# Game of Thrones, The Kingsroad, 4/24/11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 24, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563 "2011-04-24T16:27:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/161 "2011-04-27T16:02:39Z")
He actually was a fairly good king, not because of anything he did but because he let a very capable hand do all the work which led to many years of peace and prosperity for the common people. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/162 "2011-04-27T16:16:48Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > As a member of the Kingsguard, Jaime is supposed to be celibate, isn’t he? I believe so, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/163 "2011-04-27T16:17:40Z")
What’s with all the celibacy requirements? The Night Watch, the Kingsguard, … anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/164 "2011-04-27T16:18:45Z")
The Maesters? the silent sisters? Not sure about either but it wouldn’t surprise me. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/165 "2011-04-27T16:21:27Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > He actually was a fairly good king, not because of anything he did but because he let a very capable hand do all the work which led to many years of peace and prosperity for the common people. Well sure, but after that Han:pd quit there was nobody to keep him under control. Kind of like Robert - if he has no hand, or a weak one, the Seven Kingdoms would turn into a huge brothel where the leading causes of death would be syphilis, alcohol poisoning, and drowning in one’s own pease. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/166 "2011-04-27T16:23:45Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > What’s with all the celibacy requirements? The Night Watch, the Kingsguard, … anyone else? The Maesters of the Citadel (Lewen, the little bald advisor guy at Winterfell, is one) and the Septons/Septas (priests) All seven+ orders of them. Have they really mentioned Jamie’s Kingsguard status enough that a non-reader would have picked up on it? I barely noticed it. Pity if so, as that’s kind of important. – The Maesters are a non-religious monk-like order dedicated to knowledge. They’re the best doctors, as well as the best educated on history, astronomy, ravens (THEY CONTROL THE MAIL) and pretty much everything else. They use this power only to advise and serve, of course. Ah, advise and serve the nobles, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/167 "2011-04-27T16:30:14Z")
Maesters and Septons are required to be celibate also. Why? A few reasons, I think. First, the plain out of book reason is that Martin based the whole societal structure on the middle ages and the Septons and Maesters on medieval Christian priests and monks, most of whom were supposed to be celibate. But also, when someone joins one of these groups, they’re supposed to give their loyalty entirely to it, and not have divided loyalties. As we see in the books, this is more true in theory than in practice, but having a lover or wife and raising a family goes counter to that, because you’ll be tempted to put their well being ahead of the group’s. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/168 "2011-04-27T16:31:08Z")
Yeah, I wish all the Kingsguard wore their white cloaks, as in the books. It would visually set them apart, and lend further irony to their situation (since they don’t wear white _hats_). ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/169 "2011-04-27T16:31:09Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > As a member of the Kingsguard, Jaime is supposed to be celibate, isn’t he? Yeah, but as the son of the former King’s hand, he also wasn’t supposed to \*kill \*the King, but that didn’t stop him. So it’s not surprising that he’d overlook any piddling celibacy rules. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/170 "2011-04-27T16:41:32Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Yeah, but as the son of the former King’s hand, he also wasn’t supposed to \*kill \*the King, but that didn’t stop him. So it’s not surprising that he’d overlook any piddling celibacy rules. As a member of the Kingsguard he _really_ wasn’t supposed to kill the king. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/171 "2011-04-27T16:44:00Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > As a member of the Kingsguard he _really_ wasn’t supposed to kill the king. Yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s written down in the rules or something. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/172 "2011-04-27T18:29:09Z")
So the guys who go “serve on the wall” in the great white north, like the two we saw die in the first episode, wear all black and ride black horses? Not big on camouflage, I guess. I suppose it would help them spot each other in the wilds. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/173 "2011-04-27T18:33:09Z")
I don’t think their horses have to be black, but they wear all black, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/174 "2011-04-27T18:39:12Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > I don’t think their horses have to be black, but they wear all black, yes. And nobody else does. Makes it easier to catch deserters. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/175 "2011-04-27T18:56:12Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Yeah, I wish all the Kingsguard wore their white cloaks, as in the books. It would visually set them apart, and lend further irony to their situation (since they don’t wear white _hats_). Initially they tried to make the white armor, but it didn’t film well. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/176 "2011-04-27T18:59:31Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > My question is that if Ned believes that, then why does Cat make such a fuss about his leaving? Surely, Ned wouldn’t have gone off unless he thought that whatever menace lies ahead is important. Does Cat really believe that a war between Baratheon and Targaryen would have no effect on the North? Well first they changed this from the book. But at this point no one is thinking seriously of a war with the Targaryen’s. I know Robert talks about it but really it is a distant possibility at the time and certainly not an important consideration for either Cat or Eddard. Cat is probably just worried that Eddard will get caught up in dangerous court intrigues and obviously she doesn’t want to be separated from him. ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/177 "2011-04-27T19:02:11Z")
The whole ‘cloak as a uniform’ thing seems to have been toned down a lot. The faceless Lannister guys did wear red cloaks, but no one else seems to have gotten the memo. Pity, I always liked that bit. – On the other hand, we’ve never seen Jamie on duty, have we? He, and most of the other Kingsguard, mostly wore their house colors when off duty . . . ---
**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:** [April 27, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/178 "2011-04-27T19:08:54Z")
We’ll see if the yellowcloaks still patrol the streets of King’s Landing… ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/179 "2011-04-27T19:58:41Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Initially they tried to make the white armor, but it didn’t film well. They do have cream colored cloaks, though - at least I think I saw Jaime wearing his in one of the shots. I might be mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563/180 "2011-04-27T20:09:05Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > We’ll see if the yellowcloaks still patrol the streets of King’s Landing… Gold. Lem’s is yellow. The hound has the correct helmet. Wonder if all the other ’ themed’ knights will have have the armor they’re supposed to. -Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-the-kingsroad-4-24-11/579563.md?page=10)