A Song of Dan and Josh: Sansa VI (A Game of Thrones)

Welcome to A Song of Dan and Josh, the show where FanSided editor Josh Hill and I walk through each and every chapter of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, picking them apart to find out what makes them tick, and what makes them wonderful.

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Today, we’re taking on Sansa VI from A Game of Thrones, wherein Sansa Stark wakes up in a nightmare. This is a terrific chapter. Let’s get to it!

Some highlights:

• Sansa’s father is dead, and her finance ordered the execution. This chapter is all about Sansa waking up to some harsh realities, but in many ways she’s still wearing rose-tinted glasses. We explore her state of mind, and how Martin conveys it to us.
• This is the chapter where Joffrey Baratheon goes from being a little shitkicking weasel-face to a full-on detestable villain. It’s horrible, but also kind of great.
• “She was a good girl, and always remembered her courtesies.” How does Sansa cope with this cruel new world? What survival strategies does she employ? How do they contrast with the ones used by other characters, like Arya, and why is there such power in them?

I like this chapter a lot, and think it shows how Martin’s approach to fantasy, which prizes points of view not often prioritized in other stories, can help his work stand out. Let us know what you thought!

We stream new episodes of A Song of Dan and Josh every Wednesday on our Facebook page every Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. CST! The next episode — Daenerys IX — airs October 17. Join us! We take questions during the show. Why not read along?

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