# Game of Thrones 4.05 "The First Of His Name" 5/4/14 NO SPOILERS **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 5, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679 "2014-05-05T00:46:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/261 "2014-05-07T21:47:25Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > (2) last week I thought angry redhead was coming to get him at the wall? They’re getting there. The Wildlings’ plan is to cause enough destruction to draw the Night’s Watch out of Castle Black. That’s part of the reason why they don’t want Mance to know they have so few men. If he knew, the Wildlings would just attack head on. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/262 "2014-05-07T22:01:39Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Varys has a lot of information that can be very useful to powerful people. What he lacks is a close connection to the Baratheons/Lannisters. He doesn’t want to rule himself and he may be satisfied with that, since what he wants is to steer the kingdom in a better direction. Is that what Varys wants? He tells people he serves the realm, but seeing as he’s basically the leader of the Medieval NSA I think he might be bullshitting people about his true motivations. Way back in season 1 we saw Varys meeting in secret with Illyrio Magister of Pentos, and they were planning an invasion of Westeros. Illyrio is the one who gave Dany her dragon eggs and arranged her marriage to Khal Drogo. The last we heard of him is when Dany name dropped him as a reference to the Spice Trader in Qarth. So a strong and stable Seven Kingdoms was the last thing Varys wanted. He wanted to destabilize the realm so that the Dothraki could invade. What Varys and Illyrio were planning for post invasion Westeros, or what their plan is now that Khal Drogo is dead and Dany has gone all Sexy Dragon Messiah is anyone’s guess. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/263 "2014-05-07T22:04:23Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > Way back in season 1 we saw Varys meeting in secret with Illyrio Magister of Pentos, and they were planning an invasion of Westeros. Illyrio is the one who gave Dany her dragon eggs and arranged her marriage to Khal Drogo. The last we heard of him is when Dany name dropped him as a reference to the Spice Trader in Qarth. I don’t remember that at all. Wasn’t Varys pushing for Dany to be assassinated? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/264 "2014-05-07T22:17:26Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I don’t remember that at all. Wasn’t Varys pushing for Dany to be assassinated? Arya over heard them while she was running around chasing a cat. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/265 "2014-05-07T22:21:44Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > They’re getting there. The Wildlings’ plan is to cause enough destruction to draw the Night’s Watch out of Castle Black. That’s part of the reason why they don’t want Mance to know they have so few men. If he knew, the Wildlings would just attack head on. I just thought the little lad they let go raced there in no time. It’s not like they have to build themselves up for a fight … ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/266 "2014-05-07T22:24:37Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > So a strong and stable Seven Kingdoms was the last thing Varys wanted. He wanted to destabilize the realm so that the Dothraki could invade. As I remember it, his words were “I serve the realm.” It’s fair to point out that Varys might not have been upfront about his motives, but serving the realm and wanting the Targaryens to be in charge are not mutually exclusive. He might believe they are the kingdom’s best chance at stability. It’s not like the Baratheons have been doing a bang-up job. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/267 "2014-05-07T22:25:39Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > I just thought the little lad they let go raced there in no time. It’s not like they have to build themselves up for a fight … Right now there’s less than 100 Wildlings south of the wall. They think Castle Black has 1000 men. They wouldn’t stand a chance, so they’re try to draw the Night’s Watch out into the open. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/268 "2014-05-07T22:25:54Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > As I remember it, his words were “I serve the realm.” It’s fair to point out that Varys might not have been upfront about his motives, but serving the realm and wanting the Targaryens to be in charge are not mutually exclusive. He might believe they are the kingdom’s best chance at stability. It’s not like the Baratheons have been doing a bang-up job. Also Varys pretty much tells everyone exactly what they want to hear, at this point we have no way of knowing what he actually wants. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/269 "2014-05-07T22:56:12Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Brienne of Tarth and Podrick > > You might want to use this handy infographic to help you out. > [Game of Who? - Album on Imgur](http://imgur.com/a/11bIw) > > A guy showed the characters to his dad and asked him to name the characters. Eh, close enough. 😃 > [@LawMonkey](#): > > \ 2) We’ve not had any multi-page tangential arguments about potatoes, whether Dany’s ancestors were literally doing the nasty with dragons\ I have a theory about that - suppose the Game of Thrones planet (let’s call it [Gliese](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_potential_habitable_exoplanets) for ease of reference) was settled at some point in humanity’s future by humans. We had all kinds of technology to allow us to do so, but somewhere along the way, most of the technology was lost and Gliesians reverted back to Iron Age near barbarism. Some of the technology may have been in the form of nanites, however, and some Gliesians still retain the ability to interact with the remaining nanites due to some fluke of their genetics, which appears to be magic in this non-technological society now. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/270 "2014-05-07T22:59:29Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Right now there’s less than 100 Wildlings south of the wall. They think Castle Black has 1000 men. They wouldn’t stand a chance, so they’re try to draw the Night’s Watch out into the open. Ok. Thanks. Don’t know about Wildlings but with a few more angry redheads they could conquer Westeros. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/271 "2014-05-07T23:14:34Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > He had no idea. But Cersei and Ned were pretty sure he would have Cersei, Jaime, and the kids all executed. And he would too; it’s the only possible way he could come close to saving face it became public. Regarding Cersei he’d probably insist on executing her himself. > [@LawMonkey](#): > > Off-screen, which is apparently the only place you can have a murder-free wedding in Westeros. At least we’re not in any doubt on whether it was properly consummated, however. The other night I had a dream where Angela Lansbury was a guest at Margery & Tommen’s wedding. > [@BrokenBriton](#): > > I did have one thought; the really big woman who’s now a knight - the guy who can’t ride or cook who’s following her. His only talent in life is shagging, iirc. He may not be able to ride that horse but … well, I can def see him riding M’lady off into the suset. In style. That’s Brienne of Tarth, and as she’s pointed out she’s not a night. Only men can be knighted (though presumably can waive that rule if he wants). She is a lady however uncomfortable she may be being called that; her father is the Lord of Tarth & she’s his heiress presumptive. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/272 "2014-05-07T23:21:50Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Hmmm, now I’m half-remembering something. Didn’t Ned send out ravens to all seven kingdoms informing everyone about the royal parentage, or lack thereof? That wasn’t Ned. That was Stannis. This is what prompted Joffrey to kill all the dark haired whore babies. ETA: Wow, there’s a whole 'nother page! ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/273 "2014-05-08T02:34:55Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > The other night I had a dream where Angela Lansbury was a guest at Margery & Tommen’s wedding. Dream? Or vision? ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/274 "2014-05-08T03:03:06Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Right now there’s less than 100 Wildlings south of the wall. They think Castle Black has 1000 men. They wouldn’t stand a chance, so they’re try to draw the Night’s Watch out into the open. Castle Black currently has only 100 men, not one thousand. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/275 "2014-05-08T03:52:09Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > Castle Black currently has only 100 men, not one thousand. **enalzi** didn’t say they have a thousand. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/276 "2014-05-08T04:33:26Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > …most of the technology was lost and Gliesians reverted back to Iron Age near barbarism. Some of the technology may have been in the form of nanites, however, and some Gliesians still retain the ability to interact with the remaining nanites due to some fluke of their genetics, which appears to be magic in this non-technological society now. Please tell me you’re not leading up to midichlorians. > [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Dream? > > Or vision? A dream, to some… a nightmare to others! ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/277 "2014-05-08T07:25:09Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > The other night I had a dream where Angela Lansbury was a guest at Margery & Tommen’s wedding. [Jessica Fletcher](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Fletcher), you mean. She’d be handy to Tyrion, but most of the murders in the GoT world are not at all mysterious. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/278 "2014-05-08T14:23:07Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > Castle Black currently has only 100 men, not one thousand. They **think** Castle Black has 1000 men. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/279 "2014-05-08T18:41:22Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Amazingly, we also haven’t had TOO many lengthy digressions about what is or is not a spoiler, and the proper type of spikes for mounting the heads of those who fail to spoiler-box said spoilers. Well, after 4 years , I should hope so. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679/280 "2014-05-08T20:16:39Z")
> [@Furious\_Marmot](#): > > Enough “oh shit” moments for two or three episodes here. The Lannisters are broke? What’s the Iron Bank of Bravos going to do if the crown defaults? Wreck their credit rating? Would you buy Westeros junk bonds? Maybe I missed something but the way Tywin was talking it sounded like he was the Iron Bank and was getting the Tyrells to pay back the Bank/Lannisters. Crazy-Ass mom & Littlefinger and not the Lannisters killed Jon?! :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-4-05-the-first-of-his-name-5-4-14-no-spoilers/687679.md?page=15)