Sirius_Amory33

The following review contains spoilers for Shin Godzilla Toho Strikes Back Though not without its faults, Shin Godzilla (also known as Godzilla Resurgence) delivers on all fronts. As any good and entertaining Godzilla film should do, Shin gives you a full serving of humor (both intentional and not), great visuals and destruction, music that adds to the experience rather than serve as just background noise, and a human plot that stacks up well against the best the series has offered in the previous 28 Toho productions. But of course, there aren’t only 28 Godzilla films. A pair of others were made in the West, the first of which was a failed attempt by summer blockbuster connoisseur Roland Emmerich. The film was such an afront to the Godzilla name that Toho immediately responded with Godzilla 2000. Not only that, but Toho eventually dubbed Emmerich's version of their legendary monster 'Zilla' because, as Toho put it, "They took the God out of Godzilla". Despite the fan backlash, Zilla is a part of Toho's official canon and it later appeared in Godzilla: Final Wars where it showed up just to be promptly obliterated by the real deal. It's . After Final Wars, Godzilla would go into hibernation for over a decade until the West tried again. That second attempt was Legendary's Godzilla 2014 and it didn’t take long for Toho to repeat history and announce that they were bringing big G back in response. They boasted that this new Godzilla would be the biggest yet, reclaiming the title from Legendary’s Godzilla which had just taken it months prior. It felt as though Toho might have had a bruised ego. While Emmerich’s film was a disaster, director Gareth Edwards made a solid attempt at bringing Godzilla to a Western audience with Godzilla 2014. Despite having plenty of flaws, the movie did justice to the source material and respected Toho’s pride and joy. It was also a huge box office success, prompting Legendary to quickly announce that two more Godzilla films would be on their way. Despite my worries that Toho was rushing out a new movie for petty reasons, I remained optimistic. We could be in the early days of a Godzilla golden age. It's possible there will be two concurrent Godzilla series with Japan and America trading blows, movie by movie. What a time to be alive! A Godzilla Unlike Any Other When it was announced that Hideaki Anno would be directing Toho's newest film, many eyebrows surely were raised in response. Known for his background in anime and as the director of the Evangelion series, his hiring turned Shin Godzilla into a big wildcard. It was easy to think blending the style of an anime with a live action monster flick could backfire badly. Ultimately, however, it worked out pretty well. What Anno gives us is one of the most unique Godzilla designs we've seen yet. While mostly done in mostly good CG, there still seemed to be a bit of animatronics at work as well. While Anno claimed he wasn't satisfied with their efforts to keep up the Toho tradition of using a man in a rubber suit, they did end up using motion capture on a suit, as well as a puppet touched up with CG, and the end result is a deceptively classic feeling Godzilla. By using a lot of low angles looking up at Godzilla and distance shots showing the legendary kaiju in beautiful wide landscape shots, Anno is able to effectively communicate his monster's immense size and terrifying features. I use the word terrifying only half truly, for Godzilla's introduction is anything but. When we get our first look at Anno's creation...well, just look for yourself. Wait...that's not Godzilla! Godzilla's Evolution Oh, how the theater laughed. It's probably the googly eyes that most effectively derail this serious moment into one of utter hilarity but regardless, this version of Godzilla is simultaneously the worst and best thing my eyes have ever witnessed. I could see how a diehard Godzilla fan would see this and be offended but honestly, it's just freaking funny. What really caught me off guard was how unsettling this Godzilla actually was when we got to see more of it. As it shimmy shimmied its way through town (there's really no other way to explain how this thing moves), a jiggly fat neck wobbles to and fro opening gills that drench the ground in blood. Gross! At one point, Godzilla attempts to stand on its two hind legs, revealing not a strong, healthy looking creature ready to bring the destruction but instead a tortured abomination. This is a freak that probably wants to be annihilated and it's unsettling to watch. The whole thing is funny, disturbing, and depressing all at once. It's a mix of emotions quite unlike anything Godzilla has evoked in me before. And just when you think this introduction can't get any more bizzare, Godzilla evolves. Like a Pokemon. Oh God, someone hit B and stop this! It's starting to actually look intimidating! What we're left with is something that's starting to look like the Godzilla we know and love, minus the goofy googly eyes that still remain. Due to civilians still being in the area, Japan holds off on an attack allowing Godzilla to return to the sea to rest and when he returns, he's evolved a second time. This is when Godzilla starts to look very familiar. But don't think you know this Godzilla, its packing a few interesting surprises. Godzilla Reborn Pictured: Godzilla bringing the disco back Instead of rebooting the series as a sequel to the original Gojira, Toho and Anno decided to start from scratch. Shin Godzilla features a brand new Godzilla with a brand new origin story. I already touched on one major change, the fact that Godzilla looks very different and then evolves into a more familiar monster, but his looks and origin aren't the only things revamped. Godzilla's got some tricks up his sleeves, tricks we haven't seen before. The biggest of which is the monster's atomic breath, now a crazy sort of napalm breath/energy beam/disco show combo. And it's deadly. Godzilla ends up turning Tokyo into an infernal hellscape in minutes flat, one of the most powerful and destructive moments in Godzilla's long and storied history. It's the highlight of the movie and seeing it unfold in theaters was like a Godzilla sized dream come true. Unfortunately, this climax happens somewhere around the midpoint of the movie, the final act falls short of topping this spectacle. Some fans are saying these changes go too far, that it's too different and ridiculous! Well, to them I say see , , exhibit C.... The biggest issue I have with this new Godzilla is its demeanor. The monster barely shows any emotion outside of its anger induced rage fest. It moves very slowly and often looks like a statue. In fact, the movie basically ends with just that; a frozen statue Godzilla plastered right in the middle of Tokyo. I feel this all was a creative decision by Anno, perhaps wanting to use Godzilla as a stagnant but ever present threat to Tokyo. It fits with the commentary on the 3/11 disasters and makes sense, it's just a preference to want a more lively and emotive Godzilla. All in all, Anno has given us a very unique Godzilla, from a drastic departure in appearance, to evolutions and new atomic abilities, to humanzilla things emerging from his being. You read that right. Humanoid Godzilla beings trying to escape the monstrosity that is Shin Godzilla. Anno's monster makes us laugh, makes us cheer, and even manages to make us feel some of that authentic Toho terror and dread. Despite the googly eyes. Seriously. Humanoid Godzilla beings. Good luck sleeping ever again. The Human Element For me personally, the human plots usually end up being a Godzilla film's weakest link. Sure, some zany time traveling plots with aliens might entertain more than others but for the most part, Godzilla is usually bogged down by characters we don't care about giving dialogue that feels like pure filler. To me, this is not the case with Shin Godzilla, though I can see the possibility of people getting lost in the dialogue or bored during some longer plot heavy sequences. A Deeper Meaning This film operates like a behind-the-scenes documentary following the Japanese government as they deal with a surprise Godzilla attack. This means there's no human sub plots, no love story, no crazy sci fi. You're getting a rather realistic look at a natural disaster and a nation's response. While some might not like this, it's clear that Anno had a plan and knew exactly what approach he wanted to take and why. Shin Godzilla has a lot to say. It draws on the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami as well as the Fukushima meltdown that followed to provide a humorous satire on the response of the Japanese government. It becomes obvious when the Prime Minister goes on live TV, deceptively dressed in an emergency rescue suit (we as viewers know the man has spent all his time in conference rooms and meetings, not out surveying damages), telling the people that they need not worry about the monster making landfall. As soon as he says this, he’s interrupted with the news that Godzilla has already done so. It did what now? Subtle digs at government operations appear throughout the film, from constantly needing to change board rooms to an exhausting chain of command that must patiently be navigated to approve each order. Can we fire, can we fire, can we fire? Yes, fire. We can fire, we can fire. Fire away. But on top of the satire, there are several more serious topics Anno wants us to ponder as we watch: Japan's deep respect for Article 9, the part of their constitution that renounces war and the use of weapons. The Japanese Special Defense Force mentions several times that they are better suited for helping the citizens evacuate instead of fighting Godzilla.Japan's inability to defend itself and needing to rely on the United States to help with Godzilla. Japan does try to use force against the monster but they throw everything they have at Godzilla without even leaving a scratch on him. It's the Americans that eventually wound Godzilla when they come to help.Japan's role in the worldwide community and the older generation's passive ways, going along with the decisions being made for them. This even applies to the ridiculous notion of dropping a nuke on Tokyo to destroy Godzilla. Anno challenges us to come up with our own thoughts on these issues, to wonder if Japan should be given more autonomy and break with tradition to build a strong military that can defend themselves. We watch a sort of changing of the guard as an older generation gets replaced by a younger one and with them comes a shift in thinking. It's up to us to compare these two leadership styles and come to our own conclusions, though the character Yaguchi makes a pretty bold statement late in the movie basically yelling at the audience that Japan's Special Defense Force is the only hope for Japan's future. The Downside While we're given a deep and intriguing story, it does tend to drag at times as we get a couple of long dialogue heavy sequences. The most notable occurs after Godzilla's attack on Tokyo when Japan's new leadership studies Godzilla and finalizes their plan to stop not only the monster, but the nuke the world wants to drop on Tokyo. While they come up with an ingenious plot that they successfully execute, the explanation is overwhelming and difficult to follow. Dialogue in this movie comes fast and furiously, there's more characters than Game of Thrones, and whenever a new character or location appears, we get extra subs to tell us the information the movie thinks we need to know. At times I was reading as fast as I could and still couldn't get through everything. And if the screen wasn't crowded enough, sometimes English speaking characters would pop up adding Japanese subs to the hilarious mess. This wasn't so hilarious in the movie's final act however. The part of the film that digs most deeply into Godzilla's origin story was the hardest to follow. A man named Goro Maki had been studying mutations due to nuclear contamination, he knew about Godzilla and apparently so did the United States. Something happened to his wife, he commits suicide, and leaves behind all his research on an abandoned yacht. His research forms a sort of puzzle for the Japanese government to solve, which they eventually do by realizing they could fold his data printouts like oragami, unlocking everything they need to put their plan into motion. Yeah, I don't know. I'm not sure why Maki would make his research so cryptic if it could help stop a monster he knows very well. I'll have to wait for the Blu-ray release to see exactly what was going on with this part of the plot. Japan's Defenders Maki is sort of the most interesting character in this movie because of the mystery surrounding him, yet he never appears on screen. As for the others, I'm personally ok with Anno deciding to make his story driven by satire and political commentary instead of giving us a personal connection to any individuals. It's fitting that a large group of characters come together to defeat Godzilla, with no special emphasis on any one person. It would sort of contradict the film's message to have a single hero. Japan needs to decide if they want independence, if they want to be able to take care of themselves as a country. They decide yes and defend themselves, as a country not a person. In truth, none of the characters seem like they'd be all that interesting if we dove further into their lives anyways. This is something that can sadly be said about most Godzilla movies which is a shame. While most of the characters don't really stand out, one character in particular does. And not in a good way. "I'm Kayoco Ann Patterson and I'm totally spunky and a little funny. I want to be YOUR president." -Kayoco Ann Patterson 2028 The problem with Kayoco is that in a story where you can reasonably buy into what is happening, all the political maneuvering and the messy chain of command present within the government, I just can't buy into her ever becoming president. She's a stereotyped character and no amount of suspended disbelief can make her aspirations seem plausible. Her English speaking scenes stick out like sore thumbs as well, especially her meeting with the US Ambassador to Japan. The man is portrayed like a cartoon villain, he's just a voice coming from a shadowy seat. Despite just needing to read a few lines, the voice acting is rather bad. The whole scene could have just been tossed. There's a few other American characters that have the same problem in their brief roles. And So It Ends As mentioned earlier, the Japanese government comes up with a pretty clever plan to defeat Godzilla, inspired by their findings in Maki's work. Essentially, they want to inject a blood coagulant into Godzilla cooling him down. The plan works, Godzilla is frozen, no nuke is dropped on Tokyo. At least not when the film ends. I've been thinking about this ending since I left the theater, it leaves a lot open to speculation. We're told that if Godzilla were to wake up, the countdown to drop the nuke would resume. That would give them roughly an hour to...do something, whatever they could do before Tokyo is wiped off the map. This combined with the humanoid Godzilla creatures I referenced earlier creates an ending that maybe needed just a bit more. Open ended is good but, unless there's a direct sequel, I think Shin Godzilla leaves too much on the table. Despite the flaws, Shin Godzilla's human plot rides its thought provoking nature to success. I may change my opinion a bit over time as I reflect back on this movie and watch it again, but right now I'm feeling pretty confident in saying it's one of the best human plots from any Godzilla movie. I can certainly see why someone might disagree, mostly because of the lack of personal character development, but the 1954 original Gojira is the only film in the series I can think of that delivers a comparably powerful plot and strong message about the world that inspired it. Final Thoughts A few scattered thoughts I have on other aspects of Shin Godzilla: The soundtrack is fantastic. The classic theme and sound cues are present, making sure we know that we're watching an authentic Toho Godzilla, filling us with feelings only Toho can provide. I found it interesting how the soundtrack seemed to evolve with Godzilla and the Japanese Government. The music was more orchestrated and string driven when the old and passive leadership was in charge. When the younger generation took over, the music became more modern, lead by electric guitar and drums. The middle sections had a sort of blend between the two with strings, piano, and drums making for some great original tracks.The biggest blunder of this film was truly the googly eyes. There were other problems I saw in Godzilla's design based on the promo pictures and trailers, mainly the stubby arms and the incredibly long cat-like tail, but after seeing the film, those worked well. The googly eyes on the other hand...Though the effects were mostly great, there were some instances where the CG looked particularly bad. They serve as examples why the smaller budgets of Eastern films can't do full CGI like Western movies can.When Godzilla is injured by the American Air Force, I wondered if that was the cause of Godzilla's back lazers. Perhaps atomic energy was leaking through his wounds, similar to the gaping neck hole Godzilla has in GMK: Giant Monsters All Out Attack.I'd rather not compare this movie to Godzilla 2014 but let's face it, everyone is going to. If Toho turns Shin Godzilla into a series, it'll be Toho and Legendary going toe to toe for several years. I'd say Toho wins round one, the main difference being that Shin Godzilla is a lot more effective at accomplishing what it sets out to do. Legendary's film decided to make Godzilla a third string player behind nameless soldier #645327 and the Mutos. The problem was that Brody wasn't interesting enough to carry the movie like they wanted him and his plot to do and no other element in the film made up for it. Director Gareth Edwards also wanted to tease his monsters, evoking the slow burn style of classic films like Jaws and Alien, but it just didn't work. The cuts were unnatural and it felt obvious that they were intended to mess with us. I do enjoy Legendary's film. I've seen it several times and will see it several more I'm sure. There's just no contest here with regards to which movie executed its intent better. In Conclusion I personally love Shin Godzilla, I feel it could very well end up being one of my favorites but I can see why others might feel differently. The poor pacing, long sequences of information overload, Godzilla sleeping for half the movie while the Japanese government studies and plans, and the kaiju's incredibly goofy and hilarious first form are all enough to give someone pause. Throw that on top of a very topical and heavy commentary that is tough to follow if you're not familiar with the 3/11 disaster and subsequent Fukushima meltdown, and you've got a movie that requires a lot from its viewers. It could take several rewatches to really grasp what is going on, I know it will for me. While I love the depth and feel Anno gives us a very thought provoking story, it might not click for others. It all comes down to what the viewer prefers, in respect to both storytelling and how they would like Godzilla to be used. In the end, there's no doubt that this a Japanese movie made for a Japanese audience. The fact that we get to see it in US theaters is a treat. If you're curious about what an authentic Toho Godzilla film is like or you're a big fan of their work already, Shin Godzilla is absolutely a must see movie. You just might want to do some light reading first. The true King is back and no one does it quite like Toho.

Warning: Our Game of Madness articles will include content from the five currently released A Song of Ice and Fire books and seasons 1-5 of HBO's adaptation Game of Thrones. Some material from A Feast for Crows and A Dance With Dragons has not been covered in the show yet, but may be in season 6. If you aren't caught up with the books and/or show, read on with care. Game of Madness Final Fight Cutting a field of 48 warriors down to two was a daunting task to say the least but the toughest decision of them all faces us today. Barristan Selmy takes on Arthur Dayne in our championship match, two of the most impressive and decorated fighters in the world of ice and fire. Before finding out who wins our Game of Madness, take a look back at the first four rounds of action: [mks_col] [mks_one_half] Round One Part One Part Two Part Three [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] Round Two Part One Part Two Part Three [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] [mks_separator style=dotted" height="1] [mks_col] [mks_one_half] Round Three Part One [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] The Finals Part One [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Before we get into this matchup and declare our champion, let's start the final dance off with a refresher on what these two warriors have accomplished throughout the series. [su_divider top=no] Arthur Dayne The Sword of the Morning Became the Sword of the Morning, a legendary title that can only be bestowed upon a knight from house Dayne that is deemed worthy. Arthur is only the third man to have the title and carry the Dayne ancestral greatsword Dawn, one of the most famed blades in the seven kingdoms. A blade said to be forged from metals found in the heart of a fallen star. Defeated the fearsome Smiling Knight with ease. After being disarmed, the mad man was allowed by Dayne to fetch another sword to continue the fight. He told Dayne he wanted the legendary Dawn to which Arthur simply responded, “Then you shall have it, ser.” And have it the Smiling Knight most certainly did. Viewed as the deadliest of the seven members of the Mad King Aerys Targaryen’s Kingsguard. Notable because that Kingsguard included Barristan Selmy, Jaime Lannister, and Gerold Hightower. That’s three other fighters from our contest, two of which lost to Arthur. The third is his opponent in this championship match. Outlasted his sworn brothers, Gerold Hightower and Oswell Whent, at the Tower of Joy, a fight that saw them outnumbered 7 to 3. While the circumstances of Arthur’s death remain unclear, it is probable that he wasn’t defeated in single combat by either Ned Stark or Howland Reed and that a cheap shot, poison, or magic finally brought him down. [su_divider top=no] Barristan Selmy Barry the Bold At the age of 16, he earned his knighthood by competing as a mystery knight in the winter tourney at King’s Landing, defeating the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Duncan the Tall. Defeated Maelys the Monstrous in single combat, ending the final Blackfyre rebellion known as the War of the Ninepenny Kings. During the Defiance of Duskendale, in which Aerys Targaryen was being held captive, Barristan single handedly breached the town’s walls, freed the King, and escaped with him despite taking an arrow to the chest. Defeated Simon Toyne of the Kingswood Brotherhood with a counter-riposte, which Jaime Lannister referred to as the best move he ever saw. Became Lord Commander of the Kingsguard under Robert Baratheon. Escaped King’s Landing with just a dagger in hand after being dismissed by Joffrey Baratheon and abandoning his own sword. Literally challenged a dragon to one on one combat. [su_divider top=no] It's easy to see why these two men have outlasted the other 46 fighters in our contest. While they have earned both their famed reputations and their spots in this matchup, only one can leave as champion of our Game of Madness. The Final Verdict Now it ends. While we know more about Barristan Selmy, what we know of Arthur Dayne speaks volumes and leaves little doubt that he’s one of the best. But regardless, Barristan still holds the advantage in accolades. What could make up the difference in experience? George RR Martin. The author himself has said that Arthur Dayne would have the advantage in a fight against Barristan Selmy thanks to Dawn. Without the legendary blade, however, Martin said the fight might be a toss up. It would be easy to give the toss up to Barristan because we simply know more about him. In fact, George lets us read his entire entry in the White Book and the reason is most likely to let the readers know just how badass Barry the Bold truly is. Throughout our contest, we’ve been saying that any matchup involving Arthur Dayne comes down to the challenger more than Dayne himself. Arthur's legacy speaks for itself and holds a lot of weight, the warrior that defeats the Sword of the Morning has to have an impressive legacy of their own and be comparably renowned. No one matches Dayne's legacy and renown more than Barristan Selmy. No other competitor in our contest has a better chance of defeating Arthur, especially with Dawn out of the picture. We don’t know yet how exactly Arthur was defeated but no matter how it played out, whether the Ned or Howland Reed dealt the final blow, whether it was fair or dirty, it sort of soils his status. Neither of those men are known as exceptional warriors. While there's no downplaying how Arthur shined in a 7 on 3 situation, it seems as if he should have survived the fight once it came down to that final fateful 2 vs 1. Barristan had his own death moment on the Trident (we won't get into the unfitting and depressing death he was given in HBO's adaptation, they didn't even let the man challenge Drogon to single combat). Barristan suffered wounds from an arrow, spear, and sword yet he kept on fighting alongside Rhaegar Targaryen. He had no right coming out of that battle alive. Although the Usurper Robert Baratheon was counseled by those closest to him to execute Barristan, he was so impressed by the Knight's efforts in the fight that he ordered his maester to attend Selmy's wounds instead of his own. Barristan survived and was later pardoned and made Lord Commander of Robert's Kingsguard. Another comparison we can make involves the Smiling Knight. We know Arthur defeated him with ease, two times to boot, but he wasn’t the only man to best the psycho sword in combat, just the only one to kill him. Barristan also defeated the Smiling Knight in single combat, a victory that takes away from one of Arthur’s best accomplishments, though not significantly considering how much of a spectacle Arthur Dayne made his encounter. One big piece missing from this puzzle that could help Arthur Dayne is his entry in the White Book. We know Barristan is not only bold, but possibly the busiest man in Westeros based on everything that is recorded of his life. If we could read Arthur’s entry, it would probably be just as impressive and go a long way in convincing us exactly why Arthur is so renowned for his chivalry and skills. Regardless, there are some things that just can’t be touched. Single handedly rescuing a king being held captive in a town ready for war? If Dayne did something on that level, George would have found a way to include it. If Dayne had survived the Tower of Joy and played an integral role in the story, we’d know more of what he did but it’s hard to believe he could match Barristan’s accolades based on how impressive they are. In a world where the slightest misstep can cost you your life, where the Gods themselves seem to take pleasure in making everything as miserable as possible, Barristan has avoided death an insane amount of times. That just isn't something we can say of Arthur Dayne. In the end, with George RR Martin himself declaring this fight a toss up, we side with what we know for sure. Both of these fighters are legendary, both deserve to be in the championship match, and both could defeat every other fighter in the contest many times more than not. The key to beating Arthur Dayne, as we've said all along, is to match his reputation, to be as renowned and to have the experience to back it up. The Sword of the Morning has faced some of the best our contest has to offer but in the final match, he’s going up against the one person who fits the bill better than anyone, if not outright surpassing it. Barristan Selmy, Barry the Bold, Ser Grandfather, champion of our Game of Madness. Game of Madness Champion : Barristan Selmy [su_divider top=yes] That wraps up our Game of Madness. It was quite the challenge to play these matches out, to try and set a 6 person final but regardless of how hard it was to get to today's final match, we're confident Barristan Selmy and Arthur Dayne are the most deserving of the honors. Our champion, Barristan Selmy, is the one who said there are no warriors without peer. Any fight between any two warriors could sway in either direction based on any number of causes. Plenty of our matches could have seen different winners, even the finals could have had some fighters swapped out for others, but the madness that makes it all so great is the uncertainty. The fact that each and every fan could take the same bracket and play it out in vastly different ways. Let us know in the comments below what big differences your own Game of Madness would have compared to ours and who you would declare the greatest warrior in the world of ice and fire. Hopefully our tour de force of the best fighters on Planetos has kept you entertained. With everything wrapped up, we're free to focus on season six of Game of Thrones, premiering this Sunday. It's been a long wait but the wait is finally over. Time to knock on wood, cross our fingers, pray to the seven, sacrifice our loved ones to the Lord of Light, whatever it takes to make sure our favorite characters survive just one more week. Valar Morghulis.

Warning: Our Game of Madness articles will include content from the five currently released A Song of Ice and Fire books and seasons 1-5 of HBO's adaptation Game of Thrones. Some material from A Feast for Crows and A Dance With Dragons has not been covered in the show yet, but may be in season 6. If you aren't caught up with the books and/or show, read on with care. The Finals The finals are here and after today, we’ll be down to just two fighters remaining. Two from the original field of 48 who will face off tomorrow in our championship match. To keep things as mad as possible, we’ve reranked the finalists based on random draw. The first two names pulled face off and the winner takes on the third name pulled. The process was then repeated with the remaining three names, leaving us with the following setup for our finals: [mks_col] [mks_one_third] Brienne of Tarth Champion of the Islands First round victory over Dagmer Cleftjaw Second round victory over Rhaegar Targaryen Third round victory over Victarion Greyjoy [/mks_one_third] [mks_one_third] Barristan Selmy Champion of the Far East First round victory over Daario Naharis Second round victory over Syrio Forel Third Round victory over Jon Connington [/mks_one_third] [mks_one_third] Robert Baratheon Champion of the East First round victory over Howland Reed Second round victory over Yohn Royce Third round victory over Bronn [/mks_one_third] [/mks_col] [mks_separator style=dotted" height="1] [mks_col] [mks_one_third] Jaime Lannister Champion of the West First round victory over Lyle Crakehall Second round victory over Thoros of Myr Third round victory over Sandor Clegane [/mks_one_third] [mks_one_third] Jon Umber Champion of the North First round victory over Tormund Giantsbane Second round victory over Jon Snow Third Round victory over Qhorin Halfhand [/mks_one_third] [mks_one_third] Arthur Dayne Champion of the South First round victory over Gerold Dayne Second round victory over Randyll Tarly Third Round victory over Gerold Hightower [/mks_one_third] [/mks_col] With the matches set, let the finals begin... Brienne of Tarth vs Barristan Selmy [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Barristan Selmy is in a class of his own. In previous matches, we’ve mentioned how he escaped King’s Landing after abandoning his sword, how he later snuck back in to update his White Book entry with every Gold Cloak looking to capture or kill him, and how, despite his old age, he performed admirably in an ambush by the Sons of the Harpy. That fight in HBO’s adaptation has robbed him of a few more badass moments from A Dance With Dragons which include an attempt at directing Drogon's growing rage in his direction instead of Daenerys Targaryen's and defeating a celebrated pit fighter Khrazz without breaking a sweat. Barristan is a winner through and through and he does it with confidence and ease. Brienne may have the confidence of Barristan Selmy but her victories are a far cry from easy. Not only are Brienne's fights far more brutal and dirty, she also seems to always survive by the skin of her teeth. She’s strong, there’s no doubt, and her stamina may be unmatched but she has struggled with outlaws, a young Loras Tyrell who was at a weapon disadvantage, a greatly weakened Jaime bound at the wrists, and an already injured Hound who was far from 100% when they crossed swords. The only time Brienne wins decisively is after Renly is killed when she defeats two members of his Rainbow guard in an impassioned rage. These deaths are show only, however, as Loras defeats the two guards in the books. Brienne would be a tough out for anyone but she’s not one of the best to ever live like Barristan Selmy, she doesn’t have the impressive experiences to claim that she is. She could overpower Barristan in pure strength if the fight came to that but it's hard to say she could disarm Selmy to get the fight to that point. This match may last a while due to Brienne’s defense and stamina but Barristan will win in the end, his skill is almost unmatched and he's survived far more threatening foes. If an incredibly weakened Jaime could push Brienne to her limits, imagine what a prime Barristan could do. Winner: Barristan Selmy [su_divider top=no] Barristan Selmy vs Robert Baratheon [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Robert Baratheon was unstoppable on the Trident. It’s possible that no man to ever live could have faced his warhammer that day and lived, at least it seems that way from the various reflections we get on the battle. But that was a single isolated day on top driven by extreme circumstances. Robert had an unquenchable thirst to find and kill Rhaegar Targaryen, to deliver the justice he deserved for the apparent kidnapping and imprisonment of the Usurper's love, Lyanna Stark. The anger and pain coursing through Robert's veins couldn't be healed until the Last Dragon had fallen. Outside of the Trident, no matter how much he loves to fight, he is not on that same level, it's possible that no one is. Another point to keep in mind is that Robert does have a bit of a mythical reputation, known as the Demon on the Trident. While he can handle his warhammer with ease, and that has proved to be a huge advantage in this tournament, maybe he’s not quite as quick with it as we’re to believe. Maybe he’s not quite as strong as we’re told. Afterall, Rhaegar was able to wound him during the fight and Robert had nursed injuries at other points in the rebellion as well. Most notably when he hid in a whorehouse in Stoney Sept. It could be that Robert gained an impressive reputation that began to precede him, a reputation that was possibly embellished. The Usurper has intimidation on his side against most men, but not Barristan Selmy. When reflecting on what happened after the rebellion, Selmy had this to say of Robert: “If I had seen him smile over the red ruins of Rhaegar's children, no army on this earth could have stopped me from killing him.” A quote made with passion, of course, but not one that would be made from someone who feared Robert. The Usurper's fighting style was best suited for the melee as well. In a one on one fight, he could still stand against many but Barristan is in the highest tier of fighters and has notable one on one experience. In his youth he slayed Maelys the Monstrous to end the final Blackfyre rebellion. In his old age, he handled Khrazz with ease near the end of A Dance With Dragons. He rescued the mad king Aerys from Duskendale by himself. Robert could win this with one solid hit but prime Barristan Selmy is too skilled and fast to let it happen. Winner: Barristan Selmy Jaime Lannister vs Jon Umber [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Jon Umber, yet again, must take on a fighter with the advantage in speed and technique. As we discussed in Jaime’s fight against the Hound Sandor Clegane, the Kingslayer may be quite a bit stronger than you think. In his prime, it's safe to say he’s more skilled than the Greatjon’s last opponent, Qhorin Halfhand. Jon Umber would be a more brutish opponent for Jaime compared to Sandor which means Jaime would have an easier time staying one step ahead and finding his openings. It wouldn’t be out of character for Jaime to taunt the Greatjon either, attempting to goad the giant into a more reckless fighting style more prone to slip ups and we know Jon Umber can get hot headed. The Greatjon was worthy of the North’s spot in the finals but we’ve already seen Jaime overcome similar disadvantages in his fight against the Hound. In Jon Umber’s previous match, we called him a poor man’s Clegane, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it definitely is when his opponent has already defeated the real deal. Winner: Jaime Lannister [su_divider top=no] Jaime Lannister vs Arthur Dayne [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] With each passing match, we get closer to someone who could defeat the Sword of the Morning but is Jaime finally the fighter to pull it off? While Jaime Lannister is as arrogant as he is skilled with a sword, we’ve seen him gush over others before. Our first fighter to secure a spot in the championship match is one of them, Barristan Selmy, and another is none other than Arthur Dayne. Jaime claims: "I learned from Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, who could have slain all five of you with his left hand while he was taking a piss with the right." Jaime just about idolizes the man and with good reason, Arthur is seen as the most chivalrous and skilled knight of his time, possibly of all time. In the one moment from the series we have to compare these two directly, Jaime is bailed out by Arthur Dayne. It came during a fight with the Kingswood Brotherhood when Jaime crossed swords with the Smiling Knight, a cruel and deadly fighter who Jaime viewed as the Mountain of his youth. Jaime struggled mightily in the fight, though he was able to hang on long enough for someone to step in. And who stepped in to save the day? Arthur Dayne, Sword of the Morning. Not only did Arthur Dayne take over the fight against the Smiling Knight, he ended up winning with ease. Twice. After disarming the mad man, Arthur allowed him to grab a second sword and then defeated him again. We’re talking about one of the most feared men, if not the most feared man, of his time getting embarrassed twice by a guy who seemed to make a game out of it rather than view the fight as any sort of threat to his life. Jaime Lannister wasn’t at his prime when this occurred, far from it actually, but the difference in abilities was staggering. Could Jaime have closed that gap before getting his strong hand lopped off by another twisted group of outlaws, the Brave Companions? According to George RR Martin, it sure is possible. He has gone as far as to say Jaime Lannister is one of the greatest swordsman to ever live. We certainly wouldn’t argue against that but his opponent here is in the same category. Considering Martin also said Jaime could beat Aragorn from Lord of the Rings which, without getting into the rabbit hole that is TLotR vs ASoIaF, seems as though there’s a bit of bias there that might overrate the Kingslayer. George may have big plans for Jaime in the future of the series as well, perhaps he’ll follow Qhorin’s steps and become just as skilled with his offhand, but in a toss up between two of the best to ever live, we have to take the odds that Jaime didn’t quite reach Dayne’s level. Winner: Arthur Dayne [su_divider top=yes] And here we are. A field of 48 entered our tournament and now, only two remain. Barristan "The Bold" Selmy and the legendary Sword of the Morning, Arthur Dayne. These two will face off in the final match of our contest, a match to determine who is the greatest warrior in the world of ice and fire. In the meantime, let us know in the comments below how you'd have these finals play out. Who would you put in the championship match? It's been a long and bloody journey but the end is in sight, join us tomorrow when we crown the champion of our Game of Madness.

Warning: Our Game of Madness articles will include content from the five currently released A Song of Ice and Fire books and seasons 1-5 of HBO's adaptation Game of Thrones. Some material from A Feast for Crows and A Dance With Dragons has not been covered in the show yet, but may be in season 6. If you aren't caught up with the books and/or show, read on with care. The Regional Finals After two rounds of action, the field of 48 has been slashed and smashed down to just 12. We started our contest with 6 regions, each with 8 fighters that were paired up for one vs one trial by combat style fights. Today, we will crown the champion of each region, deciding who will have a spot in our finals. If you didn't catch the first two rounds or need a refresher on how the matches played out, take some time before moving on to round three (Revisit round one, round two). If you'd rather get right to the action, our final 12 are: [mks_col] [mks_one_third] The North Jon Umber Qhorin Halfhand [/mks_one_third] [mks_one_third] The West Jaime Lannister Sandor Clegane [/mks_one_third] [mks_one_third] The Islands Victarion Greyjoy Brienne of Tarth [/mks_one_third] [/mks_col] [mks_separator style=dotted" height="1] [mks_col] [mks_one_third] The East Robert Baratheon Bronn [/mks_one_third] [mks_one_third] The South Arthur Dayne Gerold Hightower [/mks_one_third] [mks_one_third] The Far East Barristan Selmy Jon Connington [/mks_one_third] [/mks_col] Some who fall today will be warriors more than worthy of our finals but only six can stake their claims. Let the madness continue... The North [su_divider top=no] 3. Jon Umber vs 4. Qhorin Halfhand [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Strength vs speed settles our North region and the two fighters possess these in spades. The Greatjon is one of the strongest living men, maybe only surpassed by the Mountain Gregor Clegane. Qhorin’s technical prowess is unmatched in the North and the Halfhand stacks up well against the best in any region. This is truly a match worthy of our finals yet only one can move on. The Greatjon Umber is, to put it simply, a poor man’s Clegane. Not as strong as Gregor but not as agile as Sandor, though being a poor man’s Clegane is no insult. Most brutes are seen as dumb and the Umbers certainly aren’t seen as a house full of cunning but they have been a longstanding presence in the North and there’s no way to say with certainty that Jon Umber is your typical oafish brute. He fights with fury and pure strength but not necessarily a reckless abandon. We also know that even when outmatched, like taking on eight men at the Red Wedding, he’s a nightmare to take down. Keep in mind, Jon Umber is said to be taller than Hodor who stands in at a whopping 7 feet tall. That combined with his massive great sword and bulky frame makes the Greatjon a scary foe to face for any fighter. But speed and skill have toppled strength before and if there's a fighter in the North that shines in those categories, it's Qhorin Halfhand. The best example of this we have in the series so far is when Oberyn Martell took on the Mountain Gregor Clegane. The difference being the reach advantage Oberyn had with his spear, allowing him to stay at a distance and control the pace of the fight. The Halfhand will have to get well within Jon Umber's range if he's to deal any damage. Despite the respect Qhorin gets and the reputation he's seemingly more than earned in the series, it's hard to give him this match because of the unknowns. What we know for sure doesn't equal what we know of the Greatjon and it will take quite a few strikes to topple Jon Umber whereas one good strike from Jon's great sword could end the Halfhand in a hurry. Chances are the Greatjon would get that one blow in before Qhorin can slice him up. Champion of the North: The Greatjon Umber The West [su_divider top=no] 1. Jaime Lannister vs 3. Sandor Clegane [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Jaime starts this fight with the advantage in speed and technique. Barristan Selmy, one of the best around -and someone who cares little and less for the Kingslayer- talks about Jaime's natural skills with a sword and how few he sees with that kind of potential. The world views him as a prodigy and even George RR Martin said he's one of the best to ever live. How can the Hound pull this off? Sandor's advantage comes from his size and strength. So here we are again, skill vs strength. No one would claim Jaime is the stronger fighter here but perhaps the difference between the two isn't all that big. When the Kingslayer is being escorted back to King's Landing by Brienne of Tarth, the two come to blows and Jaime fares pretty well all things considered. He was malnourished and weakened from a year of captivity, and his wrists were bound together, yet he still gives Brienne a run for her money. Brienne is strong, this is well known, and she later recalls just how strong Jaime was in that fight despite what he had been through. Jaime putting up a fight in that scenario says a lot for how strong and skilled he was in his prime. The Kingslayer isn't as strong as the Hound, but he's still pretty strong and that cuts into Sandor's best advantage. Maybe the Hound can draw from his experiences and gain the upper hand in that regard. How often would a highborn like Jaime Lannister get his hands dirty anyways? Well, quite a bit actually. We know Jaime held off the Smiling Knight, the Mountain of his youth, and was knighted by the legendary Sword of the Morning Arthur Dayne for his efforts. During the War of the Five Kings, Jaime cut through numerous northern soldiers on his way to Robb Stark once he realized the Young Wolf had won the Battle in the Whispering Wood. The people who witnessed the event believe Robb to be rather lucky to have survived, Jaime seemed unstoppable. It seems as though the Hound's advantages over Jaime don't seem as significant upon a closer look and the times we see the Hound in action are a mixed bag, to say the least. He does defeat Beric Dondarrion but his fear of fire and the flaming sword of his opponent make the match much closer than it had any right to be. If the fire hadn't weakened Beric's blade, the Hound's story may have ended then and there. He suffers a big loss later in the series (HBO's adaptation) against Brienne. He holds his own in an incredibly brutal fight despite the injury he suffered before the match began. Fire also gets the best of Sandor in the Battle of Blackwater, where he chooses to stop fighting and to flee the city. This is a tough match to call and Jaime would not have an easy time if he were to cross swords with Sandor Clegane but the series has shown us multiple times that Sandor struggles to overcome adversity. He may enter this fight with confidence, but when Jaime proves his worth it'll be a completely different fight. Where strength won out in the North, speed and skill decide the West. Champion of the West: Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer The Islands [su_divider top=no] 2. Victarion Greyjoy vs 5. Brienne of Tarth Brienne has a habit of getting into these types of dirty, brutal fights. In the show, it was against the Hound Sandor Clegane. In the novels, she was outnumbered twice by outlaws, winning one and needing to be saved in the other after giving it her best effort. Now, in our Game of Madness, Brienne faces the fearsome Victarion Greyjoy in a battle of iron wills. A matchup between two fighters hard to stand against and even harder to take down. Victarion is essentially a walking tank and taking on multiple foes at once barely phases him. His axe will give Brienne the advantage in reach but his large shield and thick plate armor should let him get close. Without Oathkeeper, her Valyrian steel longsword, Brienne will be slower to attack than we’ve seen so far and will have a harder time breaching the Iron Captain's defenses. Her biggest strengths, however, are her defense and stamina. Her oak shield is heavy and durable, if the Maid of Tarth is to win this fight, she needs to make Victarion play by her rules. The longer the match goes on, the more tired Vic becomes, the better Brienne's chances are of winning. She just needs to make sure she has enough gas left in the tank to finish off the Iron Captain when the opportunity presents itself. Brienne will gain the upper hand in this fight from the beginning for reasons not related to combat. The Ironborn do not view women as fighters and their sexism is a way of life. The Iron Captain will not take Brienne seriously and he’ll fall behind because of it. Brienne has been trained since her youth to take advantage of men like Victarion. The longer Brienne stands, the more embarrased Victarion gets, the more reckless he gets. His strength and armor give him a chance at coming back but the longer the fight goes, the better the odds are that Brienne wins as Vic grows more and more careless. The early advantage, Victarion’s increasingly brutish fighting style, and Brienne’s excellent stamina and defense all add up to a trip to the finals for the maid of Tarth. Champion of the Islands: Brienne of Tarth The East [su_divider top=no] 1. Robert Baratheon vs 2. Bronn [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Bronn would never agree to this fight. Much like he refused to defend Tyrion against the Mountain, Bronn would know that the realistic odds of him beating the Usurper are slim and the risk isn’t worth the reward. In our contest though, the sellsword has no choice but to stand and fight. Bronn could avoid Robert for a time, he may be able to find some openings to strike but it’ll take quite a few of those to take down the Demon of the Trident. Bronn may expect a sluggish fighter, considering Robert's size and his hefty warhammer, but Robert is known to be surprisingly fast and his ability to wield his massive weapon with one handed ease will catch the Lord of Stokeworth off guard. Bronn is lightly armored to maximize his advantage in speed, an advantage that won't be significant enough, which means a single blow from Robert’s warhammer would end the fight in a hurry. On the surface this fight is yet another speed vs strength showdown but one fighter possesses both and that settles the East. Champion of the East: Robert Baratheon, the Usurper The Far East [su_divider top=no] 1. Barristan Selmy vs 7. Jon Connington It’s hard not to root for the Griff. There’s nothing sweeter than redemption, but in this series it seems most of those we root for in those regards are basically awful human beings. Theon Greyjoy, who turned his cloak on those closest to him and killed two innocent children. The Hound, another killer of children as well as many other innocents. Jaime Lannister, we could go on and on with his deeds. Jon Connington, on the other hand, is cut from a different cloth. He hit rock bottom because he didn’t want to be labeled a murderer of innocents. Instead of burning the Stoney Sept, where an injured Robert Baratheon had fled to, he decided to search for the Usurper himself with the goal of defeating him in single combat. That never happened and Jon Con suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of the Bells. He was soon exiled by the Mad King Aerys Targaryen and to add insult to injury, Robert went on to slay the Griff’s closest friend Rhaegar on the Trident. Jon has been tormented by this ever since. While it was a significant loss for the loyalists, Jon Connington fought fiercely at the Stoney Sept. He wounded Lord Tully and killed Jon Arryn’s heir Denys Arryn. When the battle was lost, he was able to escape the chaotic battle, an impressive feat given the fact that Robert's allies had come to his rescue and turned the battle into full out urban warfare. At the end of the day, however, if your best moment came in defeat, it's hard to say you could defeat an elite fighter. Everything unfolded in the Griff’s favor to get him to this point but prime Barristan is too skilled and decorated to think Jon could win this match. It was a good run but the Griff finally falls. Champion of the Far East: Barristan Selmy, The Bold The South [su_divider top=no] 1. Arthur Dayne vs 3. Gerold Hightower The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard that included Arthur Dayne, the White Bull Gerold Hightower, is one of the few people with a legitimate chance at taking down the Sword of the Morning. Though it’s only possible because prime Gerold is known as being a stronger swordsman than prime Jaime Lannister. What we know from the Tower of Joy doesn’t give us any insight into Gerold during his prime, that battle took place well beyond that even though the White Bull still fought fiercely. Arthur Dayne’s advantages might not have been significant, but they were still advantages. He was most likely more skilled seeing as he earned the Sword of the Morning title and defeated the Smiling Knight with ease. He was most likely faster based on the size and stature of the two fighters. The only advantage Gerold most likely had was in strength but as we see plenty in the series, technical skills can easily make up for a difference in strength. These two fighters would essentially be on equal footing, both experienced knights and swordsmen through and through and Arthur would be without his sword Dawn, making the fight even tougher to call. In the end, we don’t know enough about Gerold Hightower to say he could beat Arthur Dayne. We also don’t get the repeated gushing over his existence like we do with the Sword of the Morning to suggest he's one of the best to ever live. By comparison, the little we know of Arthur Dayne says so much more. Gerold Hightower is worthy of the finals, possibly even worthy of the final four, but drawing the Sword of the Morning ends his journey prematurely. Champion of the South: Arthur Dayne, The Sword of the Morning [su_divider top=yes] And with that, we have set our finals. Jon Umber, Jaime Lannister, Brienne of Tarth, Robert Baratheon, Barristan Selmy, and Arthur Dayne head into the final part of our Game of Madness, all worthy of their spots and all battle tested from the first three rounds. Let us know in the comments below how you think the regional finals would play out and who you're betting on in the finals. Tomorrow, we'll continue to cut the field until only two remain, setting up the championship match.

Warning: Our Game of Madness articles will include content from the five currently released A Song of Ice and Fire books and seasons 1-5 of HBO's adaptation Game of Thrones. Some material from A Feast for Crows and A Dance With Dragons has not been covered in the show yet, but may be in season 6. If you aren't caught up with the books and/or show, read on with care. The Beaus of the Ball 8 spots of our final 12 have been filled; Qhorin Halfhand, Jon Umber, Jaime Lannister, Sandor Clegane, Brienne of Tarth, Victarion Greyjoy, Robert Baratheon, and Bronn have all secured spots in our regional finals. That's quite the lineup but it's even more impressive when you realize some of the very best have yet to stake their claims. Today, we finish off round two in the Far East and the South, where legendary fighters face off against the best of the current generation and one match pits two of our round one underdogs against each other to see who will be our Game of Madness cinderella. The Far East [su_divider top=no] 1. Barristan Selmy vs 4. Syrio Forel [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Syrio Forel is an interesting opponent for Barry the Bold. We know the Water Dancer can take on armored knights, with relative ease to boot, but those knights were a far cry from Barristan Selmy. Syrio’s biggest advantage is his agility, it doesn’t matter if he’s small or not as strong, if he can’t be touched, he can’t be defeated. The guards he faces early in the series are heavily armored and most certainly not as quick as a prime Barristan Selmy. Barristan declares himself superior to five Kingsguards when he is relieved of his duties and we don't doubt the claim considering all of his accolades. That early battle with Syrio and his wooden practice sword is the one thing that gives the former First Sword of Braavos any chance in our contest and while it was impressive, it was a bit anticlimactic that he was (most likely) killed by Meryn Trant. But what’s more interesting is that Syrio isn’t the only person to put up a fight despite being out armed and out armored. Why, Barristan Selmy did it as well! And he actually survived in the end! After being removed from the Kingsguard and tossing his blade at Joffrey’s feet, Selmy managed to escape King’s Landing with just a dagger in hand, taking out Goldcloaks every step of the way. Not only did he escape with his life, but he later donned a disguise and snuck back into the city to update his entry in the white book at the White Sword Tower. Seriously, with every Goldcloak looking to capture or kill him, he decided to go back and update his resume before getting the hell out of dodge for good. When you can take your opponent’s best thing going for them and one up it with ease, it’s a no brainer that you’re coming out on top. Winner: Barristan Selmy [su_divider top=no] 6. Grey Worm vs 7. Jon Connington [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] One of these fighters will be the Cinderella of our ball. Unfortunately, they’ll have to face Barristan Selmy in the Far East finals but regardless of how that match goes, it’s a good run. Fighters from Essos are at an immediate disadvantage to a knight from Westeros. They are lightly armored, though the Unsullied spears would give them favorable reach. It is stated that the Unsullied can fight in armor if need be, and this would help Grey Worm, but it would be a sudden change to his usual fighting style. He’ll last longer but it may not increase his chances of actually winning the battle. The Unsullied are also meant to act as a unit on an open battlefield. They are more disciplined than any other rank of fighter, they feel no pain and have no fear, their training starts at a young age and is relentless. It’s a focused life they lead but it’s not one that prepares them well for one vs one combat. HBO’s adaptation has shown, however, that the show version of Grey Worm is more than capable on his own. Despite the reach advantage, Grey Worm won’t be able to control this fight like he did against Strong Belwas. He may be able to keep Jon Connington at bay for a time but the knight will force his way in and once in range, Grey Worm will have no choice but to abandon his spear and switch to a short sword. At that point, the Griffin feasts, regardless of what type of armor Grey Worm dons. Winner: Jon Connington The South [su_divider top=no] 1. Arthur Dayne vs 5. Randyll Tarly Arthur Dayne is one of the most intriguing characters in the series. We don’t get a first hand view of the man and we mostly hear of him by reputation. He’s the closest the series has to a true knight which could explain why he’s so popular and why people are so excited that we’ll most likely get to see him in action through a flashback or vision. With some fighters, it’s hard to give credit for things we don’t know with certainty but with Arthur Dayne, you can make an exception. He’s the Sword of the Morning, a legendary title from a legendary house that has to be earned, it’s not inherited. The likes of Ned and Barristan Selmy vouch for his abilities and those are two of the most honorable men in the series. Jaime Lannister, one of the best to ever live, said he was in awe of Arthur Dayne. When it comes to defeating Arthur, it truly will require an elite and special fighter which means his matches will be more about his opponent than they are about him. Randyll Tarly is also well regarded, though not nearly as much. Kevan Lannister is a good reference but the other side has Ned, Barristan, and Jaime. The commander-first fighters in our contest haven’t fared so well and for good reason. Leading and ordering men, strategizing out on the battle field, those are much different skills than what’s needed in the chaos of battle. That’s not to say Randyll isn’t a great fighter, he is if Kevan is to be believed. His finest moment came when he became the only Targaryen loyalist to defeat Robert Baratheon during his rebellion at the battle of Ashford, he defeated Lord Cafferen in single combat so we know he didn’t just command, he fought as well. As far as what we've seen for ourselves in the present? Randyll in action as a commander. He is surely one of the best alive in a generation that has several fine commanders, but as a fighter we really only have the words of Kevan Lannister to go by. This battle is decided by the reputations of our fighters and Randyll’s pales in comparison to the Sword of the Morning. Winner: Arthur Dayne [su_divider top=no] 2. Oberyn Martell vs 3. Gerold Hightower We’ve seen Oberyn take down a well armored swordsman when he fought the Mountain in Tyrion’s trial by combat, though he had the aid of poison and a huge thirst for vengeange, a thirst that lead him to victory and defeat. Gerold Hightower might not be as strong as Gregor but he’s far more skilled and he may be one of the closest competitors in our contest to match the Mountain in strength. We know the White Bull is seen as better than Jaime Lannister when he was in his prime. While Oberyn has the reach advantage, Gerold is skilled enough to not let the Red Viper control the fight. Oberyn will gain an early advantage, much like Grey Worm had in his two fights, it’s likely he’d get a few shots in before Gerold closes in for close range combat. It shouldn’t take the White Bull long, however. His plate armor and shield allow him to brush off those hits with ease. At that point Oberyn is outclassed. He won’t be able to effectively use his spear against the quicker sword, he’s not equipped to get through the armor and shield, and he’s not nearly strong enough to turn the fight around through hand to hand combat. Without the aid of poison to slow down and weaken Gerold as the fight progresses, Oberyn will have a hard time keeping his distance and dictating the pace of the fight like we saw him do against Gregor Clegane. And that's assuming Oberyn would even be able to find Gerold's flesh with his spear. Winner: Gerold Hightower [su_divider top=yes] And with that, all of our regional finals are set. Barristan Selmy, Jon Connington, Arthur Dayne, and Gerold Hightower will join the others in determining the champions of each region. They are all just one match away from the finals and whichever 6 remain standing after round three will surely deserve the spots. Let us know in the comments below how you see today's matches playing out and who you think will win the Far East and South regions. Revisit round one of our contest and be sure to check back on Wednesday April 20th when we'll begin the final push to the finish of our Game of Madness.

Warning: Our Game of Madness articles will include content from the five currently released A Song of Ice and Fire books and seasons 1-5 of HBO's adaptation Game of Thrones. Some material from A Feast for Crows and A Dance With Dragons has not been covered in the show yet, but may be in season 6. If you aren't caught up with the books and/or show, read on with care. The Warrior's Spirit Yesterday, we set the regional finals for the North and West as we kicked off round two of our Game of Madness contest. Qhorin Halfhand will face off against the Greatjon Umber after the pair took down the remaining Starks, Eddard and Jon Snow, while Jaime Lannister will battle the Hound Sandor Clegane after they defeated Thoros of Myr and Gregor Clegane respectively. Today, we'll set the stage for the final matches in our Islands and East regions, matches highlighted by those who have the warrior's spirit, a strong thirst for battle and a hearty hunger for glory. The Islands [su_divider top=no] 1. Rhaegar Targaryen vs 5. Brienne of Tarth [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Rhaegar was known to have excelled at everything he put his mind to, while he didn’t gain an interest in fighting until later in his life after being inspired by something he read, we know he excelled there too according to Barristan Selmy. The Last Dragon still remains mostly a mystery, what we know was enough to survive his first round match against Asha/Yara Greyjoy but we’ll need to dig a little deeper now that he’s facing a much tougher opponent. We can start with the obvious, what inspired him to take up fighting? We don’t know what he read but we do know two things; he became obsessed with prophecies and he suddenly appeared on the training grounds one morning stating: “I will require a sword and armor. It seems I must be a warrior” It’s likely Rhaegar believed he was the prince that was promised and if he believed it was his destiny to fulfill that prophecy, he probably trained confidently and intensely. Rhaegar didn’t seem too concerned when his conflict with Robert Baratheon came to a head on the Trident and he planned on surviving the faceoff. If he truly was the prophetic prince, why should he worry? There's a chance Rhaegar thought he was invincible because his destiny wasn't to defeat the Usurper, there was much and more for him to do after settling the rebellion like saving all of humanity. This was all foolish, as we know. Rhaegar was smashed on the Trident by Robert’s mighty war hammer. Regardless of what Rhaegar thought of prophecies or what exactly he read that inspired him, one big difference separated him and the Usurper that fateful day; the warrior’s thirst for battle. Rhaegar just didn’t have it, he never did. That combined with his confidence that he was unbeatable was ultimately his downfall. An exceptional swordsman, no doubt, but it’s hard to say he could defeat a top level opponent without the drive the likes of Bobby B have. His opponent here, Brienne of Tarth, is most certainly top level and there's little she desires more than the life of a knight. We summarized the maid of Tarth’s battle credentials in round one and it was easy to see there’s no reason to doubt her strength or ferocity, and there’s no doubting she could take down the Last Dragon. Winner: Brienne of Tarth [su_divider top=no] 2. Victarion Greyjoy vs 6. Euron Greyjoy Euron is a major player, and wildcard, in the series. He gifts Victarion with a dragonbinding horn and sends his brother off to fetch him his future bride, Daenerys Targaryen. Victarion plans his revenge, still enraged by the affair Euron had with his own saltwife, but it’s more likely the Crow’s Eye is five steps ahead which means the odds of Victarion surviving The Winds of Winter are slim to none. Every gift from Euron is poisoned, the Iron Captain's trip to Meereen is most likely designed so that he never returns, and it’s hard to think Victarion is smart enough to pull one over on his brother. Even with that raging volcano arm that sadly is of no use in our contest until we get to see it in action. When it comes to brains, Vic simply stands no chance against his exiled brother. On the other hand, when it comes to brawn, it’s Euron who pales in comparison. Some circumstances can’t come into play in our contest. For instance, Robert Baratheon was unstoppable on the Trident, he needed to kill Rhaegar and he fought for Lyanna Stark. Jorah Mormont seems to fight at completely new levels when a love interest of his is somehow involved. In our contest, though, these warriors aren’t fighting for lost or living loved ones that need to be defended. Two brothers coming together, with such vitriol between them, is a different story. This played a role in the West where we held our own Cleganebowl and now it comes back for round two in the Islands region. No matter the context, Victarion is entering this fight enraged and motivated, a deadly combo. One of the best may be able to avoid Victarion’s fury but that fury may as well be as unstoppable as Robert on the Trident when it comes to getting a shot at the Crow's Eye. Euron could easily out smart and manipulate his oafish brother, ending him as soon as his usefulness runs dry. In our contest, however, there’s no time for games. It’s just two fighters and their weapon of choice. Euron is finished. Winner: Victarion Greyjoy The East [su_divider top=no] 1. Robert Baratheon vs 5. Yohn Royce [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Robert Baratheon lives for battle, even when he’s rotting away on the Iron Throne he still regains some youthful confidence and exuberance before the Hand’s Tourney. He’d be glad to give all his haters a shot at him just so he could shut them up the way he knows best, through combat. There’s few who could match Robert with his war hammer, a beast of a weapon that he could wield easily with one hand. A weapon that also gives him an advantage against an armored knight such as his opponent, Bronze Yohn Royce. The Bronze Yohn’s hefty bronze armor is better suited to face Robert than iron plate armor but it’ll still cave in all the same due to Robert’s immense strength. The Usurper is also quite fast for his size. Yohn Royce presents a much bigger challenge for Robert compared to his round one matchup against Howland Reed, but he can’t quite match the King’s strength or speed. Winner: Robert Baratheon [su_divider top=no] 2. Bronn vs 3. Lyn Corbray [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Our favorite sellsword vs the most dangerous man in the Vale, a matchup that nearly happened in the series for Tyrion’s trial by combat. Lyn volunteered to fight but Lysa Arryn declined for reasons unknown and Bronn faces Vardis Egan instead. It’s interesting to consider this alternate reality, if Lysa did accept Lyn Corbray as her champion, Bronn may have left the imp to fend for himself, a fight he would have lost in the blink of an eye. There are old sellswords and there are bold sellswords, but there are no old and bold sellswords. Lyn feels he’s the best there is to choose from and with a Valyrian steel blade in hand, it’s hard to see Bronn seeing that risk as worth the reward, even if a Lannister always pays his debts. Wondering how the series would have changed if Tyrion did die in the Vale is a rabbit hole that may never lead back to the surface so we'll stick to the fight at hand. What if Lyn didn’t have the Valyrian steel longsword Lady Forlorn, as is the rule of our contest? Would Bronn have changed his mind? We know Lyn has a lot of experience in dueling so a one vs one fight is right up his alley. We’re more familiar with Bronn as a fighter but we do know Lyn defeated Lewyn Martell and lead the charge that broke the Dornish lines on the Trident. It’s important to note, however, that Lewyn was already seriously injured and Lyn merely finished off the task. There’s no doubt we’ll see Lyn Corbray in action come The Winds of Winter but it’s hard to pick a wildcard over someone with a more concrete resume as a fighter. Bronn, as we noted in his first round match, is more likely to play a fight safe, to feel out his opponent and use his speed and agility to wait for an opening. Lyn is hot headed and cocky, failing to put away a lowly sellsword quickly would surely get to him, leading to a more aggressive approach and one more likely to cause a slip up. If he had Lady Forlorn, Lyn would take this fight, the lightweight blade would help him overcome Bronn’s speed advantage and it would make quick work of the sellsword's weapon. Without the Valyrian advantage, however, Bronn steals it. Winner: Bronn [su_divider top=yes] That settles the second day of round two action. In the regional finals, we'll see the Iron Captain Victarion Greyjoy take on the maid of Tarth as the Usurper Robert Baratheon faces Bronn. Let us know in the comments below how you think today's matches would have played out and who you see taking the Islands and East regions, securing two of the six spots in our finals. Check back tomorrow where we'll be finishing off the round with the South and Far East fighters of our contest.

Warning: Our Game of Madness articles will include content from the five currently released A Song of Ice and Fire books and seasons 1-5 of HBO's adaptation Game of Thrones. Some material from A Feast for Crows and A Dance With Dragons has not been covered in the show yet, but may be in season 6. If you aren't caught up with the books and/or show, read on with care. The Madness Continues After taking a few days off to digest the madness of round one, the second course of our feast is ready. If you missed round one, or need a refresher on how the matches played out, feel free to revisit the action (part 1, part 2, and part 3) before moving on. The field was cut in half over three bloody and brutal days as 48 warriors became 24, here's a rundown of who is left in our contest: [mks_col] [mks_one_third] The North Eddard Stark Jon Umber Qhorin Halfhand Jon Snow [/mks_one_third] [mks_one_third] The West Jaime Lannister Gregor Clegane Sandor Clegane Thoros of Myr [/mks_one_third] [mks_one_third] The Islands Rhaegar Targaryen Victarion Greyjoy Brienne of Tarth Euron Greyjoy [/mks_one_third] [/mks_col] [mks_separator style=dotted" height="1] [mks_col] [mks_one_third] The East Robert Baratheon Bronn Lyn Corbray Yohn Royce [/mks_one_third] [mks_one_third] The South Arthur Dayne Gerold Hightower Oberyn Martell Randyll Tarly [/mks_one_third] [mks_one_third] The Far East Barristan Selmy Syrio Forel Jon Connington Grey Worm [/mks_one_third] [/mks_col] Now, let the madness continue... The North [su_divider top=no] 1. Eddard Stark vs 4. Qhorin Halfhand [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] The main question that needs to be answered for the Ned is just how good is he? He’s certainly more well regarded in HBO’s adaptation where he goes toe to toe with the Kingslayer Jaime Lannister and the episode one script even states: “Jaime is taller and broader in the shoulders. They are considered two of the greatest warriors in the Seven Kingdoms, and there can be little doubt that right now each man wonders who would win a fight”. When it comes to the novels, we do know that Ned trained with Robert under Jon Arryn. Sparring with one of the best there ever was has to count for something. We also know Ned survived the Tower of Joy and some believe it was he who slayed the Sword of the Morning Arthur Dayne in single combat, though Ned himself admits that he would have died that day if not for Howland Reed. This statement doesn’t necessarily mean Howland saved him from Arthur Dayne but we don’t know for sure. Qhorin’s skills are unquestionable, we know he’s one of the best technical fighters the North has to offer. The only question to answer is which Qhorin is prime Qhorin? Before or after he became the Halfhand? It’s said that he became just as proficient with a sword after his axe-catching incident but it’s not confirmed that he was any better. On the other hand...well, the other half hand...Qhorin cannot properly wield a shield. It would be only speculation to say Qhorin was indeed a better swordsman after the incident and even more speculation on top to say his offense could make up for his lack of defense against a top level opponent. In a tough match to call, we turn to the man himself. George RR Martin has said on several occasions that Ned was merely a competent swordsman and that his talents were in commanding, not fighting. That's not a great reference from the series creator and it would take more than being just competent to defeat Qhorin. So spake Martin. Winner: Qhorin Halfhand [su_divider top=no] 3. Jon Umber vs 7. Jon Snow [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Jon Snow may be dead for now but his role in the story is far from over. With all the twists and turns in this series, it’s impossible to guess where his character will go when he’s resurrected. In round one, we came to the conclusion that Jon was the better sword between he and his half brother Robb Stark but, ultimately, Jon is more a leader of men than a fighter, just like Robb, and he'll probably become a commander in war, just like Ned, as the series heads for its climax. Either amazingly great or gut wrenchingly terrible things are in store for Lord Snow's future but let’s summarize what we know so far about Jon Snow the fighter. Jon claims Qhorin Halfhand could swat him like a bug and when Mance is glamoured as Rattleshirt, Jon gets his ass thoroughly iced. He trains against multiple people at the wall but they aren’t high born trained swords, it’s expected for someone with Jon’s pedigree to be able to handle what was thrown at him. In the show he does kill a White Walker but he was rather lucky and if not for Longclaw being Valyrian steel, he’d have died well before his brothers got to do the honor. Jon Snow is without the aid of Valyrian steel in our contest which cuts into his speed advantage over Jon Umber and he’s surely outclassed here in strength. Jon will still be the quicker fighter, however, but is his agility and skill enough to topple the Greatjon? To put it bluntly; no. End of series Jon Snow with Longclaw (or Lightbringer?) may be able to give someone like the Greatjon a fight but pre-dead Jon Snow with a regular steel sword won’t be able to overcome Jon Umber’s strength. Winner: Jon Umber The West [su_divider top=no] 1. Jaime Lannister vs 4. Thoros of Myr [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] The Kingslayer is in for more of a fight here in round two compared to his bout with the Strongboar Lyle Crakehall. Jaime feels confident he could defeat opponents who surpass him in strength due to his speed and skill but Thoros is a different breed of fighter than anyone could be used to. Armed with a sword on fire, Thoros has a mad and frenzied fighting style best suited for open battle and melees, the latter of which he won on a regular basis. We learn early in the series that he wins the melee at the Hand’s Tourney in which he outlasts 40 men. We also know he was first through the walls at Pyke during the Greyjoy rebellion so the Red Priest isn't one to shy away from the action. The problem for Thoros is that he'll have to win fast. His flaming sword grows weaker with every passing second and someone as skilled as Jaime is not the type of person you want to have fight with urgency against. We know that this problem has happened before when Thoros was bested by Bronze Yohn Royce, another competitor in our contest. Davos Seaworth recalls the tourney in which the Red Priest put on quite the spectacle but once his flames died, Royce was able to do him in quickly with a common mace. Jaime is more than skilled enough to handle the flaming sword and aggressive opening and his opponent's weapon will continue to grow weaker and weaker until Jaime outright breaks it. The Kingslayer seals the deal soon after. Winner: Jaime Lannister [su_divider top=no] 2. Gregor Clegane vs 3. Sandor Clegane [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] We really wanted to avoid the super predictable and ever increasingly tacky Cleganebowl but, at the end of the day….screw it, it’s the Cleganebowl! This potential event may be the most hyped showdown in the world of ice and fire and since the Gravedigger of the Quite Isle is maybe probably definitely the Hound, and since he’s found the faith, and since the Frankenmountain Ser Robert Strong is defending Cersei from that same faith, it IS possible the Cleganebowl could actually happen. What a time to be alive! On the flip side of the coin, wouldn’t it also be nice if Sandor Clegane’s story could just be done? That he could live the rest of his days in peace having finally overcome his troubled past and all the hatred and anger that came with it? I mean one character in this series deserves a nice ending. Regardless of what George RR Martin and/or HBO decide, if the Cleganebowl were to eventually happen, it seems as though Ser Robert Strong would come out on top and it's not just because we can't have nice things. The Hound’s injured leg leaves him lame and if Sandor even realizes Robert Strong was once his brother, he’ll see soon after that his brother is long gone despite the physical presence before him. The fiery passion he has for revenge would dampen to a whimper, if he even still had it to begin with. We know the Gravedigger was once a fierce warrior but he is now at peace. It’s just as likely Sandor has moved on and is no longer haunted by his brother which would take a big bite out of what he had going for him in this matchup. It’s a different story in our contest, however. The prime form of these fighters comes before their drastic transformations. We get a tease of this fight early in the series when Sandor steps in to stop his engraged brother after Gregor loses a joust. We see that the Hound is more than capable of hanging with the Mountain. He may not be as strong as the Mountain but he’s much faster and more skilled, he also won’t fear Gregor like every sane person should. It’d be a close contest but the Hound’s thirst for vengeance is the tiebreaker. Winner: Sandor Clegane [su_divider top=yes] The North and West finals are set, Qhorin Halfhand will take on the Greatjon Umber and Jaime Lannister will face off against the Hound Sandor Clegane. Let us know in the comments below what you think of today's matchups and how you see the regional finals playing out. Check back tomorrow for more round two action where we return to the Islands and the East.

Warning: Our Game of Madness articles will include content from the five currently released A Song of Ice and Fire books and seasons 1-5 of HBO's adaptation Game of Thrones. Some material from A Feast for Crows and A Dance With Dragons has not been covered in the show yet, but may be in season 6. If you aren't caught up with the books and/or show, read on with care. The Spice of Life If variety is the spice of life, the Far East has it in spades. A former member of the Westerosi Kingsguard leads a field of exiles and eunuchs, a sellsword and a water dancer, and a brutal war lord to make sure we cover all the bases. The variety of fighting styles in this region may make it the toughest to survive because it isn't always the difference in skill that determines the outcome, how one fighter's strengths match up against another's weakness could turn a seemingly easy match into a slugfest. [su_divider top=no] 1. Barristan Selmy vs 8. Daario Naharis [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] No one is more decorated than Barristan the Bold. Even in his current state (Ser Grandfather as Daario refers to him) Barristan would still be a threat to make our finals bracket. Taking him in his prime when he was slaying rebellion leaders and single handedly rescuing kings would require a special warrior to bring him down. Daario Naharis is not a special warrior. Leader of the Storm Crows, Daario is a huge wildcard as far as his intentions go. As a fighter, we can assume he’s skilled. You don’t rise to the top of a cut throat sellsword company with such an arrogant attitude. If he didn’t have the skills to back up his talk, he’d be long dead. We’re talking about a man who beheaded his two fellow leaders and his men still followed him without question. Our best glimpse at him in action comes from his TV showdown with Meereen’s champion, whom he easily handles, and his role in the Great Pit of Daznak where he fights off numerous Sons of the Harpy, with help from Jorah, Grey Worm, and an assortment of Unsullied, to protect Dany. Daario is probably good, a far cry from exceptional. Since the books don’t highlight Daario’s fighting skills, we are left only to HBO’s adaptation. If we take Barristan’s show counterpart, we know that he is very highly regarded by the likes of Jaime Lannister, Ned Stark, and Robert Baratheon. We also know that he defeated quite a bit of Sons of the Harpy as well, though unlike Daario, he basically did this on his own while Grey Worm handled his own ambush. Never mind the fact that Barristan is 63 when this happens. Whether you look at the show or the books, it seems very likely the Storm Crows would be searching for a new captain if these two men ever came to blows. Winner: Barristan Selmy [su_divider top=no] 4. Syrio Forel vs 5. Jorah Mormont [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] This one will hurt. Syrio’s time in the series was brief (if you believe he is actually dead) but he still managed to leave a huge impact. We are constantly reminded of him throughout Arya Stark’s travels and his wisdom has helped the girl survive some pretty insane situations. We know the Water Dancer is fast and agile, we know he took out a handful of well armored Kingsguard members with a wooden practice sword. Whether he escaped Meryn Trant is up for debate but he did get in a few good hits before we left the scene with Arya. Had Syrio been fighting with steel, he very well could have survived that ambush with ease. Jorah is an intimidating exiled knight who earned his status when he was first through the walls at Pyke with Thoros. He lost his status when he was caught slaving, leading to an escape to Essos where he became a sell sword for a time. When fighting for love, Jorah is one of the fiercest we’ve seen. His lovers also seem to be his biggest weakness. It seems Jorah will be at a disadvantage right off the bat due to Syrio's agility and experience, but there’s one scene in particular that confirms the already pretty obvious. In the fighting pits, Jorah faces off against a water dancer and, put simply, gets completely rocked. It's safe to say this pit fighter is a far cry from Syrio Forel, the former First Sword of Braavos. Jorah only survives because another fighter similar in size and fighting style, kills the Braavosi sword by literal backstab. That guy knew he’d get rocked as well and took his chances with Jorah instead. Jorah is the fan favorite to fall. Winner: Syrio Forel 3. Strong Belwas vs 6. Grey Worm Strong Belwas loves two things; fighting and eating. They’re basically all he does. Before meeting up with Barristan Selmy, Belwas was a veteran pit fighter who claims to never have lost a fight. Always one for showmanship, the large Eunuch lets every opponent cut him once. With fat and scars aplenty, Belwas is one of the most intimidating looking characters in our contest. Our best glimpse of Strong Belwas fighting is when he easily handles Meereen’s champion (a scene given to Daario in HBO’s adaptation). Given his reputation as a skilled pit fighter, it’s safe to say he’s gone up against a wide variety of foes with a wide variety of fighting styles. Grey Worm, also a Eunuch, has been trained to fight since a young age. Not only did he survive the brutal training rituals of the Unsullied, he also separated himself from the crowd enough to be elected their leader once freed by Daenerys Targaryen. The Unsullied are meant for fighting as a unit on an open battlefield, and in that capacity they are one of the most fierce forces on Planetos. They don’t fear, they don’t feel pain, they don’t break. Putting an Unsullied in a one on one fight, however, is a different story. At first thought, it seems like Belwas will win this with ease but Grey Worm can control this fight. Strong Belwas may look intimidating to most competitors in our tourney but not to an Unsullied who doesn't know the meaning of fear. Belwas also uses a curved Arakh as his weapon of choice and the short range will allow Grey Worm to stay at a distance with his spear. Finally, Belwas carries a small shield but a small shield will do little when the target is so large. Belwas will allow one cut but suffer many more unwanted until he finally falls. Grey Worm wins the Eunuch bowl. Winner: Grey Worm [su_divider top=no] 2. Khal Drogo vs 7. Jon Connington [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] A brutal warlord, the great Khal Drogo has come to lead a Dothraki horde some 40,000 strong, the largest of the Dothraki sea. Drogo’s braid falls below his waist, signaling that he has never lost a fight. His status at the beginning of the series says everything you need to know about his abilities as a fighter. We get to see the Great Khal in action when his khalasar clashes with another belonging to Khal Ogo. While Drogo suffers a seemingly minor wound that eventually festers into a deadly infection, he handles the opposing Khal with relative ease. The exiled lord Jon Connington who reemerges in Essos as the Griff is an honorable and troubled man. Compared to other commander-first fighters in our tourney like the Ned and Stannis Baratheon, Jon Con is more than adequate with a sword. Reckless in his youth, the Griff suffered a devestating loss in the Battle of the Bells that lead to his exile, a loss that will haunt him until he can do right by his fallen friend Rhaegar Targaryen or until the day he dies. But now, Jon Connington is a worn and cautious man and driven by rage and pain, a deadly combo. It's safe to say that Jon Con's prime came after maturing for a while in Essos as he looked after and protected the possible son of his best friend. The biggest weakness of any Dothroki fighter when facing a Westerosi knight is the lack of armor. The next biggest weakness, their curved arakhs are all but useless against plate armor as the series has shown and discussed multiple times. If Drogo fought against more brutish opponents, such as the Greatjon or Tormund, it’s quite possible they would agree to fight without armor for the hell of it. Perhaps Drogo himself could even goad them into removing their steel dresses. The Jon Con we’ve come to know would never take the risk. Plate armor over the arakh and steel sword over no armor at all. This upset is surprisingly easy to call. Winner: Jon Connington From Dawn to Dusk We close out our first round in the South, home to several elite fighters. Dorne and the Reach have warred for ages so it's fitting for the rivalry to continue here in our Game of Madness but that rivalry takes a backseat to two members of the finest Kingsguard to ever serve. Several southern fighters are skilled enough to be in the finals and several more have the potential, but there's only room for one. Who will earn it? 1. Arthur Dayne vs 8. Gerold Dayne If anyone could rival Ser Barristan Selmy’s list of accolades, it’s the legendary Sword of the Morning, Ser Arthur Dayne. While there is plenty to choose from to convey the magnitude of a man like Arthur Dayne, his fight with the Smiling Knight may best summarize his character. The Smiling Knight is referred to by Jaime Lannister as “the Mountain of my boyhood” and “half as big but twice as mad”. The Kingslayer once crossed swords with the Smiling Knight but was easily handled and bailed out by Arthur Dayne. The two fought until the Smiling Knight’s sword broke, at which point Dayne paused the fight to allow the man to grab a fresh sword. When the madman told Arthur Dayne he wanted his legendary sword Dawn, The Sword of the Morning simply replied “then you shall have it, ser” and the Smiling Knight was soon dead. What a badass! Fittingly enough, Arthur Dayne’s first match comes against a man who does nothing but soil the proud name he carries. The Darkstar, as he likes to call himself, would be more at home in a Twilight movie than in the world of ice and fire. Seen as beautiful and cruel, it is claimed by Arianne Martell that she has only partnered up with the man because of his fighting prowess but she soon learns a valuable lesson, playing with venom only gets you poisoned. The man of the night attempts to kill Myrcella Baratheon, just a little girl, and he can’t even succeed in that. While he does avoid capture, he is only able to wound the princess. This fight is a slaughter. A man who targets little girls is no match for an honorable man who fights and kills well trained warriors and monsters. Winner: Arthur Dayne [su_divider top=no] 4. Areo Hotah vs 5. Randyll Tarly Areo Hotah, the loyal and trusted guard of Doran Martell, was sold to the militant order The Bearded Priests at a young age and was trained in combat until 16 when he literally married his longaxe. His marriage vow is branded across his chest. Serve. Obey. Protect. Areo is an honorable and experienced man though we only see him in action one time, when he slays Arys Oakheart, a member of the Kingsguard tasked with protecting Myrcella Baratheon. Areo is a big and strong man, his longaxe gives him a range advantage over most of our competitors, and his training and experience have made him a very disciplined opponent for anyone who draws his name. Hopefully season 6 of HBO's adaptation lets Areo get some action that was sorely missed in season 5. Randyll Tarly is another one of our commander-first contestants, but more in the realm of Jon Connington than Eddard Stark or Stannis Baratheon. Randyll doesn’t shy away from the action and only a fool would want to cross him and his Valyrian steel greatsword Heartsbane in open battle. We also know that Randyll has been quite active in the series, though he won’t play a role in HBO’s adaptation until season 6. He commands the center against Stannis Baratheon in the Battle of the Blackwater and is rewarded for his efforts. He easily handles a northern force that attacks Duskendale. Kevan Lannister has some high praise for Tarly as a fighter as well, stating that Randyll is “as good a soldier as the Reach could boast”, “the finest soldier in the realm” and “there’s no better man to finish” the ongoing war. In his prime, Randyll could surely strike faster than Areo could swing his longaxe but without his lightweight Valyrian steel blade, it wouldn’t be as easy. There’s nothing to suggest that Kevan isn’t an honest man, his views on Tarly hold weight and while Areo did take out a member of the Kingsguard, Arys was wounded and weakened by arrows by the time he reached the Norvosi guard. After one more book/season, we may learn enough to say Areo would win this fight with ease but for now, we can only go by what we know. What we know suggests Randyll would come out on top, even if only by the slimmest of margins. Winner: Randyll Tarly 3. Gerold Hightower vs 6. Garlan Tyrell Gerold Hightower, the White Bull, was the Lord Commander of the most legendary Kingsguard there ever was. He was a formidable fighter into his late years and, reflecting back on his prime, was stronger than Jaime Lannister. Our best chance to see Gerold fight will be when we get a Tower of Joy flashback but we do know he did not survive the battle. Though it’s easy to say he was well past his prime, and losing to a group of fighters where the best among them was Ned Stark is far from impressive, the fact of the matter is they were three against seven and no matter how skilled you are, those are losing odds. Some more facts, Gerold and his companions, Arthur Dayne and Oswell Whent, refused several offers to leave unharmed and, in the end, the fight was far closer than any seven vs three fight had the right to be. Garlan Tyrell has been absorbed by his brother Loras in HBO’s adaptation but in the novels, he is considered the better swordsman of the two. He’s noted as being an exceptional fighter and he often trains against three or four people at a time. He is far more humble than his brother as well which leaves him far less famed. We get our first view of Garlan in action during the Battle of the Blackwater where he leads the vanguard as “Renly’s ghost”, he slays Guyard Morrigen in single combat. He’s also one of the very few people to speak down to Joffrey Baratheon which takes quite the set of Valyrian steel balls to do. Garlan’s potential is sky high, and much like a few other competitors in our Game of Madness, his chances here could end up being much higher after we get another book to see more of what he’s capable of. There’s no doubt he can be one of the best but as it stands, he can’t beat one of the best. Winner: Gerold Hightower [su_divider top=no] 2. Oberyn Martell vs 7. Loras Tyrell [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] There’s nothing like a good ole longstanding, pure hate inspired family feud to finish off our first round. As if the Tyrells and Martells didn’t dislike each other enough due to their years and years of war, the current generations bring the rivalry to new levels when Oberyn cripples the heir to Highgarden, Willas Tyrell. This vitriol seems to be rather exclusive to the heads of house Tyrell, however, as Oberyn claims he and Willas eventually grow to like each other. Even after being crippled by the Red Viper, it’s still easy to see how someone could grow to like the man. He is that charismatic and that charisma is matched by his skill with a spear and his intelligent and agile fighting style. As mentioned in the last match, Loras isn’t as good a swordsman as his brother Garlan though he is the better lance. The Knight of Flowers is arguably famed beyond his abilities because of his hot headed and arrogant attitude. Much to everyone’s disappointment, Loras has been relegated to a gay stereotype in HBO’s adaptation, we only get a few flashes of his more interesting book version. Hopefully, season 6 will right these wrongs when the drama surrounding his sister Margaery Tyrell comes to a head. If there’s one thing Loras has in common with his brother Garlan undeniably, it’s that his ceiling is limitless. By the end of the series, Loras could be the type of fighter that enters this contest as a favorite to reach the finals. For now, he’s a young, brash, and inexperienced fighter with a lot of growing up to do. We do see him take out two of Renly’s Rainbow Guards in a furor, a scene we even get in the show, which gives you a taste of what he’s capable of. His sword should give him the advantage over Oberyn’s spear but the difference in experience, speed, and battle wits is too much. Another Tyrell falls in round one. Winner: Oberyn Martell [su_divider top=no] That wraps up first round action in our Game of Madness tournament. Let us know in the comments below how you think today's matches would play out and be sure to check out day one and day two of our contest as well. For now, we need to take a break to handle all the chaos of the first three days. The field of 48 being cut in half is a lot to take in so let the dust settle, stew on it for a bit, and come back on Wednesday April 13th for the start of round two!

Warning: Our Game of Madness articles will include content from the five currently released A Song of Ice and Fire books and seasons 1-5 of HBO's adaptation Game of Thrones. Some material from A Feast for Crows and A Dance With Dragons has not been covered in the show yet, but may be in season 6. If you aren't caught up with the books and/or show, read on with care. From Ib to Asshai We're kicking off our second day of action in the Game of Madness with a scenic cruise around the islands of Westeros, getting up close and personal with too many Ironborn to be comfortable with, a pair of Dragonstone combatants, a beauty from Tarth, and a mad pirate who has sailed all over the known world. The island region may be the most brutal in our contest, whoever comes out on top will possibly be the most battle tested warrior to enter our finals. [su_divider top=no] 1. Rhaegar Targaryen vs 8. Asha/Yara Greyjoy [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Rhaegar is the closest thing A Song of Ice and Fire has to a knight in shining armor. Only Robert Baratheon has a negative thing to say about Rhaegar but the man is clearly biased, and with good reason too. The Last Dragon took the love of his life, Lyanna Stark, and fled with her, an action that kickstarted the rebellion that ended the Targaryen dynasty. Even Ned seems to respect Rhaegar which would be more than a little strange if the prince did in fact imprison and rape his sister Lyanna. Regardless of what he may have been like personally, we do know that he excelled at everything he set his mind to and that includes combat. No matter how good at fighting he may have been, however, we know that Rhaegar was a bookish youth who wasn’t born with a warrior’s thirst for battle. He didn’t become a fighter until something he read inspired him to take up arms. His opponent, Asha Greyjoy (known as Yara in HBO’s adaptation), can be confirmed as a fierce fighter while Rhaegar’s skills are up for debate. The Ironborn think little and less of women yet Yara captains her own ship, the Black Wind, and commands her own crew of fighters. She shatters her people’s gender roles and has fought well in several battles, including the taking of Deepwood Motte and an encounter with Stannis’s forces after its retaking. She’s courageous as well, attempting to turn a Kingsmoot into her own Queensmoot despite being told the Ironborn would never follow a woman. She may not always succeed but she never goes down without a fight and she's one of the few respectable Ironborn characters we're introduced to. Her biggest blemish is her failure to rescue Theon from a shirtless Ramsay but we're all familiar with how OP show Ramsay is. It’s hard not to root for Asha but unfortunately she’s facing one of the best. While Rhaegar may be seen as overrated by some, we know that he severely injured Robert Baratheon before getting rocked by the usurper’s warhammer on the Trident and it's no small feat to get such a blow in on Bobby B. That and praise from the likes of Barristan Selmy are enough to see that Rhaegar could handle Yara, though the fight won't be as easy as the Prince of Dragonstone may expect. It’s sad to see the Kraken’s daughter fall but the Last Dragon isn’t done yet. Winner: Rhaegar Targaryen [su_divider top=no] 4. Dagmer Cleftjaw vs 5. Brienne of Tarth [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Quietly one of the fiercest fighters to ever come from the Ironborn, Dagmer was quite neutered in the adapation. A brutal and well renowned fighter, Dagmer proves he has plenty of fight left well past his prime when he besieges Torrhen’s Square long enough to draw garrisons away from Winterfell, as well as holding it when he later returns to take it. When you come from such a fearsome group, it says a lot if you manage to stand out above the savage crowd hungry to prove their worth by sword and axe, by paying the iron price. The Ironborn, however, are not known to take women very seriously and if there’s one woman in Westeros you can’t take lightly, it’s Brienne of Tarth. There are a handful of characters decorated by bloody accolades but there might not be another fighter we get to see in action as much as Brienne. Whether it’s in the show where she bests the likes of Loras Tyrell, Jaime Lannister, and the Hound, Sandor Clegane; or in the books where she repeats the first two bouts and takes on two more savage fights against outlaws with the numbers stacked against her, Brienne is battle tested. Dagmer’s prime is up to speculation but Brienne’s is being witnessed by our own eyes as we read the books and watch the show. There's nothing you could possibly question about her toughness, strength, and skill. It may not come easy but victory will come to the maid of Tarth, and even if it comes in a dirty and brutal affair, it's nothing she isn't used to. Winner: Brienne of Tarth 3. Stannis Baratheon vs 6. Euron Greyjoy [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] The first of two Baratheon brothers to fight in today's action, Stannis Baratheon comes to us as the one true king of Westeros and takes us down one of the most tragic roads in the series. While he may be dead in HBO's adaptation, the Mannis still lives on in A Song of Ice and Fire and it seems as though some of his best moments are still yet to come. Stannis is viewed as one of the best commanders in the realm and, much like Ned Stark, that is where he shines. We don't get to see him fight in the books but he does get some action in the TV show. While leading the charge into King's Landing was purely made-for-TV drama (if the man first up the ladder isn't wearing a helmet, he's the first man dead ten times out of ten), a much more believable scene comes in season 5 when Stannis wins a two vs one fight against some Bolton soldiers. Sadly, this doesn't amount to much of a resume. The embattled King's opponent in round one is the mysterious and psychotic Euron Greyjoy. A man who likes to drink Shade of the Evening, a man who claims he once threw a dragon egg into the sea in a fit of anger, a man who has raped and pillaged all over the known world. When men see Euron's sails, they pray. The Crow's Eye is as much a wildcard as he is a mad man, however. We haven't seen him in action yet but hopefully will in the coming books (he's also been confirmed to appear in season 6). Regardless of what we haven't seen yet, we know only a skilled and intelligent fighter could have survived the journeys he's taken which include trips to the mysterious Asshai, the Smoking Sea, and the cursed ruins of Valyria. In the most perfect world, our one true king Stannis would celebrate the start of our tournament by thrusting Lightbringer into Melisandre's chest becoming Azor Ahai reborn. He would then go on to decimate every opponent we threw at him, winning the championship in a blaze of badass glory. Sadly, as this series has told us time and time again, the world of ice and fire is far from perfect. Stannis isn't Azor Ahai reborn, his sword isn't Lightbringer, and he's not much of a fighter. Give him control of your army and you'll be sleeping easy at night, have him stand for you in a trial by combat? Good luck. Winner: Euron Greyjoy [su_divider top=no] 2. Victarion Greyjoy vs 7. Theon Greyjoy Victarian Greyjoy is “dumb as a stump” according to George RR Martin himself but this hardly keeps the Iron Captain down when you give him an axe and a foe to slaughter. Outsmarting the man may be easy but it will only save your hide if it helps you avoid a confrontation and that’s not how this contest works. In a world full of schemers and deceivers, Victarion is the rare straight shooter. Love him or hate him, there aren’t many others you’d rather have on your side when a storm of swords falls upon you. Our best glimpse at Victarion’s fighting abilities came during the taking of the Shields when he boarded an enemy ship and hacked away at every man who charged. After making his way to the ship’s captain, Talbert Serry, Victarion catches the quicker man’s blade and tosses it and the captain into the sea. Victarion’s first round opponent is his own nephew, Theon Greyjoy. Dagmer Cleftjaw saw great potential in Theon but he was cut down well before his prime. He was gifted with a sword but his real talents lied in shooting a bow. He may be able to pepper his uncle with arrows from a distance but mere arrows won't stop Victarion. Once he closes in and forces Theon to draw his sword, it's a whole different story. Any promise Theon had as a warrior is long gone and pre-Reek Theon is simply no match for the furor of his nuncle. While Victarion has seemingly been cut from HBO's adaptation, we still have The Winds of Winter and hopefully someone on the show picks up his plot. Especially the volcano arm. Please, HBO, give us the volcano arm. Winner: Victarion Greyjoy Ours Is the Fury Next, we travel to the East, the lands ruled by the Iron Throne and the neutral Vale along with its neighboring Mountains of the Moon. Even a little Crannogman from the Neck travels down to take part in our Game of Madness. The Usurper Robert Baratheon leads the way with his warhammer but sellswords, brutes, knights, and lords have all come to the dance. 1. Robert Baratheon vs 8. Howland Reed Robert Baratheon, the Usurper, is far past his prime when we join the world of ice and fire. As he states to Ned Stark, he was never so alive as when he was winning the throne and never so dead once he won it. Robert was born a fighter, not a ruler. He thirsts for battle, war, and glory, he cares little and less for politics and sitting the Iron Throne he took from the Targaryens. When his mighty warhammer is in hand out on a battlefield, he’s nearly unstoppable. He's a man who leads from the front lines and he's smashed everyone in his path, including the beloved Rhaegar Targaryen on the Trident. Once a King, Robert grew fat and apathetic. Drinking, hunting, and sleeping around were the only things that could keep him going. When Balon Greyjoy rose in rebellion, Robert was given the opportunity to swing his warhammer one last time. The King’s opponent in round one is the most unlikeliest of competitors, the little Crannogman Howland Reed. Howland is noted for his bravery and intelligence, as well as being strong for his size. While Eddard is said to have slain the legendary Sword of the Morning Arthur Dayne, the Ned himself admitted that he would have died that fateful day if not for his good friend Howland Reed. How exactly Howland helped, or even killed Arthur Dayne, remains to be seen. While it may turn out that the Lord of Greywater Watch is indeed a skilled fighter, it’s more likely Howland survived the Tower of Joy, and Arthur Dayne, through use of magic or poison, or possibly a trap. Howland Reed may be the only living man who knows of Lyanna Stark’s promise to Ned, a promise that has driven fans crazy for twenty years. While he will surely play a major role in the future, the knowledge of him that we currently have does not suggest he’s much of a skilled fighter, let alone one capable of taking down one of the best. Winner: Robert Baratheon [su_divider top=no] 4. Balon Swann vs 5. Yohn Royce If our contest was for coolest name, Bronze Yohn Royce would win this hands down, but pairing these two up as fighters leaves us with quite a toss up. Both are well regarded, level headed, and strong. Balon Swann may get the chance to prove himself in future books (he’s been relegated to a very minor bit character in the show), but, for now, all we really know of him is that he’s skilled with a morning star and respected as a capable and wary knight. The Bronze Yohn, on the other hand, has seen some more relevant action. He’s one of the few men we get to meet that has outlasted the crazed flaming sword of Thoros in a melee. We also know that he’s bested Eddard Stark and Rodrick Cassel, Winterfell’s master-at-arms, while sparring. Not an outstanding resume but more proof of his prowess as a warrior than his opponent Balon. Yohn Royce also stands as the chief obstacle in Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish’s way which doesn’t bode well for the man in The Winds of Winter and Season 6, but for now he lives on. Winner: Yohn Royce 3. Lyn Corbray vs 6. Timett [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Lyn Corbray is a dangerous and shady man, and we know he has possession of a Valyrian steel blade, Lady Forlorn, which means in the series any man who chooses to cross swords with him is in for a fight. His biggest accolade came from Robert’s Rebellion when he picked up the blade from his fallen father and slayed the man who wounded the Lord. He then lead the charge against the Dornish and killed Lewyn Martell, a member of one of the finest Kingsguards there ever was. Timett son of Timett is the fiercest member we’re introduced to of the Vale mountain clans. When he became a man, he sacrificed his own eye by burning it out, an action that earned him the respect and fear of his men, respect and fear that would never be questioned. The leader of the Burned Men, Timett fights for the imp Tyrion Lannister in the War of the Five Kings and serves as one of his most trusted guards. A brutal and savage fighter surely to be feared, Timett doesn’t stack up well against a high born warrior who was trained as such since a young age. Timett is still young and lacks a lot of experience, it’s not a stretch to imagine him charging in recklessly and being handled easily by a more experienced fighter. Even without the aid of Valyrian steel, Lyn Corbray handles the first burst of fury and finds victory soon after. Winner: Lyn Corbray [su_divider top=no] 2. Bronn vs 7. Shagga [mks_col] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half] [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Bronn is not a strong man by any means but he’s smart and fast and he knows how to weigh the risks behind every decision he makes. We see very early on that Bronn is a sell sword through and through when he fights Ser Vardis Egen in Tyrion Lannister’s trial by combat in the Vale. Where his opponent fights with honor, Bronn doesn't and that's the difference between life and death. The Lord Stokeworth continually grows throughout the series, serving as a lead guard to the imp he defended in the Vale, fighting in the War of the Five Kings, and winning a one vs one fight against Balman Byrch who is tasked by Queen Cersei with offing the sell sword. In HBO’s adaptation, Bronn escorts Jaime Lannister to Dorne where he exhibits more of his calm and calculated fighting style. There's also that whole weakness to the bad poosey but let's not go there, tis a silly place. Bronn will have to face off against another one of Tyrion’s lead guards, Shagga son of Dolf. Much like Timett, Shagga impresses in the battle on the Green Fork and eventually rises to a leadership position of his mountain clan, the Stone Crows. After the Battle of the Blackwater, Shagga and his men return to the Kingswood where they successfully harried Stannis Baratheon’s men leading up to the big showdown. Bronn is not one to take risks, in a fight against a brute like Shagga, the sell sword would gladly draw the fight out and play it as safe as possible. That strategy isn’t one to work out well in this series but Bronn only needs one opening to strike fast and end it all. Shagga slips up first. Winner: Bronn [su_divider top=no] That wraps up our second day of action in the Game of Madness. Let us know in the comments below how you see these matches playing out. Tomorrow, we'll be finishing the first round with the Far East and South regions which include some tourney favorites, heavy hitters, and a wide variety of fighting styles. In the meantime, check out the first day of action where the North and West regions kicked off our bloody contest.