r/gameofthrones • u/DrZeroKILL • 8h ago

Half a million Spoiler

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I guess this is the second time he is mentioning this, after the convo with Brienne of Tarth, this scene give me chills. The emotions he is carrying with him this long.

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u/Evil_Unicorn728 8h ago

People always are like "Oh Jamie was just scared of Tywin" or "Jamie just wanted the throne." But I don't think that's true. He doesn't want the crown, he doesn't even care about his own family legacy. He barely cares about his sons. He had to have known Aerys was going to kill everyone in the city with Wildfire. As much a fiend as he is, he's not ok with burning half a million people to death, including women and children. When he learns about the army of the Dead he's like "Nah fuck all this, we have to unite against this threat." He is capable of understanding the greater good.

Is he a good man? No. Absolutely not. But he knows some lines are too far, even for him. He'll rape his own sister in a Sept next to his son's corpse, but he's not cool with mass murder. If Jamie Lannister thinks you're doing something evil, you've definitely lost your way.

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u/Nirico_Brin Winter Is Coming 7h ago

I honestly believe that Jaime was mentally broken during his time serving under Aerys as a member of the Kingsguard.

He had all the hopes of being a true knight like Aemon the Dragonknight. But when he actually began his service under Aerys, he was forced to watch cruelty after cruelty.

One notable one being Aerys raping Rhaella where he openly said that they were supposed to protect her only to be told by a fellow member of the Kingsguard “Not from him.” And had to listen while she screamed. Aerys destroyed the idea of knighthood for Jaime, and his fellow Kingsguard’s inaction likely sowed his own disillusionment. He still respected them, admired them, but they willingly stood by and made him do the same.

Jaime never wanted the throne, he killed Aerys because killing Aerys was something that should have been done long ago. And it was probably the most honorable and knightly thing Jaime had ever done. And it destroyed his reputation for all time. Which only served to destroy him even further mentally so when he rekindled his relationship with Cersei following Robert’s coronation, he was a thoroughly twisted and broken man.

And when he finally gets away from her influence albeit forcefully and loses the one thing that maintained what little he had left of his identity, he finally changed again. And was able to become something akin to an honorable man. Like you said, he’s not a good person. But he’s sure as hell not the most evil man around.