Game of Thrones General (Non-Book Related) Discussion Thread - Part 1

[Mjolnir Reborn]

It hasn't always been more about the human world though. It's been drilled into our heads by the show that the Night King was the bigger threat... over and over and over again. We are simply judging the show based on the plot lines it set up for itself.

This was honestly a travesty. That's why I don't believe it. I believe and have faith that the writers aren't going to leave the Night King story like this. There is more to it with Bran... and yes Jon Snow is somehow tied to it. If I'm wrong, then the writers have literally betrayed 8 years of their own work. If it stays this way, this is a straight up show killer, IMO.

On the positive side, I disagree with those who say the battle was poorly shot or edited. For the most part, I was riveted the whole episode, until....

The Night King was the bigger threat (Dany could have taken King's Landing if she wanted to), but I still don't think the show made it look like it was about that, so that's why I expected the Night King to be defeated in this episode and the end will mostly be about sorting out the human world. The main question people have asked is who will sit on the Iron Throne when all is said and done. What really cemented my belief was when Bran said why the Night King wanted to kill him, as then it was revealed to be a pure evil kind of thing (unless Bran was lying of course).

That's not saying that I expected the how and why of it all, or saying that it's how it should be, just that I expected the show to off the Night King in this episode.

 

[HammerDown]

I'll be rating the episodes for the last season.
S8 E1 - 8 out of 10.
S8 E2 - 7 out of 10.
S8 E3 - 9 out of 10.

What an episode... I love battle tactics i thoroughly appreciated the way the troops where laid out and how every single army had a part to play in that war for survival. Grey Worm and the Unsullied where the big highlights, they stood their ground, looked organized and badass while doing it... they where essential for the successful retreat.

Some cool stuff involving the dragons, the way they rose above the clouds was fantastic. Fantasy stuff at it's best.

A few more standouts, Beric Dondarrion was a badass as always, Arya shined, Melisandre did what she had to do and was awesome at it, good stuff with Theon, Jorah was great and stood by his queen until the end...

My biggest complaints where the darkness of the episode, 30% of it was basically unwatchable... And that end... I was like "Okay..." Kind of underwhelming if i'm being totally honest. Still i gotta give a props to the amazing stuff they accomplished.

 

[harlequinade]

If the writers continuously use "WE HAVE NO TIME FOR THAT!" then what the hell was up with all those scenes with zombies and the symbols and all that stuff about Bran having a link to NK etc. That was a huge part of the show and that is it?

 

[MaceB]

Why would Jon assume that would be the case for him though when he has little knowledge of Targareyon lore. It just seemed like a foolish idea when we all know he is one of the best if no the best swordsman there. He has enough showins from Hardhome to the Battle of the Bastards to suggest that he stay grounded where he is most effective

He doesn't have to assume. He already rode one, and learned how to steer it. Apparently it's not that hard and the dragon does most of the work. On its own, a dragon doesn't know what enemies to shoot and which ones not to. A dragon with a rider is much more effective than a dragon without one.... I guess. I was willing to buy that.

But yes, I was relieved when Jon was finally able to get off the dragon so he could do some one on one fighting.

 

[Fist of Khonshu]

Well, they have explained that Dragons are actually very intelligent creatures, and that Targarians have an intimate bond with their dragons. Not a huge leap to think that a Targarean rider can steer a dragon mentally and by pulling on it's scales.

In this show, Tyrion told Varys and co. that they are "intelligent" from his book knowledge, but that's it.

It must be an intricate combination of pulls on scales and fins to make it do such a variety of different things like dive, land, crawl forward, etc. things that really should require at least a little prior communication and training with the creature, however intelligent it may be. I wouldn't have minded seeing that all, even as a side activity while characters are discussing other matters. Not hard to write that in, but these showrunners are bit on the sloppy side with details.

 

[Lencho01]

 

[Mjolnir Reborn]

In this show, Tyrion told Varys and co. that they are "intelligent" from his book knowledge, but that's it.

It must be an intricate combination of pulls on scales and fins to make it do such a variety of different things like dive, land, crawl forward, etc. things that really should require at least a little prior communication and training with the creature, however intelligent it may be. I wouldn't have minded seeing that all, even as a side activity while characters are discussing other matters. Not hard to write that in, but these showrunners are bit on the sloppy side with details.

I think the show is just leaning on the "special connection because Targaryen blood" thing.

 

[MaceB]

Hard not to be disappointed in Sam after what happened to Ed. I thought Sam had grown beyond all that sniveling.

 

[Da-Scribe]

Sam being terrified but still trying his best to fight was about the most relatable thing in the episode in my opinion. My ass would've been in the crypt given the choice.

 

[Fist of Khonshu]

This episode puts to rest the small mystery and debate concerning the exact cause of Melisandre's glamor. It was the collar and not one of her potions or some other magical source. So when the writers decided that in se6ep1 "The Red Woman", they had forgotten what they had already shown us in se4ep7 "Mockingbird" when Melisandre took a bath while speaking with Selyse and without her collar on.

 

[Fist of Khonshu]

I think the show is just leaning on the "special connection because Targaryen blood" thing.

It would have nice for them to articulate this at some point if this is the explanation. Of course then it would also contradict Dany's failure to control Drogon in "A Dance of Dragons" and her need to do a little training with the "Dracarys" command word in Season 2, that is if her blood heritage is supposed to be reining all their actions to her will.

 

[HammerDown]

Alright i'm relieved that the "darkness" of the episodes wasn't just a thing of mine. This one in particular was just ridiculous and for that i have deducted half a point from my first impressions. I still give it a 9 though.

Seriously a ton of stuff wasn't perceptible. It's a damn shame.
I get that a ton of movies... with big amounts of CGI tend to darken the environment in order to make it less obvious but enough is enough. This wasn't good at all. As i said before, like 30% of the episode if not more is basically unwatchable...

 

[MaceB]

I can't say that I have a big problem with the darkness, myself. Yeah.. there were times that you straight up couldn't see what was going on. But I think that was part of the point. It was an artistic choice. Like.. the principle time that you couldn't see anything was when the dragons were flying in the storm... but that was the point of the scene... that Jon and Dany were flying around without being able to see anything.

I mostly didn't mind it.

 

[Sithborg]

It would have nice for them to articulate this at some point if this is the explanation. Of course then it would also contradict Dany's failure to control Drogon in "A Dance of Dragons" and her need to do a little training with the "Dracarys" command word in Season 2, that is if her blood heritage is supposed to be reining all their actions to her will.

I just chalk that up to them being Dragon kids and teenagers.

As for the darkness, you could have easily had a similar effect with the main focus of the shot being well lit.

 

[HammerDown]

I can't say that I have a big problem with the darkness, myself. Yeah.. there were times that you straight up couldn't see what was going on. But I think that was part of the point. It was an artistic choice. Like.. the principle time that you couldn't see anything was when the dragons were flying in the storm... but that was the point of the scene... that Jon and Dany were flying around without being able to see anything.

I mostly didn't mind it.

Oh i'm sorry but there was much more than just the dragons stuff. Like way more.
There's artistic and there's plain misfire. They botched a decent portion of the episode.

I get that it's night time, there's that cold fog... but it's still no excuse to deliver something this way. And i love GoT and was so hyped for this episode, but still found myself wondering what the hell was going on... I feared right from when i saw the main trailers, that this could be a problem... and it was.

I'm still very much excited to see the resolution of it all but i can't help but feel that this episode could have been so much better.

 

[HammerDown]

Also i loved how the army of the white walkers was so overwhelming to deal with. They where completely overrun even though they had the defensive postition, a massive organized army and dragons at their disposal... and i though it was cool when the Night King showed up and resurrected everyone, he even had a grin on his face...

But i was underwhelmed in how they dealt with him and his lieutenants. I wanted to see more of that team and the NK but unfortunately that was it. Hence my "Ok" reaction. Cersei is the focus now, lets see if we can finish the season and series in a high note.

 

[MaceB]

Execution wise, I had almost no problem with it. They wanted it dark - I accepted that. There were moments in the beginning where the cuts were really really fast and I was like... woe, it can't keep going like this. And it didn't. I think that it demonstrates how it must have been like for the characters, and all in all - I thought the actual battle was done very well.

My one major gripe outside of the ending, is how the episode constantly showed characters being swarmed only for them to survive... while still being swarmed 5 minutes later. I had a very difficult time figuring out who was dying and who was just bleeding... and I feel like the directors did it on purpose. Like they were playing with us. Didn't appreciate that.

But Arya's fighting - awesome. Melissandre's fire power - awesome. Dragon fighting - I thought awesome. Little Momont girl death - so awesome. The Tyrion/Sansa relationship - surprisingly good! Theon's death - awesome. I thought the episode kept my attention the whole time; it never got monotonous.

 

[HammerDown]

How could i forget Lyanna Mormont. She went out like a boss. Loved that scene.

 

[Prison Mike]

I loved the episode...and the surprise ending. I’m actually surprised more of the main people didn’t die. I guess they’re saving them for the final battle. Also, I loved the Sansa and Tyrion scenes. They would have made one hell of a power couple.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

I was expecting them all to die. I didn't see that coming.

One of my fav scene and dialogue :

Spoiler

Jorah defending Daenarys and finally when he falls, he says "I'm hurt" as if everything before that was nothing
Also, did Rhaegal died ? It wasn't clear.

 

[antsman41]

Figured Tormund, Pod, Gendry, Samwell... were all going to dy.

 

[Sithborg]

I have no idea how Grey Worm got rid of his "3 days till retirement" death flag.

 

[Schlosser85]

I have no idea how Grey Worm got rid of his "3 days till retirement" death flag.

I had him and Brienne pegged. Last episode seemed to set up their deaths so much.

 

[Marvolo]

If the writers continuously use "WE HAVE NO TIME FOR THAT!" then what the hell was up with all those scenes with zombies and the symbols and all that stuff about Bran having a link to NK etc. That was a huge part of the show and that is it?

Bryan Cogman said the Walkers took the iconography of the Children and desecrated it by making the symbols with body parts. He said there was nothing more to it than that. Pure gore and horror fodder.

 

[Sithborg]

Jorah and Grey Worm/Missy were the two I thought for certain were dead.

So, 50% I guess.