# Game of Thrones Question (spoilers within) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 18, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-question-spoilers-within/713013 "2015-02-18T16:16:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-question-spoilers-within/713013/41 "2015-03-12T16:14:58Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I think it is more than that. Jamie joined the Kingsguard as an idealistic teenager and then came face to face with the horrible reality of what “honor” entails. He sees the other kingsguard he served with being treated as heroes who’s tales are told to small children for serving and defending a monster while he is reviled for doing the right thing. People might not know what he did, but they do know what the other guys did and strongly support it. If honor means standing by while the king rapes kills and tortures and dishonor means saving hundreds of thousands of lives then you can’t really blame him for choosing to be known as dishonorable. He didn’t explain himself to Ned because he doesn’t care one bit what he or anyone else thinks. Very true. More than that, Jaime looks down at Ned Stark. From birth, he was taught that his family was simply better than those peasant lords in the North. He considers Ned to be stupidly rigid. Why should he have to explain himself and seek approval from his rightful vassal? He’s Jaime Fucking Lannister. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-question-spoilers-within/713013/42 "2015-03-12T17:56:49Z")
Yes, Jaime is a peculiar mix of self-loathing and arrogance - with very good reason for both. Robert and Eddard would have been in no doubt that they were committing treason - but both felt it had to be done, as the Mad King’s reign had grown too awful and he was personally threatening both them and their families. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-question-spoilers-within/713013/43 "2015-03-12T18:08:54Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I think it is more than that. Jamie joined the Kingsguard as an idealistic teenager and then came face to face with the horrible reality of what “honor” entails. He sees the other kingsguard he served with being treated as heroes who’s tales are told to small children for serving and defending a monster while he is reviled for doing the right thing. People might not know what he did, but they do know what the other guys did and strongly support it. If honor means standing by while the king rapes kills and tortures and dishonor means saving hundreds of thousands of lives then you can’t really blame him for choosing to be known as dishonorable. He didn’t explain himself to Ned because he doesn’t care one bit what he or anyone else thinks. Did he? I thought Aegon assigned him to the Kingsguard just to piss Tywin off. Edit: Or maybe it was to stay close to Ceresi. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-question-spoilers-within/713013/44 "2015-03-12T18:21:32Z")
It was (the Mad) King Aerys, not Aegon, wasn’t it? Naming Jaime to the Kingsguard suited the King, since that meant he couldn’t inherit from his dad when the time came. It also made Tywin gnash his teeth, which pleased the King. The assignment suited Jaime, too, who wanted to (a) get out from under his father’s thumb and (b) have the chance to win honor and glory as a great knight. More regular bedtime access to Cersei wasn’t until later, when Robert married her and brought her to King’s Landing as his Queen. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-question-spoilers-within/713013/45 "2015-03-12T19:28:35Z")
Aerys, Aegon, Aemon…how am I supposed to keep these guys straight?? ---
**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:** [March 13, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-question-spoilers-within/713013/46 "2015-03-13T01:47:49Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Aerys, Aegon, Aemon…how am I supposed to keep these guys straight?? And gals. Would this help?: [A Game of Thrones NWN2 PW - A Neverwinter Nights 2 Persistent World](http://gameofthrones.net/world-of-westeros/27-history/608-timeline-the-targaryen-succession.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-question-spoilers-within/713013.md?page=2)