Dolorous edd tollett

Game Of Thrones isn’t all about the big guns, you know…

The current (albeit temporary) Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch is everything Game Of Thrones has taught us that people are not. He’s loyal, brave, funny and – crucially – still alive at time of writing. He is not a great man, but rather a friend to great men, and as such is worth his weight in Lannister gold in a world where genuine friends are so very few and far between.

Let’s recap some of Dolorous Edd’s finest moments, shall we? He took part in the Great Ranging north of the Wall, surviving Craster’s Keep and the White Walker assault on the Fist of the First Men; he took charge of the Wall during Mance Rayder’s attack; he was at Hardhome; he’s backed up Jon Snow every step of the way, and was ready to die avenging him. And he’s been hilarious the entire time.

You see, some folk crumble in the face of

danger; some are spurred on to greatness; and some people – the best people – make jokes under their breath and wearily get on with whatever suicidal task they’ve been given. We know which one of the three we’d be. Is Edd the bravest? No. The most charismatic? Nope. Does he have a dragon, or a Valyrian steel sword, or an intriguing backstory? Definitely not.

He’s a small man caught up in great events, and little more than a footnote in George RR Martin’s voluminous scrolls. And yet, he’s the Brother of the Night’s Watch we identify with most. For are we not all, at heart, Dolorous Edd Tollett, wearily battling through life, laughing at the madness of the world and wondering how we got here? Edd, we salute you, and as long as you have the Wall we’d be honoured to serve at Castle Black. Rob Power