YMMV / The King Nobody Wanted

• Catharsis Factor: The traumatized Aeron screwing up his courage and telling an outsider just a fraction of how awful Euron is, and that he probably committed patricide... and being believed.
• Ensemble Dark Horse:
  • Rys Chelsted is a Canon Foreigner who doesn't show up until chapter 60, but he quickly becomes a fan favorite for his Gentleman Snarker (with gradual traces of Stepford Snarker tendencies), insightful moments, and engaging dynamics with his fellow councilors (especially his Odd Friendship with Davos).
  • The subplot of Lhazarene prophet the Golden Ram has only been mentioned so far (as of chapter 92) but his Badass Preacher Hero of Another Story characterizations and success in protecting and empowering the pacifistic but constantly tormented and abused people make him pretty popular.
  • Walter Whent only appears sparingly and rarely does much to affect the plot, but fans like him for being a loyal Nice Guy whose exploits during the long ago War of the Ninepenny Kings rival those of Barristan Selmy.
  • So far, Obara Sand is just a member of the the Highgarden court, but her Puppy Love interactions with Viserys are popular, as is how she shows traces of having her canon abilities but not her canon bad attitude.
  • Late-appearing Canon Foreigner child dignitary Aesynth Waete is quickly winning over readers for the interesting way she combines being a cute and good-hearted Cheerful Child (albeit one who is The Comically Serious at times) and an oblivious Nightmare Fuel Station Attendant due to coming from Hollywood Satanism Cult Colony Qohor.
  • The Hidden Depths of the High Septon and his nephew and subordinate Daeron have made them into fascinating figures for many fans, even though they are only given significant page time in a couple of chapters to date.
• Harsher in Hindsight: Garth Tyrell reminiscing wistfully about his Oldflowers lover, who Garth strangled when he tried to blackmail him, as revealed in a later chapter.
• Hilarious in Hindsight: Barely two weeks after the release of chapter 92 (which mentions a prophetic former Hand of the King for the second Targaryen monarch having a vision of the White Walkers invasion and some people still remembering and taking it seriously), the pilot of House of the Dragon says that Aegon the Conqueror himself had such a vision and suggests it motivated many of his actions and those of his descendants.
• Jerkass Woobie: Selyse Florent turns in the rest of her family when they are plotting to betray the Dragons, and on top of the truth she gives false testimony about things like Human Sacrifice. Then she's publicly humiliated, denied either Brightwater Keep or the marriage she was promised, and packed off to the Faith.
  And then Ser Oswell found it quite easy to pity Selyse, even if he could not revere and respect her, as she stood there, alone, trying to fight back tears.
• One-Scene Wonder: Quellon Greyjoy only appears in one chapter, but makes a great impression by being a Retired Badass who launches some determined, strategic, and progressive efforts to bring the Ironborn closer to the other kingdoms while also being a great father and grandfather to his non-Jerkass descendants.
• Tear Jerker: Cersei trying to seduce Stannis on her father's orders while a crying, terrified wreck. Thankfully, Stannis notices something's wrong and lets her stay with him for the night, keeping her from risking Tywin's further wrath if they end up sleeping apart again.
• Unexpected Character: Even considering how many obscure characters or Canon Foreigners from established houses appear in the story, it's doubtful anyone remotely expected a Westerosi ^note  two exiles in Essos use the name but many Essosi sellswords use assumed names claimant to the throne of House Mudd (which has been presumed extinct since the Andal invasion) to show up.

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