Game of Thrones

[J.P.]

Oh, this was all so cuddly and fluffy, you could expect pink unicorns coming to the rescue. It was even PG12 !

Anyway, I also think this was an episode meant to show us all the characters making peace - to make us suffer their loss in the next episode. Personally, I have no idea about who will win, I just hope like hell, they will surprise me. The most open question for now is what Bronn will do with that crossbow.

I tend to side with the not so prominent characters like Jorah and the Onion Knight, also The Hound and Varys - maybe it's the age - I just leave the kids for the kids :D

2 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

Errrr... I'm not sure if I get what you meant. About mirroring the real world, I see it a lot in hypocrisy of religion, xenophobia and the world is the playground for those in power where little people suffer.

I mean the reactions to the threat - the Winter deniers are using the same arguments as climate change deniers. And the silent majority doesn't care.

2 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

This is my actual reaction for Arya and Gendry. Except mine is longer and with some gagging.

As for the religion - at least the gods in GoT are a bit more responsive. I'm really curious if the supernatural beings will get their own part in the story.

Surprisingly I wasn't surprised, because I noticed clear body language clues from Arya in the 1st episode already. I think she is rather practical in this matter, but her look in the after glimpse makes me wonder. Actually I was expecting Tormund and Brienne to get together too. And some others.

[Surelock]

The episodes are slow paced in S8. Basically nothing had in the first 2 episodes and there are only 6 episodes in total. I doubt we'll get to see the White Walkers reach King's Landing.

[Van Buren Supernova]

20 hours ago, J.P. said:

Oh, this was all so cuddly and fluffy, you could expect pink unicorns coming to the rescue. It was even PG12 !

Anyway, I also think this was an episode meant to show us all the characters making peace - to make us suffer their loss in the next episode.

 

4 hours ago, Surelock said:

The episodes are slow paced in S8. Basically nothing had in the first 2 episodes and there are only 6 episodes in total. I doubt we'll get to see the White Walkers reach King's Landing.

I don't know, to me, it's much more. It is kind of tribute to how far those characters have become, a lot of callbacks and nostalgic memory. For example

*SPOILER*

- Brianne recalling what Jamie had done for her in Season 3 and 4, how far he had gone since he pushed Bran out of window in Season 1. I remember treating Jamie like Hannibal Lecter when I first read the book. WTF Catelyn you are letting a monster go, this man should be locked forever, and then totally did an 180. One of the reason why I like Feast of Crow is because of Jamie and Cersei chapters.

- Sam, from being a craven when he first joined the night watch, to White Walker Slayer and competent maester. And this episode reminds us of how all these used to be the problems of Night Watch only, how did they battle the wildings who now fight along them, together with everyone on the realm. Well, almost.

- Tyrion recalling his father's dictatorship and how far any of them had gone, how much things had changed etc etc.

I think these are those I missed from GoT on season 5,6,7. Battles are cool, of course, but battles without making us care for the character are useless. I can't forget how, one of my favorite episode, The Blackwater, made me root for both sides. So did the Loot Train battle. And the build up like this is what make the pay-off very satisfying. I have to say, beside some very good moment, like Hodor's, I was losing the feeling of GRRM touch ever since we are running out of book materials. And this episode feels like those golden times.

I think we'll have enough time for the Night King to reach King's Landing. Actually, who says that he is not currently heading there? He was not seen anywhere for two episodes.

So, wanna call who would die in 3?

I think Theon is toast, Greyworm, Davos, Beric, Podrick, Arya?

20 hours ago, J.P. said:

Surprisingly I wasn't surprised, because I noticed clear body language clues from Arya in the 1st episode already. I think she is rather practical in this matter, ..

I was not surprised, like you, saw it in episode 1. It makes sense for her character, buttt... I'm more..err.. disturbed by the fact that we watched this actress grows up, and I was NO! Don't do this kind of thing on camera! You don't have too! EEEKKKK! I rather they just imply it.

Also, I think for a series with a lot of sex scenes, those writers are really clueless. To them, sexy time is women disrobe right then and there and all, every single time. Even for a virgin. Ridiculous. Do they not know foreplay? Or that it's sexier to have progress?? What am I saying?

 

20 hours ago, J.P. said:

but her look in the after glimpse makes me wonder.

According to Cersei, Baratheon are terrible lovers.

 

20 hours ago, J.P. said:

Actually I was expecting Tormund and Brienne to get together too. And some others.

No NO! I like them the way it is, don't give them sexy times. 

[J.P.]

Maybe they don't know foreplay in the Seven Kingdoms?

If someone touches Davos I will turn into a fire-spitting dragon.

[Van Buren Supernova]

On 4/27/2019 at 1:11 AM, J.P. said:

If someone touches Davos I will turn into a fire-spitting dragon.

Wait.. touch as in to harm or as in Arya-Gendry thingy?  

Regardless of how much I want to see dragonowl, I'm more curious to know your priority with him.

 

*POSSIBLE SPOILER*

 

Anyway, before next episode, I'm calling it: There will be someone who is forced to kill their loved one who is turned into the undead. I'm betting that in general, but specifically Jamie will be forced to kill undead Brianne, Arya to Gendry, Sam to Gilly.  And I hope to see Hodor just for the sake of it. It's reunion guys.

Also, another call; the crypt is not safe! Everyone mentions how the crypt will be the safest place, and I bet it's the most unsafe. For one thing, it would be smart to infiltrate from there, and think about it, this is attack from undead army, and what is the crypt again?? A tomb! Not possible since they had been dead long time ago? Try to convince Jojen Reed about it. Anyway, if you see someone headless, you know who it is.

[J.P.]

8 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

Regardless of how much I want to see dragonowl, I'm more curious to know your priority with him.

He and Ser Jorah are two dedicated, honourable men, who made mistakes and learned from them. Both seem to have good hearts and are wise, but act in the background, so they are not motivated by gaining power, like most of the other characters. Both are the kind of warriors I would trust with my life.

And yes, if someone touches Jorah, I would turn equally monstrous. And no, I don't mean it in the Arya-Gendry-way.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Episode 3:

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I have no idea about the reception of this episode, but casual people that I know love it, and they normally represent general view. So this must be an unpopular opinion; haiz.. I think it's disappointing, and lame!!! (Duck from flying tomatoes)

Okay okay, the battle is great. Bloody dark but I understand that for two reasons, budget and the perceived actual battle condition. Now that we get it out of the way..

Who the heck is the master strategist for this defense system?? Ah.. this is gonna be long. So nightwatchers and those who joined weird expedition beyond the wall know that valyrian steel and dragonglass kill white walker, while fire and other weapons can be used to kill wights (zombie). And zombies are controlled by the white walker so if you kill respective white walker, the zombies would drop dead. And night king purpose is to kill Bran. And they know the attack is coming. So..

- why didn't they put skilled swordsmen strategically with mission to kill white walkers? Maybe hiding somewhere before the army approaches, wait until the zombie attack and then try to kill the white walkers? Sam and John had seen how they battle in The Fist and Hardhome, they are hardly in the frontline and have always waited in the back and wait for the zombie attack to reduce/kill their enemy first. So they would be vulnerable behind enemy line. With dragonglass and valyrian steel, they are not difficult to kill if you send the right fighters.

- Or why didn't they send the dragons to fire when the zombie start to make a move. At that time, the separation of troops and enemy are clear. Afraid of night king's javelin skill? Two dragons could back up each other. And even if it's dangerous, the risk is worth taken considering the impact of the enemy reaching the castle. OR when they blindly burn enemy and own side because it's too late! Is it fun to have dragon fighting on your side but then they have to burn you too with stray fire because the enemies had reached your ground.m? NO!

- When they left King's Landing thinking Cersei had joined their alliance, why didn't they ask for two things she has that is proven to be effective in their situation? Wildfire and scorpion? Alright, we are not sure that there are still wild fire left, but pretty sure that the scorpion is effective enough to wound dragon. It's as good as javelin's champion, isn't it?

- It's horrendously dumb to send the Doratkhi to the dark, approaching the enemy. I'm speechless. What is the plan here? Approaching deadly enemy blindly? Seriously! This piss poor planning is as bad as General Shan dragging circus contraption down the tunnel to target the wrong guy. What is the plan here? Thinking they can make damage? Even the fire arakh is not planned. And ghost! Jon is like those a-hole who abandon their grown-up dog for new puppy, don't they dare harming ghost. Ah I see what is going on here, this is Dany's grand plan for Doratkhi's extinction! She singlehandedly destroys the tribe, the culture sacred place, their tradition and now every single bits of their warriors. There will be no survivor. Bravo.

- And, only Theon and ironmen to protect Bran? NK's ultimate target?
For me, I would toss Bran out of the castle as soon as he said all these are for him. Here NK, take him! And all his judgemental memories. But since everyone decides to protect him (those annoying self-righteous people), then do it right. PUT MORE PEOPLE to protect the target. Make a trap, make a swinging dragonglass contraption to make NK falls on his face. Plant a couple of those in the snow so he would step on it. Anything! Arrow is not exactly effective for close and hand-in-hand combat. Don't let Katniss and Theon fool you. It would be more effective if Theon is hiding in the tree to get good vintage point of the threat approaching, than being close down there to make small talk. Argh. Wrong wrong wrong!!

- No one to protect they crypt. No one! Not even some unsullied. A couple of them coule make a difference. And they know NK raise the deads.

- Trenches! Why didn't they have another trenches further in front, with wide moat, so that the zombie would fall on that and make them ripe for cooking? This is not usual battle, this is defense battle. If watching NBA during my younger day taught me something, in defense mode, you guard your territory, the best thing is to make sure they can't infiltrate it. Sometimes offense is the best defense, yes, but NOT THIS.

- Speaking of cooking, so their only way to light a fire is from dragons? It's a good plan A with zero plan B and C. In war, there should be dozen of back-up plans, because otherwise is death. Remember they have time to prepare for the war. That is why again it's good to have outer trenches and moat when you can assign foot soldiers for fire while zombies are busy making sure their joints survive the moat, not relying on arrow from distance. How likely it is that you can light up something with fire arrow in the winter, without the help of substance on the wood?

All in all, I have now concluded that Cersei and Qyburn are the best war strategist out there.


Now my nitpick about the actual battle; there are not enough deaths. Seriously, in the situation they are in, it's too much of luck. They makes them either very lucky or fight cowardly. Respect the characters, kill them when you put them in dire situation. It would be heartbreaking but better than ridiculous odd. What is it? Other show??
Grey worm is still alive and they kill Dolorus Ed?? That is despicable.

And my biggest nitpick, Night King is done? Just like that??? After all those built-up that literally started my interest in the very first prologue. This is so lame. And good god, he is a lousy strategist as well. And his peers are useless.


Okay, let me share something that in theory could be a good explanation to all this mess: Bran is the key to everything. I mean, the key to the screw ups, he knows exactly how all these shenanigan would go down, so he is involved and influences the planning, they all have to be that way, because he knows that is the price to pay, because he is the Night King. Soo.. after thousand of years of cold and boring existence, NK throws his hands in the air and said, that's it, I need to prevent how it begins. Because apparently, through warging or being three-eyed raven, Bran went back through time and became/was a Night King himself. Why? Maybe because the NK is necessary, for the unity of the realm, the peace of man and children of the forest, the 'alien' as common enemy to unite the world. It comes with hefty cost, but needed for thousand of years of peace, just like back then, the original long night when they first built the wall.

So, as NK he tries to kill Bran, because of painful existence. As Bran, he tries to win, because he thinks it's necessary. Or maybe he will be future Night King for future Long Night.

There they are, the only thing that probably 'makes sense' in my mind, otherwise I sentence all these leader to war strategy 101 kindergarten before they are messing with people life with their stupidity and power. Thay should ring a bell in our real world.

Okay, for all those complains, there are indeed good moments that I cherish too:
- the beginning; the fear, unsettling, the anxiety, uncertainty of knowing whether they would still be alive by dawn is well done.
- the music, Ramin Djawadi had replaced Hans Zimmer as my favorite composer since Person of Interest. Just found out not long ago that he is the same person who does GoT. Excellent work, it's haunting.
- the helplessness scene is very well done, when hope is lost and death is imminent. The surrender, the sadness.
- Tyrion and Sansa moment.
- The Night King finally smirks. I have been waiting for it forever.

That's all folks, bloody long but I need to get it out of my chest.

P.S. Unless my theory is true, and Bran was giving clue that "it's time" to the NK so that he attacks, otherwise we didn't see the importance of Bran warging into bird. But if it's an excuse to avoid small talk with Theon, I'm all for it.

[Caya]

Not much of a spoiler without context, but I'll put it in a box just in case:

As to what Bran was doing when he warged:

[J.P.]

 

It was hilarious to follow the hashtag #nottoday on Twitter. There were some videos from "public viewing" at pubs and it sounded like football world championship finale
There were also some funny memes, my favourites (don't forget to read the comments!)

twitter.com/_Sexton/status/1122710155467153409

or this one
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D5iVL7DWAAAXkEl.jpg

There are some videos telling the history of Aria and how she became what she became. There is also a detail almost stolen from LOTR: it's said that no one can kill the Night King. And Aria became No One, so it's almost like Eowyn's "I'm no man". There are several storylines finding their end in the final of this episode. It would be nice to have a kind of roadmap of the characters and their functions in the plot.

Then, someone pointed out one interesting thing:

here the link once more, as the forum doesn't seem to be able to show URLs as text
twitter.com/ShawnaAlonso/status/1122932614808113156

The discussion following this tweet is very interesting.

I'm with you about the strategy. I supposed it was for the effect and suspense. I seldom get palpitations from movies but this time it happened. There were some nice goosebump moments, like the (senseless nonetheless) charge of Dotraki and their flaming swords. And the overall feeling of hopelessness.

VBS, you were sooo right about the crypt and sooo wrong about the killing of loved ones (maybe they should have hired you to spice the script). 

There were definitely not enough dead - it really looked like the standard storytelling with killing some side characters and saving the important ones. Even if one of them was my fav. Wanted to see a fire-spitting owl? Here - I'm just taking a breath between two fireworks.

At least they could have given him a death a bit more heroic and picturesque 😕 

Actually, it was a bit hard to beat the death scene of another Mormont - Lyanna the Giantslayer. The killing of the Night King felt almost like a copy of it. BTW, funny thing, the first time I saw it, I thought that when Aria dropped the dagger, it was Bran who caught it and stabbed the king in the leg. And thinking about it - wouldn't it be much cooler?

Anyway, with all those characters still standing - we still have 3 Episodes, there is Cersey out there, so the Long Night might not be the worst thing in the story.

PS: where the theory that Bran is the Night King came from? I must have deleted it…

PS2: What I really want to know: what do the NW's do when they aren't bothering people. Sitting around a blue fire, drinking firewater on ice and singing songs? Playing chess with the dead? They turn infants into new NWs, but who is raising them? Are there any Night Women? And what do they eat anyway?

[Carol the Dabbler]

Reminder:  Since this was just recently released, please remember to use spoiler boxes when mentioning plot points.  Thank you.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Edit: Mods,...help. My spoiler and quote stuffs are being lumped together in one giant spoiler box. I've check the codes are at proper place. 

 

On 5/3/2019 at 1:40 AM, Caya said:

Not much of a spoiler without context, but I'll put it in a box just in case:

Is it alright that I'm more concerned about bunny population? They are doing...something. 

 

On 5/3/2019 at 3:45 AM, J.P. said:

Wanted to see a fire-spitting owl? Here - I'm just taking a breath between two fireworks.

Now I have seen it all. My life is complete.

Question: those feathers.. are they fireproof? Would you have unfortunate Dany situation or you'd have bed sheet ready just in case?

On 5/3/2019 at 3:45 AM, J.P. said:

PS: where the theory that Bran is the Night King came from? I must have deleted it…

I don't know if there is proper one. But I think with huge fan base, they'd have all kind of theories.

For me, my theory is there are multiple cycle of Night Kings.

 

If I remember correctly, in the book, gosh I just realized that I read it in 2011! Bran's nanny (?) told a myth about a Lord Commander of Night Watch being seduce by a women resembling White Walker (pale, haunting blue eyes, cold) albeit must be much more attractive that lizardy NK. He married her but I don't really remember the detail of the rest, but it's white walker thingy. It's a myth, but almost all myths told by Old Nan was true. So how could there already be a wall (the Wall was built to prevent WW from crossing) before this Lord Commander turned nuts? 

Also then there was a legend of Azor Ahai, the one who defeated the darkness thousands of years ago, which implied as WW? So I think there are multiple cycles. And it would just piss me off if all the purpose of NK is just to kill Bran, he was very crappy in it, wasn't he? There were times when Bran was only guarded by Meera. Ah well, I hope there are explanations. For what I know, there are hardly any one-dimensional character in TSOIAF, let alone this entity that had been painstakingly built up from the beginning. I would... I WOULD... I would be fire-spitting dragon! (well, I don't have spirit animal like you, so I'd just recall what would I be in Chinese Zodiac. But fire spitting dragon is.. lame? Because, no shit, Sherlock!

 

I don't know how to navigate Twitter and not intend to learn so I'm not sure about your link (it's also doesn't work), what do the public think about the episode? Do they like it?

 

On 5/3/2019 at 3:45 AM, J.P. said:

PS2: What I really want to know: what do the NW's do when they aren't bothering people. Sitting around a blue fire, drinking firewater on ice and singing songs? Playing chess with the dead? They turn infants into new NWs, but who is raising them? Are there any Night Women? And what do they eat anyway?

Me too! Firewater sounds delicious! Do they sing.... I've never heard any noise from them though. And it would be pretty easy to play chess with the dead I suppose? But I'm with you, so many questions. If they'd just let someone explain it.

 

 

There is something else I notice from that episode, which I noticed the first time it was mentioned in season 2/3? The Melissandre prophecy about Arya. I see eyes looking back at me. Brown eyes, green eyes, blue eyes... eyes you will shut forever. I thought the color was just a passing, but now we know they might not be, as apparently blue eyes mean NK. Another thing that is not mentioned in the movie, but repeatedly mentioned in the books; Targaryean have purple eyes and silver hairs, that's their thing, I don't know what Starks or others have, but it's mentioned often that Lannisters are blondes with green eyes. So that green eyes, is it Cersei? I think Jamie and Tyrion are out of the list, but if Cersei is killed by Arya too, I would...I WOULD BE FIRE-SPITTING DRAGON! Again, the movie didn't mentioned Valongar prophecy, or did it? That she (Cersei) would be killed by Valongar (little brother) which she always assumes is Tyrion, but Jamie is her little brother too, as he was born later than her).

So again, I would be pissed if the limelight belongs to Arya again. Please, don't.

 

 

[J.P.]

2 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

Question: those feathers.. are they fireproof? Would you have unfortunate Dany situation or you'd have bed sheet ready just in case? 

I'm not spitting fire on myself!

[J.P.]

The only prophecy I can recall, was the one that Cersey will lose her children.

[Arcadia]

2 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

Edit: Mods,...help. My spoiler and quote stuffs are being lumped together in one giant spoiler box. I've check the codes are at proper place. 

Wait … you can see codes? WE can't see codes! That's why … ahem … we can't fix it for you, with the new software we don't have any way of seeing the codes. Alas, the only way I've been able to fix problems like that is by starting over. It's a bit … annoying.

[Carol the Dabbler]

13 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

Edit: Mods,...help. My spoiler and quote stuffs are being lumped together in one giant spoiler box. I've check the codes are at proper place. 

As Arcadia says, we mods aren't sure how to deal with this either, other than by starting over (which doesn't always work any better than the first time).  I *think* it helps to hit Enter an extra time or two between the end of a quote/spoiler and the beginning of your following comments (then edit out the extra spaces after you've posted, if you want), but that could have been just coincidence.  Also, come to think of it, this problem seems to occur mostly toward the end of long posts like yours above, perhaps those with more than one quote/spoiler, so it may pay to be extra careful under those conditions.

I miss the old software. 

[J.P.]

Ok-kay, I think the fluffy is over. The surprises are back.

[J.P.]

Now I could ramble about the strategic failures in the last episode. Ships cannot turn around very quickly. Dragons can. WTF, Danny?

There are only two episodes left, so I don't have much hope for it, but I'd like to see the gods' layer in the whole story revealed. Just yesterday it occurred to me (after years of watching!) That the faces carved into trees resemble the old Three-Eyed Raven enclosed in a tree. It doesn't have to mean anything, but I would be happy if it does.

Unlike the most of the genre religions and believes were beautifully forged here, and there are signs that for the GoT world they might be real. We have the Lord of Light who seems to have a lot of power, also the God of Death - both might be the same deity. Is the Night King also a god, another one or just a form of the others? He has powers too, but is it god-like or just magic, like the one of the Raven? Or not? Or what's about the Seven (they didn't care to show up, do they)?

It would be nice to know. Really.

[Caya]

Put in spoiler tags just in case:

 

Jon not giving even one lousy pat to Ghost when he left him behind is gonna hound the char for the rest of the story, methinks (lucky for him, then, that it'll be over soon).

[J.P.]

Spoiler

As Jamie did with Brienne… a kind of. As for the pic - it's a very inconvenient way to carry a dog on your back. Especially for the dog - if the guy is walking through a door, or the hole in this fence.

 

[T.o.b.y]

23 hours ago, J.P. said:

Now I could ramble about the strategic failures in the last episode. Ships cannot turn around very quickly. Dragons can. WTF, Danny?

There are only two episodes left, so I don't have much hope for it, but I'd like to see the gods' layer in the whole story revealed. Just yesterday it occurred to me (after years of watching!) That the faces carved into trees resemble the old Three-Eyed Raven enclosed in a tree. It doesn't have to mean anything, but I would be happy if it does.

Unlike the most of the genre religions and believes were beautifully forged here, and there are signs that for the GoT world they might be real. We have the Lord of Light who seems to have a lot of power, also the God of Death - both might be the same deity. Is the Night King also a god, another one or just a form of the others? He has powers too, but is it god-like or just magic, like the one of the Raven? Or not? Or what's about the Seven (they didn't care to show up, do they)?

It would be nice to know. Really.

Well, I am hardly qualified to give an opinion as I only follow the series with a kind of morbid fascination from afar, but my guess is that you won't get most of those questions answered until the final books come out.

I am loving all your GoT comments, btw.

 

[J.P.]

Compared with Sherlock, I also follow GoT from afar. Maybe it would be different if Sherlock didn't cross my way - there is no way my brain can handle two obsessions at once. But I can also remember trying to follow some of the stuff online, but I noticed that it's all too complicated.

BTW, I found out that the Night King was created by the Children of the Forest - as a weapon against the men. Apparently it's somewhere on screen, but I must have deleted it. So he is not a god… Yeah, complicated.

[Van Buren Supernova]

On 5/5/2019 at 10:11 PM, J.P. said:

I'm not spitting fire on myself!

That is so true, so I wouldn't try to get out from the fact that I had said something stupid. My excuse is, I kinda miss a certain show with man in sheet.

Anyway, I'm not in the right mind today. Sleepy? But I have a bit of time to blabber. So this is a disclaimer that I'm not responsible for anything I post today and always.

On 5/5/2019 at 10:12 PM, J.P. said:

The only prophecy I can recall, was the one that Cersey will lose her children.

I think they didn't mention it in the show. In the book, the witch (?) said she would be strangled by  valongar. Valongar means little brother, that's one of the reasons she is so resentful to Tyrion. Technically, Jamie is his little brother too, so I hope he got to kill her. It would be poetic justice because Jamie killed the king who went mad (and wanted to burn the city with wildfire), and Cersei had actually done that (burned the Sept with everyone in it).

Another prophecy is she would be replaced by a queen younger and more beautiful, that was why she hated Margery so much, but it could be Dany or Sansa. It's fascinating to get into her mindset in the book about how she was spiralling into her own torture by thinking that everyone was out to get her. She was not completely wrong though.

On 5/5/2019 at 10:34 PM, Arcadia said:

Wait … you can see codes? WE can't see codes!

Errr.. with codes I meant I had put the spoiler brackets on the right places.  Not that I could see magical codes that we had back then. If I didn't glorify my statement, who would??

On 5/6/2019 at 9:34 AM, Carol the Dabbler said:

As Arcadia says, we mods aren't sure how to deal with this either, other than by starting over (which doesn't always work any better than the first time).

Nevermind, thanks for trying. The post is a mess that it's tedious so only the purest heart and chosen ones are able to find everything inside the multiple spoiler boxes. Not that it's too important too.

[Van Buren Supernova]

NOW A RANT about latest episode (4)

Actually I'm originally not as mad about this ep as ep 3 (that thankfully a lot of people have the same complain when I checked Youtube, couldn't help it). Above it all, I DO get it that some fans might appreciate it, I really do. I think the difference is the pair of glass we are using to look at it. So there are no use to convince each sides but agree to disagree. But it's sure feel really good to see some of the YouTube video about people melting crazy over it (with me cheering from beyond my blanket fort "YEAH YOU TELL THEM!")

So yah, again, I actually enjoyed ep 4 until..

WTF Jon!!! How could you treat Ghost like that. Doesn't he deserve a pet? LOOK he is missing an ear and only as big as a Pomeranian now. Well, I'm not really mad about this, I know the show is stupid like that regarding ignoring the importance of the wolves to Stark children, but they had been doing it since the beginning, so nothing new. IT'S JUST... Jon if I ever met you, stay away from my dog. Don't even look at him you puppy dumper. He is such an animal hater, isn't he? Did you guy see how he yelled at the poor dragon???

And like J.P mentioned (I better don't do quote inside spoiler again) stupid boats would need more time to maneuver, turn your bloody dragon around and roast their a** from behind! No pun intended! What kind of idiots going to enemy zone without scout? 

And why didn't Cersei kill them all in such in easy range and target? She is not beyond that. What kind of idiotic strategy of doing negotiation in enemy line? What the...!!

Anyway, that was my rage moment, then as how many stages of anger or whatever I had come to a very peaceful conclusion: The show writers are mostly incapable of writing. Seriously. I'm saying this after multiple benefit of doubts. From all ideas and solution they could pick, they probably choose the worst and flashiest. That is top on the list of really bad writing. I hate to say that but I really meant it, I believe, in objective way.

So, 1- 4 was a good ride, they had pretty good source materials albeit some straying. Deaths are impactful, with deserving way to get there, character growths are fascinating, all well earned, well built, justifiable and satisfying.

Then they have to work with bulletpoints. They have to get from point A to point B, I get that. But good god it's a stupid idiotic mess. There are many ways for them to execute it better. It's painful to see zero strategy and sophistication in their implementation. Flashy! Great war! Shiny! Fire! Beautiful scenes. Yes. That's all they have. Empty shell. Like those action movie you go to and pick up nothing but wondering what the heck are these loud scenes trying to make up for storyline that could be summed up in couple of sentences. 

That is what I feel. There is possibility that they are not as bad, but decide to be bad as service to fans who watch GoT only for the action. I certainly know a couple of them. It must be weird for them to hear from people like us that there are many things that it shouldn't be, because why bother as long as it's good entertainment? Agree to a degree, that is why I wouldn't waste my breath to explain to those who don't want to know why a council consist of Tyrion, Jamie, Daenerys, Jon, Bran, Tormund, Davos, Sansa, Varys who have multiple strategic war conquests, brilliant minds and abilities, useful knowledges, magics and spy networks, leaders of thousands and thousands would make blunder and blunder again that not even a light blunder. Gah.

Anyway! Enough of that, I have absolutely no faith for the last two episodes. It would be 'epic' I'm sure (bloody word) but it would be empty. One more thing to add, I really think Daenerys has the short end of stick in how they suddenly antagonize her. (And I don't even like her) Well sure, she showed signs, but don't forget how she always tried to save every single person she could, by stopping the Dothraki barbaric way, freeing slaves and trying to save people with contagious sickness without fear (they don't have the last one in the show). Well she roasted some people, but what she was can't be changed overnight that she suddenly wanted to take over the city by burning them. (that is what it seems before Tyrion and Varys persuaded her to negotiate). I dislike how they burn her character just like that in one episode before the death of Missandei. And after that, who would blame her? Burn them all, I'd say. Everyone! Whatever.

She would turn bad, Jon would kill her blah blah blah. And Jamie, I would be mad if he went down to HELP Cersei. Because he wasn't until he heard what she did. So he just told what he told to Brianne to prevent her from joining him, otherwise, again it would be idiotic since they made it clear he decided to stay for Brianne and only went berserk when the news came.

 

So as if it's not long enough. Above all those, there are not so obvious things I really regret:

- Dorne. Just because  I was reminded again about how awesome is Dorne in the book. They are the only one who was not conquered, the first to kill dragon with scorpion, the one that can't be tamed and continue to wreck havoc and refuse to bow. The one with multiple plans and long term plan to topple the iron throne. They are such a joke in the show.

- Euron, he is such an enigmatic evil character in the book,  with horn that could control dragons so he says. Such a one dimensional crappy villain in the show, albeit his success but does anyone really buy that he is more than cartoony villain?

 

Somehow I'm imagining George R.R Martin with NK's smirk dragging his chair with popcorn to watch the show burns, just like The Sept. Have fun, George. But finish those damn books.

 

[J.P.]

Well, this might be the fate of all shows that started before they were written to the end.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Flashy! Great war! Shiny! Fire! Beautiful scenes. Yes. That's all they have. Empty shell. Like those action movie you go to and pick up nothing but wondering what the heck are these loud scenes trying to make up for storyline that could be summed up in couple of sentences.

And that's why I rarely go to see movies any more.  Even The Hobbit had far too much of that nonsense, for Pete's sake!  (And yes, that pun was intentional.)

We just rewatched The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother, with Gene Wilder's audio commentary.  He remarked that the movie could probably not be made today, because it isn't "edgy" enough to suit the studios.  And I must very sadly admit that he's probably right -- though there is still the occasional well-made (by my standards) movie, such as Green Book.