In Defense of the King of Sounis

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

*unfurls flag*

 As many of you from Chatzy probably know I am interested in the King of Sounis. I’ve just about decided I’m the only one and so I’m bringing it to the comm to try and stir up some support.

 There are several reasons why I’d like to see more of the King of Sounis. First and foremost, MWT doesn’t write crap characters and there’s always more going on than you think. Reason, the second: the Magus, who I quite like, admires his king and I imagine the Magus’ good opinion is worth having. And finally, he thinks highly of Eddis and that means he has good taste.

I realize he seems a bit greedy in wanting another country, and that he might manage his barons poorly (he’s missing his best advisor after all), but I seem to recall a certain Lady Monarch we all know and love having some trouble with barons as well. And lest we forget, he’s not the only monarch that has recognized the importance of unifying the countries.

So, anyone else? Why do you (or do you not) want to hear more about the King of Sounis?

*firmly plants flag and awaits the firing squad*   :-)

Comments

[rosalui.livejournal.com]

In terms of seeing more of him... I may be fantastically wrong, but isn't he supposed to be dead now? D:

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

That is certainly a distinct possibility which would, of course, render the entire point moot. :)

[philippas.livejournal.com]

Wait ... there's a possibility Sounis is dead? Totally missed that ... I thought Eddis was still considering marriage at the end of KoA?

[rosalui.livejournal.com]

I thought they said something to that effect when they mentioned Sophos's abduction or whatever. Again, I could be wrong.

[crazededdisian.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, the book says nothing about his being dead. (In my opinion, he is not. Yet.)

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

I would agree with this as well! There's no mention of his death but if supposition of Sophos becoming kingly and grand is correct then it does not bode well for the current King's lifespan. He doesn't strike me as the type to abdicate.

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

I've been saying this for years! I don't like Sounis so far, but the Magus's loyalty to him and defense of his character as "not entirely irredeemable" (I probably shouldn't have put that in quotes, since the book is not in front of me!) make him a bit of a mystery. I've always been sure there is more to him than meets the eye.

[styromgalleries.livejournal.com]

Hm, I've never actively disliked him, I've just never been that interested in him. *shrug* So I wouldn't mind seeing more of him, I just don't guess I really care too much either way.

You do have a point about the Magus. If the Magus respects him, there must be something there worth respecting. So maybe we could find out more about that.

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

*thinks the King of Sounis will be quite prominent in A Conspiracy of Kings*

[zumie-ashlen.livejournal.com]

your icon has killed me from cute

[zumie-ashlen.livejournal.com]

I think he's interesting, as are all of MWT's characters. The reason he goes--not unliked, but unnoticed--is just because the other characters are even MORE interesting. :D But hey, if we get a book about him, I wouldn't mind.

[crazededdisian.livejournal.com]

I think that he will die in CoK. How else could Sophos be "a king?" But yes, he will probably be fun. (or at least interesting.) I mean, think of when we first meet him, in Gen's own words he (Gen) was like a little bird, hypnotized by a snake.(Sounis)(I think that was what he said.)

(Stands beside SGW, awaiting the firing squad, because she couldn't find the exact quote. But she is proud to be standing anywhere in Sounis, even if certain death awaits!)

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

*lowers gun*
*fires*
*ALL OF SOUNIS IS NOW COVERED IN CONFETTI AND BANNERS THAT SAY, 'BANG!'*

Like a lot of people are saying, I think he's more an unnoticed character than an disliked one... But every time I go back to the scene at the beginning of TT, I remember him. He does make an impression (thanks to CE for finding that quote).

I see Sounis as a king past his glory days... he's well known for being an astute stratagist, but that didn't show itself much during the three way war in QoA. Once the Magus was gone he was sort of floundering. Plus he's a little paranoid and tempermental, which makes it seem like he's on his way out.

I expect he'll die soon, as well - but I know it will be terrible when he does. I'm pretty sure Sophos likes him, and he won't even be there to say goodbye...

*cries*

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he's not so bad. I just don't want him for Helen.

[crazededdisian.livejournal.com]

Or to succeed with his assassination attempts.

[philippas.livejournal.com]

Well, everybody else is so nice, I guess it won't hurt for me to be a hater for a minute.

I don't like Sounis. He's an oily, pompous, ego-maniac without an original bone in his body. The best thing Gen can say of him when he introduces him is that he's shrewd.

I would also like the suggest the possibility that MWT is a hater.

*firing squad does an about face; Philippa proudly refuses the blindfold*

What I mean is, whose fault is it we never see more of him? Who's responsible for the fact that whenever we do see him it's in an unflattering light--duped by Gen, controlled by his Magus, greedy for conquest? And then there's the little fact that up to this point (although it could very well have been a blind for some startling revelation in book four) we've always been able to take Sounis's actions at face value. He has no secret hidden motivations, he doesn't take part in any of the wonderful Aha! moments where we readers are left with our jaws gaping.

[philippas.livejournal.com]

I thought I should clarify that I mean "hater" in the loosest possible fangirl sense. I don't stay up nights gnashing my teeth or anything.

[philippas.livejournal.com]

Oh! Also forgot to mention that while magus does at one point say Sounis is not irredeemable, he also admits to Gen that "I prefer my country but your queen."

Also, my argument doesn't mean I think he's a crap character. I think he performs his function admirably, but a character can be fantastically well made and be unlikeable - in fact, he might be failing in what he's intended to do if he doesn't incur dislike. "Characters we love to hate" and all that.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

He's not very smart, either. Remember when he made a comment about, "if you can't say that more plainly I'll find someone who can" to his new Magus. Which was hilarious, but still. And he pulled Gen up by the hair, for heaven's sake. *huggles Gen*

I always thought the Magus felt a sort of patriotism towards his country more than loyalty to Sounis as a person. Could be wrong, though.

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure that's not being smart--more like not being intellectual which is *NOT* the same thing at all.

Plus, he was being a bully, but we know Gen provokes this kind of thing. And I think it's mostly his expressions, so we don't really know how much he deserved it.

[crazededdisian.livejournal.com]

*CE nods to Philippa with her last breath, happy that someone else is not afraid to die for her beliefs.*

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

I wish everyone didn't have to DIE for this cause.

*sobs* why can't we all just get along?

[crazededdisian.livejournal.com]

Well, okay...

[openedlocket.livejournal.com]

Hmmm I have a feeling there is something more to Sounis' past...for one he does have an actual name. So if that gets revealed in the next books we may soon find out what makes him redeemable. Since the next book does happen to talk about Sophos perhaps it would reveal his knowledge of his uncle (which should definitely be more than what we already know). In writing this one English monarch came to mind, Henry VIII. Perhaps Sounis can be compared to him in the political sense. The wanting of another country may not just be his own greed. It could be part of a bigger plan polically driven for the good of his country. Though I cannot see the relation to Henry Tudor in what I'm saying I think it sort of makes sense. In that time most of a monarch's actions was politically driven, so there.

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO CAME UP WITH HENRY VIII SIMILARITES.

...Although I'm not sure why. I just love the image of Sounis wearing this:

http://pics.livejournal.com/thelasteddis/pic/00025273

"I have broader shoulders than anyone else here."

[openedlocket.livejournal.com]

Ooh I see...Sounis would look great in that, makes him look more kingly and powerful (which is probably why he's wearing it). I can also see him standing like king Henry in one of his more famous portraits. Quite a striking stance and demeanor really.

[crazededdisian.livejournal.com]

Just don't forget the "his hair was a dark gold color and curled around his ears." :) A quote! (TT, page 11)

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

AND IT PROBABLY ENDEARED HIM TO HIS MOTHER AS A CHILD.

that is what I think of when I think of Sounis.

and then I start thinking about the little baby pearl teeth of the Earl that visits Ella and tries to woo her because of the mushrooms in Ella Enchanted because she tried to imagine him on his mother's lap with those little baby teeth and that too was probably endearing and...I'll just go play with my random connections in the corner now.

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

secretly: *bwahaha*

(I knew there was another reason that was funny when I read EE...)

[philippas.livejournal.com]

Dang, he's hot!

[openedlocket.livejournal.com]

He's one of the few main characters with blond hair...*swoons* let's not forget Sophos.

[crazededdisian.livejournal.com]

Hee hee. ;)

[openedlocket.livejournal.com]

I bet all the KoA characters and Sounisians are questioning our sanity right now...
But hey, Sounis (the person) has his plus sides ;).

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, remember this (http://community.livejournal.com/sounis/185233.html)? Eugeni-crap.

[openedlocket.livejournal.com]

Isn't that the same reason why the comm is called Sounis? The awesome fanfic making king who has two queens chasing after him and plenty of cake.

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

Oh Checkers! You always come through with the great links! Hilarious! I also love the explanation as to how the whole thing came about. The idea of poor Sounis off writing "self-help" lit cracks me up! I wonder how he would cast himself. Eric Bana is quite nice and I bet Sounis is very flattered.

And now I'm mentally re-writing the stories from everyone's perspectives... I wonder what Sten of the Unbelievably Large Biceps thinks about being sidelined...?

[openedlocket.livejournal.com]

Hm, recently someone suggested Kenneth Branagh as Sounis, I wonder what Sounis would think of that. *mumbles* I should've made interview questions for him, would've been fun.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

See, he's not some uberevil, one-dimensional villain. None of MWT's characters are. From his perspective, his goals probably make perfect sense. He wants to rule all three countries, he wants Helen.

And mud-wrestling, and cake.

[tearoha.livejournal.com]

And mud-wrestling, and cake.
*cough* reprobates! *cough*

*totally came in late for the party, so is just going to make snide comments and read everyone else's well-thought-through stuff*

[keestone.livejournal.com]

I always got more of a Brian Blessed impression.

[mycenaeth.livejournal.com]

hahaha... I somehow missed that post... Too funny!!!

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, until you know what sort of guy he was.

[philippas.livejournal.com]

Good pinup. Bad husband.

[katewaits.livejournal.com]

*weighs in after thinking about it for a while*

I don't like him, even though the Magus says he's not entirely irredeemable. I think he's being rather tepid with that assessment. He could have offered a little more to make his case, but maybe he couldn't come up with anything Gen wouldn't see through. I believe he hopes Sounis will marry Helen and she will be able to lead the country to a greater future than what the current king can pull off. I also think the Magus has changed since he met Gen and is seeing beyond the historically typical possibilities.

Now, Sounis might not be/have been the most horrible guy, but I think he engaged in the same sort of torture methods as Irene, but without the competence as a leader. For instance, his plan to marry Helen is not really about him aligning with Eddis, but about him taking it over. With the ultimate plan of taking Atolia. Pretty arrogant to think you're the guy to do that over the other two options.

What I think could be interesting would be to see the Magus deciding against the king to whom he's been so loyal if it ever comes down to a choice between him and Sophos. A real development for our beloved wise man, eh?

[philippas.livejournal.com]

I agree that WOULD be interesting, and I would bet there's a fairly good chance of it happening.

[katewaits.livejournal.com]

How about Gen agreeing to help Sounis (the country) if Sophos becomes king at the end of it? Forcing the current Sounis to abdicate to save his country. I don't think he's beyond those stipulations if he thinks it's ultimately the best for Eddis and Attolia. One of his first moves toward Annux? And how would the Magus feel about that if all he knows about Sophos is his memory of the blushing boy and not the leader that's hinted in the summary?

I think about this stuff too much. o_O

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

I'm absolutely loving all this! Whether in defense or disregard there's lots of speculation as to what he's good for and what we might see of him in future. As Bridget Jones would say, Aha! ahahahahahaha! That means seeing more of him. Yippee and huzzah! :)

Whether he turns out to be more than what he seems or just a great villain I can't say, but I do hope he has some presence in the upcoming book. There have been too many comments re him that intrigue me for me not to think about what his place in the story will be.

The thought of the Magus being caught between conflicting loyalties really makes me cringe. What great conflict but I think my little heart would break a bit for him.

Oh man, I really really really really can't wait for the next book!!!!