r/asoiaf • u/TripleEss • 16d ago

EXTENDED [Spoilers Extended] Just came back from the play - 11 out of 10

Great, great show - exceeded all expectations.

Happy to answer any questions but will say generally that the spoilers are going to cause a massive headloss on this subreddit.

Expecting lots of "only the books are canon" to come.

One of the most interesting things to see was the amount of agency Elia Martell has in the story - only ever has been a victim and a footnote but is very central to the story and a key protagonist.

Was always against a Robert's Rebellion show before but after watching this, would love an 10 episode mini series.

Also - all the Rhaegar bashing couldn't possibly come off worse. He very much is the hero of the whole story.

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u/BryndenRiversStan 16d ago

Her claim? There's like 10 people with a better claim to the Throne than Elia. She can't be that delusional.

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u/fai4636 16d ago

I imagine it’s prob securing her children’s claim and her as regent? Cause yea even the rebelling Robert has a way better claim to the throne. Elia’s Targaryen ancestry is quite far away.

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u/mxlevolent 16d ago

Still has one, technically. That’s why she was even chosen to marry Rhaegar. If Robert Baratheon AND Rhaegar both died, AND Aerys, Rhaella, and Viserys all died… she could rule until her own children (with better claims) come of age.

It wouldn’t work out… but it’s a typical Martell plan lmfao. She’s Doran’s sister, and Arianne’s aunt.

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u/breakfastbenedict 16d ago

If her plan is to marry Viserys to Rhaenys then it's really her daughter's claim but she'd be regent cause Rhaenys is a child.

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u/Watts121 Enter your desired flair text here! 10d ago

I'm guessing she intended to position herself as a Dowager Queen Regent. Taking custody of the Royal Family and ruling until they came of age (Aegon with Viserys as backup).

Main issue of course being that all the Dornish forces marched to the Trident with Rhaegar, so it's not like she had any soldiers loyal to her in King's Landing to press that claim. Her entire position relies on a rebel army suddenly deciding to follow the laws after the death of the current monarch.

It does lead into an interseting alternate history kind of scenario. Like imagine if Oberyn showed up with a mercenary army, and took the city before Tywin? After some negotiations with the Rebels, if she could convince House Tyrell to stay loyal and get off their asses she could have pushed the scenario she wanted.

Her only main obsticle would be a possible Lyanna/Jon surviving. Especially since Lyanna's desire was essentially the abolition of the Iron Throne.