How the Patriarchy Screwed the Starks  flickr/IP Anónima_  The
King In The North is dead. In Game of Thrones' latest
ridiculously daring narrative move, it killed off Robb Stark, a
character who could easily have laid claim to the role of “hero”
on the show. Robb was handsome, talented, and possessed of an
intrinsic decency rare to find in the show's world of Westeros.
He was also the son of the first season's protagonist, Ned
Stark, himself killed in the big twist, which positioned Robb as
a traditional fantasy hero. And unlike his rival would-be kings,
Robb was motivated in an entirely positive fashion. He rebels
against the crown in order to free his father. He allows himself
to be crowned King In The North in order to free his people,
winning battle after battle for that cause. Even his tragic
mistake is motivated by the best of intentions—instead of
fulfilling his lordly obligations and marrying for strategic
gain, Robb chose to marry for love. For the crime of being
insufficiently cynical about the worl