News and discussions relating to George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" novels, his Westeros-based short stories, "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon" TV series, and all things ASOIAF - but with particular emphasis on the written series.
Alliser Thorne's speech in S6E01 was really well done. I almost believed him myself. The Night's Watch was ready to kill him but he said the perfect things in the perfect order to not only save his skin but to set himself in the role of leadership.
"Jon Snow is dead."
"Who killed him?!"
"I did. And Bowen Marsh, and Othel Yarwick, and the other officers in this castle."
He fesses up to it immediately, dispelling any ideas that he regrets it or that he is alone. Any hint of hesitation or guilt would be deadly for him here, and he knows it.
"We've committed treason, all of us. Jon Snow was my Lord Commander. I had no love for him. That was no secret.
Having established that this mutiny involved several people, he makes the leap and extends the blame to everyone present, the entire Night's Watch. While not strictly a true statement, it gives the brothers pause. None of them can be sure just how big this mutiny was, and suddenly speaking out against it feels like a dangerous prospect. Alliser breezes past this lie by following it up with an undeniable truth, an empty confession. Everyone knew he hated Jon.
"But I never once disobeyed an order. Loyalty is the foundation on which The Night's Watch is built and The Watch means everything to me. I have given my life, we have all given our lives to The Night's Watch."
Alliser appeals to their sense of duty while painting himself in an honorable light. Again, it's very important not to offer any apology whatsoever.
"He let the Wildlings through our gates as no Lord Commander has ever done before. He gave them the very land on which they reaved and raped and murdered."
This is probably the most compelling part of the argument for the Night's Watch brothers. Most of them disagreed strongly with Jon's particular decision here. Allowing their enemies of 1000's of years through the gates to eat and live with them. When the Wildlings outnumbered the Night's Watch, the brothers began to fear for their own safety.
"Lord Commander Snow did what he thought was right, I have no doubt about that. And what he thought was right would've been the end of us. He thrust a terrible choice upon us and we made it."
Alliser wraps up his speech by reiterating his previous points. The mutiny was necessary, we did it because it needed to be done, not because we hated Jon, we're all responsible, and we're all in this together. He ends on a note of unity.
I just want to say for the record that I think Alliser Thorne is horrible person. He just happens to also be a great fighter and public speaker.