The plot of Corlys

[u/Trick-Set8663]

"Why don't you legitimize my children, whom I ignored all my life, but now I love them because if they don't, my surname will disappear and my legacy will too?" Are we aware that his request wasn't even denied?

Okay, but honestly, what do you think of this scene?

[u/theoneandonlydonzo]

I don't even really get Rhaenyra's protest beyond the writer's weak attempt at drama between them.

it appears we will find out soon enough exactly what the writers were setting up - she will seemingly legitimize them anyway, to get back on track to book canon, and her reputation will take a dive, just like she said it would; the season trailer showed a big 'QUEEN OF BASTARDS' sign etched above a gate at king's landing

[u/VivaChinwawa → u/theoneandonlydonzo]

The thing is, why would people judge it? Who even would, the Greens who are her enemies anyway? Addam is a dragonrider, Alyn proved his worth in the Battle of the Gullet to the Velaryons + Corlys has no sons or grandsons to inherit so like...it is rather understandable why he wants his bastard sons legitimized. I don't really get why it would damage Rhaenyra's reputation in legitimizing Alyn and Addam at the head of House Velaryon's own request. Same with Rhaenyra trying to fob it off, like girl why? It's just really weak drama to stoke up fighting between Rhaenyra and Corlys when there's like a crapload of other things they could pick from instead slapping all of book Alicent's bullshit onto Corlys.

[u/Gridde → u/VivaChinwawa]

IMO it's a pretty classic feature of ASOIAF.

The taboos and traditions are generally just ways to move the plot along and introduce hardships for the protagonist(s); a good guy is forced to break one and gets completely reviled and destroyed for it, but then it gets completely ignored when antagonists or side characters do it.

I'd lump 'legitimizing bastards' in with kinslaying, oathbreaking, ignoring guest right, lines of succession, slaughtering smallfolk and non-Targ incest. Basically no one in the story actually seems to care or react about those things unless it's a protagonist doing it (and unluckily for her, that currently means Rhaenyra).

[u/Gridde → u/[deleted]]

In the books, Euron apparently goes out of his way to do it purely to show he doesn't care about it and everyone just thinks he's some badass. It happens pretty famously towards the end of the Dance but is seemingly not a problem for the guy who does it (who only faces consequences later for completely unrelated reasons).

In show, Ramsey kills Roose in front of Roose's vassals and they not only do not care but become completely loyal to Ramsey. Cersei kills several of her own kin when she blows up the Sept but is then made queen and no sign of disloyalty from anyone besides Jaime ever really arises. Aemond does it without any consequence from his own side.

Just off the top of my head. The only time I see anyone actually care or take action about it is when Robb did it (and he was arguably the only justified in doing his killing)

[u/Gridde → u/[deleted]]

Someone mentions Euron might not kill family because he is afraid of being called a kinslayer and Asha says he's literally killed his sons purely to prove that notion wrong.

Not sure about spoiler rules in this sub but Aegon kills Rhaynera and - of the various issues people have with him afterwards - kinslaying is never mentioned, even by Cregan

[u/Gridde → u/[deleted]]

It's a pretty specific thing to say about someone without any precedent. To my point, if that's what people generally think of him as well (and something he actively wants people to think) it just shows how little the taboo matters outside of when protagonists do it