Hace ya dos años que fue estrenada la tan esperada octava temporada de Game of Thrones, la cual marcaría el final de la serie y representaría el desenlace de una historia que tenía 8 años construyéndose.
It' s been two years since the release of the long-awaited eighth season of Game of Thrones, which would mark the end of the series and represent the conclusion of a story that had been 8 years in the making.
No es secreto para nadie que esta temporada no fue lo que se esperaba, y no en un buen sentido, sino que los giros forzados de trama, ciertos comportamientos injustificados de personajes y varias situaciones un tanto tediosas, acabaron siendo objeto de crítica y burla para una buena parte del público.
It' s not a secret for anyone that this season was not what was expected, and not in a good meaning, but rather that the forced plot twists, some unjustified behaviors of characters and several tedious situations, ended up being the object of criticism and mockery for most of the audience.
Pero el día de hoy no planeo hablar de la serie en su totalidad o de su final, el día de hoy quiero centrarme específicamente en el desarrollo del personaje Theon Greyjoy a lo largo de las ocho temporadas, pues Theon es para mi, uno de los personajes mejor trabajados en la serie.
But today I don't intend to talk about the series as a whole or its finale, today I want to focus specifically on the development of the character Theon Greyjoy throughout the eight seasons, because Theon is to me, one of the best worked characters in the series.
¡Alerta de Spoilers!
Spoilers Alert!
Un arrogante Theon Grejoy
Antes que nada, recordemos quién es Theon Greyjoy. Theon es un joven mantenido y criado por la casa Stark de Invernalia, después de que Ned Stark se lo llevara de Las Islas del Hierro tras la rebelión de su padre Balon Greyjoy, Lord de dicho territorio. Durante su niñez, pese a ser criado prácticamente como un miembro más de la familia Stark, siempre tuvo presencia su condición de huésped en dicho hogar.
Al conocer a Theon, nos encontramos con un personaje aparentemente poco importante respecto a la trama que lo rodea, su papel es mayormente acompañar a sus hermanos putativos y en especial a Robb Stark, con quien tiene mayor cercanía. A pesar de no poseer mayor relevancia en este punto de la historia, ya podemos notar cierto conflicto en su personaje, y es que aún cuando forma parte de una familia noble del reino (cosa que busca relucir de forma arrogante cada vez que puede), tiende a ser minorizado o hasta ridiculizado por la verdad sobre su pasado, el cual claramente lo aleja de la persona que él querría ser, haciendo notables varios sentimientos en él: Su arrogancia al querer mostrar la superioridad sobre los plebeyos, que no puede tener entre los nobles, y la frustración de no poder estar al nivel de los Stark.
An arrogant Theon Grejoy
First of all, let's remember who Theon Greyjoy is. Theon is a young man kept and raised by the house Stark of Winterfell, after Ned Stark took him from The Iron Islands after the rebellion of his father Balon Greyjoy, Lord of that territory. During his childhood, despite being raised practically as a member of the Stark family, he always had the presence of his condition of guest in that home.
When we meet Theon, we find an apparently unimportant character with respect to the plot that surrounds him, his role is mostly to accompany his putative brothers and especially Robb Stark, with whom he is closer. Despite not possessing greater relevance at this point in the story, we can already notice some conflict in his character, and is that even when he is part of a noble family of the kingdom (something that seeks to shine arrogantly whenever he can), he tends to be undermined or even ridiculed by the truth about his past, which clearly distances him from the person he would like to be, making noticeable various feelings in him: His arrogance in wanting to show superiority over the commoners, which he cannot have among the nobles, and the frustration of not being equal to the Stark family.
Un confundido Theon Grejoy
Durante los sucesos de Game of Thrones, nos encontraremos con el punto donde Theon se encuentra apoyando a Robb camino a la guerra para rescatar a Ned Stark, cuando se le pide volver a Las Islas de Hierro para convencer a su padre, Lord Greyjoy, de unirse a su causa.
En este punto llega el primer giro importante en el arco de Theon, con una decepcionante llegada a su tierra natal, donde se sorprende al enterarse de que no es recordado allí, ni extrañado por su padre, quien lo acusa de haber sido ablandado por los Starks y ser más fiel a ellos que a su familia. ¿Cómo esto afecta a nuestro personaje? Pues tras la negativa de Balon a la petición de Robb, y decidir en su lugar aprovechar la oportunidad para invadir el norte, Theon deberá elegir entre mantener su lealtad a los Stark y alertar a Robb de la situación, o demostrar su valía a su padre y apoyarlo en su conquista.
¿Resultado? Claramente triunfa el mal (puesto que aún le quedan seis temporadas y media más a la serie). Sin embargo, la cosa no queda así, Theon no sólo decide seguir a su padre, sino que busca impresionarlo, llevando más allá su misión encomendada de invadir un pueblo costeño, a llevar a su equipo a invadir la capital del norte, Invernalia, donde creció. ¿Cómo afecta esto al arco de Theon Greyjoy? Aparte de generar en el espectador un nuevo repudio hacia este personaje, por traicionar a Robb y a los Stark con su arrogancia, poner en peligro a los jóvenes Brandon y Rickon Stark, destruir el hogar natal de los protagonistas y con esto, arriesgar la seguridad de todo el norte, acabará llevando al personaje a un nuevo punto importante, pues como claramente Theon no estaba preparado para controlar una invasión de ese nivel (Aparte de lo poco estratégica de la misma), es fácilmente derrotado y posteriormente tomado prisionero, lo que se convierte en el siguiente giro en el personaje.
A confused Theon Grejoy
During the events of Game of Thrones, we will get to the point where Theon finds himself supporting Robb on his way to war to rescue Ned Stark, when he is asked to return to The Iron Islands to convince his father, Lord Greyjoy, to join his cause.
At this point comes the first important twist in Theon's arc, with a disappointing arrival in his homeland, where he is shocked to realize that he is not remembered there, nor missed by his father, who accuses him of having been softened up by the Starks and being more loyal to them than to his family. How does this affect our character? Well, after Balon's refusal to Robb's request, and deciding instead to take the opportunity to invade the north, Theon must choose between maintaining his loyalty to the Starks and alerting Robb of the situation, or proving his worth to his father and supporting him in his conquest.
The result? Clearly, evil triumphs (because there are still six and a half more seasons left in the series). However, it doesn't stop there, Theon not only decides to follow his father, but also seeks to impress him, going beyond his mission to invade a coastal town, to take his team to invade the northern capital, Winterfell, where he grew up. How does this affect Theon Greyjoy's arc? Apart from generating in the viewer a new repudiation towards this character, for betraying Robb and the Starks with his arrogance, endangering the young Brandon and Rickon Stark, destroying the protagonists' natal home and with this, risking the safety of the entire North, will end up taking the character to a new important point, because as Theon was clearly not prepared to control an invasion of that level (Apart from how unstrategic it was), he is easily defeated and subsequently taken prisoner, which becomes the next twist in the character.
Un derrotado Theon Grejoy
Tras casi toda una temporada como prisionero de Ramsay Snow, donde es cruelmente humillado, torturado y hasta castrado, el personaje de Theon Greyjoy cambia drásticamente, pasando a ser alguien completamente derrotado, con todo su orgullo arrebatado y buscando únicamente poder sobrevivir a la nueva vida que tiene ahora, como esclavo de Ramsay y los Bolton, adopta sin reproche el nombre Hediondo que le pone Ramsay y sigue cada orden que se le dé, con tal de evitar ser castigado.
A su derrota se suma además el enterarse del cruel final de los Stark tras su separación. ¿Qué ocurre en este punto? Básicamente el mundo de Theon se ha venido completamente abajo, toda chispa de esperanza desaparece para él y es consciente de que la mayor parte de sus tragedias son fruto de su propia inmadurez y las terribles decisiones que ha tomado.
Su trauma en ese punto es tan fuerte, que es incapaz hasta de reconocer un rescate, cuando su hermana de nacimiento, Yara Greyjoy, va con un escuadrón de la flota de hierro, aún sin la autorización de su padre, sólo con la intención de rescatar a Theon, quien entra en pánico y rechaza la ayuda, afirmando no ser Theon sino Hediondo.
Durante esta etapa como esclavo de Ramsay (Ahora reconocido como un Bolton) le llega una nueva oportunidad para reencontrarse a sí mismo, en el momento en que Sansa Stark, con quien se crió en Invernalia, llega al Fuerte Terror siendo obligada a casarse con Ramsay Bolton. En este punto, si bien Theon al principio sigue demasiado aterrado para hacer algo, sólo tarda unos capítulos en recuperar el valor para ayudar a Sansa a huir juntos de allí. Siendo éste su primer acto de valentía en mucho tiempo, y su inicio en un viaje por encontrar la redención.
A defeated Theon Greyjoy
After almost a whole season as a prisoner of Ramsay Snow, where he is cruelly humiliated, tortured and even castrated, the character of Theon Greyjoy drastically changes, becoming someone completely defeated, with all his pride taken away and seeking only to survive the new life he has now, as a slave of Ramsay and the Boltons, he adopts without reproach the name Reek that Ramsay gives him and follows every order he is given, just to avoid being punished.
In addition to his defeat, he realizes the cruel end of the Starks after their separation. What happens at this point? Basically Theon's world has completely collapsed, all spark of hope disappears for him and he is aware that most of his tragedies are the result of his own immaturity and the terrible decisions he has made.
His trauma at that point is so strong, that he is unable even to recognize a rescue, when his birth sister, Yara Greyjoy, goes with a squadron of the Iron Fleet, even without their father's authorization, only with the intention of rescuing Theon, who gets panicked and refuses help, claiming not to be Theon but Reek.
During this period as a slave of Ramsay (now recognized as a Bolton) he gets a new chance to find himself again, at the moment when Sansa Stark, with whom he grew up in Winterfell, arrives at the Dreadfort being forced to marry Ramsay Bolton. At this point, although Theon is at first still too terrified to do something, it only takes a few chapters for him to regain the courage to help Sansa flee from there together. This being his first act of courage in a long time, and his beginning on a journey to find his redemption.
Un arrepentido Theon Greyjoy
Luego de dejar a Sansa a salvo, incapaz de regresar con los Stark sobrevivientes, Theon intenta encontrar su lugar de vuelta en las Islas del Hierro, donde hace las paces con Yara y la apoya en su intento de convertirse Reina de las Islas del Hierro. Euron Greyjoy, su tío, es elegido en su lugar y tanto Theon como Yara se ven obligados a escapar, junto con parte de la flota de hierro, con la intención de unirse al ejército de Daenerys Targaryen.
En todo este nuevo entorno, Theon ya no busca protagonismo o importancia, sino únicamente apoyar a Yara, todo rastro de orgullo en él ha sido borrado y sólo intenta dar todo de sí para lograr lo que considera correcto, pero aún luchando con sus errores y traumas vividos.
Tras otra serie de sucesos en la serie, sirviendo a la casa Targaryen, su flota es atacada por Euron Greyjoy y Yara es tomada prisionera, sin que Theon se vea capaz de salvarla o siquiera de confrontar a Euron. Tras su derrota regresa a Rocadragón (donde se encuentra Daenerys) y coincide con Jon Snow, de sus hermanos Stark, con quien hablará en busca de consejo. Las palabras de Jon son clave para ayudar a Theon en su intento de encontrarse a sí mismo, al decirle "No tienes que escoger, eres un Greyjoy, y eres un Stark" y hacerle ver que de una u otra forma la crianza de Ned Stark siempre estuvo en él y que siempre será parte de Theon. Tras esa conversación, Theon obtiene la confianza y el valor para ir rumbo a rescatar de Yara.
A regretful Theon Greyjoy
After leaving Sansa in safety, unable to return with the surviving Starks, Theon attempts to find his place back in the Iron Islands, where he makes peace with Yara and supports her in her attempt to become Queen of the Iron Islands. Euron Greyjoy, their uncle, is chosen in her place and both Theon and Yara are forced to escape, along with part of the Iron Fleet, intending to join Daenerys Targaryen's army.
In this new environment, Theon no longer seeks prominence or importance, but only to support Yara, all traces of pride in him have been erased and he only tries to give his all to achieve what he considers right, but still struggling with his mistakes and traumas.
After another series of events in the series, serving to the house Targaryen, his fleet is attacked by Euron Greyjoy and Yara is taken prisoner, without Theon being able to save her or even confront Euron. After his defeat he returns to Dragonstone (where Daenerys is staying) and coincides with Jon Snow, of his Stark brothers, with whom he will speak for advice. Jon's words are key in helping Theon in his attempt to find himself, telling him "You don't need to choose, you're a Greyjoy, and you're a Stark" and making him see that in one way or another Ned Stark's upbringing was always in him and that he will always be a part of Theon. After that conversation, Theon gains the confidence and courage to head off to Yara's rescue.
Un redimido Theon Greyjoy
Ya con Yara a salvo en las Islas del Hierro, Theon regresa con Jon y Daenerys ahora a Invernalia, para apoyarlos en la Gran Guerra contra los Caminantes Blancos.
En este punto Theon ya se ha ganado el perdón de los Stark, ha saldado su deuda con Yara Greyjoy, ha servido a una causa noble con firmeza y finalmente da su vida protegiendo a Brandon Stark, años después de haberlo expuesto al invadir Invernalia. Brandon lo despide con las mejores palabras para cerrar el arco de redención este personaje:
"Theon... Eres un buen hombre. Gracias."
A redeemed Theon Greyjoy
With Yara now safe in the Iron Islands, Theon returns with Jon and Daenerys now to Winterfell, to support them in the Great War against the White Walkers.
At this point Theon has already earned the forgiveness of the Starks, settled his debt to Yara Greyjoy, served a noble cause steadfastly, and finally gives his life protecting Brandon Stark, years after exposing him by invading Winterfell. Brandon sends him off with the best words to close this character's redemption arc:
"Theon... You are a good man. Thank you."
Adjunto la escena de la muerte de Theon Greyjoy, la escena contiene imágenes fuertes no aptas para menores de edad o personas sensibles.
Attached is the death scene of Theon Greyjoy, the scene contains violent images not suitable for minors or sensitive people.
Con esto culmino mi análisis de Theon Greyjoy, personaje que quise estudiar por la calidad de su evolución como personaje y lo increíble de su arco de redención como personaje, algo que muchas franquicias buscan lograr en distintos personajes, pero pocas veces de una forma tan creíble y cuidada, al punto de pasar del desprecio del público, al encariñamiento total con su personaje, demostrando que no sólo se ganó el perdón de sus compañeros, sino también el del espectador, el cual vendría siendo el más importante a la hora de desarrollar un personaje.
With this I conclude my analysis of Theon Greyjoy, a character I wanted to study because of the quality of his evolution as a character and the incredible arc of his redemption as a character, something that many franchises seek to achieve in different characters, but rarely in such a credible and carefully crafted way, to the point of going from the public's contempt, to total affection for his character, demonstrating that he not only earned the forgiveness of his companions, but also that of the viewer, which would be the most important when developing a character.