I think they need more of a Constitutional Monarchy, personally. I’m not saying that they need full-blown Parliamentary Democracy a la modern day UK.
But I think they need to codify the Hand/King relationship.
I feel the King should be the charismatic figureheard that the people . Not powerless but not all-powerful; the one with a vision for Westeros. Worthy of respect. The Chairman of the Board.
But able to be overruled, even deposed, if necessary.
The Hand is the implementer of that vision; but also the advisor who is de facto equal to the King and is trusted enough to overrule him. The Director or CEO, perhaps even chosen by the Lords Paramount and other members of the Small Council.
But the Hand should have more power than he does….I mean, sometimes he does. Tywin for example may have wielded power far more than Aerys, for example. But each king seems to see the Hand differently.
Stannis has problems.
I admire his will, which is almost super human; I like his committement to justice; and I love his tendencies to reward merit with power and position. His
Weakness: He is ridiculously unlikeable and pisses the nobles off too much. If the Lords all rebel against the King, and the King is then duty-bound to punish all of them…well, you just get endless war. That kind of thing would feed himself. And while Davos is an excellent adviser and Hand in some ways, Westerosi’s native snobbery weakens his position considerably. Stannis deserves a place in government: the Master of Laws, perhaps. Not king.
Renly. A lot of people like Renly. Readers and characters alike.
He is smart, politically clever, charasmatic, dresses well, looks like a king.
Weakness: The problem with Renly is he is Tyrell puppet, essentially. And he really doesn’t care a fig for the Realm.
A Renly kingship puts too much in Tyrell hands, which makes their neighbours resentful and, yes, eventually might spell war. Renly is the perfect modern politician, perhaps. But as a king…he has no real vision other than the glorification of his own image.
Aegon VI. Aegon VI is probably the best candidate on paper. He has training and education; speaks several languages; has been deliberately brought up in the most non-pampered way possible. He’s good enough, he is smart enough, and doggone it, people like him. He has the Look and the charisma. He has courage. Like all the candidates, he needs a strong and competent and wise hand to help him govern.
Weakness: a bit impulsive, prone to fits of anger. Not deal breakers either one as long as he has a Hand to rein him in.
Cersei: Forget it. She’s pretty much sent the Realm down the privy hole since Tywin was murdered. It’s difficult to even find a single strength. She’s vain, narcissistic, stupid, careless, paranoid and needlessly cruel. Included only for the sake of complete.
Tyrion. POlitically smart; even smarter and more knowledgeledgable now that he realizes that even he can be played like a piece by players like Varys and Illyrio Mopatis. A competent and hard-working technocrat. But a liability in the ablist society of Westeros.Does what needs to be done, but does not lack compassion. Perhaps the ideal Hand, if he is able to curb his urges for vengeance.
Weakness: A non-starter in the ablist society of WEsteros. Would unite the snobs of the realm against him. Hand, not king. Wiper, not shitter.
Daenerys: has otherworldly charisma, strong and potent enough to be the symbol of a politically earthshaking revolution in Essos. . Has a strong vision, and seems to genuinely care — enough to at least try to stop making the same mistakes. Her vision for Westeros perhaps not unlike AEgon V’s unpopular vision of greater human rights for the Smallfolk but she has greater charisma (and is far stronger) than Aegon V ever was.
Weaknesses: has a bad temper and has shown that she is not afraid to act on it. Not politically astute. But with a very strong, very wise, very competent Hand that she listens too—and we really don’t know if she is going to listen to Tyrion in the books, though the show seems to be leading that way— I think she would be good.
Jon Snow: By the time he gets, there, if he gets there, I think it is safe to assume that all of the above would be wiped out; the Others would be defeated. A new glorious age, perhaps with regular seasons, will have begun. By that time I would think that he would be very good; he is politically astute; has vision; cares for humans; he’s observant and smart and his position as bastard has taught him toto control himself than Daenerys or Aegon.
Weakness: the type to ignore pageantry and bombast; a relative ascetic who eschews the trappings of power. More human and likeable than Stannis but with some of his stubbornness. Thus far, at least, not concerned with persuading his subordinates of his vision when it is unpopular: a “"my way or the highway”" type vision of rulership that doesn’t go over well with High Lords.o. Needs a smart, very diplomatic and preferably southron Hand to help him out there.
Out of all of them, I’d probably choose in this order:
- Jon. (with Tyrion as Hand.)
- Dany(with Tyrion as Hand.)
- AEgon (with Tyrion as Hand, because Connington is dying.
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