I have finished Game of thrones and would like to share some of my thoughts, particularly on what I loved about the show and where it went wrong for me. I want to preface this by saying Game of Thrones has become one of my favorite shows of all time, and has been an absolute pleasure to watch in the last year. Regardless on how I feel about the later seasons and inconsistencies in certain qualities, this is a 10/10 show like no other for me and I don't believe in abandoning my love for something just because of inconsistencies in quality. Long running shows at this length are likely to experience some ups and downs. At its worst moments, Game of Thrones was still a good show to me and at its best, which was sustained for many seasons, it was among the best media I have ever seen.
Seasons 1-5 exemplify what I love about the show. Amazing characters, amazing story-telling, a medieval setting with a dash of fantasy told in a realistic fashion. Many more reasons I'm sure we all know and relate with like the massive scale, variety of storylines and perspectives, morally gray characters, the fabulous acting, music, cinematography, and design. Some of the latter qualities were consistent throughout, although the core of the show was of course the writing of George RR Martin.
I would like to share what aspects I loved and what went wrong for me in the later seasons as my experience may not be quite the same as everyone else. That said, I'm sure I agree with most of the reasons we all love Game of Thrones, and agree with some of the criticisms of those later seasons when the show branches off from the books. That fact alone was what ultimately harms the later seasons I'm sure, one way or another.
I believe one of the core elements of Game of Thrones that makes it so special, that George RR Martin created and the showrunners realized with their adaption is that we truly *live* in the world of Westeros. We follow the characters lives in an epic scale and in great detail. We see all the events and moments, big and small, that happen between the major moments of actions and decisions. To get to see in live action in a tv show is truly a spectacular experience. When I first started Game of Thrones back in season 1, I initially thought it was interesting but the pace was too slow. It seemed to masterfully build up but lacked pay-off. My opinions changed as I learned to appreciate what Game of Thrones is and how it is different to many similar media, for this reason among others. I found myself enjoying the intense moments and shocking revelations in the story, but I also found myself completely captivated by this world and the many characters we followed. From the thrilling politics in King's Landing, to the somber discoveries at the Wall, to the ominous planning at Dragonstone, and so much more in between. I must say now King's landing storylines in season 1-4 was easily my favorite storylines of the show, which is part of what makes the later seasons less interesting for me when most of the interesting characters leave it.
I loved all of these separate stories and found every one of them to be interesting. It truly fleshed out the world of Westeros as well as giving us a decent look outside of Westeros with Daenerys's storylines. Following the journey's of each of these characters and when they intersect with others is just so cool, even through to the 8th season. Arya and Tywin for example is such as fascinating relationship we get to see in great length through season 2 among dozens of other relationships that we get to see in detail thanks to the slow pace of this show which makes it so much more nuanced.
This show just trying to be entertaining. It was trying to feel real. Events played out to be more realistic, with some liberties to make the story more entertaining of course, but it made genuine efforts to be realistic, subvert expectations, administer consequences, and ensure that no one was truly safe from death. Heroes failed just as often as villains, if not moreso, which kept me on the edge of my seat.
I'm pretty sure everyone loves season 1-4 so lets get to talking about my post season 4 opinions where opinions tend to get split, largely due to the beginning of the departure from the books.
Season 5 I actually loved for the most part. I'm pretty sure the more popular opinion I've heard of the post S4 seasons is that season 6 is the favorite and often ranked over 5. I still felt completely invested in the world of Westeros in season 5. The various storylines are great imo from the Knights Watch vs. Wilding conflict, Religious power growing at King's Landing, Stannis pushing further into Westeros facing the Boltons, Arya joining the faceless men, and Tyrion's journey to meet Dany among other storylines. All of these storylines still kept invested and expanded on the world in interesting ways. In particular, I do want to mention Hardhome is one of the best episodes in the entire series for me, and absolutely nailed showing the threat of the white walkers. I do also love the direction Tyrion takes (morally speaking, he has other issues later) as I feel it was earned that his was a decent and honorable person and not more on the evil spectrum that the books are leading him apparently (I haven't read them yet).
Just about the only thing negative I could say is that S5 wasn't as incredible as season 1-4, but its still incredible. Its like me picking my least favorite Harry Potter movie, while loving every single Harry Potter movie. Part of the ever so slight drop off from the height of S1-4 could simply be due to losing such amazing characters/actors along the way, like Tywin most recently, but that's what we love about this show in that is no one is safe. Even if character loses can be disappointing, we have to accept the losses on some level for creating real stakes in the show.
I do respect the stakes of the show, but they undeniably to have an impact however unfair that is to say considering that its the nature of Game of Thrones. A certain resolution to season 5 served as a further nail to the coffin of departing from George RR Martin's writing. Firstly, the loss of Stannis so anti-climactically at the end of season 5 wasn't a great choice in my opinion. Its not terribly an un-George RR Martin thing to do to have a character fall short of their goals as many would in a real world. We saw it before with characters like Robb. This show is known for subverting expectations, which I will get to more later, but this was a choice that just didn't feel right as I felt that his role should have been so much more. He was the King that survived from the Clash of Kings and he was such a fascinating characters with a strong will.
To me Stannis was as foundational to the show as Jon, Cersei, Tyrion, and Dany, even if his screen time was much smaller. He is someone who I believe should have gone out in a greater conflict consider the amount of time that was put into building up his character and his ambition to be King of Westeros, at the very least with a larger battle with the Boltons, or furthermore I think he would been better if he (+with/without Jon?) defeated the Boltons and had further stories before reaching his potential death fighting valiantly against the White walkers, Cersei, or warring with Daenerys which I believe would have been an interesting as I see parallels with Stannis and Dany between their strong will to rule and belief that they were chosen to rule almost as a sort of deity. If I'm remembering it right, season 5 also has an alarming lack of Littlefinger who was one of my favorite characters. This leads us to season 6 with Ramsay becoming more and more of a major antagonist.
So season 6 starts with my interest slightly lower than its ever been compared to prime Game of Thrones, but I still thought its was a great season. I've heard a lot of different opinions and season 6 tends to be viewed rather favorably despite it being mostly (if not all) a departure from the books (I know it gets messy but you can correct me as far as how much of S6 was canon if I said anything wrong). I think it was a great season overall and obviously there is the Battle of the Basterds which is probably the most praised post-books episodes and I agree on a certain level. Its an epic battle and epic episode. I do want to add that looking past the episode and events themselves which were pretty great, and a good amount of time was spend developing characters and their storylines. However, it just felt like something was missing. Season 6 was still great, and felt like the Game of Thrones we knew to an extent, but it just felt like something about it was slipping. It was still the characters and world we knew, but it wasn't *precisely* written by Martin anymore. And that made all the difference, however subtle. But good on the show runners for overall pulling off a season departing from Martin's Books.
Finally, we arrive at season 7 and 8. Now, I'm fresh off finishing season 7 within the month and season 8 last week, and I gotta say season 7 might be the biggest departure from what Game of Thrones is. Season 7 episode 1 and every episode that followed I immediately noticed a change. This was no longer the Game of Thrones I know from season 1-4. It even felt quite different from 5-6. I no longer felt like I lived in the world. The pacing change sporadically to that of a movie. It used to take episodes or even seasons to travel from one location to another. In season 7 Jon travels from the north to meet Dany in an episode. This is all to say what was obvious, the pacing felt very rushed compared to how Game of Thrones operated prior.
The events of season 7 were still quite cool, which is what makes this sad. We finally see Dany join the Game of Thrones in Westeros and interact with characters separate to her for 6 seasons, but it just felt off due to the changes. I'm not some film or writing expert, but I'll agree to the criticisms that the writing didn't feel the same, such as in the dialogue and pace. The fast paced allowed for so much less time to develop characters and storylines in season 7 than it did in prior seasons. The events and conflicts in season 7 feel like they could fill two seasons easily. Hell, season 7 would have ended with Jon meeting Dany after traveling for 8 episodes or so if this season was crafted like prior seasons.
The writing is just a lot less sound than before in the plot. The episode where Jon and crew travels north and somehow most of the group escapes from being surrounded by the white walkers just didn't feel like a realistic outcome at all. It was a fine moment to have some sacrifices like as Tormund and/or Jorah, one that truly reminded us of the stakes and the threat. One of the Brotherhood guys dies at least which does have an impact on Beric, but that didn't feel like enough for how silly it was to be surrounded like they were are hardly any of them die. The scenario was just ridiculous where it was hard to believe any of them should have lived. My suspense of disbelief was at an all time low.
I still did enjoy this season as well as season 8, but it just wasn't the same level as prior seasons. Tyrion, who was my favorite character, just doesn't feel as much like Tyrion anymore. I do like some of the core developments they did in season 7. Jon's goal to unite the people of Westeros who have been fighting for so long to face the common threat of the white walkers feels like the natural progression of the series.
On an off not, I didn't hate Littlefingers death but his character definetely could have been utilized better. Theres a lot of directions the show could have gone so I won't criticise it simply for not going the direction I wanted, but I would like to share a potential one that could have been interesting. Littlefinger potentially could have been one of the final villains, ascending to the iron throne as his ultimate goal and revealing himself to be as great an evil as Varys described he could be back in season three. Could have been really interesting.
Finally we reached season 8, the season that apparently ruins Game of Thrones. Before I discuss and before I watched it, I just want to say that nothing could really ruin the Game of Thrones I know and love. Even if it turned out terrible, which I don't think it did, that doesn't retroactively make several seasons of a show bad that came prior. Game of Thrones is still a masterpiece to me, at the least for its prime. I just accept that theres too many factors that go into a show and most very well will fluctuate in quality other years of production as I said so it can't ruin whats been established as great for me. Now onto the season.
Season 8 started off great imo, and actually fixed some of the issues. The pace *finally* slowed down some and breathed life into the world and characters (for the first few episodes at least). Episode 2 was probably my favorite of the season as we got to see many characters simply have conversations as they prepare to face likely death. The battle with the white walkers was epic. It was completely terrifying and kept me completely invested. The fighting and music were great, but the resolutions were not so great. The issue that is above all others, HARDLY ANY MEANINGFUL DEATHS. And really for no good reason.
We have reached the end of the show and the climactic battle where the living are losing the fight with the dead. Its a terrifying slaughter, and is bound to have causalities. In the game of thrones I know, many should have died here. It would be impactful, and the loss of the characters/actors wouldn't even be that harsh in the bigger picture of the franchise since the show is about to end. Any actor who had their character die in that battle got to be in Game of Thrones for every season since they were introduced until the final season. There should have been far more deaths on top of the few we had, and I think most of us would agree. It seems like a no brainer and I wonder how the writers could mess up this poorly for a show like Game of Thrones.
I'm not gonna take a big issue with Arya, but I will say that is didn't feel particularly rewarding as the resolution to the final battle. I feel like we could have seen the night king fight and kill far more people, ideally some characters with names and meaning to us as I said, before he met his end even if it was to a flying Arya. It did feel right that this was Jon's fight and it would have been cool for him to end it or play a bigger role, but I also accept that outcomes for the show aren't just to be pleasing and our expectations can be subverted as it had in the past.
The battle overall was great despite the issues, and I did really enjoy the celebration episodes after. It again reminds me of earlier game of thrones to get to see the characters have human moments and so many together, reminiscent of season 1 when they all first meet in Winterfell. Not the great resolution ever but satisfying enough, then we deal with Cersei and Dany. I don't have too much too say, other than it was once again rushed. This is the criticism everyone seems to have and I agree. The rushed pacing leads to Dany's rushed fall to being evil/insane, which I feel fine with aside from it being rushed and potentially unnecessary.
It did feel out of character for Dany to slaughter the innocent whom she was trying to free, but I guess them having Dany go "mad" frees her character of needed to act reasonable at that point. Dany does her thing, and again events get rushed and even skipped. Theres a lot of stuff it feels like we missed to actually see and that is unfortunate. This is not the way of Game of Thrones for most of the series. The final resolutions just feels like a lot of contrived and logically flawed outcomes and I tend to agree with the criticisms I've seen. Its unfortunate because as many have said, they could have delivered a similar ending with just more time and some changes and it could have felt a lot better.
The way Jon was handled in his final storylines was strange. I agree it would have been better to have him choosen to rule and have him turn it down and exile himself than to have the councel exile him for doing something that most of them viewed as the right thing to do. Theres so many things that they skip over where I just feels so rushed and disappointing to I see points. Theres a lot to pick apart but I'll just end with Bran being chosen. I don't think its the worst choice, but obviously far from what feels like a great choice. He doesn't have the best story, but I do find the idea of him being the most neutral choice they could agree on him to be an intriguing one. He lack of emotion could be an issue, but his knowledge of history could be a great help and arguably he could be a more objective ruler due to his nature. I at least would have liked to have seen more debate and consideration of other potentially options for King before they decided on Bran.
Jon did seem like the right choice but throughout the series it had been repeatedly shown that despite having the qualities of a good and just leader, he doesnt want to lead. For that reason I don't mind him not being selected but maybe they could have built up another options because I can't think of a strong one that would satisfy most fans. Bran seems quite division and unsatisfying, but is there anyone who would have been satifying for most fans? Let me know in the replies cause Im interested to hear what people think. Tryion becomes the defacto leader of Westeros which did actually seem like the right ending to reach from the first 4-6 seasons potentially but by season 7 and 8 he character did seem to make a lot of poor decisions to the point where its not as satisfying is it could have been done if he was built up better to be the right choice as Hand.
Idk if it was intended, which possibly adds some nuance to season 8, but Sansa (and Tyrion to a lesser extent) seem rather devious with how the handled Jon. Tyrion used Jon to kill Dany, but then didn't support him from being banished nearly enough. Sansa as well, tried to save Jon but seemed to settle for an outcome that saves his life but removes him from being the potential King of the North. These aren't criticisms neccessarily, because I think they are quite interesting gray areas to consider as we tend to in Game of thrones but I don't know if it was the actual intention which would instead make the writing a bit flawed. I've heard because say it before, but Sansa/Tyrion could have easily had Jon pardoned with their new positions, especially when the unsullied leave. Then theres Bran who saw everything coming which leads to all sorts of inquiries on his morality. I did enjoy seeing the last meeting of the new council with Tyrion being hand. It a group of characters who I respect for the most part and seems like a nice resolution for Kings landing.
Well, theres a bunch of my scattered thoughts on the show. In its prime its potentially the best show I've ever seen, and even though it had some declines its still one of my favorite shows of all time. I have a ton more thoughts especially on the early seasons which were my favorite, but thats some of the ones I wanted to share right now that mainly focused on the later seasons. That ended up being a lot longer than a thought. If anyone actually read this or just wants to discuss Game of Thrones hit me with some replies I'm down to chat about it.
Submitted August 02, 2022 at 10:02PM by JiraiyaCop https://ift.tt/Q1avoEO
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