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Don't lose it, everyone. We're in the homestretch here. Yes, there are compromises aplenty to shoehorn this narrative where it needs to go.
Remember, in the seasons after number two, Benioff and Weiss lengthened and thickened every plot strand they could; and invented every sort of contrived character conjunctions possible to keep the show from narratively progressing too fast.
We now see the radical downside of all that lengthening and thickening: a show that's moving way too fast in its final two seasons, and this'll all make us feel as if the show ended too soon.
In reality, the show got bogged down in some indecision in seasons 3-6, and now all us paying customers are getting a little bit of the shaft for all the creators' emergency improvisations.
Just goes to show a better master plan was needed before production ever began, but the producers had no idea the show would catch on like this. It's all a little like how Star Trek's appeal didn't really become apparent until after it was too late to keep producing it, so it stayed in purgatory for nearly ten years. The compromises necessary to keep the Game of Thrones train at full steam has given us a significantly compromised product. It has probably been worth it.
...and don't forget, the timeline of the novels is much more rapid than the TV show, with all the necessity to stay true to the aging of the child actors. That kind of messed up the momentum of the show. If the child actors could have had their aging arrested, we'd have gotten something more congruent with the novel series.
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Re: Season 8, Episode 4 "The Last of the Starks"
Funeral pyres and encomiums from Jon Snow for the lost casualties of The Long Night/Battle of Winterfell, then...
I thought the next scene was smashing in the best Game of Thrones way, with intimate character scenes in the midst of the post-Long Night revelry. When Gendry goes to make his way out of Winterfell's feast hall, and Daenerys stops him with an emphatic "Gendry", you knew the showrunners weren't going to let things get syrupy after the battle.
Deanerys interrogates Gendry on his parentage; Gendry responds he never met Robert Baratheon, or even knew Robert was his father until after Robert's death. Great uncertainty here before Daenerys proclaims Gendry a Baratheon and the new lord of the Baratheon family seat, Storm's End.
This raises the question, inevitably, as to whether Deanerys Targaryen, daughter of the Mad King Aerys III Targaryen, might be getting paranoid and capricious after all the psychotic shit she's been through. Think back, dear viewer, to all the crazy stuff the Dragon Queen has endured; you might sympathize if she loses it in the face of all that magic and war and terror. Good moment of doubt in the look between Tyrion and Sansa. I think those two may end up together.
Ser Davos Seaworth and Tyrion ponder the "death" of Melisandre and the motives of the Lord of Light. Tyrion queries Brandon Stark on the possibility of being Lord of Winterfell; Bran declines, asserting that he's not living in the realm of the living fully, but trapped in the past never to escape. I'd think Bran will have something strategic to contribute before this is all over, yet the good guys choose not to take him into the final confrontation.
Good moment with Tyrion, in full drinking-game jerk mode, declaring Brienne a virgin, whereupon Brienne gets properly peeved and exits. Tormund Giantsbane tries to profit from this. Brienne demurs. The Hound, Sandor Clegane, asks Sansa about the brutalizations she suffered at the hands of Littlefinger and Ramsay Bolton. Sansa has come through all this with her sanity, and is pleasantly resigned to what the past has made of her. Actor Jessica Chastain got all indignant about that little scene on social media; I don't think Jessica really got the scene.
Gendry, new lord of Storm's End, immediately propositions his recent lover Arya. Arya says no way, Jose, I'm a trained killer now and there's killing left to be done, Lord Baratheon. Brienne and Jaime Lannister finally get together in an overheated room. Clap, clap. Sniffle. Gimme a napkin. I love it. That was one of the longest set of unfinished character arcs in the whole show!
Daenerys attempts to extract a promise from Aegon VI (Jon Snow) Targaryen not to tell anyone of his true heritage. Fat chance. Jon, rightly in my opinion, says he has to tell his sisters. Daenerys mentions Sansa's brutalizations in the effort to dissuade Jon. Curious that one woman who's been through lots of rough stuff, but never really brutalized (though that could change before the show is over.) would be so quick to doubt the equanimity of a fellow woman who had been done so abominably as Sansa. I think Sansa's made of sterner stuff, like her late mother Catelyn, than Daenerys knows.
In strategy, the good guys assess they've lost half their forces. Varys reports that the late Theon Greyjoy's sister, Yara (called Asha in the novels.) has retaken the Iron Islands and that the current ruler of Dorne (whoever that is.) has also pledged fealty to the Dragon Queen. Daenerys wants to go at Cersei full throttle. Sansa suggests letting everyone's troops recuperate. Daenerys reiterates the sacrifices she has made on behalf of the North, and insists on immediate resumption of hostilities. Jon reiterates the bargain made before the Long Night/Battle of Winterfell: the good guys will march, or sail, to King's Landing post haste.
The Stark women, in brazen display of empowerment, demand a word in the godswood on their doubts about Daenerys. Jon reminds them that they'd all be dead and zombified if not for the Dragon Queen. To assuage Arya and Sansa's doubts, he has Bran reveal all to them.
The next scene with Jaime, Tyrion and Bronn wouldn't have worked at all unless you believe Bronn might actually kill the Lannister brothers. Bronn swaggers in, crossbow and all, inhabiting the sellsword persona perfectly. Bronn's learned not to even listen to these two; he smacks Tyrion in the nose, launches an arrow close to Jaime's head. Bronn reminds Tyrion of the promise Tyrion made to him all the way back in season one, after Tyrion had escaped execution at the Eyrie. Tyrion would double any offer to kill him. Tyrion suggests delaying the murder of Jaime and himself by promising Bronn the lordship of The Reach, former realm of the murdered House Tyrell (in the destruction of the Sept of Baelor, by Cersei's wildfire-enabled henchmen, back at the end of season six.). Bronn accepts, and says they'll see him after the war.
Talk about a "killer" team, Sandor "The Hound" Clegane and Arya stark his the road south together. Both agreed that their mission involves both killing and not coming back. Here's the real spear wielded by the good guys in the coming conflagration. The Hound and Arya were always one of the show's best teams. I feel all juiced knowing they'll be together at the end.
Tyrion and Sansa confer. Tyrion vouches for Daenerys' character, asks Sansa to tolerate and cooperate. Sansa spills the beans on Jon's parentage. I don't think Sansa would have divulged that to anyone she didn't trust like family, which is why I think they'll end up together. Jon says goodbye to Tormund Giantsbane and Samwell Tarly. House Tarly is about to get another heir, thanks to Samwell's common-law wife Gilly, to be named Jon if a boy.
Off the old Targaryen stronghold of Dragonstone, the good guys' fleet hosts a conversation between Tyrion and Varys. Varys asks how many others know of Jon's true heritage, Tyrion says eight others. Varys points out this means it's no longer a secret. The good guy fleet is attacked, in another surprise sprung by the Crow's Eye, Euron Greyjoy. Continuing the great CGI from "The Long Night" we get a great new dreadnought for the Bad Greyjoy fleet, with the Qyburn-designed scorpion (oversized arrow launcher) we first saw in battle last season mounted on the foredeck of this awesome new Evil Ship.
After Daenerys retreats with her surviving dragon, Euron trains his fleet's scorpions on the Good Guys' fleet, sending Tyrion into the waves, with just about everyone else. The survivors crawl onto the Dragonstone coast, but no Missandei!
In King's Landing, Cersei takes the news of the destruction of the Good Guy fleet well. Qyburn applauds the Queen's strategy of letting the smallfolk into the Red Keep (the royal residence) as a "human shield". Cersei now claims that her pregnancy, if it is real, is the product of Euron Greyjoy, not Jaime Lannister! Is this a big deal or not? Truth be told, this is one of the facets of the show that's gotten short shrift with the rush to end the show. In fact, the show has suffered being out of King's Landing for lo these past two seasons. King's Landing is the evil pole of the show, and it doesn't really work to make it a CGI interlude, when so much crucial stuff is being brewed there. Maybe the last two episodes will compensate for this neglect.
Lots of talk on Dragonstone after the naval debacle about storming King's Landing in retribution. Varys councils restraint: torching the Red Keep would turn the King's Landers against Daenerys. Daenerys reiterates her commitment to busting Cersei's tyranny. Tyrion suggests an ultimatum to Cersei: her life for the throne, before unleashing her one remaining dragon, the biggest one, Drogon. Daenerys assents, commenting "They should know who to blame when the sky falls upon them."
Tyrion and Varys confer on their mutual suspicion of Daenerys' sanity. Tyrion wants to stay true. Varys reiterates his commitment to the people of the realm. Switching loyalties to Jon Snow is considered. Nice scene, I just wish Tyrion and Varys were more in the middle of the shizmo.
Back at Winterfell, Brienne informs Sansa and Jaime Lannister of the naval/dragon setback at Dragonstone. Sansa seems encouraged by this, telling Jaime: "I always wanted to be present when they execute your sister. Now it looks like I won't get the chance." Jaime, sensing Cersei's imminent demise, longs to return to her. Brienne begs him to stay. Jaime claims he's just as spiteful and abominable as Cersei is...and rides off into the night, leaving a sobbing Brienne behind.
Back at the CGI-gates of King's Landing (the same edifice, I believe, that was used as the gates of Qarth back in season two, with some CGI scorpion decks added.) Tyrion and Qyburn, respective Hands to their respective Queens, meet outside the gates, with Cersei and Daenerys' retinues looking on, to attempt negotiation. Both queens demand unconditional surrender. After pleasantries, Tyrion bypasses Qyburn and goes to directly address Cersei, brimming with fury as Missandei stands at the edge of the platform.
Tyrion tries exhibiting humanity, reminding Cersei of her own; recalling her love for her late children, her love for her lover/brother Jaime. Cersei doesn't bite, and has Ser Gregor--the undead Mountain--Clegane slice off Missandei's head. Fury all around. See you next week!
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Good review Born.
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Posted: |
May 13, 2019 - 5:21 AM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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I don't think I've posted on here before, but I've caught up with GoT from episode 1 to last night's episode over the past recent weeks. As a result, it's ALL been a bit rushed for me, so although I've seen criticism of Series 7 and 8 as galloping too quickly towards a conclusion, it hasn't really seemed like that for me. It doesn't seem very long since Bran was defenestrated, since Theon unknowingly felt up his sister on horseback, since that Scottish bloke in The Bodyguard realised that he should have turned down the wedding invitation.
Watching last night's episode (actually saw it this morning on Now TV) I was struck by how brilliantly it was directed, by Miguel Sapochnik. The long distance shots were spectacular, and the close up fights and headlong battles and panic in the city were clear, easy to follow and hugely affecting. In particular, Ayra's movement through the burning ruins and her encounters with the ordinary denizens were brilliant. I realise that editing has a lot to do with it, but I don't remember much better directing work being done in any of the previous series. Hats off to him.
On to next week's finale!
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Glad youre up to date with that "silly dungeons n dragons series" - phelps will never forgive you.
When people say dismissive comments to me like "i dont wanna watch a series about dragons that has porn and gory violence in" - i dont bother to say no, thats just a tiny part, its really about power, and internecine skullduggery n backstabbing and plotting and battle tactics and survival and good over evil and shades of grey in the middle. I just say "oh." And think suckers!
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So did i!!
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Whose underselling it?
Xeb and me said good episode and TG was impressed with the production. Have i missed 10 posts slagging it off?
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ha ha.
Shades of Mark Hamill. 