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Beyond Politics => General Discussion => Topic started by: Boges on April 09, 2019, 03:37:25 pm


Title: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on April 09, 2019, 03:37:25 pm
We've waited a year and a half for 6 measly 1-1:20 hour episodes.  ::)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlR4PJn8b8I

I've been doing a deep dive into past episode. Season 4 was the absolute zenith of the series.

- Hound and Arya the odd couple
- Missy and the Worm romance starts
- Joffry gets got
- Ramsay Bolton isn't as cartoonish a villain as he he became in later seasons.
- Jon Snow does a bunch of cool ****.
- Ygritte is still around.

Best season IMHO thoughts.

I have no clue what to expect this season. The first half will lead to a battle in Winterfell. I've heard theories that this is a W for humanity. The show is called Game of Thrones not Game of Fighting Ice Zombies. The story should focus on the power struggle with Cersei and not a battle for humanity against some mystic Ice Army.

I think everyone's favourite Aunty and Nephew couple take their respective dragons North of the Wall and find the remaining Children of the Forrest (were they all killed because Bran did what he did). And they'll provide insight into how to defeat the Knight King. That being said, Bran should be able to travel back in time and figure that out himself, so who knows?

The rest of the season can be devoted to completely and thoroughly defeating Cersei. I would prefer her not to turn into a good guy like Jamie and the Hound.

OR this season could be crushing defeat after another until some deus ex machina steps in and saves humanity in Westeros. . . Dario?
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 10, 2019, 04:06:27 am
I was reading a British news site, and saw a link to an article that said:

SOPHIE TURNER TRASHES CO-STAR
"She's a terrible actress!" "Everybody wanted to fire her!"

So I click the link, and she's talking about her dog, that portrayed Lady in season 1.  ::)

We've waited a year and a half for 6 measly 1-1:20 hour episodes.  ::)

I don't think they're going to be able to wrap it up in a satisfactory manner with just 6 episodes left.  Everything is going to feel rushed.

I've been doing a deep dive into past episode. Season 4 was the absolute zenith of the series.

- Hound and Arya the odd couple
- Missy and the Worm romance starts
- Joffry gets got
- Ramsay Bolton isn't as cartoonish a villain as he he became in later seasons.
- Jon Snow does a bunch of cool ****.
- Ygritte is still around.

Best season IMHO thoughts.

Agreed. So many great things. Arya and the Hound as road trip buddies was enchanting.  Season 5 was very strong too, but so bleak. The tragic end of the Stannis Baratheon storyline was wonderful writing.  The writing started to go downhill in season 6 as the series outpaced the books, but I felt that season 7 was the first one that just wasn't up to the standard of the rest of the series.

I have no clue what to expect this season. The first half will lead to a battle in Winterfell. I've heard theories that this is a W for humanity. The show is called Game of Thrones not Game of Fighting Ice Zombies. The story should focus on the power struggle with Cersei and not a battle for humanity against some mystic Ice Army.

The white walkers stuff has always felt like a distraction from the real story.  In-world, the politics is a distraction from the real threat, but for viewers the politics has always been the real core of the show.   

One of the possible outcomes that would feel true to the spirit of the show would be if Cersei "wins" by stabbing the others in the back, only to find herself helpless to stop the white walkers from destroying her and everything she thought she'd won.


The rest of the season can be devoted to completely and thoroughly defeating Cersei. I would prefer her not to turn into a good guy like Jamie and the Hound.

Cersei is irredeemable. The last of her humanity went out the window along with her son.

Jaime isn't a good-guy, but he was never as bad as people thought.  I loved the way his relationship with Brienne illuminated that side of his character.

The Hound was always a good-guy, although he couldn't admit it to himself until he was about to fight Brienne over custody of Arya.

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on April 15, 2019, 11:34:49 am
Lord Glover is the worst. You bail the minute Jon doesn't do something you like. I hope the Night King takes a detour to Deepwood Motte and takes that house out first.

I hate the opening. WTF guys. I don't want to go inside these castles. Why change it this late in the game?

The cinematography here seems different. A different feel to how every season has been, to this point. Obviously the budget has ballooned so it makes sense.

Danny is being played as the heel here. And the idea that Jon has a better claim than her means nothing because the two armies are aligned with her regardless of her name.

Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: wilber on April 15, 2019, 06:22:14 pm
Not going to follow this thread, haven't finished watching Season 7 yet.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Michael Hardner on April 15, 2019, 08:20:56 pm
When I tell people I don't watch, and they ask why, and I mention that I don't like dragons they get mad and say there are no dragons then they remember that there are.  Well that was during Season 1 so I don't know if the dragons are a bigger deal now.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 16, 2019, 09:52:16 am
When I tell people I don't watch, and they ask why, and I mention that I don't like dragons

This is about as intelligent as saying "I don't watch Breaking Bad because I don't like meth."

they get mad and say there are no dragons then they remember that there are.  Well that was during Season 1 so I don't know if the dragons are a bigger deal now.

The dragons were unveiled in the final seconds of season one. They were about the size of kittens when they first hatched, but over the course of the series they've grown in size and importance just as their "mama" has grown from a waif into arguably the most powerful contender in the titular power struggle.  The scene in which the kitten-like dragons were first unveiled was probably among the most enchanting things I've ever seen on TV, a deliberately magical moment on what had been an otherwise grimy and unmagical program.  Also a deliberate emotional counterpoint to the heart-crushing shock of the episode before.


It's not a show about dragons, it's a show about characters.  The fantasy elements of the show are plot-devices that advance the conflict between the characters, which is the real essence of the show. As we've discussed about before, I maintain that fantastical premises can be as good or better at exploring real issues as "realistic" premises are.  The real strength of Game of Thrones is not CGI dragons, it's the portrayal of fascinating characters and its willingness to do things with these characters that may test the viewer's comfort level.


If you don't want to watch the show, Michael, then for goodness sake don't watch the show, but try not to be a dick about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0la5DBtOVNI



 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 16, 2019, 09:59:09 am
Lord Glover is the worst. You bail the minute Jon doesn't do something you like. I hope the Night King takes a detour to Deepwood Motte and takes that house out first.

I hate the opening. WTF guys. I don't want to go inside these castles. Why change it this late in the game?

The cinematography here seems different. A different feel to how every season has been, to this point. Obviously the budget has ballooned so it makes sense.

Danny is being played as the heel here. And the idea that Jon has a better claim than her means nothing because the two armies are aligned with her regardless of her name.

I hated the new opening animation as well. I loved the old map-view one, because aside from looking really cool, it also hinted at where key scenes would take place that episode. "Oh boy, we're going to Harrenhall this week!"   This one was too zoomy and disorienting to figure out what was going on.

I didn't pick up until later that when Bran said he was waiting for an old friend, he'd been anticipating Jaime's arrival. 

Lots of reunions this episode... I keep forgetting that it's been years since some of these characters have seen each other.

Kind of a "meh" start to the season.


 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 17, 2019, 12:30:50 am
I hate the opening. WTF guys. I don't want to go inside these castles. Why change it this late in the game?

The new opening credits sequence is now posted on Youtube! Having had a chance to watch this a couple more times, I have to admire all the detail.

I saw a thread on reddit about this, and it pointed out a detail I'd never noticed before:  the gold engravings on the metal bands in that spinning dealie?  The gold engravings actually depict significant events in the show.

The very first one-- if you pause the video at the 0:01 mark, it shows Viseryon blasting through the Wall, as we saw at the end of season 7.

Then if you pause it again at 0:55, you see:  a lion (House Lannister), the Twins (House Frey) and the flayed man (House Bolton).  The lion has a fish in its mouth (House Tully), the flayed man is holding a severed wolf's head (House Stark) and the decapitated wolf is arrow-riddled and hung from the bridge of the Twins.  This obviously a symbolic depiction of the Red Wedding.

And if you pause again at 1:33, you see: a wolf bowing to a dragon.  Jon Snow takes the knee before Daenarys.

This makes me want to go back and watch the opening credits from older seasons and see whether the gold engravings depicted other events as well.

Also, somebody theorized that the motion of the video depicts the march of the white walkers army.  It starts with smashing through the wall, and arrives at Last Hearth, as we saw at the end of episode 1. From there, it marches on to Winterfell then south to King's Landing.  If this theory is correct, the battle at Winterfell won't go well.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZE9gVF1QbA

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 17, 2019, 01:11:21 am
Personally I would have called this the "Official Non-Tebow Game of Thrones thread!"  or perhaps "Regicide Culture".

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on April 22, 2019, 09:03:31 am
Arya Sideboob alert!!!!!

These last two season have been pure fan service. Gendrya has to be one of the top things people wanted to see. And we got to see it.

The Jamie, Thormund & Brienne love triangle is tense.

Seeing Brienne smile at being named token knight was jarring. She never smiles, it was weird.

Having Theon guard Bran is something so stupid it sounds like Tyrion thought of it. He'll clearly be sacrificing himself.

Based on good things happening to people theory Brienne, Theon, Jorah, Greyworm and Gendry are probably gone next episode.

Greyworm! don't you know when you dream of greater things on TV, you DIE!!!
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 22, 2019, 12:32:57 pm
More reunions and more reflection on the events that brought them all together. 

I liked the chat between Jaime and Bran.   I had a sense that it would go exactly that way... Bran is kind of beyond being angry or holding a grudge.

"I'm sorry for what I did to you. I'm not that man anymore."

"If you hadn't thrown me from the window, you'd still be that man, and I'd still be Brandon Stark." 

One gets the sense he saw it as a necessary thing .  That was sort of the theme of the episode... everybody sitting around the fire reflecting on the events that have led to this point ahead of the big battle. "Just about all of us have fought the Starks at some point, yet here we all are about to die defending Winterfell."

This was obviously the calm before the storm... I liked the characters just interacting with each other... I expect that next episode will be very intense and full of action, and probably won't have many quiet moments between characters.


Greyworm! don't you know when you dream of greater things on TV, you DIE!!!

"Just two days to retirement. Turning in my gun and badge. Gonna take the wife on a cruise!"

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Squidward von Squidderson on April 22, 2019, 08:15:42 pm
Jesus...  who cares what the opening sequence looks like???? 

I liked the build-up in the first 2 episodes.  Some people are whining about the lack of action, but I think it makes sense...   it will be rushed to wrap things up, but I think this lag actually helps.  I suspect we’re going to see some major characters kick the bucket soon...   I could be wrong, but why would the GOT creators change now??

Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Queefer Sutherland on April 22, 2019, 08:48:11 pm
I like the new opening.  It still shows the locations, but shows new details of places we already know, like winterfell and Kings Landing.

1st two episodes have been a bit slow.  The "drinking around the fire" scenes kinda seemed like filler, or maybe just a little breather before the big battle and before a bunch of these characters die.  It's obvious there's not much left to the story.  The only thing left in the story is the battle with the White Walkers, and then whatever battle/maneuver comes to determine who the final person to sit on the Iron Throne.

The most obvious end to this series is Jon/Dearnyrs's forces beating the Walkers somehow and then getting hitched and ruling the 7 Kingdoms together while removing Cersei somehow.  Jon and blondie had sex in the 1st episode of season 8, which will give time for Deanyrs to realize she is pregnant with Jon's baby and heir by the end of the series.

I would prefer a more unexpected ending.  One of the the things the show has yet to reveal is the identity of the human from long ago who the Children of the Forest turned into the Night King but stabbing him in the heart with dragonglass.  It would be cool if the White Walkers kill Jon & blondie, make their way towards Kings Landing, Bran enters the mind of a dragon (with blondie dead) and slows them down.

Meanwhile, Arya gets her revenge on Cersei by killing her, and somebody else finally stabs the Night King with dragonglass, defeating the White Walkers, and turning the Night King back into human form, and we finally learn his real identity, and he turns out to be some nice dude who has claim to the Iron Throne.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 23, 2019, 12:26:12 am
A lot of people are apparently getting impatient waiting for the big battle, but this show wasn't built around big battle scenes. It was built around characters interacting with each other the way we saw in this episode.

Gilly and Ser Davos trying to convince the little girl hat she should take shelter in the crypts.  The girl had a scar on her face that was a lot like Shireen Baratheon's.    It was a neat reminder of Davos' friendship with Shireen, which was one of the things that made him such an endearing character.

Back in season 2 (I think) Brienne tells Catelyn Stark the story of her debutante dance.  She figured out that all of the men who danced with her had turned it into a prank and were laughing at her behind her back because she was so homely.  Then Renly Baratheon came to her rescue and treated her like a real princess, and she was so deeply moved that she pledged her sword to Renly's service.  When Jaime offers to knight her, she shrugs it off and pretends it doesn't matter to her, because she thinks that she's being pranked again. But once she realizes that he really means it, it's incredibly emotional for her, just like her response to Renly.  Jaime had given her recognition and validation that she'd always wished for but never thought she was really allowed to have.

We also saw Theon reminding everybody that he'd betrayed the Starks and asking for a chance to make up for it. And we saw the scene with Samwell and Jorah, with Sam reminding us that Jorah's dad was a mentor who changed Sam's life and molded him into a man.  And we saw Sam, Jon, and the other guy from the Night's Watch reflecting on how far they've all come from when they first met in basic training at Castle Black.

I think that for some of these characters this is the last chance we'll have to spend any time with them.  I think that this episode was sort of a celebration of the past 8 years of getting to know these fictional people and a way of tying up some of their stories and sending them off in style. 

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: TimG on April 23, 2019, 09:17:24 am
It will be interesting to see how Daenerys deals with John's heritage. She has shown herself to be quite ruthless in her quest for power.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on April 23, 2019, 10:44:56 am
It will be interesting to see how Daenerys deals with John's heritage. She has shown herself to be quite ruthless in her quest for power.

Does Lineage even matter when you have two armies at your back? The Unsullied and the Dothraki don't follow her because of her House.

But then if none of the kingdoms support your claim, who cares? Clearly the North hates her and the Vale is aligned with the North. The Reach won't support her after what was done to the Tarleys.

Ruling the 7 Kingdoms by the whole "Bend the Knee or Die" approach isn't a whole lot better than anything they've seen before.

I think this Battle for Winterfell will upend the whole narrative where lineage and claims to the throne don't much matter anymore.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on April 23, 2019, 10:49:28 am
A lot of people are apparently getting impatient waiting for the big battle, but this show wasn't built around big battle scenes. It was built around characters interacting with each other the way we saw in this episode.

Gilly and Ser Davos trying to convince the little girl hat she should take shelter in the crypts.  The girl had a scar on her face that was a lot like Shireen Baratheon's.    It was a neat reminder of Davos' friendship with Shireen, which was one of the things that made him such an endearing character.

Back in season 2 (I think) Brienne tells Catelyn Stark the story of her debutante dance.  She figured out that all of the men who danced with her had turned it into a prank and were laughing at her behind her back because she was so homely.  Then Renly Baratheon came to her rescue and treated her like a real princess, and she was so deeply moved that she pledged her sword to Renly's service.  When Jaime offers to knight her, she shrugs it off and pretends it doesn't matter to her, because she thinks that she's being pranked again. But once she realizes that he really means it, it's incredibly emotional for her, just like her response to Renly.  Jaime had given her recognition and validation that she'd always wished for but never thought she was really allowed to have.

We also saw Theon reminding everybody that he'd betrayed the Starks and asking for a chance to make up for it. And we saw the scene with Samwell and Jorah, with Sam reminding us that Jorah's dad was a mentor who changed Sam's life and molded him into a man.  And we saw Sam, Jon, and the other guy from the Night's Watch reflecting on how far they've all come from when they first met in basic training at Castle Black.

I think that for some of these characters this is the last chance we'll have to spend any time with them.  I think that this episode was sort of a celebration of the past 8 years of getting to know these fictional people and a way of tying up some of their stories and sending them off in style. 

 -k

We haven't seen any action in the first two episodes but that's because we're leading to all the action in this episode.

It is cool to see how all the stories intersect. Sam giving Jorah Heartspane was a really cool moment because Longclaw was originally Jorah's. It also means Jorah be dead this next episode.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 24, 2019, 08:28:19 pm
Should we do a dead pool?  Everybody picks 5 characters they think will die in episode 3, and 5 characters they think will survive episode 3, one point for each correct guess?  Or something like that?

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 24, 2019, 08:30:19 pm
People keep saying "the crypts will be the safest place to be once the battle starts" so often that I'm sure something horrible is going to happen in the crypts.

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Queefer Sutherland on April 24, 2019, 10:01:47 pm
Is it weird that i want everyone to die and want Arya's awkward underage side-boob to claim the Iron throne?
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: ?Impact on April 25, 2019, 02:42:58 pm
Should we do a dead pool?  Everybody picks 5 characters they think will die in episode 3, and 5 characters they think will survive episode 3, one point for each correct guess?  Or something like that?

I keep looking at the DVDs at the library, but have yet to commit to watching them. Maybe when the series is complete I will then binge watch it all. At the moment, I am completely ignorant on this topic (and some of you would argue on many others).
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 27, 2019, 04:53:27 pm
Should we do a dead pool?  Everybody picks 5 characters they think will die in episode 3, and 5 characters they think will survive episode 3, one point for each correct guess?  Or something like that?

5 characters I think will die in episode 3

1. Brienne.  I think last week's moment in the sun was the culmination of her story.  I think she will die in heroic fashion in the battle, probably saving Jaime from certain death.

2. Jorah the Explorah.  I feel like somebody close to Daenarys will die, and Jorah seems likeliest to me.  His path of redemption from exiled goon to worthy son to his father has been completed.

3. The Hound.  This is a risky pick, because a lot of people expect him to survive and fight his brother later on.  I have a sense that maybe he'll die in a way that fits his character arc, his evolution from a selfish, bitter, cynical misanthrope to a man with a heart and a purpose. I think that perhaps Arya will deal with Ser Gregor in memory of the Hound.

4. The Night King.  and

5. Brandon Stark.  I have a sense that these two will end each other in some sort of mystical way. I'm not sure that Bran will literally die, but I think this is the end of him in his current form.  Perhaps his essence and memory lives on in the form of a tree spirit or a raven or some sort of mystical type deal, but I think that this episode will be the end of him in his current form.  Of course, I'm assuming the Night King's story ends here. That's a big if.  What if the Night King is victorious, the humans are routed from Winterfell, and the Night King's advance continues all the way to the end of the series?  It could happen.

I also think Theon, Grey Worm, and Tormund are probably going to die.  I wonder if Bronn will make it to Winterfell in time for the fighting?


5 characters I think will survive episode 3 (not counting characters who will be nowhere near the battle, like Cersei, Euron, Yara...)

1. Jaime. Can't picture his story ending here, there's too much left unfinished.

2. Daenarys. Can't picture the final 3 episodes not resolving her quest for the throne.

3. Jon. Because I don't think Dany's story is ending without Jon.

4. Arya. I'm not 100% sure why, but I think she might assassinate somebody (Cersei, or maybe the Mountain?) before all is said and done.

5. Tyrion. I think something awful will happen in the crypts, and Tyrion will save the day. He will probably try to be a voice of reason as Dany moves forward with her political ambitions.

I also think Samwell, Gilly, and Lyanna Mormont will probably survive.  Just wishful thinking here, no particular logic. 



I am on the fence about Sansa. If she survives, she will be a political force in the remaining episodes. But I could picture the battle against the Night King being perhaps the end of that paradigm... perhaps Dany's world view will be altered in a way that puts makes thrones and ruling seem less important to her.  Sansa's death might persuade Dany that having dominion over the North isn't important to her.  But perhaps Dany comes to that realization without Sansa dying.

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 27, 2019, 05:33:59 pm
Sunday night, after all the dust has settled, I imagine I'll be thinking "man, how could I have been so wrong about everything?"

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: TimG on April 28, 2019, 12:55:19 pm
Based on odds offered by Bookies:
(https://www.economist.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/640-width/20190504_WOC556_1.png)
Can't see why anyone believes Bran Stark is a contender.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Squidward von Squidderson on April 28, 2019, 01:22:20 pm
Based on odds offered by Bookies:
Can't see why anyone believes Bran Stark is a contender.

You would think having a couple dragons would get you more respect than that....    ???   ???

I think Daenerys will come out on top....
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 28, 2019, 08:34:22 pm
Based on odds offered by Bookies:

Can't see why anyone believes Bran Stark is a contender.

Of all the possible outcomes, Bran ruling the Seven Kingdoms is the one that makes the least possible sense.  Also can't picture Sansa, Arya, or Gendry.

The six possibilities as I see them:

1. Nobody (the Seven Kingdoms cease to be ruled under one monarch.)

2. Jon, without Dany.

3. Dany, without Jon.

4. Jon and Dany as a couple.

5. Cersei.

6. Nobody (the Night King prevails and destroys everything.)

But perhaps something completely unexpected happens on the way to the fireworks factory...


 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Squidward von Squidderson on April 28, 2019, 11:31:59 pm
Quote
can't picture Sansa, Arya, or Gendry.

Arya could take the face of whomever rules the kingdoms....   i could see that happening. 
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: TimG on April 28, 2019, 11:57:41 pm
You would think having a couple dragons would get you more respect than that....    ???   ???
I will take one Arya over two dragons any day.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on April 29, 2019, 08:15:12 am
Sunday night, after all the dust has settled, I imagine I'll be thinking "man, how could I have been so wrong about everything?"

 -k

Quote
I have no clue what to expect this season. The first half will lead to a battle in Winterfell. I've heard theories that this is a W for humanity. The show is called Game of Thrones not Game of Fighting Ice Zombies. The story should focus on the power struggle with Cersei and not a battle for humanity against some mystic Ice Army.

 ;D

Danny and Jon/Aegon did the Dothraki dirty. Just ride into a black void and get slaughtered. Even Melissandra's assist didn't do anything.

Is Rhegal dead? Wasn't sure because everything in that episode was hard to follow. Other unconfirmed survival/deaths, Gendry, Ghost and Tormond.

Did Arya use a White Walkers face to get that close to the Knight King. In a show where you have to completely suspend reality, that's really hard to believe. But it was cool. Having the God of Death line reset to her must have been good motivation.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: TimG on April 29, 2019, 08:37:37 am
Danny and Jon/Aegon did the Dothraki dirty. Just ride into a black void and get slaughtered. Even Melissandra's assist didn't do anything.
That was so contrived. A real battle would have had the Dothraki do hit and fade flank attacks in the *daylight*. I suspect Melissandra's bit was to add to the drama so the defenders could watch the lights go out from the castle walls.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 29, 2019, 10:58:16 pm
A recap of the long, convoluted history of the dagger that killed the Night King:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/29/arts/television/arya-dagger-bran-night-king.html

It first appeared in the hands of the assassin who tried to kill Bran way back in Season 1 Episode 2, and then passed to Catelyn Stark, Ser Rodderick Cassel, Littlefinger, Ned Stark, then Littlefinger again, who eventually gave it to Bran as a gift.  Bran gave it to Arya, who later used it to kill Littlefinger, as well as the Night King.

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 29, 2019, 11:39:36 pm
That was so contrived. A real battle would have had the Dothraki do hit and fade flank attacks in the *daylight*. I suspect Melissandra's bit was to add to the drama so the defenders could watch the lights go out from the castle walls.

It might have been stupid from a tactical standpoint, but it was an amazing visual.   First, Melissandre shows up, and we get this brief moment of hope... seeing the fires light up in a wave along the front, and seeing how the defenders reacted to it, it seemed like they had a chance after all.

And then the second awesome visual was the Dothraki charge, with the flaming swords and the flaming trebuchet projectiles flying overhead like comets... it was almost as cool as the Riders of Rohan charging into the Battle of Pelennor Fields in Return Of The King. 

And the third incredible visual was the charge as seen from high up where Jon and Dany were watching.   The dots of flame rolling across the battlefield like a wave.

And then, chillingly... the wave stops, like an ocean wave breaking against a granite cliff, breaking up, dispersing.    I liked that this was left completely to the imagination...  we got the one brief visual of the riders meeting the Night King's hordes, but aside from that, it was all implied by the torches.  The torches stop in their tracks, and start disappearing, winking out like snuffed candles.   Terrifying to imagine what must have been happening out there in the darkness, but all we could see was the flames disappearing.

I think the beginning of the episode was brilliant film-making.  From the tension of the opening preparations and the unstated sense of doom conveyed, to the brief glimmer of hope provided by Melissandre's magic and the ferocity of the Dothraki, to the part where the flaming swords have vanished... this was all just stunning to watch. I think that might have been among the most brilliant 10-15 minutes I've ever seen on television.   Pure magic, in my opinion.

The rest of the episode wasn't quite as good. A lot of sound and fury, but it was hard to really get a sense of what was going on.   The scenes in the clouds were especially confusing. 

My "pick 5" dead pool idea turns out to have been terribly misguided. I'm assuming any characters we didn't see die are still alive, of course, but we only saw Theon and Jorah die (plus Lyanna Mormont...)    After several seasons of expecting this to be a cataclysmic event, I somehow expected more than 2 of the main characters to check out for good.   The armies of the living suffered thousands upon thousands of casualties... but amazingly, just two main characters.  It feels like the writers chickened out.


And a lot of people-- including Maisie Williams herself, apparently-- were wondering why it was Arya, and not Jon, who did the thing.  Like, why did Melissandre bother bringing Jon back at all?  Wasn't he supposed to be the guy she'd seen in her prophecy?  Of course she's been wrong about stuff before... she'd thought Stannis was the guy at first, so maybe her prophecy meter is a little broken.  Still, everything seemed to point at Jon being the guy.   But sometimes unexpected stuff happens on the way to the fireworks factory.

I also thought Bran's mystic tree spirit **** would play some kind of role in the conclusion.  Nope.  He just sits there like a lump and doesn't do jack ****.  I wonder what further role he can have from here on out? 


 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: TimG on April 30, 2019, 01:20:33 am
And a lot of people-- including Maisie Williams herself, apparently-- were wondering why it was Arya, and not Jon, who did the thing.  Like, why did Melissandre bother bringing Jon back at all?  Wasn't he supposed to be the guy she'd seen in her prophecy?  Of course she's been wrong about stuff before... she'd thought Stannis was the guy at first, so maybe her prophecy meter is a little broken.  Still, everything seemed to point at Jon being the guy. But sometimes unexpected stuff happens on the way to the fireworks factory.
Most prophesies in fantasies are written down in old books with cryptic wording open to multiple interpretations. In GoT the prophesy was in Melissandre's visions but there is no reason to believe it was anymore precise. You also can't assume the God of Death did not have a plan with redundancy built in. i.e. have multiple potentials but random chance determines which one actually fulfills the prophesy. I kind of like that interpretation because it disposes of the "chosen one" trope that drives so many fantasy stories.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 30, 2019, 02:52:45 am
Did Arya use a White Walkers face to get that close to the Knight King. In a show where you have to completely suspend reality, that's really hard to believe. But it was cool. Having the God of Death line reset to her must have been good motivation.

During that interior scene where she's tiptoeing around trying to avoid being seen and heard by the white walkers, I was wondering about that. I thought of Bill Murray (as  himself!) in Zombieland, explaining to the heroes how he gets around town by just putting on some makeup and shambling around.  How he has the golf course all to himself, because zombies don't golf, that sort of thing.  I was wondering how white walkers can tell the living from their own kind. They don't seem super smart.  They don't seem to sense life (because if they did, finding Arya in that room wouldn't have been hard.)   So is it just visual?  If so, then Arya's disguise skill would have been the perfect thing to get around.

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on April 30, 2019, 03:03:05 am
Most prophesies in fantasies are written down in old books with cryptic wording open to multiple interpretations. In GoT the prophesy was in Melissandre's visions but there is no reason to believe it was anymore precise. You also can't assume the God of Death did not have a plan with redundancy built in. i.e. have multiple potentials but random chance determines which one actually fulfills the prophesy. I kind of like that interpretation because it disposes of the "chosen one" trope that drives so many fantasy stories.

I do generally dislike the "chosen one" trope, so I'm not too broken up over Jon not being the one to end the Night King.  But it does kind of make some of the preceding story involving Jon and Melissandre kind of irrelevant.  Maybe the explanation is "She was just plain wrong... she thought Jon was the guy, so she had to bring him back. But she was wrong."   Then again the defense of Winterfell would have failed without Jon, because he was key in unifying the armies that fought the Night King, so bringing him back was a vital part of defeating the Night King even if he didn't deliver the final blow himself.  I'll have to see what the book nerds are saying about the prophecy and Arya delivering the final blow.

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on May 01, 2019, 08:40:44 am
I'd like to think the way these last episodes go down is that the rest of the 7 Kingdoms rise up against Cersei in the name of the sacrifices made at Winterfell.

Whatever happened to Dorne? Someone must have filled the void left by the Sandsnakes and can't be supportive of the current administration.

An apt strategy would be to force the Golden Company on the offensive. Apparently Moat Cailin has never been taken while manned. Even the sickly Iron Born were able to hold it against the Boltons until Theon/Reek convinced them they'd get safe habour.

The current North/Vale/Wildling/Unsullied/Dothraki? forces don't have the ability to march to King's Landing and take the city. Even with two Dragons.

When it comes to the North and Wildling fighting force, After the War of the 5 Kings, Hardhome, Battle of the Bastards and Battle of Winterfell they must resemble the Resistance after the Last Jedi.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Queefer Sutherland on May 01, 2019, 06:24:32 pm
Can we just stop and appreciate the fact that in one evening Arya seduced a man and lost her virginity, flashed underage sideboob to a global TV audience, and then killed the **** Night King while her fake brother uselessly flew around inside a blizzard chasing blonde **** for an hour on a dragon whose fire could have saved thousands of lives, while her other dickless fake brother died in 1.5 seconds vs the dude he was supposed to defend against, while her real brother (a useless weirdo cripple) did jack **** while looking at thousands of people die through the eyes of ravens, and her **** sister (leader of the north apparently) sat like a **** coward in a crypt while flirting with a midget.

At the end of the final episode Arya better be sitting on the Iron Throne buck naked with Jaime Lannister and 2 dragons eating her out while dragonglass dildos (fashioned by her stupid incest fake brother and blonde-**** sister-in-law) fall out of her ass while she walks.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Queefer Sutherland on May 05, 2019, 12:23:20 am
Me thinks this story is not done with Bran and the Night King quite yet, not by a long shot.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 05, 2019, 01:19:09 pm
I'd like to think the way these last episodes go down is that the rest of the 7 Kingdoms rise up against Cersei in the name of the sacrifices made at Winterfell.

Whatever happened to Dorne? Someone must have filled the void left by the Sandsnakes and can't be supportive of the current administration.

With Euron's navy controlling the sea, the only way from Dorne to the rest of Westeros is through mountain passes.  I would think Dorne must be pretty mad at the Lannister regime, though.   Others must be as well. 

The Reach has seen their entire royal family extincted by Cersei; I would think that whoever ends up taking over in Highgarden would have a grudge.  (is Samwell the highest-ranking noble left in the Reach, after Dany incinerated his dad and brother? Might he be the new lord of Highgarden?  If that's the case, he's not likely to go to bat for Dany as Queen, though he would support Jon as King.)

The Stormlands has also not been heard from for a long time. With all three Baratheon brothers dead, it's not clear who's in charge there either.  Gendry is a surviving offspring of Robert, though given that he's illegitimate it's not clear he'd have any ability to be lord of Storm's End, and he doesn't seem like he'd even want to.  But the Stormlands are a second region who would have a grudge against Cersei and military capacity that isn't as decimated as the North's.

We'd assume that the Vale's military suffered heavily in the fight against the Night King, so they're probably not much help. I assume the Vale is allied with Sansa and will support her whatever she chooses.

The Riverlands are yet another region that we're not sure where they're at. We don't know what has happened with the leadership there since Arya executed Walder Frey and his sons.  Last we saw Edmure Tully, he had basically bent the knee to Jaime Lannister after Jaime showed up to "speak with him".   At that time Jaime told the Freys that they weren't any good to him if he had to keep showing up to enforce on their behalf.  And obviously the Lannisters have not been in position to enforce control of the Riverlands for a while now.  The Tully family would also be aligned with Sansa, if they're back in charge of the Riverlands.   The Twins is also a vital strategic location, and "unassailable", in the estimation of Roose Bolton.


An apt strategy would be to force the Golden Company on the offensive. Apparently Moat Cailin has never been taken while manned. Even the sickly Iron Born were able to hold it against the Boltons until Theon/Reek convinced them they'd get safe habour.

The current North/Vale/Wildling/Unsullied/Dothraki? forces don't have the ability to march to King's Landing and take the city. Even with two Dragons.

When it comes to the North and Wildling fighting force, After the War of the 5 Kings, Hardhome, Battle of the Bastards and Battle of Winterfell they must resemble the Resistance after the Last Jedi.

Yes, the North must be completely tapped out at this point.  (I will laugh if they start this episode by tallying up what's left after the devastation of last episode and Dany tells us that she still has several thousand of Dothraki and Unsullied and Jon tells us that he has thousands more Northmen and Wildlings.)

It would certainly make most sense for the North to simply play defense.  Cersei's army is mercenaries, and mercenaries want to get paid. They aren't a long term answer and they aren't patient; one would think Cersei would have a sense of urgency to crush her enemies ASAP.  Everybody else, you'd think, would be content to try and rebuild while they wait for Cersei to run out of money. 

Or Arya could just go south and assassinate Cersei.  Melissandre's prophecy mentioned Arya shutting "brown eyes, blue eyes, and green eyes."  Blue eyes was obviously a reference to the Night King and brown eyes could be just about anybody including the Frey family.  If I recall correctly, the book talks about Cersei having green eyes.  So that could happen.


 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 05, 2019, 01:27:19 pm
Cool interactive map of Westeros!

http://quartermaester.info/

If you position your mouse pointer carefully the place markers become clickable links that will take you to a Wiki page for that location, like this page for the Tully castle, Riverrun.

https://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Riverrun


 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 06, 2019, 09:41:59 am
The Reach has seen their entire royal family extincted by Cersei; I would think that whoever ends up taking over in Highgarden would have a grudge.  (is Samwell the highest-ranking noble left in the Reach, after Dany incinerated his dad and brother? Might he be the new lord of Highgarden?  If that's the case, he's not likely to go to bat for Dany as Queen, though he would support Jon as King.)

Or Lord Bronn, apparently.

The Stormlands has also not been heard from for a long time. With all three Baratheon brothers dead, it's not clear who's in charge there either.  Gendry is a surviving offspring of Robert, though given that he's illegitimate it's not clear he'd have any ability to be lord of Storm's End, and he doesn't seem like he'd even want to.  But the Stormlands are a second region who would have a grudge against Cersei and military capacity that isn't as decimated as the North's.

I guess you didn't have to be the Amazing Kreskin to see this one coming.

Yes, the North must be completely tapped out at this point.  (I will laugh if they start this episode by tallying up what's left after the devastation of last episode and Dany tells us that she still has several thousand of Dothraki and Unsullied and Jon tells us that he has thousands more Northmen and Wildlings.)

Yes, I almost spit out my beer when Grey Worm says "Half are gone."    Half?  Last episode we were down to a tattered handful of defenders, and now half of the Unsullied are still alive?   And somehow after the horrific carnage of last episode they'd have us believe that Jon and Dany's battered army is still an even fight against Cersei's forces.  They did this really well in season 5 when we saw the effects of attrition on Stannis Baratheon's forces as he marched towards Winterfell.  All that is completely out the window at this point.

It would certainly make most sense for the North to simply play defense.  Cersei's army is mercenaries, and mercenaries want to get paid. They aren't a long term answer and they aren't patient; one would think Cersei would have a sense of urgency to crush her enemies ASAP.  Everybody else, you'd think, would be content to try and rebuild while they wait for Cersei to run out of money. 

...so of course they do the exact opposite!


Yet again Euron Greyjoy's ninja ships appear out of nowhere and save the day for Cersei. It borders on ridiculous at this point.  Dany is high in the air scouting, yet somehow can't see giant **** warships from miles away on a clear day.


Or Arya could just go south and assassinate Cersei.  Melissandre's prophecy mentioned Arya shutting "brown eyes, blue eyes, and green eyes."  Blue eyes was obviously a reference to the Night King and brown eyes could be just about anybody including the Frey family.  If I recall correctly, the book talks about Cersei having green eyes.  So that could happen. 

Arya and Sandor are road trip buddies again! Squeee!  They're going south! They've got unfinished business! Squeee!


 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Goddess on May 06, 2019, 11:00:40 am
Did you see the Starbuck's cup in that episode?  :D
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on May 06, 2019, 12:18:25 pm
Sansa is the only smart person on this show. You're going to have the entire North army travel the Kings Road to King's Landing. Regardless of the show's teleportation ability that's still something Rob Stark couldn't do. Don't the Lannister's control the Twins now? The Lannisters aren't taking the North anytime soon, they should pause and replenish their forces and craft an intelligent plan. Instead they fly right into a trap.

Also King's Landing now has a SAM defence system now, so the one dragon they have left is useless AF.

The show is purely fan fiction and spectacle now. Brienne and Jamie finally get to bone. We get Arya and Hound 2 Electric Bugaboo. This is certainly foreshadowing Clegane Bowl. They also forshadow the Valonqar Prophesy (https://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Valonqar/Theories) with Jamie leaving Brienne's warm bed back into the arms of Cersie. They banish Ghost to North of the Wall with Tormond so we don't have to have another CGI doggie die.

Don't get me wrong. It's enjoyable TV. But the appeal of the earlier season is that it at least tried to be as realistic as a Fanstasy Show/Book Series could be. Now it's anything goes, lets race to the finish line.

Oh and killing the few people of colour they have, while in chains, is racist. . . apparently. https://meaww.com/game-of-thrones-season-8-episode-4-shocking-missandei-racist-death-cersei-kings-landing-daenerys



 
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: TimG on May 06, 2019, 12:40:41 pm
The Lannisters aren't taking the North anytime soon, they should pause and replenish their forces and craft an intelligent plan. Instead they fly right into a trap.
The bone-headed military tactics are  getting ridiculous. Sending their Calvary into a frontal assault in the dark; having infantry deployed *in front* of the trenches and barricades; dragon riders that can't see ships before they are in firing range. We have incompetence on a grand scale.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on May 06, 2019, 12:49:33 pm
The theory is that it's Rubber Band AI to make the battle more even.

https://www.giantbomb.com/rubber-band-ai/3015-35/
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Queefer Sutherland on May 06, 2019, 01:58:04 pm
The writing is terrible in episode 4, and the stupid dialogue makes some of the acting seem bad.  Many of the characters have turned into cardboard cutouts that either now turn "good" or "bad" or "smart" or "dumb", with much of the complexity and shades of grey withering away.

We can now even more appreciate how good of a writer George is, with kudos to the earlier script writers too.

Jon is now a moron ****-chaser, Dany went from caring queen to despot, Sansa betrayed Jon within 5 seconds after learning "the secret" and has gone from dumb girl to smartest tactician in Westeros, Brianne went from stoic badass to weeping loser, Tyrion went from master strategist to total screw-up within a season or 2.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on May 06, 2019, 02:15:03 pm
The writing is terrible in episode 4, and the stupid dialogue makes some of the acting seem bad.  Many of the characters have turned into cardboard cutouts that either now turn "good" or "bad" or "smart" or "dumb", with much of the complexity and shades of grey withering away.

We can now even more appreciate how good of a writer George is, with kudos to the earlier script writers too.

Jon is now a moron ****-chaser, Dany went from caring queen to despot, Sansa betrayed Jon within 5 seconds after learning "the secret" and has gone from dumb girl to smartest tactician in Westeros, Brianne went from stoic badass to weeping loser, Tyrion went from master strategist to total screw-up within a season or 2.

Characters need to evolve.

The appeal of the show is that characters have an arch. Hound and Jamie are good guys now. Dany is seemingly a bad guy. Tyrion still has a soft spot for his sister and vice versa.

They're condensing stuff way too much now.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: TimG on May 06, 2019, 02:28:40 pm
Jon is now a moron ****-chaser
To be fair to John: he undermined his position by telling Dany his heritage.  It put him in an a situation where he has to constantly prove his loyalty lest she see him as a rival and a threat. He then made the sitution worse by telling Sansa.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: ?Impact on May 06, 2019, 04:52:07 pm
The appeal of the show is that characters have an arch.

There is a humpback in GoT?

... or do you mean arc?
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 06, 2019, 10:19:28 pm
The bone-headed military tactics are  getting ridiculous. Sending their Calvary into a frontal assault in the dark; having infantry deployed *in front* of the trenches and barricades; dragon riders that can't see ships before they are in firing range. We have incompetence on a grand scale.

I think the lack of consistency is the problem.    In earlier seasons, transportation and logistics was a big deal.  Moving armies around the continent was a major problem.  Strategic locations mattered.  Considerations like how to supply troops mattered. We saw Robb Stark forced to deal with the Freys because he needed to cross the river. We saw Stannis's army withered away by cold and hunger and desertions.  Now armies are zooming around the map like it's a board game.  Euron Greyjoy's navy apparently has the stealth of Red October and the firepower of Lord Vader's Imperial destroyer.  In a couple of seasons they've gone from war being grungy and slow and brutal and medieval, to this new aesthetic that's more like a video game or something. It's a jarring shift in tone.


 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 06, 2019, 10:22:19 pm
To be fair to John: he undermined his position by telling Dany his heritage.  It put him in an a situation where he has to constantly prove his loyalty lest she see him as a rival and a threat. He then made the sitution worse by telling Sansa.

He could learn to keep his mouth shut.   Ned Stark was the paragon of honor, and he kept the secret of Jon's parentage to his grave-- even at the cost of personal dishonor and injury to his wife.  If Ned could keep that secret from his family, I don't see why Jon couldn't.

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Queefer Sutherland on May 09, 2019, 07:17:28 am
Characters need to evolve.

The appeal of the show is that characters have an arch. Hound and Jamie are good guys now. Dany is seemingly a bad guy. Tyrion still has a soft spot for his sister and vice versa.

They're condensing stuff way too much now.

I think the problem is how quickly these character changes are happening now.  Before it could happen over a season or several episodes, but with only 6 episodes to wrap things up yes they're condensing things too much.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: guest18 on May 09, 2019, 07:46:21 am
I think the lack of consistency is the problem.    In earlier seasons, transportation and logistics was a big deal.  Moving armies around the continent was a major problem.  Strategic locations mattered.  Considerations like how to supply troops mattered. We saw Robb Stark forced to deal with the Freys because he needed to cross the river. We saw Stannis's army withered away by cold and hunger and desertions.  Now armies are zooming around the map like it's a board game.  Euron Greyjoy's navy apparently has the stealth of Red October and the firepower of Lord Vader's Imperial destroyer.  In a couple of seasons they've gone from war being grungy and slow and brutal and medieval, to this new aesthetic that's more like a video game or something. It's a jarring shift in tone.


 -k
Exactly. How did Bronn suddenly show up on Tyrion and Jaime's doorstep with the crossbow in the last episode? Where did he go with it when he decided not to use it?
It's nothing more than poorly thought-out fan fiction now. There is certainly a sense that anything can happen now in the final two episodes because they've dispensed with all logic, character development, and continuity. Should be great.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on May 10, 2019, 12:47:37 pm
I think the problem is how quickly these character changes are happening now.  Before it could happen over a season or several episodes, but with only 6 episodes to wrap things up yes they're condensing things too much.

I don't think D&D want to do 3 or 4 more seasons of this. Adapting a book is one thing, but creating content the same way George R. Martin does is something completely different.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Queefer Sutherland on May 10, 2019, 10:56:17 pm
I don't think D&D want to do 3 or 4 more seasons of this. Adapting a book is one thing, but creating content the same way George R. Martin does is something completely different.

That's fine i get that.  They could have run season 8 as 10 episodes though instead of 6, same with season 7.  Instead of trying to horseshoe a narrative that doesn't feel the way the show used to.  Seems they cranked up the budget and big battle the last 2 seasons, but the writing isn't as good sometimes, especially character development and dialogue, which is everything in this show.  Instead we get more epic battle scenes. It's like they want this to be like Lord the Rings.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 12, 2019, 03:19:39 pm
Since everything has gone completely ridiculous this season, I hope they give us a "Who's the Daddy?" scene featuring Cersei, Jaime, Euron, and Ser Jerrald of House Springer.

Ser Jerrald:  "The Queen Regent is knocked up again! But who's the daddy?  Cersei Lannister, come on out!"

Cersei takes a seat, and smirks as the studio audience jeers.

Ser Jerrald: "Cersei has been with two men recently. One of them is her own brother! Jaime Lannister, come on out!"

crowd jeers as Jaime takes his seat.

Ser Jerrald: "But Cersei has also been seeing the Lord of the Seas, Euron Greyjoy!"

crowd boos and hisses as Euron arrives, taunting the audience with a "raise the roof" jesture before taking his seat.

Ser Jerrald: "Anything to say to Jaime, Euron?"

Euron: "Jaime! I've been banging your sister! How do ya like that?"

the crowd goes wild as Jaime flips his chair and charges at Euron, only to be held back by the security goldcloaks.

Ser Jerrald: "Settle down, Jaime!  Anything to say to Euron?"

Jaime: "I've already had three babies with her! You've been shooting blanks all these years.  Hope you enjoyed my sloppy seconds."

the audience goes wild as Euron flips his chair and charges at Jaime, only to be held back by the security goldcloaks.

Ser Jerrald: "alright, alright. But Cersei... what can you tell us about this whole situation?"

Cersei: "Pregnant? I can't recall ever saying I was pregnant."

total chaos breaks out; everybody is flipping chairs, security goldcloaks are frantically trying to break up the brawl as Ser Jerrald waves farewell to the audience.


 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 12, 2019, 03:21:19 pm
Also, I hope that Jaime gets a robot hand like Luke Skywalker, and that Euron's navy gets boarded by Ewoks in birch-bark canoes.

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on May 13, 2019, 08:49:45 am
I didn't see Jamie and Cersei going out like that? That's like the ending of Rogue One. Clegane Bowl was. . . a thing. Stabbing a dude in a head and still having him stay up is bizarre.

So the big bad ends up being Dany and her army. The North has put their lot in with an obvious heel. No one can support her claim now. As she said, she can only rule through fear. That episode up ends everything we've seen from Dany and her armies for every season so far. She didn't have to do what she did and it was a pure act of evil.

The preview didn't indicate how the rest of the "realm" reacted. I suspect Varys has already sown seeds of doubts across the 7 Kingdoms that Jon/Aegon should rule.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 13, 2019, 10:15:35 am
Tyrion is now the tallest Lannister!

I was just reading yesterday that "Khaleesi" and "Daenarys" have become popular names for girls. I assume those parents will have to have a long chat with their daughters some day.


SO ANYWAY

This episode was called "The Bells", which is fitting because the ringing of the bells was the dividing point.  Up to there, it had been crowd-pleasing stuff-- Cersei's forces being trounced, insufferable Euron's navy being obliterated, Cersei watching it all helplessly... I found this part really satisfying actually.  Cersei being so confident that somehow she'd still come out on top... seeing everything turn to ashes for her, seeing the realization slowly dawn on her that she was ruined, that was something we've wanted to see for about 8 years, and seeing it finally happen was sweet.

And then the bells ring, signalling the surrender... and Dany thinks about it for a moment and is like "you know what? I'm still mad. I'm not done yet."  And Grey Worm is like "ALSO STILL MAD."  They've foreshadowed this side of her for a long time, so it's not a shocker, but it was still pretty jarring.   She told Jon earlier that she'd have to rule through fear. In earlier seasons we saw her do some incredibly ruthless things in her pursuit of power, always justifying with her belief that she was a more just ruler than those she was replacing.  She lacked the self-awareness to realize she was morphing into the tyrants she'd set out to oppose.  She went past the point of no return this episode.   I get it, I understand this choice... but it was still kind of heartbreaking to see a character that we've cheered for from season 1 go over to the dark side like this.


At the start of the episode we saw Varys writing memos for his little birds to smuggle out.  I assume we're to believe enough of those got out for word to spread all over the seven kingdoms.   But now they've got a dragon queen on the throne and nobody in the land has any weapon that can kill a dragon and there are no armies left that can stand up to Dany's remaining forces. So... how they get out of this jam is a mystery to me. Should be a very interesting finale.


 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on May 13, 2019, 11:50:22 am
Arya Deus Ex Machina I reckon.

Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Queefer Sutherland on May 13, 2019, 11:04:31 pm
After he ho-hum let-down of the white walker battle, the last 2 episodes have been horrible.  Dany went from hero to the most murderous villain of the series within 2 episodes.  Her and her soldiers were committing war crimes, burning innocent women and children.  This is so dumb.

The last 2 episodes have been by far the worst reviewed by critics and fans of the whole series.  At least I can read the books that are apparently done and waiting for the show to end to be released.
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 14, 2019, 09:31:27 am
I was thinking that the Daenarys story is a lot like the Anakin Skywalker story, in that they both had the makings of great heroes but embraced hate after tragedies in their personal lives. I've drawn up a quick reference guide to compare and contrast.

Daenarys: "the Mother of Dragons".
Anakin: "the Chosen One."

Daenarys: born under extraordinary circumstances.
Anakin: conceived under extraordinary circumstances.

Daenarys: destined for greatness by birthright.
Anakin:  destined for greatness by birthright.

Daenarys: begins the story as another person's property.
Anakin: begins the story as another person's property.

Daenarys: becomes extremely powerful.
Anakin: becomes extremely powerful.

Daenarys: builds and commands a vast military power during the story.
Anakin: becomes commander of a vast military power later on in the story.

Daenarys: betrayed or abandoned by everyone close to her.
Anakin: betrays and abandons everyone close to him.

Daenarys: turns to the dark side after losing loved ones.
Anakin: turns to the dark side in a futile attempt to save loved ones.

Daenarys: slaughters innocents in an unthinkable act of evil.
Anakin:  slaughters innocents in an unthinkable act of evil.

Daenarys: not flammable.
Anakin:  flammable.



 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 14, 2019, 09:49:46 am
I watched some of the scenes of destruction again last night.

I liked the scene were Cersei arrives in the tower to watch everything.  She doesn't say anything, but the look in her eyes says that she's anticipating a great day. The idea that she might lose hasn't even entered her head. She's so confident. 

And as they go back to her several times during the episode that look is gone, but she's in denial even as she watches everything collapse. The Golden Company-- wiped out in moments. The Iron Fleet-- in ruins. The ballistas-- destroyed.   She remains desperately convinced that somehow something is going to go right for her, because it always has. When Qyburn finally convinces her that she's lost and they need to flee, we get this one little tear as she finally comprehends the totality of her defeat.

A lot of people wanted her to meet a violent end face-to-face at the hands of one of her enemies, but I think being crushed to death as her own castle collapsed on top of her was really a perfect ending for her.  Really, she was killed by her own over confidence more than anything else. Being crushed under her castle was a great metaphor for her hubris causing her downfall.

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: TimG on May 20, 2019, 11:48:52 am
Based on odds offered by Bookies:
(https://www.economist.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/640-width/20190504_WOC556_1.png)
Can't see why anyone believes Bran Stark is a contender.
So now the question is: how did British bettors know that no one else seemed to know?
I would also like to know if the they paid out because Bran is technically only the ruler of 6 kingdoms?
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 20, 2019, 02:13:36 pm
Of all the possible outcomes, Bran ruling the Seven Kingdoms is the one that makes the least possible sense. 

Lol!


Tyrion's plan only works as long as the 7 6 kingdoms are led by reasonable rational people without greater ambition.   Otherwise everything is right back to square one, with the next Tywin Lannister plotting to put his back on the Iron Throne.

Also, when Sansa opts the North out of the 7 kingdoms, to me it seems like at that moment Yara Greyjoy ought to have piped up and said "wait, I didn't know that was an option. That thing she just did? I want to do that too."    She had already negotiated exactly such a deal with Daenarys... for her to not insist it be honored seems out of character and kind of an omission.

Nonetheless, I kind of liked the resolution. The final episode was somewhat low key, and I liked that it suggested that the years of strife would end and stability would return. Seeing the Small Council talking about boring business like finances and rebuilding the sewer system gave a sense of hope, a sense that the wars and power struggles were over and they were going to start looking after the small folk.  I'm not sure that Bronn was a great choice to be master of coin, and I'm not sure Brienne or Samwell have much management experience, but Tyrion and Davos both have relevant work experience, so I'm sure they'll be fine.

We've seen similar from Sansa over the past few seasons. Her being the one who talks about details like storing enough food for winter and feeding their armies and so on is a reminder of Catelyn Stark warning Ned about the same issues in season one. While Arya was out playing archery, Sansa was learning about running a kingdom from her mother.  Sansa has Catelyn's business sense, but also a bit of Cersei's calculating nature and Littlefinger's cunning.


Poor Jon... he lost the love of his life, twice. He knew nothing, but learned a few things along the way.  Being exiled back to Castle Black isn't so terrible. He was reunited with his puppy and the wildlings. It's where he grew into the man he became. Like his wolf, he belonged in the north.
 

I thought Emilia Clarke was really good this episode... she gave a sense that she still really believed in what she was doing, that she was so blinded by her goal of "breaking the wheel" that she genuinely didn't realize that she'd become the wheel.  A lot of people feel that her turn to the dark side didn't make sense, but I think it could have. It fell down because everything was quite rushed, and didn't feel convincing because it wasn't given enough time to develop.  Tyrion's talk with Jon put it in better context.  We cheered her on because she was destroying evil men-- it applies to the audience as well as to the characters in the show.  It was still sad to see her go.  Poor Drogon.  Lost his siblings and his mom.


As for Arya... she's sailing west, probably to kill Benioff and Weiss.


 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 20, 2019, 02:17:11 pm
A couple of lesser moments that gave me a giggle were at the summit of leaders, when Samwell proposes democracy and everybody reacts like it's the most retarded idea they've ever heard.  And when Sansa politely asks Edmure to sit down and shut up.

 -k
Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Boges on May 21, 2019, 09:55:58 am
People seemed to hate that Council meeting. I loved it.

Grown up Robyn Aryn,
Edmure Tully somehow gets to lead the Riverlands and gets dunked on by Sansa.
This Prince of Dorne that no one knows anything about looks completely disinterested.
Sam is there to represent the Reach? Why are Brienne and Davos there, come to think of it?

Sam and Bron totally won the Game of Throne. Not only is Sam the Small Council Maester, he's also the Lord of Hornhill has a wife and kids. Talk about Breaking the Wheel.

Bron becomes master of coin, because. . . and gets Highgarden so he replaces the Tyrells. What do they call Bron's house?

I would also think Dorne and The Iron Islands would pipe in when Sansa proposes NorExit.



Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: Queefer Sutherland on May 22, 2019, 01:06:00 am
Scenes from the final episode ranged from "good" to "crap", giving it a final "meh" rating.

Season 8 has been one of the most epic disappointments in TV history.  The writing was horrendous.  I'll be waiting for the books to hopefully get a final arc that isn't dog poo.  The last book should be out by 2035.

For the die-hard fans (which isn't me), Bran has been a popular guess for awhile.

Title: Re: So uhh.. Game of Thrones comes back this week.
Post by: kimmy on May 29, 2019, 11:42:11 pm
 ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACNFpNm2IWk

 -k