Bran at the Tower is a MESS! w/Trey the Explainer, RedTeamReview 

Carmine revealing his face to be the pages of asoiaf on the left was a pretty big shocker ngl

Everyone was terrified of Eddard. Can you imagine: this guy came back from the Tower of Joy, having "killed" the greatest fighter in all the land (Sword of the Morning, Arthur Dayne), messed up 300 years of Targaryan rule and squashed the Greyjoy rebellion? He rolls into King's Landing with King Robert in front of all these pieces of crap who are only there to bleed the realm. They know Eddard is the most just man, after Stannis the Manace, in the kingdom...

"Why would Ned be an enemy?" Remember Cersei is a paranoid narcissistic and she's been whispering in Jamie's ear for his entire life. Chances are they hate and fear everyone.

“[Trey] is prettier than my daughters” - Crastor, I’m pretty sure

"Why would Cersei think that Ned would refuse being hand". My two cents: Ned was in the most influential position after the rebellion behind Robert. This was a man who the King would have died for and would listen to and what does Ned do with that position? He gives it up and heads North. This is a pretty clear indicator that he isn't interested in "Southern politics". She's probably just working off the assumption that "Hey, this guy hasn't shown any interest in our politics in the last ten years. Why would he start now?".

The 'queer affection' Varys describes Jaime having for Tyrion is probably unusual in his eyes because of who Jaime appears to be during this entire period. Jaime is vain, arrogant, he loves battle and warriors and prowess above most else - and in love with Cersei, who despises Tyrion. Considering Tywin also despises Tyrion - I can imagine it would seem queer indeed that Jaime wouldn't.

I think the “Jaime as Hand” subplot is a holdover from the original idea where Jaime would murder his way to the throne. In AGOT, Jaime seems to get a LOT of positions in spite of being a Kingsguard. Tywin will name him Warden of the West when he dies, Robert wants to make him Warden of the East, Cersei wants him to be Hand, he’s the field commander of a Lannister army and so on. It seems like there was a lot of political convenience heading Jaime’s way to build him a base of power so when the other heirs started dying, no one questioned Jaime’s accession since he was already so powerful that no one could stop him or challenge his claim. That’s the only logic I can find for why Jaime would be Hand, that he was actually supposed to be more cutthroat and power hungry than he ended up being and actually wanted these positions thrown at him in order to want to be King. Because the way Jaime is later characterised, it doesn’t make any sense at all that the Lannisters would push Jaime to be Hand over Tywin or even Kevan, it’s not a responsibility he wants at this point.

36:00 yes Cersei was planning on offing Robert: "his meddling had forced her to rid herself of Robert sooner than she would have liked, before she could deal with his pestilential brothers." (Cersei I AFfC)

Trey is one Behelit Necklace away from completing the Griffith look

Trey has a face. Trey 1, Faceless Men 0.

Something I've never really thought about until now or heard people talk about is how Jamie effectively deserts the Kingsguard after confronting Ned. Like he just fucks off to join his father's army, and lead Lannister forces with him. Sure once Joffrey is king, they can say he had the King's leave, but Jamie leaves while Robert is still alive?? How is that not desertion?

My impression was always that Robert said he'd make Jaime his Hand purely out of spite.

I think our boy PJ is really underestimating the sheer pettiness of human beings re: Jamie hating Ned just for giving him a dirty look years ago. I've worked with people who refuse to work with someone because they were rude to them once 10 years ago. People hold grudges over the dumbest stuff for the longest of times

A couple things on what you said about Cersei: 1) About knowing Ned wouldn't want to be Hand - Cersei has been married to Robert for 15 years, and forced to listen to him all that time. Robert has likely talked about Ned extensively - and Robert was probably grumbling that Ned wouldn't want to leave the North on the carriage ride North. 2) On the matter of Cersei worrying about being set aside - remember Maggy the Frog and her prophecy. Cersei is obsessed with the idea of someone 'younger and more beautiful' coming to take all she holds dear - a 'new Lyanna' in Robert's mind would classify!

It seems clear to me that Lysa's accusations are that the Lannisters killed Jon Arryn, not the twincest. And yes, Cersei knows that she didn't do it, but it's still not a nice thing to have happen. Regarding Cersei saying that Robert would put her aside, I agree that GRRM probably was thinking of an Anne Boleyn scenario, but Carmine's explanation kind of works: she didn't mean that Robert would divorce her, but that he would get a mistress and would therefore stop listening to Cersei. In fact, we know why Robert married Cersei: to make an ally out of Tywin and to get his financial backing. Even if it were possible for Robert to divorce Cersei, Tywin would demand payment, so Robert couldn't do it, since the Crown is broke without Tywin.

Wait, Trey doesn't actually look like a Dippersaurus?

Didn't Ned push for Jaime to be sent for the wall? That's why they're already enemies.

I can't believe Preston and Carmine got THE Kirk Hammett circa 1983 to be on the podcast! Talk about a special guest star!

Robert threatens to make Jaime hand just to force Ned to stay as hand because he knows that is the last thing Ned would want. He doesnt actually want Jaime to be hand and never considered him for the position. Jaime and Cersei see everyone who isnt them as an enemy, even if they are "allies" at the time. I think Cersei was always planning on killing Robert once Joffrey came of age.

I think the key detail you missed is that Cersei is paranoid about Ned discovering the incest, and it is upon this fear that her suspicion about being replaced by a new woman is founded. If the incest were uncovered, the marriage could be legally annulled and Robert could remarry a younger woman. Varys knows about the incest, as do a few other people in high positions, so the idea of Margery being sent to marry Robert actually makes a lot of sense if Cersei being removed as Queen is anticipated.

"Give me honorable enemies rather than ambitious ones, and I'll sleep more easily by night." I think they just view everyone except Lannisters as enemies?

"Arya wanting to be good with the sword and horse riding shouldn't be weird because there are around 10 to 20 known women out of millions of the population that are like that."

The "I'll pin it on Jaime" thing seems like a threat to scare Ned into accepting it. I might be thinking by show memories, so that's my headcanon.

"this is no longer a game for two players"...not "no longer a game for two opposing players"...they are taking about each other...varys and illirio...they mean they now have other parties beside them selves probably playing the game and they need to consider making allies or figuring out which of them they need to actively play against

"The king might as easily have named one of his brothers, or even Littlefinger, gods help us." How is Jaime smarter here about LF than he was in Jaime VII AFfC??? "Littlefinger was as amiable as he was clever, but too lowborn to threaten any of the great lords, with no swords of his own. The perfect Hand."

How happy is T T E He’s so happy looking. Some man

New prequel series: _Eddard Stark: Detective of the Seven Kingdoms_

Oh my gosh - Trey showed his face :O (and is as attractive as he sounds)

Trey looks like how I pictured Taena Merryweather when I read the books 😂

I think Cersei's just voicing frustration in her first lines, and you're looking for dialogue that's been stripped of emotion-driven repetition. I'd think that Cersei and Jamie have been having variations on this same conversation all the way north, and even since John died, which is why Jamie's so off-hand - he's had this conversation before, he knows that Cersei is venting her frustration, but he can't think of a strategy to counter Ned. And later; in the throne room Jamie knew that _honourable_ Ned had judged him in an instant, wouldn't listen to why Jamie killed the king to save the people, and would trash Jamie's name forever as soon as he's out of the throne room. His whole dream was to be a knight, and once he decides to do the right thing rather than allowing atrocities by obeying his vows he _instantly_ loses his knightely reputation forever.

Trey looks like what I imagine Satin looks like in the books

the prophecy of the new queen replacing is a whole thing.

Most Controversial Preston Statement : being accused of an incesteous affair is a serious allegation

Also, Cersei thinking Robert would set her aside you have to put yourself in her mindset. Cersei legit thinks when you rule you can do whatever you want and no one can tell you otherwise. So I think she probably thinks if Robert really wanted to her could set her aside. Also Renly probably thinks the same way because why would he think he should be king over his older brother.

27:10 just because the twins know they didn’t kill Jon Arryn doesn’t mean Lisa won’t accuse them of it

That bran lonely paragraph is pretty clumsy, but it kinda fits with Gurm writing from a child’s perspective of thinking of himself moreso than reasons Jon isn’t at the hunt. Almost implicitly he’s not concerned with that stuff and just wants to play and these thoughts are poorly articulated and just flow together, similar to how 7 year olds actually talk. Also, the descriptions of winterfell and bran climbing around them are incredibly similar to Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake, which was a huge inspiration for Gurm. House Peake is named after the author, the castle starpike is named after Steerpike, who is the antagonist and basically Littlefinger. I’m sure that people recommend books George was inspired by all the time, but similar to that Frost poem, Gormenghast and Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe are impossible to read without seeing constant parallels.

this was one of your best ever vids, keep this colab going!

I can't get enough of these Preston chapter reviews. Amazing work gents

Woah trey face is this new

Its not that Ned is a super-sleuth: there are already people in King's Landing who have figured out Joffrey is a bastard, its just that they don't have the trust of the king in such matters. Placing Eddard in King's Landing, where he is inexperienced and happy for any advice, would allow them to guide him to the realization about Cersei (dropping as many hints as necessary, until he gets it). And because Ned is known to be really honorable & a good friend of Robert, it would be logical to assume that he would bring the matter before the king.

Damn Trey looking like a snack

20:05 I think Cersie figured an honorable man like Ned wouldn’t like to be around the Lannisters after what they did to Ellia and her children and Aerys as well…. Which is true Ned hates the Lannisters for this very reason and even had a public argument with Robert about it

Cersei does believe that Jon Arryn knew about twincest: "Jon Arryn put Robert Baratheon in her bed, and before he died he'd begun sniffing about her and Jaime as well." (Cersei I AFfC) Probably a safe assumption for Cersei and Jaime to assume Jon could've told Lysa, and her fleeing seems like she's preparing to spill the beans, so she doesn't get Ned Starked when she makes the accusation?

Thoughts on a few of your gripes about the Jamie/Cersei convo: Cersei didn’t think Ned was a super sleuth, but it was a pretty big certainty that he’d investigate how Jon Arryn died, and that could lead to exactly where it did, which was discovering the incest, which would make Ned dangerous since Robert would listen to him. Cersei’s fear of Ned likely stems from Jon and Robert talking about Ned around her. They probably would talked up how loyal/honest etc. he was when reminiscing, or something like that. It doesn’t seem like so big a leap to me.

my god.. hes beautiful

I think with the marriage thing, setting Cersei aside for Lyanna 2.0 or Margaery, I think this is a retcon, where GRRM changed his mind on how easy it was to dissolve a marriage?

trey’s facecard 🔥

I think the problem lies with taking a point of view characters exposition as gospel. It would make sense that a point of view character would get things in accurate because they’re not the absolute word on their world. They’re in some respect, as ignorant as we are.

55:12 The image of a Big Gay Targaryen Wedding got a good laugh from me

The whole lysa exposition is for the reader

Going over: ASMR edition.

good heavens… treys beautiful

This series of yours is so fun. Thank you, Prez.

Kind of a cop out but don't heros kinda take the names of older heroes sometimes? Like there could be an older Cerwynn of the Mirrorshield and the Kingsguard took the name for himself.

Serwyn of the Mirror Shield: Bran and Sansa could have both learned this (incorrectly) from a singer who visited Winterfell. Cersei understanding Ned: If Cersei hopes Ned will refuse, then given what we see of her in AFFC she "knows" he will refuse.

Nice! glad you had everyone on.

Trey should really try and have a video with George and talk about history- sincerely an asoiaf loving archaeologist

Knightly bussy got Renly acting unwise

I think you guys are reading this way too critically. Cersei is an obsessive narcissist and does things that are completely meaningless to anyone but her (burn the tower of the hand). She sees Jamie as a male version of herself, and in many ways a vicarious way to do things she can't as a woman. There could have been ONE conversation between Cersei and Robert where she suggests Jamie as hand and gets shut down, and she obsesses over the fact that Robert doesn't take her seriously--even if Jamie being hand would do nothing practical for her situation. The fact that they are having this convo at this moment seems weird, but she may not have been able to have much alone time with Jamie on the march north. And, like an obsessed narcissist, maybe she knows that what she says is impossible, but she's just pissed that her twin brother doesn't immediately agree with her and therefore hounds him every second with something petty and stupid. It's actually quite congruent with her character. From a storytelling perspective, GRRM obviously needs to create a red herring here, and there's a bit of deus ex machina with the coincidence of Bran climbing, but hell, that's just fantasy novel writing. AGOT, especially the first half, is stiffer than what ASOIAF becomes by ADWD. So what feels off to me is that the characters and their dialogue doesn't completely fit with how we think of them by the later books. It's like when you watch old episodes of your favorite show and think "who are these characters?". But we know later on that Cersei is self-obsessed and jumps to all kinds of conclusions about people. Makes sense that she it's just pissed about whatever. In this moment, Jamie even dismisses her idea. She's pissed that no one takes her seriously. And of course she doesn't want someone as rule-following as Ned around. That would divide her influence. Honestly, I think these details are well written. Even paragraph 2 which doesn't seem well-written--remember Bran is a young boy and his POV isn't as eloquent. His expositions are going to be clunkier. Makes sense to me. But I suppose it's more fun to point out that GRRM made mistakes! More content and engagement!

I'm always surprised Preston doesn't bring of the Empire of the Dawn stuff more. If there is a thousand worlds/advanced society with chimera blood stuff/dragons earlier than the Valyrians, that would be it. The name also by its nature seems connected to Dawnbringer/Daynes.

Look at Trey!!! 🥰

Trey looks so fun

They see Robert as an enemy so anyone on his side makes them an enemy too.

TREEEEY

just because a character is wrong doesn't mean it's a retcon.

I think that many people knew about the incest and didnt care or only wanted it revealed in the right time. Maybe Renly knew and thats why he wanted to make Robert fall in love with Margery and then expose it so that Robert can marry her (why is this plan beneficial to Renly besides pleasing Loras? No idea). He then pretends he doesnt know about it because it makes Stannis the actual king and Renly is trying to downplay Stannis's claim. Cersei is crazy jealous. She isnt stupid but when it comes to these stuff she acts completely irrational mainly because of the prophecy. Thats why she gets the same idea as Renly. And because of the incest too of course

I'm sure you have heard this before but Cerwyn is a real name of Celtic origin. It's pronounced with a hard C. So Kerwyn. Like Carmine or as I call him Sarmine.

Could the “two players” be Varys and Illyrio themselves? Like the idea is that away from everyone’s eyes, they’ve been plotting unbeknownst to everyone else who think everything is fine but as things start to unravel more, “the game” starts to get more players as more people become aware of how much everything is going to go to hell when Robert dies?

In Got, Bran 2, Bran climbs the heart tree and then ascends to the armory's roof, where he encounters the twins in the tower. This information was likely provided by George R.R. Martin, as it seems to be where Arya appeared to fly from on show. Lol😂😂😂

I'd love to watch Trey interviewing GRRM on history, cryptids & stuff that pertains to his channel.

God why is he so hot?

Wow Trey ... Hot stuff

damn, a face like that and an asoiaf expert? 😍😍(trey is cute too)

hi. Preston a couple things I have always wanted to say but never get it in a "live". Littlefingers father took him to a hermit who lived in a cave when he was little and he said he would be a great man someday. and Marcella ....read the whole sentence..it says She Was ALMOST 1 and ten you have kids the day after they turn 1,2 whatever. they literally are almost the next age. thank you hope you see this. and loved having Trey on live !!! It was great actually seeing him

Tinfoil: Jon told Lysa. Lysa told Petyr. Petyr tells Lysa to off Jon (for some “Lysa motive”) but Petyr is thinking that getting Cersei/Jaime in trouble is just a quick execution by Robert, and Petyr needs to drag the Starks, Tullys, etc. in if he wants a truly chaotic civil war.

"no longer a game for two players"... my best guess is that the players were Team Robert and Team Varys&Illyrio, but now Team Robert has fractured into a bazillion sub-factions?

Tommen was left behind from the hunt too, why didn't Bran look for him? Maybe there could have been a line something like: And when Bran found Tommen, neither his mother or Kingsguard uncle were near, so he wasn't allowed to play with any of the direwolves.

I always assumed Varys was referring to themselves, him and Illyrio, with the "No longer a game for two players."

I take it that daddy preston has adopted trey as well

Wow kirk hammet talking to Preston about bran good stuff

I could easily imagine Lysa accusing Cersei of killing Jon Arryn, trying to steal Sweetrobin, filling the court with her lackeys, and maybe even cuckolding the king (or at least having no love/ loyalty), but it all being dismissed as the ravings of a grieving woman. You would think such an outburst, especially were it public, would be mentioned later, but then, theres a lot in Robert's court that seems to go unmentioned in the book, as yall discuss

1:06:00 Tyrion's travel log in Andalos might come back via parallel in the TWoW, as Tyrion retraces his steps back to Westeros? Maybe? We can hope it comes back in a cool way?

Swords around DANY could be the Golden Company.

this was great

33:15 Talking about if Lysa had knowledge of the incest and made it public knowledge after Jon Arryn’s death. Supposing if Lysa had the knowledge and did something similar to Stannis by telling as many lords and nobles at once, even if she just started with proclaiming it publicly throughout kingslanding at first. Preston basically says they would be under the same scrutiny and watchfulness as they are when Stannis tells everyone but I believe it would be much more extreme if Lysa did it early while Robert was still alive. I believe the only reason the incest rumor didn’t gain as much traction or real political consequences outside muttered gossip is because Robert was not alive and there was no one in Kings Landing with enough me or support that could challenge the Lannister aside from maybe Littlefinger who already knew. If Robert heard the rumor after Jon Arryn’s death, most likely he would’ve dismissed it initially but it would gnaw at him, especially if he heard it right before they set out on the month long journey to Winterfell, Robert may have been a shit King but even he is clever enough to start noticing the little details and differences with the children, even more so because of them traveling and being in even closer proximity to eachother day in and day out. If Robert had know, or even slightly suspected the outcome and reception of the gossip, whether most people believed it or not would be a massively different story for sure.

16:12 There's a record of Lord Dorian Hightower setting aside his wife for an Andal princess during the Andal Invasion, but he was a lord not a king.

Also - the point on 'bringing bastards to court' is not about the disgrace of having any old bastards around. It's because it would be ROBERT'S bastard, and would be an insult personally to her.

I watched the show before I read the books. I was pretty sure I was never going to watch another episode, and then Bran fell off the tower. I was hooked

Trey should be a permanent co-star on the Going Over series. He's that good!

Ned kicked up a big fuss about the Lannisters killing Rhaegar's children. So maybe that's why Cersei assumes he'd be an enemy of the Lannisters as a whole.

Aren’t the “two players” just themselves and the throne?

I don’t get it, why doesn’t it make sense that you build a castle in the tundra on hot springs

Preston, can you please wear headphones so there isn't an echo?

Lysa knew about the incest from Littlefinger, who has been shown to like to brag, showing off how smart he is (he does the same with Sansa later - the guy needs a confidant).

11:11 First Men having ring forts yet allegedly building towers/castles in square with round towers/castles only coming after the Andals kind of feels like a conradiction as well. 22:25 It is possible Jaime is just being facetious/sarcastic with the Littlefinger as Hand thing. 26:45 They are expecting Lysa to accuse them of stuff but I am not sure if they are expecting a specific accusation. Be it murder of Jon Arryn or Twincest.

More Trey! 🎉

Jamie thinks about edard look in his dreams (which is my favourite part of whole 3 book)

19:40 "Cersei says something smart, then something kind of dumb at the same time" it's in character

Jon Arryn kept repeating on his deathbed that the seed is strong

Aegon was in the plot since 2002 (when GRRM asked a question about Elia's children with a hint that only the daughter died), so there's that.