Yes. I do think he's on the level paradoxically, and find myself rooting for him. But at the beginning of season one he was scheming with the Pentoshi merchant to bring Viserys back. Seems like that would just mean more war. Granted Robert wasn't a great king. He's seems to be a "good guy" but a Targaryen partisan and…

Greatest show that ever was or will be. I thought the episode was an A.

I'm "rooting" for Stannis because Davos is a good character witness. He says Stannis is fair, just and honorable and would be a good king. Martin has other characters voice the opinion that Stannis doesn't inspire loyalty which a king needs. But Ned Stark saw no problem with him - he's a proven battle commander - and…

Varys is a puzzle for me. He does come off as admirable, speaking up for Sansa at the small council, trying to save Shae and Tyrion. It does seem like he's trying to help the realm. Plus he and Littlefinger are nemes(es? i?)

Meereen doesn't appear on the map, though. They put Yunkai where Meereen should be.

I don't think Martin expresses any particular view except war is bad and he goes into great detail how it is bad. (People would complain that ASOIAF was gratuitously rapey as a way to slag Martin and his fans. Look at the recent Congressional hearing into the epidemic of rapes in the military. Martin is realistic in…

Oberyn vs. The Mountain was awesome. I'm really looking for forwad to it!

"I see Tywin as a practical, no-nonsense leader, which makes him ruthless when necessary "

You simply ignore a large number of facts.

Yes "moral purity" is putting it too strongly, but they are better morally speaking than the Lannisters, or even my back-up favorite Stannis and the Lord of Light. 
"loss of hope" is putting it too strongly, but in general Robinson is right. Everyone in Westeros is about vengeance. It's in the culture. But the Starks…

The Starks are (were) better people than the Lannisters (with the exception of Tyrion). Jaime gets better after he loses his sword-fighting hand.

Or i'll make you shut up.

Yeah because look at the quote. The Starks realize the rest of the world is not honorable. Ned despises King's Landing. He distrusts Littlefinger and Varys at first.

Rhaegar took Robert's girl and he took his time putting an end to his father's abuses. As Cersei says, Robert was never vicious.

Good point about Osha and Howland Reed. I caught that too and it reinforces what what Robinson is saying about the deep contrast between capricious fate and people behaving well. It's not sentimental to not be completely cynical.

@avclub-94d231f11cdc1fae024849f33f7a7156:disqus

The Starks's mistake was trusting Littlefinger. He brought them Tyrion's dagger and helped hide Cat when she came to King's Landing. Cat had known him for a while and told Ned he could trust him even though Ned was wary. Ned trusted Cat.

Ah the famous Harpy blanket. Should have known.

"they expected the rest of the world to play by the rules."

Frey and Bolton probably would have sold the Starks out anyway later on. They'll get theirs eventually whatever small consolation that is.