Maybe my favourite book series! Intelligent dialogue dealing with consequences of even minor decisions. The hierarchy is criticised constantly, shown for being trivial, hypocritical and based almost entirely in violence and threats based on strength in numbers (implied and real).
I can't choose a favourite character or arc, but I really love ADWD for really elaborating on and setting up new goals for stories that had more or else finished their first act.
I also enjoy that while GRRM indulges in 'pure evil' characters such as Joffrey, The Mountain, Ramsay and Euron (Read that TWOW preview chapter- it's Godly!) he still establishes that most people commit horrific acts while being actual complex people in a shit system (Theon, Jamie, Stannis).
Main two characters also should be noted are a staunch abolitionist (Dany) and a man who sacrifices himself for refugees who he successfully migrated (Jon). Considering the ramifications they both faced for their decisions they both managed to be awesome, intelligent and compassionate, despite the consistently horrific implications and threats.
What are your favourite characters, arcs, worldbuilding or quotes? Any real life political figures you'd like to compare to ASOIAF characters?
I see it more like "Radically restructuring society will come with consequences". That's not a libby argument of "Guess those slavers should have stayed in power!" or "The Meereenese can have little a slavery, as a treat", but rather just a natural consequence of extreme action. Dany didn't want to outright slaughter everyone in support of slavery, but leaving behind the sympathizers has its issues, and simply removing the slavers without providing safety nets means that some of the slaves are either desperate or deluded enough to wish things were back to the way they were used to. You're being naive if you think it could have gone anywhere else with Dany being who she is - a fucking fourteen year old girl with a handful of advisors, not a hardened strategist and revolutionary architect.
No revolution is going to come without struggle. No revolution is going to come without consequences. That doesn't mean the takeaway message is "We should leave things as they are."