Jenny Park sat at her desk, stylus hovering over her drawing tablet as she tried to capture the perfect angle.
She loved to draw. It had always been her passion, and over the last year she had managed to make some decent money as a freelance artist. It was not enough to live on by itself, but it helped. She was in college, sharing an apartment with three roommates: Becca, Ashley, and Sofia.
On the screen in front of her, she was attempting to draw fan art of Aegon and his two sisters, the Conquerors of the Seven Kingdoms.
Jenny was a massive fan of A Song of Ice and Fire. She had read the series when it first came out, back when she was a teen, devouring each book as soon as it was released. She had also been a fan of Daniel Adler since she read the Percy Jackson series in middle school.
She wanted to do this fan art justice. There was not much art of the three Conquerors out there, and she wanted to make something really special, something that captured their power, their bond.
But who should she base them on? she thought.
She scrolled through Twitter, looking at an account that posted celebrity photos daily.
She was also waiting patiently for the first episode of the A Song of Ice and Fire adaptation, Game of Thrones, to come out that night.
She had been waiting for it all month. Honestly, all year, since it was announced. She had followed all the news and leaks from the set, every casting announcement, every behind the scenes photo. And the trailer? OMG, it was amazing. She must have watched it twenty times.
She stopped scrolling when she saw a picture on the feed.
Her eyes lit up.
She smiled.
It was perfect. Three people to base the art on.
She began drawing, losing herself in it.
She only stopped when her roommate Becca interrupted her.
"Jenny! Aren't you coming? It's starting!"
Jenny blinked, pulled out of her focus, and looked at the time.
Oh no. It was time for the show.
She quickly saved her work and left her room, settling onto the couch with her roommates.
They were all sprawled out with blankets, snacks scattered across the coffee table.
Ashley leaned back, arms crossed. "Okay, let's see what Jenny has been yapping about all month."
Jenny grinned. "Trust me. I'm sure by the end of it, you'll be picking up the books."
"Honey, I never read."
Sofia smirked. "That's not something a college student should say, Ash."
They all laughed.
=========
Meanwhile, a thousand miles away:
Marcus and Emma Williams sat down on their couch as well.
Marcus sighed. "We should really finish Stranger Things."
Emma shook her head. "My sister said this show is going to be good. And it's from Daniel Adler, so it has to be good."
Marcus was about to speak.
Emma cut him off. "No, Mark. Just because you and your friends have your superhero fandom fights does not mean we cannot watch anything by Daniel Adler."
Marcus leaned back, resigned. "Fine. I just do not see what the hype is about."
=========
Meanwhile, in another living room:
Three middle aged friends, Jake, Hassan, and Carlos, sat around a TV.
Jake grabbed the remote. "There's a new show on Netflix if we're not going out."
"Sure, why not?" Hassan said, shrugging.
Carlos pulled out his phone. "So, pizza?"
=========
Episode 1: Winter Is Coming
Sofia sat up straight. "Wait, this has monsters and stuff in it? I thought it was about medieval kings and things, like The Tudors."
Jenny grinned. "You are in for a surprise."
The opening theme played, the intricate map rising from the ground, gears turning, locations emerging as the music swelled.
Ashley leaned forward. "Okay, this opening is actually really cool."
Jenny could not help but agree. It captured the tone of the series perfectly.
=========
Marcus and Emma watched as the theme played.
Marcus squinted at the screen as the credits appeared. He read out loud, "Based on A Song of Ice and Fire by Daniel Adler."
"Boooo."
Emma hit him on the hand with a smile. "Grow up."
=========
Jake, Hassan, and Carlos sat forward as the theme played.
"I need to make this my ringtone," said Carlos.
=============
Jenny gasped. "Oh my god, it's perfect!" as Winterfell was shown on screen, the sprawling castle rising into view.
Becca leaned forward. "What the hell is that castle? It's like a mini city." Becca was studying history, so she knew a lot about things from that time.
The scenes continued, showing the Starks.
"What's that bithc's problem?" Ashley asked as a small scene showed Catelyn glaring at Jon Snow.
Jenny explained, "Oh, Jon is a bastard."
"So Sean Bean cheated?"
The show continued with the beheading and them finding the direwolves.
"Aww, they all have puppies," Sofia said.
Then it shifted to King's Landing to show Jaime and Cersei at Jon Arryn's funeral.
"Oh my god, is that Steve Trevor?" Ashley said excitedly. "I love him!" She turned to Jenny. "Is he a main character in the show?"
"It's Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and yes, he is," Jenny replied.
Ashley grinned. "Well, I'm sold now."
=========
Robert arrived, and then Jaime went in search of Tyrion, finding him in a brothel.
Jake laughed. "She is blowing that midget!" He and his friends burst out laughing.
Carlos grinned. "Okay, I think I like this show if there are more naked ladies."
=========
The Daenerys and Viserys scene played.
Jenny said, "Now that is what I imagined a Targaryen to look like."
Ashley leaned forward. "Oh my god, she looks so beautiful.
She grabbed her own hair. "I need to dye mine like that. What do you think?"
The scene played out with Viserys touching Daenerys inappropriately.
"Oh my god, isn't that her brother? What the hell, dude?" Becca said, disgusted.
Jenny nodded. "Oh yeah, the Targaryens are a very close knit family, so much so that they marry each other."
"Like brother and sister?" Ashley asked. "Oh, that poor girl."
=========
The Dothraki wedding scene:
Marcus said, "Okay, they are just having sex out in the open."
Emma laughed nervously.
The scene continued with Daenerys being led away by Drogo for their wedding night.
Emma and Marcus shifted uncomfortably, finding it hard to watch.
=========
Back with Jenny's group:
"Oh my god, girl, kill him!" Ashley shouted during the wedding night scene.
Sofia cursed in Spanish under her breath.
=========
The ending scene, Bran climbing the tower and seeing Jaime and Cersei:
"Oh my god, Steve, what are you doing?" Ashley said, shocked.
Becca threw her hands up. "So basically everyone is into incest here?"
Sofia was laughing along with Jenny.
Then Jaime pushed Bran off the tower.
"What the hell!" all the girls except Jenny screamed.
Ashley's jaw dropped. "Motherfucker!"
Becca stared at the screen. "Did he just..."
Sofia covered her mouth. "Oh my god."
Jenny grinned. "Okay, it's more jarring when you actually see it than when you read it."
=========
Marcus and Emma:
Marcus sat up straight. "He just pushed a kid out a window!"
Emma was frozen. "What... what just happened?"
Marcus shook his head. "Okay, I'm very interested now …."
=========
Jake, Hassan, and Carlos:
Carlos yelled, "What the hell!"
Hassan leaned back laughing. "This show is crazy."
Jake laughed. "All right, I have a good feeling on this show. It's like when I first watched The Sopranos."
"Uhhh still angry on how it ended"
One comment from carlos starts the group of friends thousandth argument on the ending of sopranos
==========
@Jimmyslator
Just finished Episode 1 of Game of Thrones. WHAT. THE. FUCK. Did that guy just sleep with his sister and then push a kid out a window?! #GameOfThrones #WTF
@Horaceillem (2.1k likes)
That production value is INSANE. It looks like a damn movie, not a TV show.
@Fantaan88 (1.8k likes)
Okay, so everyone is sleeping with their siblings, wants to sleep with their siblings, or is selling their sibling to a savage to watch them be fucked…. Cool, cool, cool. #GameOfThrones
@Shoewer (1.6k likes)
Me: Oh, this looks like a nice medieval show.
Game of Thrones: HERE'S INCEST AND CHILD MURDER.
@Caatcher23 (1.4k likes)
The CGI, the costumes, the sets. This doesn't feel like TV.
@Needan17 (1.3k likes)
That opening theme is a work of art. I already downloaded it as my ringtone. #GOT
@disgoked (1.2k likes)
I have never been more horrified and more interested in a show at the same time.
@Adlerever (698 likes)
They really brought A Song of Ice and Fire to life. This is everything I imagined when I read the books.
@Scmakeer22 (654 likes)
That blonde girl is stunning.
@Manonfuswer (623 likes)
Wait, so the brother and sister are... and the other brother and sister are...?
@Jessicasmith (754 likes)
Jaime: pushes child out window
Also Jaime: is hot
I'm so conflicted. #GameOfThrones
@Traviswillm7 (587 likes)
Episode 1 and I'm already emotionally invested in the characters.
@Nraneady (467 likes)
JUSTICE FOR BRAN. #GameOfThrones
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Episode 2: The Kingsroad
"Damn, how big were Bessie's tits?" Marcus said as the scene with Robert and Ned played out, Robert reminiscing about his glory days and how much he hated the Targaryens.
Emma shook her head. "He is a creep."
Marcus laughed. "He is like the best character in the show."
=========
"Neta, nomás me dan ganas de agarrarlo del cuello y ahorcarlo despacio, ver cómo se le va la vida," Sofia said, watching Joffrey on screen.
Ashley looked at her. "What?"
Becca translated. "She says she wants to strangle Joffrey."
"Oh," Ashley said. "Me too."
The scene continued, with Doreah teaching Daenerys how to please Drogo.
"Girl, kill him, not learn how to ride him better!" Ashley shouted at the screen.
They all laughed.
=========
Jake leaned forward. "Get away from Arya, you little shit!"
Hassan nodded. "Fuck that blonde bastard and his brother-fucking mom." He then stopped. "Wait, do you think he's her brother's son? Like, not Robert's?"
Carlos sat up. "Oh, I think you might be onto something."
=========
@Harsonjames (2.8k likes)
BESSIE'S TITS is trending. #GOT
@Emilybig (1.5k likes)
Daenerys learning to "take control" with Drogo is... I do not know how to feel about this scene. It is empowering but also deeply uncomfortable. #GameOfThrones
@Yanish (1.2k likes)
Still no update on Bran. I'm stressed. #GameOfThrones
@Nimrod23 (1.1k likes)
"GODS, I WAS STRONG THEN." Robert Baratheon is a whole mood. #GOT
@Opranric (876 likes)
Thank the gods for Bessie. And her tits. #GOT
@NewViewer2017 (698 likes)
Two episodes in and I already have a list of people I want dead. Joffrey is number one. #GOT
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Episode 4: Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things
"Jon is attractive in that sad boy vibe," Ashley said, watching Jon brood at the Wall.
Sofia shrugged. "Meh, I don't know. He's too whiny."
The show continued with Ned beginning his investigation into Jon Arryn's murder, as he was led by Varys and Littlefinger toward what Arryn had been investigating.
"So it's pretty much guaranteed that Joffrey and the other two are Jaime and Cersei's," Sofia said.
She continued, "Like, why are you trusting the most smiley-looking character ever?" She pointed at the screen, referring to Littlefinger. "That guy's shady as hell."
"Agreed," Ashley said.
=========
The scene of Tyrion being arrested played.
Jenny gasped. "No!"
Ashley sat up. "What the hell, bitch?!"
Becca threw her hands up. "He didn't do anything!"
Sofia cursed. "La odio, la odio un chingo."
Jenny shook her head. She never liked Catelyn in the books, and now, seeing the show, she hated her even more. "Catelyn is the worst!"
"Tyrion is literally the only Lannister I like."
"Wait until their father shows up," Jenny said.
=========
Jake, Hassan, and Carlos:
Carlos laughed. "That little dude is going to talk his way out of this. Watch."
=========
Twitter Reactions:
@Midjff (2.3k likes)
Jon Snow really out here realizing that he was living his life on easy mode. #GOT
@Mkersbreath (2.1k likes)
Catelyn Stark is the WORST character on this show and I will die on this hill. #GameOfThrones
@Mrbro (1.9k likes)
Ned trusting Littlefinger is like trusting a used car salesman. Bro. Read the room. #GOT
@Mrbindran (1.7k likes)
Tyrion Lannister is innocent and Catelyn Stark can go to hell. #GameOfThrones
@Jiminycricket (1.5k likes)
It's official. Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen are all Jaime's kids. The evidence is overwhelming. #GOTTheory
@Halcion (1.2k likes)
Jon Snow at the Wall having his "Am I the drama?" moment. Yes, Jon. You are. #GOT
@Moreno (987 likes)
Cersei is great and I love every second of her screen time. #GameOfThrones
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Episode 5: The Wolf and the Lion
"Woah, look at the size of that guy!" Becca said as the scene with the Mountain and Loras Tyrell played out at the tournament.
Jenny's eyes went wide. "I'm surprised they found a guy resembling the Mountain." She began Googling the cast. "Hafthor Bjornsson," she read, awed by the size of the man.
The scene continued with Sandor and the Mountain fighting, Robert yelling at them to stop.
Ashley fanned herself. "Ugh, I think I have a small crush on Robert Baratheon."
Sofia grinned. "I mean, it is Ray Stevenson."
They both giggled.
The show continued.
"That's a penis," Becca said flatly as the Theon and Ros scene came on.
"Acute observation, Becca," Jenny said.
==========
"Chaos is a ladder," Marcus said as he and Emma watched the scene with Littlefinger and Varys. "Cool line."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Oh great."
Marcus looked at her. "What?"
"It's like when we were dating and you kept repeating Obi-Wan's lines over and over again."
"I did not."
"You did."
"I definitely did not."
Emma gave him a look.
Marcus went quiet for a moment. "...I may have done it once or twice."
==========
"Get the sister-fucker, Ned!" Jake yelled as he and his friends watched the ending of the episode, with Jaime and Ned squaring off in the street.
They cheered as Ned gained the upper hand.
Then one of the Lannister soldiers drove a spear through Ned's leg.
"CHEATER!" Carlos yelled.
The scene ended with Jaime and the soldiers leaving the city, Ned writhing on the ground and holding a dying Jory Cassel.
Hassan shook his head. "I liked Jory."
Carlos pointed at the screen. "Ned better get his revenge."
===========
Twitter Reactions:
@Memeasorius (3.1k likes)
"The breastplate stretcher" scene is the funniest thing in any show so far. Robert Baratheon is a comedy genius. #GameOfThrones
@Bygoneage (2.4k likes)
Ned Stark refusing to send assassins after Daenerys even though Robert ordered it. This man has more honor in his little finger than everyone in King's Landing combined. #GameOfThrones
@Mrbtoned (1.1k likes)
RIP Jory Cassel. You deserved better. We barely knew you, and yet somehow we're devastated. #GOT
@Hoenstgry (876 likes)
Why does everyone keep trusting Littlefinger?? The man SCREAMS villain. #GameOfThrones
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Episode 6: A Golden Crown
"That woman just ate it all," Ashley said, watching as Drogo carried Daenerys after the ceremony in which she ate the horse heart, proclaiming that the stallion who mounts the world was his son.
As the episode neared its end, the scene in which Ned realized that Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella were bastards came on screen.
"Oh, now he figures it out," Sofia said.
=========
"That's it. That's the evidence," Marcus said.
Emma nodded slowly. "I mean, it is..."
Marcus pointed at the screen. "Hey, Ned, your children look like their mother too. Did she sleep with her brother?"
Emma burst out laughing. "Marcus!"
"I'm just saying what everyone is thinking!"
=========
Then Viserys's death scene played.
The girls cheered as Drogo poured molten gold over Viserys's head.
"THERE'S YOUR CROWN, YOU ASSHOLE!" Becca yelled.
Ashley was clapping. "FINALLY!"
Sofia stood up. "YES! YES! YES!"
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Episode 7: You Win or You Die
"Oh my god, I hate this little brat," Ashley said, watching Sansa being manipulated by Cersei and her scenes with Arya.
Jenny nodded. "Honestly, she wasn't my favorite character in the books either. I hate the mother and daughter duo."
Sofia turned to Jenny. "Is she only going to get worse?"
Jenny smiled. "That would be spoilers."
=========
This was also the episode where Tywin Lannister was introduced, skinning a deer as he spoke to Jaime with cold authority.
Sofia said, "What I've been loving about this show is how they introduce new characters."
Ashley agreed. "I'm really liking Tywin."
Becca looked at Ashley sideways. "Ashley, you might need to do some soul searching. You really seem to have a type."
Ashley laughed. "I know, right? Maybe that's why I'm always flirting with Professor Smith."
Sofia shook her head. "Girl, you have issues."
=========
Jake, Hassan, and Carlos:
"I like him," Jake said, watching Tywin. "He reminds me of my father."
Hassan nodded slowly. "Mine too. I'm pretty sure he talked to me like that last time. The disappointment in his eyes was the same."
Carlos burst out laughing. Jake joined in.
Hassan looked at them both. "Hey, this is serious."
=========
Ned confronts Cersei:
"Okay, why? Why would you do that?" Ashley said as Ned told Cersei what he knew, giving her a chance to flee.
Sofia said, "He's a good guy. That's why. He doesn't want the children to die."
The show continued with Robert dying and Ned confronting Cersei and Joffrey in the throne room. Baelish and the City Watch betrayed Ned and attacked his men.
"And there it is," Jenny said quietly.
=========
"Of course the most obviously evil-looking character betrays you. You're an idiot, Ned," Marcus said, watching as the scene ended.
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Episode 8: The Pointy End
The episode ended, and the girls sat in silence for a moment.
Ashley spoke first. "Okay. So Ned is in the dungeons."
"Right," Becca said carefully.
"But he's going to be okay," Ashley continued. "Like, he's the main character."
"He's going to confess," Sofia said. "Take the black. Go to the Wall."
Ashley's eyes lit up. "YES. That makes sense. He goes to the Wall, he joins Jon, and then they figure out the White Walker thing together."
Becca nodded slowly, warming to the theory. "And it would resolve the whole Jon's mother mystery too. Like, Ned has clearly been keeping something about Jon's birth secret. If they're both at the Wall..."
"He finally tells him," Sofia finished. "That's the arc."
Ashley pointed excitedly. "And then Jon and Ned fight the White Walkers together!"
Becca grabbed a throw pillow, hugging it. "Okay, I actually love that theory. Father and son reunited beyond the Wall like that would solve a lot of issues for Jon too."
Ashley turned to Jenny, who had been very quiet throughout the entire conversation.
"Jenny?"
Jenny was staring at the TV, even though the credits had long since finished.
"Jenny, what do you think of our theory?"
Jenny looked up. "Hmm?"
"Ned goes to the Wall, joins Jon, they figure out the White Walker thing," Ashley repeated. "Good theory, right?"
Jenny smiled. "Yeah. Really good theory."
Jenny picked up her drink and took a long sip. "I think episode nine is going to be very interesting."
Becca narrowed her eyes. "Why do you say it like that?"
"Like what?" Jenny asked innocently.
Ashley pointed at her. "You're doing the thing."
"What thing?"
"The thing where you know something and you won't say it."
"I'm just saying episode nine will be interesting."
"Jenny."
"Watch episode nine."
"JENNY."
"Goodnight, everyone!"
========
Twitter Reactions
@Mointman (3.2k likes)
Okay, Episode 8 has me STRESSED. Everything is falling apart. Ned is in a cell. The Starks are scattered. Like, what… #GameOfThrones
@Mrblack (2.4k likes)
The Wall storyline and the King's Landing storyline HAVE to converge with Ned. It makes too much sense. Jon's parentage is still unresolved. Ned goes to the Wall. They figure it out together. Perfect. #GameOfThrones
@Uniren (1.7k likes)
Sansa really out here thinking Joffrey loves her while he's literally destroying her family. Girl. GIRL. #GameOfThrones
@Trevorphils (1.5k likes)
Arya with Needle ready to fight everyone is the most accurate representation of me during finals week. #GameOfThrones
@Yadhumon (1.4k likes)
Catelyn Stark started a war by arresting Tyrion, and I will never forgive her. #GOT
@Strongern (1.3k likes)
ROB STARK CALLING THE BANNERS. THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. #GameOfThrones
@JennyParkArt (876 likes)
[Quote tweeting the "Ned goes to the Wall" theory] ... No comment. #GOT
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Episode 9: Baelor
The episode had been building for forty minutes.
Ned's confession. The crowd gathering at the Sept of Baelor. Arya climbing the statue to get a better view.
=========
Jenny's group:
The room was completely silent.
Ashley had her knees pulled up to her chest.
Becca was gripping her throw pillow so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
Sofia had stopped eating twenty minutes earlier, her snacks forgotten on the coffee table.
Jenny watched quietly.
On screen, Ned was led through the crowd. The populace screamed, "Traitor!" Arya spotted her father from the base of Baelor's statue.
"Okay," Ashley said quietly. "Okay. He's going to confess. Take the black. It's fine."
Nobody responded.
Ned was brought to the platform. Sansa stood there, visibly distressed. Cersei. Joffrey. Littlefinger.
Ned looked out at the crowd and began to speak.
"I am Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Hand of the King..."
"See," Ashley whispered.
Ned finished his confession. The crowd roared.
Grand Maester Pycelle asked Joffrey for his judgment.
Joffrey smiled.
"My mother wishes me to let Lord Eddard join the Night's Watch..."
Ashley exhaled. "There it is."
"So long as I am your king, treason shall never go unpunished."
Ashley froze.
"Ser Ilyn. Bring me his head."
"What?!" Ashley screamed.
"No!" Sofia jumped up.
Becca grabbed Jenny's arm. "Jenny—"
The crowd roared with approval. Sansa screamed. Cersei looked genuinely horrified. Arya pushed through the crowd desperately before Yoren grabbed her.
"Don't look."
"Let me go!"
"Shut your mouth. Look at me."
The room had gone completely still.
From Ned's perspective, the roar of the crowd faded to near silence. He looked toward Baelor's statue. Arya was gone. He lowered his head.
The sword swung.
Direct cut to Arya as Yoren held her back from seeing it. She looked at the sky. A flock of pigeons scattered from the courtyard. She pressed her face against Yoren's chest.
Cut to black.
The room was silent for a very long time.
Then Ashley turned slowly to Jenny.
Jenny met her eyes.
"Jenny." Ashley's voice was very quiet. "Did he just..."
Jenny nodded.
"He's dead?"
"He's dead."
Ashley stared at the screen. "He's dead."
"Yes."
"NED STARK IS DEAD?!"
"Yes."
"THE MAIN GUY IS DEAD?!"
Jenny said carefully, "He was never really the main character. Not in the way you think."
Ashley pointed at the screen. "HE WAS IN EVERY EPISODE!"
Becca had not moved. She was still staring at the black screen. "I can't believe that just happened."
Sofia sat back down slowly. She said something in Spanish that none of them needed translated.
"You knew," Ashley said, turning to Jenny. "You knew this whole time."
"And you let us get attached?!"
"That's kind of the point."
Ashley threw a pillow at her.
Jenny caught it, laughing softly.
"That's the most evil thing anyone has ever done to me," Becca said finally.
Sofia picked up her abandoned snacks, staring at nothing. "I need a moment."
=========
Marcus and Emma:
The sword swung.
Cut to Arya.
Cut to black.
Emma had not moved.
Marcus said nothing.
Emma's voice came out very small. "He's dead."
"Yeah."
"Ned is dead."
"Yeah."
Emma turned to Marcus very slowly. "You knew."
"I Googled it."
"Marcus!"
"You asked me if he was going to the Wall!"
She hit him.
"Ouch!"
=========
Jake, Hassan, and Carlos:
Cut to black.
Nobody spoke for a long time.
Carlos set down his pizza slice very slowly.
Jake stared at the screen.
Hassan nodded once, as if confirming something he had already suspected.
"He killed him," Jake said finally. "That little shit actually killed him."
"Yeah," Hassan said.
Carlos shook his head. "In front of his daughter."
More silence.
Jake pointed at the screen. "Robb is going to skin that abomination of incest."
Hassan and Carlos both nodded in complete agreement.
Carlos reached for his phone. "I'm ordering more pizza. We are watching the finale tonight."
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Episode 10: Fire and Blood
The girls stayed in position, snacks refilled, blankets pulled tighter.
Nobody had really recovered from episode nine, but the finale had been released the same day, so they kept watching.
=========
Robb finding out:
The scene played out with Robb receiving the news of his father's execution.
Becca felt her throat tighten. "He's just a kid."
Joffrey showed Sansa Ned's head.
"Okay, this guy has become the character I hate most in any series, like in all of media," Ashley said.
"You said it, sister," Sofia replied.
The show continued, and Robb was proclaimed King in the North.
"THE KING IN THE NORTH!"
"THE KING IN THE NORTH!"
"THE KING IN THE NORTH!"
The room erupted.
"YESSS!" Ashley jumped up.
"GET IT, ROBB!" Sofia screamed.
Becca was clapping. "KING IN THE NORTH!"
Jenny grinned, watching her friends lose their minds.
=========
Jon beyond the Wall:
The scene shifted to Jon and the Night's Watch marching beyond the Wall into the darkness.
Jenny's group went quiet again.
"And here we thought Ned would be with him," Ashley said softly.
=========
Then the final Daenerys scene began.
"Okay, but I need to say something." Ashley pointed at the screen, where Daenerys cried over Drogo. "You did not love Drogo. That was Stockholm syndrome."
Sofia immediately burst out laughing.
"STOCKHOLM SYNDROME!" Ashley repeated. "She was kidnapped! She was sold! And then she caught feelings because he was nice to her twice!"
Jenny shook her head. "It's more complicated than—"
"STOCKHOLM SYNDROME, JENNY."
Daenerys walked into Drogo's funeral pyre, carrying her dragon eggs.
"WHAT IS SHE DOING?!" Ashley screamed.
Becca covered her eyes. "I can't watch."
Jenny sat quietly, smiling.
The fire roared. The pyre burned through the night.
Then the sun rose.
The smoke cleared.
Daenerys stood in the ashes, untouched, unburned, her hair completely gone.
And on her shoulders, crawling across her arms, crying out into the morning sky—
Three dragons.
Complete silence.
Then absolute chaos.
"WHAT?!" Ashley screamed.
"OH MY GOD!" Sofia jumped up.
Becca's pillow hit the floor. "ARE THOSE—"
"DRAGONS!" Ashley finished.
Jenny was laughing at all of them.
"JENNY!" Ashley spun around. "THERE ARE DRAGONS!"
"I know."
"DRAGONS!"
"I know."
"THIS WHOLE TIME THERE WERE GOING TO BE DRAGONS?!"
"Did you not read the title of the book?"
Ashley froze. "...What's the title of the book?"
Jenny smiled. "A Song of Ice and Fire."
Ashley stared at her. Then at the screen. Then back at Jenny.
"The fire is the dragons," Becca said slowly.
"And the ice is the White Walkers," Sofia whispered.
Jenny spread her hands. "Something like that, yeah."
=========
Marcus and Emma:
Marcus stared at the three dragons on screen.
"Dragons," he said flatly.
"DRAGONS!"
"She just... walked into fire."
"AND SHE HAS DRAGONS!"
"Okay," Emma said finally. "Okay. I get it now. I get why my sister asked me to watch this show."
Emma turned to him. "So you still don't like Daniel Adler?"
"Well, he's not the showrunner. He just wrote the books, so..."
=======
Twitter Reactions:
@Morrecwilliams (4.2k likes)
THEY KILLED NED STARK. THEY ACTUALLY KILLED NED STARK. I need to lie down. #GameOfThrones
@Dreongia (3.1k likes)
Sean Bean really said, "I have a reputation for dying in things," and Daniel Adler said, "Perfect, you're hired." #GOT
@Simporen (2.8k likes)
Daniel Adler really wrote a whole season making us fall in love with Ned Stark just to chop his head off in episode 9. This man is a MENACE. #GameOfThrones
@Jakeiklous (2.6k likes)
JOFFREY IS A DEAD MAN WALKING. I do not care how long it takes. That little psychopath needs to die. #GOT
@Hahauroin (2.4k likes)
Watching all the first timers react to episode 9 is the most fun I've had all year. Oh, you sweet summer children. You have NO idea what's coming. #GameOfThrones
@Dripfiend (2.1k likes)
Game of Thrones just proved that prestige television can do what no other medium can. That was genuinely one of the most shocking moments in TV history. #GOT
@Htronme (1.5k likes)
I have compiled a list of ways I would like Joffrey to die. It is a very long list. #GameOfThrones
@Oiriome(1.4k likes)
Catelyn Stark arrested Tyrion for no reason, and now her husband is dead because Ned trusted the wrong people trying to fix her mess. I'm just saying. #GOT
@Motlrin (987 likes)
My reaction to episode 9, in order:
"He's going to confess and go to the Wall"
"Joffrey will show mercy"
"Someone will stop this"
"..."
"..."
"WHAT" #GOT
@Horen (876 likes)
Sansa screaming for someone to stop it while being held back is going to haunt me forever. #GameOfThrones
@Placousous (754 likes)
Ned Stark died so Robb Stark could become the King in the North. I'm choosing to focus on that. THE NORTH REMEMBERS. #GOT
@Godrica (621 likes)
The unsung hero of episode 9 is Yoren grabbing Arya and making her look away. "Don't look. Look at me." I'm not crying, you're crying. #GameOfThrones
@Rongranger (587 likes)
The North remembers. And so do we. #GOT #NedStark
@Prideenwed (421 likes)
THE KING IN THE NORTH. THE KING IN THE NORTH. THE KING IN THE NORTH. Robb Stark will avenge his father. #GOT
@Kimproror (398 likes)
Daenerys walking out of that fire with three dragons after everything she has been through this season is the most cathartic moment in television history. #GameOfThrones
@Walkireneren (376 likes)
I started watching Game of Thrones because my friend recommended it. I am no longer speaking to my friend. #GOT
@Tranreiner (2.8k likes)
Me watching Game of Thrones episodes 1 to 8: okay, cool medieval politics.
Me watching episode 10: THERE ARE ACTUAL DRAGONS. WHAT KIND OF SHOW IS THIS? #GOT
@Wereinen (1.8k likes)
Lannisters have their armies. Starks have their armies. Daenerys has THREE DRAGONS. I think we know who's winning this game of thrones. #GameOfThrones
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Game of Thrones was a massive success. So much so that Netflix gave me a bonus just to show how happy they were.
The last episode had been released today, and Margot and I had just finished watching it together. She was scrolling through her phone. I was scrolling through mine.
Matt had sent me an A Song of Ice and Fire fan art piece. A community that was sure to explode even more now that the show had come out. The fandom was already enormous from the books alone. Now it was going to be on another level entirely.
It was a piece of Aegon and his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys.
It looked great. The detail was incredible, the three of them rendered in full Targaryen glory, silver hair, regal bearing, dragons in the background.
But the models for the characters were why Matt had sent it to me.
Aegon was based on my face.
Visenya was based on Scarlett.
And Rhaenys was based on Margot.
I laughed out loud. I was pretty sure it was based on that photo of the three of us together at the Age of Ultron premiere about a year ago.
"What are you laughing about?" Margot asked, not looking up from her phone.
"Look at this," I said, handing her my phone.
She took it and studied it for a moment. "Oh, that's us." She tilted her head. "And is that..."
"Scarlett. Yeah. As Aegon and his sister wives."
She lowered the phone slowly.
She looked at me with suspicion.
"What?" I asked, genuinely confused by her expression.
Margot said, "Danny, that was a one time thing. We agreed not to do it again."
"Wait, you think I'm trying to, no, no, no. I'm just showing you the fan art."
Margot stood up. "Riiight," she said, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips as she walked off, giggling to herself.
I called out after her, "And it was your idea! Yours and hers! Not mine! I was the one who was seduced!"
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Also, what Margot is implying at the end is that I made one of the NSFW bonus chapters I wrote available on my Patreon. I made that one "incident" involving all three of them canon.
More coming Saturday.