re: Game of Thrones Re-Read/Re-Watch Project (Multiple Book Spoilers)

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Case and point, the Wildlings. How often are we told early on in POVs that they're evil and should stay on the other side of the Wall. Then you have Ygritte, Val, Tormund, Mance (to a degree), Gilly, and others who are quite the opposite of that notion.

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Exactly. But why put the "to a degree" next to Mance. I personally think he is a good man. Honorable in the same sense that Jaime is honorable. Yes he broke oaths but it wasn't for no reason. He saw the wildlings for who they really were just like Jon did but he didn't have the power to change the Night's Watch's policy like Jon. He refused to fight against the culture that saved his life, I can respect that. Then he did his damndest to lead his people, the people that put their trust and safety into his hands, to a safe place for Winter. Yes he attacked Westeros but he did it knowing that he was likely to fail but that it was also the only chance that he had to ensure the survival of his people.

Hell even the last time we saw Mance he was risking his life for the sake of his people. I know there are theories that say otherwise but taking the literature at face value it could easily be inferred that Mance went to Winterfell because he knew that Jon had taken his place as leader of the Wildlings and that they would go to war if Mance did not.

I think that Mance is as good of a man as this series has produced with the exception of maybe Barristan Selmy and Ned Stark. Even then you have to wonder if they (especially Barristan) were TOO honor bound and TOO restricted by their oaths. Remember Barristan forgave the murder of children and the rape and murder of their murder in the name of his vow..... I don't think Mance would've let that stand.

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Now I wouldn't be surprised to find the Others of an evil nature, but that there are some that are not. Ones like Coldhands.

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Well Coldhands wouldn't be an other I don't think. He seems to talk like a human while The Others voices are described as otherworldly which is something never mentioned when Sam and Bran are around Coldhands. He bears more of a resemblance to a wight or a person reanimated by a red priest in the name of R'hllor.