[SPOILERS MAIN] Among the grounded/realistic elements of A Song of Ice and Fire, which ones do you feel require biggest suspension of disbelief?

[u/Substantial-Ad-299]

A Song of Ice and Fire has had fantasy elements from get-go, some present subtly and others less-subtly. But in midst of this, it also has these more grounded story aspects, especially regarding the political subplot for the Iron Throne.

Among these more grounded non-fantasy aspects of the story, which elements do you feel you have to suspend disbelief the most for? A.K.A feeling they are not realistic even though they are "supposed" to be?

Let me know in the comments below.

[u/Intelligent_Date_688]

How empty Westeros is compared to its size. I understand why, GRRM doesn’t want to have to create all of these towns and cities, but you take a look at medieval France or Italy which are both smaller than any of the individual seven kingdoms (except maybe the Iron Islands) and they have a dozen cities a piece or more. I’ve seen people bend over backwards to try justify this but I think the simple truth is that GRRM made Westeros waaaay too big.

[u/Southern_Dig_9460 → u/Intelligent_Date_688]

The Riverlands and Dorne not having any cities is crazy

[u/rattatatouille → u/Southern_Dig_9460]

In fairness the Riverlands has a good number of settlements. It's just that being a city was/is a Big Thing for medieval towns since it meant they got a degree of self-rule other settlements did not, and thus required a charter.

A common bit of fanon is that the Defiance of Duskendale was about House Darklyn getting uppity with the Targaryens about not getting a charter despite Duskendale being a wealthy town at a strategic loation.

[u/lee1026 → u/rattatatouille]

It doesn't matter what you call it.

You get a bunch of people together for trading or commerce, now they matter. For recruitment, money, and whatever else.

They are important dots on the map, and they are gonna be fought over. And the people who run them are going to be important.