycelle, like where the hell are all his damn bastards because you know he has some running around 🤔 😬🤫) he did sacrifice to the fire Rickard Stark and then Brandon strangled himself (both of kings blood, first the father then the son) and we got that whole thing from Jamie's pov who would just look on this as Aerys being crazy, not as sacrifice to do something. And not to go down the tinfoil lined rabbit whole of B+A=J but all the times with the sacrifice there is a child involved, leading to the whole if if if Ashara was knocked up at that point and it was Brandon's she got the hell outta there . From what I've noticed only winter roses are in Winterfell. Rhaegar definitely set the tournament up, and idt he did any of it for love. Gotta remember Arthur Dayne is the only other one we know about that was with both Lyanna and Rhaegar that entire time so we're missing a part of the story. I question what exactly is Varys actions tho clearly Illyrio had plans for years for Viserys and Dany, it seems a little too convenient it was just to die in the dothraki sea, I think they knew something about Dany being a dragon hatcher, (possibly if they're Blackfyre's they're still getting dragon dreams too; Daemon Blackfyre II clearly was dreaming of dragon hatching at White walls.)

[@micahmcfadden8082]

I never 100% subscribe to R+L=J. B+A=J is def possible

[@bAmMoD216]

@@micahmcfadden8082 when you first hear it, you go 'ehhh' but read a reddit Mother of All Theories. Gives a very detailed brakedown of Ned and Jon, and when you actually start comparing Jon to Brandon you can't unsee it. Again not saying it's facts because all parentage Theories have some amount of believableity for both Jon and Dany 🤷‍♀️

[@micahmcfadden8082]

@@bAmMoD216 ive heard the theory b4 and it actually makes sense we kno brandin not shy about sex and ned wasnt even bold enought to ask her to dance and from what catelyn and lady dustin say brandon was the more attractive if them. My biggest strike against R+L=J is thats the answer that got D&D the job and George just give me vibes like he doesnt want anyone to know the true story til its finished.

[@bAmMoD216]

@@micahmcfadden8082 yeah I 100% agree. Also that's all info from D&D and they are shady as fuck so I really try not to believe anything they say or did in the show, and like to keep books separated, (it's hard sometimes).

[@micahmcfadden8082]

@@bAmMoD216 after season 5 its alot easier🤦🏽‍♂️

[@Twobeless1]

RIP Neddy boi

[@tonyaniehaus3296]

Was Ned alive when Catlin released Jamie?

[@mohorbose]

No. They'd already killed Ned, which is why Catelyn was desperate enough to let Jaime go just so she could get her daughters back before Joff and Cersei offed them too

[@micahmcfadden8082]

No

[@Rachelfishk33]

Everyone Ned damns dies tho…at least in the show. And probably inevitably in the books too 🤔 hopefully not in the same way tho…most of those deaths sucked on the show lol

[@tylermcalpine6550]

you the best gray area or my future ex wife ha ha ha

[@wisdommanari6701]

I'm sorry you're signing so much devious and negative motivation to her visit, has it occurred to either of you that Catl really wanted to go because she missed her freaking husband?

[@mschell8022]

Agree, this channel assumes too much negativity about Catelyn sometimes

[@micahmcfadden8082]

So she left her 3 and 7 year old because her husband was gone for a few weeks when she is the one that convinced him to go🤔 reread cat first chapter she wanted to go to court she was hurt wen he said she had to stay

[@Craigravon]

Public comments ❤👈

[@mrlivershot1]

✌

[@kylevalentine5431]

Missed me? Yeaaaaaa ik you did 🙃

[@sershyguyofthemushrooms9880]

Everybody says ned is dumb but he had a plan to handle the lannisters but catelynn ruined it plus he could not know Robert would die a believable accidental death

[@traumer9622]

Well, if he hadn't told Cersei and if he wouldn't have trusted Littlefinger, everything would have worked out, so I would say it's more his fault

[@sershyguyofthemushrooms9880]

@@traumer9622 no one said it wasn't his fault about what happened to him. All I'm saying is he's not dumb because he had his plan that cat ruined. He literally said if it came to war he wanted to fight them on the battlefield not politically. And it's easy for people to say he shouldn't have trust little finger after the fact lol. He only betrayed Ned at this point because Ned was going to give stannis the throne

[@traumer9622]

@@sershyguyofthemushrooms9880 I understand, but what I was trying to say is that he hinself had already ruined his plan. I don't really understand what you mean about Catelyn's ruining it?

[@traumer9622]

@@sershyguyofthemushrooms9880 I mean, ruining it up to the point where he gets captured and thrown into the black cells. I do see how she made horrible decisions concerning Tyrion and Jaime and how that might have cost them the war.

[@sershyguyofthemushrooms9880]

@@traumer9622 she ruined it by not going back north and taking tyrion. Because she took tyrion, twyin moved first taking out the riverlands their allies. Which could have given them an advantage in numbers if he had time get his army and coordinate with them. It also caused him his men and his leg. Not to mention sansa also screwed him by talking to cersei. She pretty much told her ned was planning something and she needed to act now. Pretty much if cat and sansa didn't do what they did ned's actions would not be so stupid as people keep saying

[@corbinskywalker]

Gray Lady returns

[@kaiw522]

Bro you are consistent 👍

[@Faded.Illuminated]

I hate how they did Ned but he was completely out of he's element going south. Country wolf in the city

[@xxBowman1]

Did you guys give up on this podcast?! 😢😢😢😢

[@travisjames650]

He didn't pick the roses.. Bloodraven is responsible for it all... what was the single trigger for the war? Some squires picking on a teenager named Reed... who just happened to be at the gods eye... for a year!! Chance? Or 4d chess?

[@lordofcastamere9376]

Bloodraven warged the boar that killed Robbert

[@Huey_Newton]

This is a pleasant surprise!!

[@marktwain562]

The dude was dope , please have him back !

[@micahmcfadden8082]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@The_Red_Woman]

@@micahmcfadden8082 Loved your insight!

[@jgc734]

Are both of you from Baltimore

[@SHARKVADERS]

GA!!!

[@leslieshE]

Ned you will be missed

[@sershyguyofthemushrooms9880]

The story around Harrenhal is like it's own mini story. I wouldn't my a pov story from the important characters there.

[@Copernicus91]

That was awesome

[@E_Stormborn]

Poor dumb Ned.. 😂 I blame Catelyn for everything that goes wrong.. 😏

[@DaenerysHeiress]

But wait why Mitch sound fine tho 🥰🥰💙😂 great Video loved it

[@micahmcfadden8082]

I am 😅😅

[@micahmcfadden8082]

I sound weird 🥴🥴

[@missbehaves_5005]

Catlynn went to Kings Landing bcuz last time Ned left he had a bastard. It was pure jealousy.

[@forcesmuggler7667]

Greyjoy Rebellion? Though brought back Theon on Robert's orders.

[@wisdommanari6701]

@@forcesmuggler7667 it's just baseless cat hate

[@joannecassell8825]

Robert knew? Ned didn't know who to trust was his only defect. No time to put a network in place.

[@Nash9r]

Thanks for the great content. I love reliving the books this way. One suggestion: Please don't do the sound effect when you are reading from the book. Sounds meh imho. One can differentiate between normal talk and reading anyway.

[@ajayborkar1788]

Thanks for the video. I had a suggestion. Is it possible to have the quotes on screen when you read from the books? I also had a question about Ned opening and closing his fingers when he spoke to Varys, other than Jon, is there any other mentions of people opening and closing their fingers? Also what symbolism could be drawn from that?

[@magnificodz6653]

سلام عليكم

[@mayaowens3388]

Obsidian Nights is the only thing keeping me plugged in to ASOIF! 💯