My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (Live Reactions & Discussion)

My feeling is, what's the point in getting invested in any of these characters if they're just going to die and die and turn evil and die?

@Bookworm: The best recourse is to just accept that it exists and try not to think about it too much.

@Kegisak: It is and isn't. One of the books' trademarks is that there isn't really one particular plotline following a specific character. So in that regard the viewpoint bouncing works to the books' favor because on the whole the story is about what's happening in the world and not just a handful of characters. Of course on the flipside, one of my main difficulties with the books is a lack of focus. There is an overarching theme, but it really takes its sweet time to develop it, which means it can get aggravating.

It's only in books 4 and 5 that the surplus of POV characters starts to be a hinderance. The first three are very well paced, and all the characters give a good sense of the scope of the setting.

I know... sex is still some academic thingy to me, so... I'm pretty naive about it.

In that case I'd say just don't worry too much about it. If the r34 stuff makes you uncomfortable, just stay away from it as best you can.

Also, are you new here? I don't think I've seen you before.

I think it's pretty clear that the main protagonist characters aren't going to die any time soon.

Yeah, book 4 starts having PO Vs of villianous and minor characters for the first time. It takes some getting used to, but the Cersei subplot was entertaining since you already know the characters, and the Dorne plot has already paid off. The only one that stilly annoys me is the Iron Island subplots, but I'm sure that will be important later.

So I'm watching The Virgin Witch Maria, and I just have to say, I was not expecting this. Instead of yet another shallow, fanservice-riddled story with an outrageous premise that is only interesting for the length of it's one-sentence summary, I'm getting exploration of morality, visceral battles, and honest-to-goodness scary-ass biblical-style angels. I really hope it keeps this quality up.

It's not just viewpoint characters that we get attached to. There's also the fact that I've not heard one single good trait about any character. It's always "these books are so good because such-and-such poisoned so-and-so after he slaughtered her whole family at a banquet." All the talk I've heard is about how everyone is evil, turning evil, or going to die. I've never heard anyone say "I really like him because he stands firm in the face of adversity." or "She's kind even to her enemies." or "I never would have thought I would find myself rooting for his redemption."

I'm getting Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy from books that I've never even read.

edited 18th Feb '15 8:08:45 PM by CDRW

Isn't Tyrion supposed to be like, one of the few if only all around likable and 'good' characters? Or, whoever the dwarf character is.

But same, one of the main reasons what little I've seen from the books is enough to make me not interested in getting more into them. That and the whole fantasy, without being about the fantasy thing. Since I have yet to hear anything about any of the fantasy elements being a reason to read it, just the political backstabbing and maneuvering.

edited 18th Feb '15 8:10:06 PM by Seraphem

@bookworm: Now I'm just imagining a master's degree course in love.

With Professor Cadance.

Nobody in the series is perfect, but there are a lot of characters who are legitimately trying to do the right thing. And it's not even limited to the protagonists when you consider things like the BWB under Beric Dondarion. Even some of the gray characters like Stannis still have symapthetic traits.

"I really like him because he stands firm in the face of adversity." or "She's kind even to her enemies." or "I never would have thought I would find myself rooting for his redemption."

Lets see, A) almost everyone, B) Catelyn C) Jaime and Theon.

edited 18th Feb '15 8:33:34 PM by storyyeller

@Princess Gwen: Everyone enjoys the homework.

I'm heading for bed.

I think it's just that the more infamously bad characters get a lot of notice. Arya, Brienn e, Sam, Jon, Dany, Bran, Jaime for the most part, and Tirian mostly, they're all pretty good and honest people.

There's a surprising amount of heartwarming moments among all the war and bloodshed, and the flip side is that characters you thought were monsters do have some humanity and kindness.

For the most part, the story's fair to who dies. Sure some heroes don't make it, but idiotic villains aren't going to last much longer. They get what's coming to them, one way or another.

And as I've said, you can start to see where the more traditional fantasy kind of plot that's developing a few books in. Most fans that pay attention are already seeing where this is eventually going to go.

The big thing that hinders the plot really is not the deaths, but the realism in that characters that are separated across nations aren't just going to bump into each other. A lot of the plot is going to connect when the Stark siblings ever meet each other and Dany gets a bigger picture of what's going on. Heck, the Starks haven't seen each other since book 1. The closest we get is that Sam who knows Jon saw Arya, but didn't recognize her.

@CDRW: I don't think I'd agree with that. Everyone is flawed, sure, but that doesn't mean no one is worth rooting for. Tyrion is usually trying to do the right thing, even if he's not always the best at it. Dany has some issues but she's still choosing to stay and protect her city from falling back into slavery instead of continuing her journey to Westeros. All the Stark kids are generally sympathetic. And Jamie is one of many people's favorite characters once he starts his redemption arc.

Now that sounds like a story worth reading.

edited 18th Feb '15 8:45:46 PM by CDRW

Thrones and Lesbians. It must be Thursday.

Arya, Jaime, and Dany are pretty questionable but I agree with the overall point. Also, Ned, Catelyn, and Tyrion.

Apart from Arya, who bumps into everyone without realizing it.

^^ It's Wednesday.

Unless you're one of those dirty other time zoners.

It's been Thursday for about 15 minutes here. EAST COAST REPRESENT!

So here's a thing (contains Chinese)

Hah, suck it! That means you guys have to go to bed earlier and get up earlier. Nyah, nyah, nyah.

You people and your crazy time traveling shenanigans.

I like to see it as: "I'm from the future".

The future sucks, the further you travel into it, the less you have.