KIM OK-BIN In THE VILLAINESS (dir. Jung Byung-gil, 2017) SEJEONG In TOP OR CLIFF (dir. Hobin, 2023)

Kim Ok-Bin - The Villainess (2017)

The diva. Love him-

I’m a certified Rhaegar hater but blaming him for Elia and their children’s death feels… off. Like in the big picture sure, Rhaegar’s actions kicked off the rebellion that resulted in their deaths.

The murder is treated as an act of UNNECESSARY cruelty and spite, even in universe. People say that Tywin ordered it in revenge for Cersei not being chosen as Rhaegar’s wife. Robert’s endorsement of it is a black mark on his reign. I genuinely think that Rhaegar believed if he lost, not unreasonably, at the very least Elia and Rhaenys would’ve been safe. And I realized as I thought about it, and the reason I made this post, is that politically? It’s really fucking stupid.

Elia is a complete non-threat. She’s not Targaryen. She presents no threat to Robert’s reign. All her death does is sate Tywin’s wounded pride, and anger Dorne.

Keeping Rhaenys alive is, if anything, a boon? If she’s kept alive, she can be eventually married to Robert’s heir, further strengthening his claim.

Now Aegon, as a boy, is a sticky situation. But not “murdering an infant is the only solution” sticky. He could’ve been kept as a ward until he was of age to join the Faith, the maesters, or the Watch. Keep a close eye on him, and you’re fine. If you’ve been listening to Tywin too much, maybe you could geld him for extra insurance.

Murdering Elia and her children is bad optics at a time when the realm’s stability is in question and you’re overthrowing a guy for cruel and unjust killings. If Robert had any moral fiber and a functioning brain cell, Gregor and Lorch would’ve been executed or forced to take the black, he would’ve distanced himself from the Lannisters, and tried to marry a Martell cousin or ally.

TDLR; Robert’s really fucking lucky Doran’s revenge plan took like, almost two decades to materialize

Meiko Kaji in Shurayuki Hime aka Lady Snowblood (1973)

new filofax cover i bought on ebay. i feel the cracks on the spine give the leather history

Killing time.

Dog

bla bla bla Aegon II is not the rightful heir!

bla bla bla Rhaenyra is not the rightful heir!

blablabla MY favorite fantasy mass murderers are actually the good guys!

Do you know who was not the rightful heir to shit? Who was very much not "the good guy"?

Aegon The Conqueror. The very reason why there is even all those debates through the series history, between this or that Targaryen, the reason why there is an iron throne in the first place, and for all the wars for it

In a monarchy, the truth of myths regarding divine rights of the royal and the noblemen is that those are nothing but justifications for the upholding of feudalism and it's social order. The only crime one can commit in a war of conquest or succession is losing it. "The rightful monarch" is the one who wins, because outside of that, there is no such thing.

History is told by the winners. Might makes right.

"Power resides where men believe it resides. It is a trick, a shadow on the wall."

Have your favorites, have fun watching, it's entertainment after all. Root for whoever you want, for whatever reason you fancy. But do not fool yourself. They do not actually have the right to shit and you know it, you are not morally above anyone for rooting for this or that character and you know it.