New HBO Series: Game of Thrones

[3 Stacks]

I just thought it was weird. The Night King dying just like that was anti-climactic. And it's not entirely the show-runners' fault but the battle was almost too daunting and spectacular.

 

I don't think they could create a realistic outcome with the sheer size of it. It's like the battle beyond the wall in season 7 where everyone should have obviously died but you have to really suspend disbelief. So many characters that survived realistically should have died, they were surrounded so many times. Not that it wasn't good, it was just kind of a head-scratcher.

[ZonkoVille77]

Like all art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and every cunt is entitled to their opinion.

I thought the writing for the characters and the story has been shite so far this season and last if I'm honest (and I know what's fuckin shite because everything is fuckin shite). Maybe I'm being too precious and expect so much more.

 

Pros of EP3:

One of the all-time most incredible episodes of any TV show ever. If you don't take it too seriously then it was really fun. The score, effects, tension, effects, etc. Some kind of closure for characters assuming this is it and there's not any more twists to be had (possible). The very dark scenes were excellent for tension and emotion. Genuine shit yourself moments. Dothraki being wiped out so quickly in the dark was unexpected and a wow moment. 

 

Cons of EP3 (some of these can possibly be answered in the next 3 episodes and I'm just being an impatient cunt):

- Disney-like plot armor. From a show that was never afraid to kill off characters we still have too many of the main still ones alive which feels more geared towards fan service rather than expanding the entire plot. You'd have expected far more to have perished, especially Sam who isn't known for his fighting yet outlived Ser Jorah.

-  So is Cercei the main villain in the end? No issues, but why waste so much time and effort and budget on the NK and the WW? Now we're back to humans fighting over the throne it just seems like the NK and the WW were an unnecessary distraction or side plot. Surely it can't have been just that? (books could resolve this if he ever completes them).

- The NK was just so underwhelming in the end. We never knew his motivations beyond wanting an ‘endless night’. We never heard him speak at all and we never really see much of him in battle. What’s the point of giving him a Big fuck off weapon if he’s not even going to use it? Why did the white walkers return? Why now specifically? What did their body part sculptures mean?

- Was the wall really nothing but a giant ice blocker to keep dead out? It was hugely built up that 'Winter is here', but for what, only one battle between the living and dead and the NK and WW die? The long night wasn't really that fucking long after all. Mmmm.

- All the mystery and all the theories behind who the white walkers are and what they want means fucking nowt now it seems.

- Dany and Jon looking like doing fuck all other than trying to stay holding onto the dragons. 

- Bran warging into crows and then chilling and doing nothing much else. For someone with his skills you'd expect a bit more?

 

I'm just bitterly disappointed with the way it has gone with the plot. As I said, I'm probably being too precious at the moment and the last 3 will tidy it all up. As it stands it's gone a bit too "Hollywood big action" and the great dialogue scenes are now too few and far between.

 

Opinions, eh?

 

[3 Stacks]

To me, the only thing I got out of that episode re. the White Walker and Night King storyline is that Bran, their greatest enemy, must be the physical manifestation of the lord of light which Melisandre etc... worship. Or he/other 3 eyed ravens work/have worked with him, either or. Goes with the whole ice and fire rivalry. I like that theory.

[KMD7]

24 minutes ago, 3 Stacks said:

To me, the only thing I got out of that episode re. the White Walker and Night King storyline is that Bran, their greatest enemy, must be the physical manifestation of the lord of light which Melisandre etc... worship. Or he/other 3 eyed ravens work/have worked with him, either or. Goes with the whole ice and fire rivalry. I like that theory.

Never thought of that. Good post

[Ben Sherman]

It's a tv show based on a fantasy novel. Good must beat evil in the end or what's the point. Enough evil shit in the real world.

[Bobby Hundreds]

1 hour ago, 3 Stacks said:

To me, the only thing I got out of that episode re. the White Walker and Night King storyline is that Bran, their greatest enemy, must be the physical manifestation of the lord of light which Melisandre etc... worship. Or he/other 3 eyed ravens work/have worked with him, either or. Goes with the whole ice and fire rivalry. I like that theory.

There's a theory bran wargs into the night king in the past and gets stuck in there like with hodor and corrupts his mind. The night king has to wait until bran is born to attack winterfell so he can kill bran and stop him warging into his mind. Obviously he fails so bran might do this in the next episodes.  Bran is also the old fuck stuck under the tree. The 3 eyed raven is bran, bran being one eye, the old guy being one and the night king the other. Or some shit like that.

[Pidge]

A good ol' trinity reference.  Classic.

[mattyq]

Epic tv and an amazing spectacle; will have to watch again in the dark

But the writing... thought the quality slipped a lot in the last Series and it hasn't got any better

It's obviously still brilliant viewing but left with the feeling 'is that it?'

[Megadrive Man]

3 hours ago, ZonkoVille77 said:

-  So is Cercei the main villain in the end? No issues, but why waste so much time and effort and budget on the NK and the WW? Now we're back to humans fighting over the throne it just seems like the NK and the WW were an unnecessary distraction or side plot. Surely it can't have been just that? (books could resolve this if he ever completes them).

 

 

 

 

I think its to show how pointless war is.

 

You've fought against a non human enemy to save your own civilization, only to then go immediately straight in to a war with your own civilization!  

[Ne Moe Imya]

3 hours ago, ZonkoVille77 said:

Like all art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and every cunt is entitled to their opinion.

I thought the writing for the characters and the story has been shite so far this season and last if I'm honest (and I know what's fuckin shite because everything is fuckin shite). Maybe I'm being too precious and expect so much more.

...

 

I'm just bitterly disappointed with the way it has gone with the plot. As I said, I'm probably being too precious at the moment and the last 3 will tidy it all up. As it stands it's gone a bit too "Hollywood big action" and the great dialogue scenes are now too few and far between.

 

Opinions, eh?

 

 

Agree with almost every word of this.

 

As an action movie, it was a great hour and a half. As the climax of an epic 8-series journey, it was RIDICULOUSLY stupid IMO.

 

So I know there are different opinions on this, but for my money one of the main themes, if not the central theme of GOT was how incredibly short-sighted it is of humans to ignore existential threats (climate change, for example) while we squabble amongst ourselves. That, and the willingness to introduce real drama into a lengthy saga by removing all concept of "plot armour" (as seen in Ned Stark's death, the Red Wedding, etc).

 

All of that is undone in a single stroke in this episode. Instead of showing how foolish it is of Cersei to split with the main group and lie in wait for after the battle with the Night King, she now looks brilliant for doing so as she's in a much better position to win the throne.

 

Oh, and the willingness to kill off your main characters? Out the window as well. Who was the most important person who died in this massive battle that seemed to have killed at least 80% of the population of Winterfell? Theon? Jorah Mormont? NOT A SINGLE ONE of the central characters died. Not Jon Snow, not Danaerys, not Bran, not Tyrion, not Sansa, not Arya, not Jaime Lannister, not Brienne, not Grey Worm, not even Varys, Gendry, Podrick, Sam, Tormund or Missandei.

 

And now the show has to completely switch gears because the central conflict of the entire series is up and done in one meaningless-feeling battle so that we can switch to a new central conflict that feels utterly petty by comparison. Of course it feels utterly petty by comparison, because that was the entire point of the first 5 seasons of the show!

[Pidge]

Think my biggest issue with the writing is the way the Others have all been intrinsically tied to the Night King.  If they all die when he dies, why didn't he die when Leaf died (I guess he killed her, didn't he)?  Why couldn't they have gotten involved and given some characters a scrap to go out on (they've made wights before as well, why is that suddenly just the Night King's job)?  Haven't watched the preview so there are still question marks over Tormund and Brienne for me, would have been good seeing them try and tackle one, possible with Jaime landing the final blow.  Or Beric, the sword works against the wights, but a walker shattering it into a fiery explosion and wights mobbing him after? 

 

All that Valyrian steel in play, but only one blade used...

 

I'm getting carried away, I just feel they fully committed to the big bad guy trope and it's made for a worse story.  The character isn't in the books at all (might be, but GRRM's been coy whenever asked, that I've seen at least), so I don't know whether there's even a good explanation for him.

 

Also, is it just me or did every single scene with Jaime go the same way?  Stand on battlements and look around with concern...

 

The Dothraki moment was really dumb, but very effective.

 

and where were the Knights of the Vale?  Did they leave and I missed it?  Thought the fat-headed fella was sure to die.

[Ben Sherman]

I think the Knights of the Vale were on foot with Brienne but I could be wrong. Maybe they were sent off as an insurance if things went tits up.

[Numero Veinticinco]

1 hour ago, Ne Moe Imya said:

 

Agree with almost every word of this.

 

As an action movie, it was a great hour and a half. As the climax of an epic 8-series journey, it was RIDICULOUSLY stupid IMO.

 

Is it worth pointing out that it isn't the climax of an 8 series journey? That it's just one early part that should be looked at as a whole, just as other battles were. 

[Bjornebye]

5 hours ago, 3 Stacks said:

I just thought it was weird. The Night King dying just like that was anti-climactic. And it's not entirely the show-runners' fault but the battle was almost too daunting and spectacular.

 

I don't think they could create a realistic outcome with the sheer size of it. It's like the battle beyond the wall in season 7 where everyone should have obviously died but you have to really suspend disbelief. So many characters that survived realistically should have died, they were surrounded so many times. Not that it wasn't good, it was just kind of a head-scratcher.

 

 

[Pidge]

40 minutes ago, Numero Veinticinco said:

Is it worth pointing out that it isn't the climax of an 8 series journey? That it's just one early part that should be looked at as a whole, just as other battles were. 

Pretty much is.  As far as the story that began with Waymar Royce out in the haunted forest goes, at least.

[Gooch]

Just watched it, first impressions is that it was completely underwhelming for the most part. The plot armor reminded me of the the walking dead (not a good thing), and the dragon stuff was absurd from start to finish, along with Arya's ridiculous deus ex machina moment at the end. The first 20 minutes were decent, but apart from that feel like it was pretty shit.

[Pidge]

Enjoyed it more second time around.  Not mad about the direction in places (but more the cinematography, it's too dark for far too much of it - maybe on my TV, but that's something you have to take into account when making TV), it does get incoherent in places, but not as much as my bleary eyes had it this morning.  Took in much more of the score this time around as well, which is very well done.

 

Spotted Tormund and Brienne clearly fine at the end as well.  They really did shit out of the ruthless deaths side of things.

 

Happy enough with the big dumb moments that made for effective moments (Dothraki being thrown away and Drogon not using his fire to free himself when mobbed). Could've been much more dramatic and impactful, but happy to wait and see what they make of the rest now.

[Special K]

A strange mix of exhilaration and disappointment.

 

It was an incredible episode of television but i was pissed off by the darkness and incoherence of the opening act (this was possibly done to convey the sense of madness and incoherence of battle but it still annoyed me)

 

Still, my wife and I both cheered when Arya did her thing with the knife. I did wish more major characters had been killed though

[Numero Veinticinco]

I’m just putting it on again. In a ‘live tweet’ fashion I’ll post my thoughts as it goes. Except, of course, I’ll do it in one post. I’m not that much of a cun... oh.

 

anyway...

 

Opens with a great single shot scene of the preparations for the war, and the reaction to the upcoming events by major characters. Characters that we’ve seen be brave as fuck, and face big challenges, are clearly terrified of what’s to come. This builds tension for me, and is well directed, edited, staged, written, and performed. 

 

Note. I’m watching this in the dark. Absolutely no issue seeing anything. Even if it is clearly night time. Atmospheric as fuck. 

 

The shots of the Unsullied, Sothraki, Wildings and others all in battle formation with pulsating beat looks and sounds fucking great. Not a single word has been spoke yet. 

 

A big big shot of winterfell  is stunning. Then a look out into the black, facing the unknown, unseen enemy that is coming to attack in the dead of night. Chilling. 

 

The Red Woman rides up to the Dothraki and as Ser Jorah to tell them to raise their swords. She uses the Lord of Light to set their blades on fire. Amazing cinematic scene of the swords catching ablaze. Lights up the scene, left to right for what seems like miles the swords all set alight. Shows just how incredible the power and scale of the forces are. Huge and astounding. 

 

The nerves n Jorah’s face disappear and are replaced by a bravery and defiance. Same with Grey Worm. Fucking let’s have these cunts!!!! 

 

The Red Woman promises to be dead before the dawn, and glances at Arya. The princess who was promised. 

 

Dothraki screamers set off in huge numbers, the same war cry that they’ve used so often before obliterating the enemy. Stunning shots, from the hillside the scale is unreal. Beautiful. The ride off in their thousands into the dark and into the enemy. With in few seconds the entireforce is gone. Giant fore gone. Threat literally and figuratively extinguished. 

 

Un-fucking-believe opening. One of the best openings to any episode of TV I’ve ever seen. 

 

Ser Jorah and  some other animals have retreated and escaped. Hardly any. Everyone is shitting themselves. The tension is almost unbearable. 

 

The Wights flood forward. Like a sea of death drowning the forces. Fight scenes lit up and backlit by dragon fires. Both Targaryans flying on Dragons. They fly into the icy cloud stuff and can’t see shit. Arya tells Sansa to get to the crypt, gives her a blade and tells her to ‘stick em with the pointy end’. Great call back. Evokes Ned Stark memories. 

 

Same saved by Edd. Edd killed. Heroic ending for a good man. 

 

Everyone forced to fall back. Far too many to mention but some beath taking scenes and scenery. Jonegon Snogaryan Lansing his dragon on the wall was great. Seeing the Unsullied’s centre peeling back into defence was amazing for anybody who likes military tactics. Stunning actually. Including a partial sacrifice by Grey Worm. 

 

Arya saving the Hound. Excellent. To be repaid. 

 

Stopping there. But awesome.

 

 

[Numero Veinticinco]

15 minutes ago, Pidge said:

Enjoyed it more second time around.  Not mad about the direction in places (but more the cinematography, it's too dark for far too much of it - maybe on my TV, but that's something you have to take into account when making TV), it does get incoherent in places, but not as much as my bleary eyes had it this morning.  Took in much more of the score this time around as well, which is very well done.

 

Spotted Tormund and Brienne clearly fine at the end as well.  They really did shit out of the ruthless deaths side of things.

 

Happy enough with the big dumb moments that made for effective moments (Dothraki being thrown away and Drogon not using his fire to free himself when mobbed). Could've been much more dramatic and impactful, but happy to wait and see what they make of the rest now.

Dothraki was not a dumb moment. It was entirely consistent with the entire run of the show, mate. 

[Numero Veinticinco]

35 minutes ago, Pidge said:

Pretty much is.  As far as the story that began with Waymar Royce out in the haunted forest goes, at least.

It isn’t the climax. It’s a part of the story ending, we didn’t even see the night king until what, S3. It was a part of it but not the climax of the show. 

[Numero Veinticinco]

Sansa is beautiful 

[Skidfingers McGonical]

What happens to John’s lizard? Is it dead? Or just done in? 

[chrisbonnie]

thought it was a bit shit.

 

Found it really difficult to focus on a lot of it seeing as it was so dark. 

 

The CGI was woeful, especially anything containing the dragons. And as for the Zombies, fuck off, its just medievil Walking Dead really.

 

 imagine now that slapper Cersei rocks up with her new fella and massive army to batter all the survivors. 

 

never thought id say it, but the show is now scraping the barrel, time to end it. 

[Numero Veinticinco]

Just now, chrisbonnie said:

time to end it. 

Fucking hell.