Figured I'd reply again to this, will people really care that much, especially after that horrific episode two nights ago? 7 seasons of build up where I had to hear the stupid tag line from everyone how winter is coming, then that garbage happened. Does anything that's going to happen in the last three episodes even matter at this point? Just my thoughts.
I think the show hit the skids a while back, but people still love it. And generally people liked the episode, so yeah, I think the line will do fine. I haven't said much about my feeling concerning episode 3 because I figured I'd let people have they're good time and not be the negative nancy. Fans were pumped and a lot of people loved it. But since it's brought up here, and I've had a few days to let it digest I'll give my thoughts. Generally speaking I think the episode has a lot of the same problems the show has suffered since season 5. Plot contrivance, nonsensical character motivation to push the story along, sloppy structure, retconning and bad continuity at a rapid pace, etc.. Having said that GoT isn't a complete disaster in every way. It usually pulls off some memorable bits even in the bad seasons.
Pros:
* Whatever my thoughts on the story, editing, etc of this episode you can tell they worked really hard on it. For the first time you got a good idea of the scale of Winterfell. The sets were great.
* The terror and forboding of those first 10 minutes was really good. It was full of palpable anxiety.
*There is some shots that were beautiful. The wide screen shot of the dragons above the clouds was wonderful. It took my breath away. Literally.
*The dragon battle (what I could see of it) was pretty good.
* I was wondering how they were going to even the playing field with Dany having two dragons. And they did by using a huge storm cloud of mist/fog. I wasn't expecting this and it was good. It made sense for the scene and the powers of the Night King. It didn't feel contrived at all( like much of the battle planning for season 7). And it was terrifying.
* Jorah's death was appropriate and Dany's despair after losing him felt real. Too bad she couldn't pull that off after the death of Viscerion.
*Jon screaming at Viscerion. People thought this was lame and silly but it worked for me. I felt his utter frustration and helplessness.
* The Arya library sequence.
Cons:
Before I get into them I feel the need to say all because something subverts your expectations doesn't make it good.lol
* The editing. It was pretty choppy in a lot of areas and things just didn't line up, and wasn't clear if people died or not. I think the showrunners was going for this to a degree but it didn't work for me. It looked more sloppy. This wasn't throughout the entire episode but it was enough.
* Sending the Dothraki charging into the darkness against a dangerous foe unlike any other it pretty stupid. This is plot contrivance to get Dany into the air. It's fiction and you can write anything you want and this is what they went with.lol
* The sweeping under the rug of the Others motivations. There can be things left unsaid and mysteries left to the viewers to decide (something I like and prefer ) but to just leave it as was presented in episode 8 screams of weak/indecisive story telling. That, and the fact that they're making a Long Night prequel feels like they wanted to leave it to that. GRRM has often said he hates villains that are evil....cuz they're evil. This pretty much sound like the NK from the show.
* I really dislike the army of the dead essentially being the droid army from the prequels. Sound more like an easy way out of this plot.
* The complete non-use of the Azor Ahai prophecies. Look, they don't have to be real, and it's might be more interesting if they're not, but they have to be integrated into the story in an unexpected and interesting way. Otherwise what the hell is the point of even putting it in the story.
* I think they really wussed out with how many main characters survived. Plot armor galore here. Particularly when it feels like the showrunners have been spinning their wheels with a lot of these characters and don't know what to do with them.
* I can't believe they wrapped this up in one episode. Lol I thought for sure they would have lost this battle and had to retreat. Though I don't know how that would have even been possible.
* And of course Arya taking out the NK.lol Sorry, but this screams of cringe inducing fan service - and not the good kind. I have no idea how she got past those WW henchmen and managed to appear falling out of the ether from the sky. It felt silly and contrived. Though I have had some big problems the way Arya had been handled the past few seasons anyway. A character that I love, btw. And this isn't anything against Maisie Williams. I think she is a wonderful actor and absolutely lovable in interviews. She's great.
There's more but I'll leave it here.
If you still love the show and particularly this episode and good on you! Seriously. No need to argue over this.
Well they did say they knew about the arya kill (from Martin by the way, just sayin’) for a few years so that was presumably before the girl power movement.
D&D said they knew who would kill the NK for the past three seasons,but this is a show decision. They didn't mention Martin. The Night King isn't a book character. The books at this point are so different regardless of what GRRM says. He often contradicts himself and sounds to be playing nice. Often how Stephen King does with some of his adaptions - think the Dark Tower.
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