Previous part right here.
So right, as a quick recap, I like most of the Starks! But wait, there's more!
Bran Stark
Right, so, remember when I said not much happened with Arya? Even less happened to Bran. His chapters were by and large dedicated to history and establishing the world as a larger place. He also picked up a trusty carrier (Hodor) and a wilding who is rather superstitious. Also there are implications that MAGIC is a real thing, and it's not like Bran can do anything else. Perhaps he will be a MAGIC man. Probably not.
Also, while I complained about Sansa as a stupid young girl, I could really levy the same complaints against Bran as being a boring, singular character with one note. That said, he actually has a reason to complain (Kid lost control of his legs in a tragic accident he doesn't remember), there were other characters doing things around him all the time (Robb at first, then his younger brother Rickon), they weren't taken up with long examples of how the Lannisters are terrible (Seriously, we get it, they suck), and his chapters were shorter on average. So right, not the best, but pretty far from bad.
Jon Snow
After Ghost found the corpses of the now ex-rangers, they brought them back to the Wall for examination, which proved to be a grave mis-error. They are not corpses, not now. They are Wights. Or Zombies. Or whatthefuckever. Jon gets in a fight with them in order to save the commander. The commander, pleased that he wasn't dead, gives Jon a bastard sword (GET IT). After trying to join his family, he is dragged back by his friends, and then learns that he will set out beyond the wall for MASSIVE ADVENTURE.
Of all the POV characters, Jon is probably the most stereotypical one. He's a young boy, disillusioned with his current lot in life, who goes off to a dangerous and unknown location for MASSIVE ADVENTURE and self-discovery. It's all quite charming. And it's not badly written. But it's also not terribly original. Plus it, like Dany's stuff, seems separated from pretty much everything else. It's supposed to, mind you, so that it can set up a different threat that faces the Westeros countries. In this case, it's the Wights, and other mystical enemies. They're perfectly serviceable chapters, and they will accumulate for future books, I'm. Aside from the heroes' story though, it's pretty boring.
Tyrion Lannister
After surviving his time in the Aerie, Tyrion and Bronn pick up some brigands in the path back to Westeros proper and joins up with Tywin Lannister's army. Shagga threatens to chop off the manhood of many a Westerosan, and Tyrion survives his first major battle. At the end, he is told to go to Casterly Rock to maintain control over Joffrey.
Tyrion was an absolute joy to read. Snarky, world traveling adventures probably made him my favorite character of all. I cannot complain, and I cannot suggest his chapters more highly. They're that strong, and I have nothing else to say on him.
So I want to take this time to discuss the Lannisters, specifically the power they currently weild. Tywin's got a massive army, and is one of the most renowned commanders in the world, plus he's apparently a tactical genius. His grandson, Joffrey Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne of Westeros, where more men can be rustled up, and is the king, which is nothing to sneeze at. Basically, Lannisters control all the meaningful sources of power.
And yet, I would argue that the Lannisters are in the worst position at the end of the book. Jaime Lannister, the kingslayer, is currently held by the Starks, who will not give him up ever. While Joffrey sits on the throne, Robert Baratheon's younger brother has made a claim at the throne, whilst his other brother is off doing something secretive. The Northern kingdoms have all seceded at this point, leaving the Lannisters that much poorer. Plus Tywin's army faces two other forces, which may not be equal, but still aren't good. Joffrey himself is a rather insane king, and so will not have the people's support should push come to shove. And, if that weren't enough, the Lannister homestead has all of its supply routes blocked by other, enemy provinces. AND, in addition to all of that, Dany Targaryen has decided that maybe she should take back Westeros. Basically, everything that could go wrong for the Lannisters has. Not even the Starks are all that bad off, and they lost their patriarch.
Dany Targaryen
Kahl Drogo died! So Dany brought him back! Only he was in a persistant vegetative state, so his khalriders left him. Then, on his burial pyre, Dany hatched three dragons. Because why not!
Everything I said about Jon applies to Dany as well. She exists in these early chapters to establish a threat. Only instead of something else being the threat established, her chapters establish herself as the greatest thing to happen. The dragons are back, and they're going to hit Westeros with the power of a sledgehammer.
Oh, and it was nice watching Dany find her own self-worth away from her stupidly abusive brother. Sometimes authors do let us have nice things!
Overall
I think I can pretty safely say that A Game of Thrones is not for everyone. For one, it's a fairly depressing book. While each of the characters has their own individual victories, the overall tone is a downward trend for the nation as a whole. What's more, a lot of time is taken up showing the machinations and innerworkings of the upper classes. I like it! And there are fantasy trappings, especially in Jon's chapters. And likeable characters.
But this is very much a book for fantasy lovers. What's more, it's a book for a specific subset of fantasy lovers. Everyone should try it out, but not everyone will like it. Honestly, I ate this up. I look forward to reading the later books, and especially trying to get my hands on the HBO series somehow. That would be interesting to see. So until next time, Westerosans! Same Scan Visor place, same Scan Visor time!
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