There’s a certain Youtuber who has created a very long, detailed series describing a conspiracy called the Dornish Master Plan. In essence, the idea is that Prince Doran, who is considered a master plotter, has been concocting a very long, detailed plan to destroy and humiliate the Lannister as well as make a power grab for the throne (hey, this is Game of Thrones after all). Yet from the TV series, that whole master plan now is just a dead plan as Prince Doran gets a cold dagger through his chest.
While I cannot say for certain if there really is such a superlative conspiracy in place, there certainly existed a series of moves that Prince Doran had been working on in the novel to help his niece, Arianne Martell, to be able to get a claim to the throne. That along with Quentyn whose mission (which might be in failure) has led him to Daenerys and her dragons (and in the latter case have roasted him).
In the TV series, neither Arianne nor Quentyn Martell exist but have been relatively substituted by Ellaria Sand and possibly Trystane respectively. No mention thus far has been made referencing of the secret marriage pact. The important part about the marriage pact would be using Dornish law to hopefully promote Arianne into a position of power and restore the Targaryen rule. Without Arianne nor Quentyn, as legitimate heirs to Dorne, one has to wonder how the Sands will gain power. They may have the emotional support but not the legal backing especially in the detail that the book provides.
Of course, that leaves the Sands to plot to overthrow the Lannisters and gain their vengeance. With the Martells out of the way, they can make their move up the ladder. But it’s a very illogical thing to do because of how supposedly their whole cause was bent on getting revenge for Oberyn Martell’s brutal death (which was lawfully lost via a trial by combat).
There was one major detail that slipped during Ellaria’s conversation with the unsuspecting Prince Doran where she mentions that Prince Oberyn would have made a bad ruler. If that’s the case, then you have to wonder if Ellaria’s purpose has been to usurp Dorne for herself and other bastards like the Sand Snakes. After all at the end of the scene, she declares that there Dorne no longer would be ruled by weak men.
From a larger point of view, one has to look at what Ellaria and the Sand Snakes represent as figures of power and players in the game. Bastards and people who live life through sheer passion and emotion. Their claim and manner of support is via pure pathos. Ellaria even tells Prince Doran in the scene how the rest of his people resented his rule because he did nothing in attempting to clear the blemish of the Lannister and Baratheon’s rule.
If we look at what Ellaria represents as a “broken thing,” she is one who is mentally unstable. Oberyn’s death clearly deranged her. Previously, she only cared about sex. Now, her mind is set on pure war at the cost of her kinsmen and peace. I suppose you could ask if she would be “fixed” by fulfilling her abstract notion of vengeance. But it might be the case where she’s too far gone, especially in the way Dorne’s storylines have truncated their character development to a bare minimum.
You get the feeling that the way things are going for Dorne, they too will be exterminated just as House Martell now is gone. I suppose the only hope may lie in how the Sand Snakes approach the issue. Certainly, this move is an act of war and will prevent Dorne from participating in the Small Council. My guess is that as Snakes, the Sands will do their best to manipulate people like Bronn to their cause and attempt to infiltrate and poison the Lannisters in gaining a foothold in King’s Landing.
Beyond that point, I do want to say that I was personally pretty pissed at the handling of Prince Doran and even Trystane to a degree. It was abrupt and made their appearance seem utterly pointless outside of namedropping. Also, the Sand Snakes continue to get the worst dialogue and scenes in the show, which is unfortunate as there’s a lot more to Dorne in the books than what has been provided. I suppose you could chalk this up to budgetary reasons and lack of time, but I really don’t know how they’ll clean this mess up.
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