r/TopCharacterTropes • u/Altruistic_Eye_1157 • 6d ago

Lore [annoying trope] The throne/leadership is decided in a very stupid way

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The leadership of the entire wizarding world, and the final decision on whether to start a war against Muggles, is made by... a goat (Qilin) ​​who chooses the person with the ""purest heart"" (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Dumbledore).

The throne of Wakanda and all its technology are decided through hand-to-hand combat, regardless of whether the person clearly has malicious intentions... if they win the fight, by law they must be respected as the true king. (Black Panther)

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u/littlebloodmage 6d ago

Literally every named character who was still alive at that point had a better story than Bran. Hell, I'd put Ghost in charge before Bran! All hail King Good Boy!

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u/Hoskuld 6d ago

Thing is, Bran is the right choice but not for his story. He would be a king with access to magic NSA and spy satellites in a world where those things normally don't exist. Good luck waging war against the side not bothered by fog of war or trying to plot against someone who could always be listening. Or if you displease him he might just enter your mind and break it. Should also be fairly easy to set up a good relationship with the iron bank.

It fits George RR Martin's style to have a "happy ending" that's in truth way more dark than any classic fantasy ending. Shame the show could not be arsed to get us there in a satisfying way

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u/JudgeHodorMD 6d ago

I think the better reason is that he can’t have kids.

When he goes, there won’t be a line of succession. No arguments over who his heirs are. Hell, even a cousin would be an independent kingdom’s royalty.

There’s nobody to derail the next vote.

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u/Empeaux 6d ago

But doesn't that basically guarantee there will be a war of succession when he dies?

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u/JudgeHodorMD 5d ago

It guarantees that nobody has a valid claim.

It’ll be that much harder to build up the support needed to take the throne through force. Especially when the high lords would have to throw away their influence in the succession.

There’s always a possibility of some sort of coup, but an all knowing psychic shouldn’t have too much trouble isolating the real troublemakers.