I have to admit, I'm fairly moral when it comes to my pairings. I don't like ones where someone violated someone else and now they should be all happy to be together. I don't like ones where people have huge age differences. I will never ship Sansa and Sandor because she was 11 when he met her and started having creepy feelings for he. Eleven. Gross.
I also don't like pairings where one person clearly has an advantage over the other. Penny has helped to clear a lot of things up for Tyrion, but she's also somewhat mentally addled and he's a clear and clever person. She would always be at an emotional and intellectual disadvantage to him. I would actually be somewhat bothered by Sam and Gilly if Sam were less of a sincere person. Sam is socially and educationally at an advantage over Gilly. However, it's clear the boy truly does love her and it's possible she could gain the education that she lacks.
What do I want in a good romantic pairing? Hmm.
- Likable characters. If a character annoys me, I do not want them to find love. In fact, I want them to find the sharp end if a blade, kthanx.
- Mutual respect. This doesn't have to be there from the start, but part of what makes a couple attractive is that they begin to respect each other.
- Equity. If both parties in the relationship can't experience at least reasonable equality, I don't support it.
- Chemistry. The characters have to have a certain power that radiates from the relationship, a certain excitement about it that makes you interested in reading more about it. If that is lacking, why bother?
- Story advancement. See, this is very important to me. I don't like relationships in fiction that serve no purpose to the advancement of the story. A relationship should serve to help the characters grow, to make new and better decisions that lead to fun plot twists, or that help the characters to see the world or themselves in a new light that aids in their decisions. If this doesn't happen, the relationship is gratuitous and taking up my time. Stop it.
With all of this in mind, my absolute favorite pairing in the books is the relationship between Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth. Jaime did not start out as likable, but he becomes likable as we learn more about him. Brienne starts out as gruff and awkward, but she's loyal and kind and tries to be a very honorable person. She has a kind heart and tries to do the right thing, even though that's usually impossible.
Brienne and Jaime do not start out liking each other. He sees her as a big ugly woman who wants to be a man. She sees him as a lying, dishonest dishonorable smartass who had children with his sister. And you know what? All of this stuff is true! However, these things aren't all there is to these two people. Jaime begins to see the grace and beauty that exists inside Brienne and she begins to learn the reasons behind his actions. They find common ground and a friendship develops between them, one that is based on respect.
On the surface, it doesn't seem that Brienne and Jaime are equals. Jaime is clever and rich and beautiful. Brienne is, while a noblewoman, of lesser rank than Jaime. She's cumbersome and unattractive and tends to not say much. But they find their equality in other ways. When Jaime loses his hand, he begins to realize how much of his value was placed on shallow and physical things. As he begins to understand that HE is more than what others see, he also realizes there is more to see in Brienne. As she watches Jaime suffer and encourages him to live, Brienne looks past his misdeeds and reputation, finding a man who is a lot like on the inside.
The chemistry between these two is undeniable, and this is further emphasized by the actors who play them on the show. Brienne and Jaime are electrifying on screen. Their swordfight is more flirting or dancing that battle. Their barbs and insults to each other are perfectly timed. It's so much fun to watch them.
Most importantly, the developing relationship between these two really does a lot to advance the plot of the story. Brienne helps Jaime to see that he CAN be an honorable knight and once he goes back to King's Landing, he begins to try and behave as one, which sets all kinds of things into motion. Jaime is the first warrior peer that Brienne has had who truly believes in how amazing she is. He gives her a sword and sends her on a quest, partly to get her out of his twin's sight and partly just to allow her to prove herself. They become each other's strength and their fate is one of those things that keeps me wishing the next book would get published.
The showrunners have made a lot of changes in the translation from book to show, and I hope one of the things they remove is Jaime and Brienne taking separate journeys. I think it would be great if they stayed together and did the next leg of their quest by each other's sides. Of course, that could just be the wishful fangirl thinking. Hee! I do hope it happens.
Brienne and Jaime do not start out liking each other. He sees her as a big ugly woman who wants to be a man. She sees him as a lying, dishonest dishonorable smartass who had children with his sister. And you know what? All of this stuff is true! However, these things aren't all there is to these two people. Jaime begins to see the grace and beauty that exists inside Brienne and she begins to learn the reasons behind his actions. They find common ground and a friendship develops between them, one that is based on respect.
On the surface, it doesn't seem that Brienne and Jaime are equals. Jaime is clever and rich and beautiful. Brienne is, while a noblewoman, of lesser rank than Jaime. She's cumbersome and unattractive and tends to not say much. But they find their equality in other ways. When Jaime loses his hand, he begins to realize how much of his value was placed on shallow and physical things. As he begins to understand that HE is more than what others see, he also realizes there is more to see in Brienne. As she watches Jaime suffer and encourages him to live, Brienne looks past his misdeeds and reputation, finding a man who is a lot like on the inside.
The chemistry between these two is undeniable, and this is further emphasized by the actors who play them on the show. Brienne and Jaime are electrifying on screen. Their swordfight is more flirting or dancing that battle. Their barbs and insults to each other are perfectly timed. It's so much fun to watch them.
Most importantly, the developing relationship between these two really does a lot to advance the plot of the story. Brienne helps Jaime to see that he CAN be an honorable knight and once he goes back to King's Landing, he begins to try and behave as one, which sets all kinds of things into motion. Jaime is the first warrior peer that Brienne has had who truly believes in how amazing she is. He gives her a sword and sends her on a quest, partly to get her out of his twin's sight and partly just to allow her to prove herself. They become each other's strength and their fate is one of those things that keeps me wishing the next book would get published.
The showrunners have made a lot of changes in the translation from book to show, and I hope one of the things they remove is Jaime and Brienne taking separate journeys. I think it would be great if they stayed together and did the next leg of their quest by each other's sides. Of course, that could just be the wishful fangirl thinking. Hee! I do hope it happens.
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