[AzzarTheGod]

Originally Posted by Sirken [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

i think people just gave Ned too much credit. he (like Robb) just made a lot of bad decisions. and in Westeros, making bad decisions repeatedly doesnt grant you a long life expectancy.

This echoes my interpretation of Ned as well. On the show he was absolutely portrayed as willfully ignorant. A luddite when it came to politics-- especially in the world of Westeros.

Robb was the father like son. Same luddite genetics when it comes to politics and got a chin-check (or gut-check in this case) by a lord just like his father.

Its hard to see them as anything more than tragic figures that couldn't play the Game, and as a function of existing in Martin's world, they were written to define the Game for the readers-- to understand that "This is Westeros".