Honestly: poor puppy, but they ran down and murdered the butcher's son. I can understand the one in a polar bear way for getting their pound of flesh any which way, but the other, the murder of the boy, was senseless, he wasn't even officially accused of a crime. He was the victim. So, I'm sorry, but, f*** the dog: they killed the boy. We just didn't see it. Our heartstrings weren't pulled to where the red fern grows for him. At least the dog got a quick compassionate death. So, sorry, more disturbed by the death of Arya's friend than the direwolf.
Sorry sorry sorry: dead puppy not as important to me as dead boy.
And I'm certain that little miss princess will react by blaming her little sister for her wolf's demise and not Jothry. She's that shallow and twisted and self-preserving. I would love to be wrong (because she really is one-note right now).
I'm a little inured to human on human violence until children are involved. Animal cruelty horrifies when it's real, but in fiction or on film? It's horrible, but usually there for a reason, like proving how horrible a particular human is.
If the Hound had a different master - would he be a different person?
i.e., if he was one of Ned Stark's men - would he have gratuitously run down Mycah the Butcher's Boy?
No, because Ned Stark would never kill a child without cause or allow his men to do so. He's principled. Too principled and moral to survive in a world where Lannisters come out on top.
but the other, the murder of the boy, was senseless, he wasn't even officially accused of a crime.
Sure he was. The bratty prince said that Butcher!Boy and Arya had beaten him unprovoked.
Brief interview with GRRM. My favorite part:
[Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers come over to tell Martin and his wife what huge fans they are of the show.]
Poehler: I like the blondie!
Martin: She’s straight out of drama school.
Poehler: You can tell. I think she left all her shirts and bras at drama school.
Two of the Westeros.org mods are writing essays on Westeros for Tor.com.
On religion in ASOIAF.
On the growth of magic in ASOIAF.
History in ASOIAF.
That History essay is interesting. I hadn't noticed that about the timescale.
And another Game of Thrones sneak peek. If that link doesn't work you can also see it over at Winter-is-Coming.
