Television Game of Thrones (TV) • The watch has ended

People were moaning about ‘cheaping out’ on the CGI. Hardly.

If you don’t like it, why do you watch it?
I want closure. I won't get a lot of that anyways, by the look of things.
Btw, I haven't even watched the episode so far, I read around three recaps to get the important details. As I said, I don't care about the visuals, it's story first for me.
 
Mixed feelings on the episode.

It was certainly entertaining and GOT continues to push television boundaries in terms of spectacle. I didn't have an issue with the tropes and contrivances either because, well, it's a TV show. I'm not expecting realistic beats in a fantasy/zombie/dragon battle.

On the other hand, it did seem a rather abrupt end to the WW threat that has been building from the start. If they were trying to make it seem like they absolutely barely survived relentless death in a way that was commensurate with the build up the WWs have had over 8 seasons then you would probably have needed two battles, one in which they lose and fall back followed by another where they barely win with the "lure the NK into a trap plan". In all honesty that's what I was expecting to happen, with this episode seeing them lose.

Said abruptness makes it difficult for me to figure out where the WW threat fits in thematically, especially as their overall purpose in the show is derived directly from the books which don't share the same screenwriting flaws that have changed GOT in later seasons. Basically, what was the actual point of them? I think the next few episodes with end up defining how I look back on this episode. For example, if:

Our heroes were to follow facing down the WWs by immediately plunging into more death (vs Cersei) and turning on each other for power (a heel turn from Dany) in a very "human" way then it would sort of make sense to me thematically. The WWs being (if not quite a red rerring) a way of showing that the greatest threat to humanity is each other, not external existential threats.

On the other hand if it turns out that:

That isn't the idea at all and the WWs were actually supposed to be the big danger then it will feel like they ultimately botched what should have been the whole point of the show.

Of course it could also be that:

The show will end up looping back around to the WWs again what with Bran now seemingly having no purpose otherwise.
 
I want closure. I won't get a lot of that anyways, by the look of things.
Btw, I haven't even watched the episode so far, I read around three recaps to get the important details. As I said, I don't care about the visuals, it's story first for me.

Watch it then.

You can’t comment until you’ve seen the full episode. It’s TV not the book.
 
Some people are so touchy about this show it's really weird.

Sorry I just dont understand internet crusaders critiquing shows to the extent where they try to drag it down to others. Especially when they are supposed fans of the show in question.

It’s entertainment, enjoy it. If it’s shite and not for you, don’t watch it
 
Anyone else think the unsullied were the real heroes of this episode? In that chaos and madness their discipline and organisation was incredible :lol:
Dothraki for me. Seeing them all ride in to the unknown with their flaming swords was amazing. First ones in to battle.
 
Oh boy, the neckbeards aren't happy. Honestly reminds me of the Star Wars geeks losing their shit over that last film. Take everything so seriously.

Perfectly fine with how the episode went but Jon Snow looks like a chump now (which is fine given he's a boring character).
 
Sorry I just dont understand internet crusaders critiquing shows to the extent where they try to drag it down to others. Especially when they are supposed fans of the show in question.

It’s entertainment, enjoy it. If it’s shite and not for you, don’t watch it

Internet crusaders? Are you feeling ok?

It's a TV show, people are in this thread to discuss it. If you only want to hear people saying how perfect and amazing it is then this isn't the place.

Why does it bother you so much that people found problems with it?
 
Having some season, Jon better offer her a new contract before a bigger offer from Cersei comes in.

She’s a Stark through and through and will take something really big to entice her to move.. Her demands will be bigger than what Cersei can afford.
 
Can I just say that Die Hard contains brilliant storytelling. That some of the wild storytelling in GOT is being favourably compared, or that the action based nature of Die Hard is being used as a way to dismiss criticism of elements in GOT, suggests that those doing so don't really understand many of the criticisms and don't really understand what storytelling is. Which is fine, you can't understand everything but it is a lousy comparison.

Also storytelling is less about destination and more about journey. It's not about oh I didn't want that to happen = bad storytelling.
 
Last edited:
Great episode, better than that shower of shite the avengers I watched couple of days ago.

As for those feeling that the story telling has gone to shit a bit; that’s been the case since last year when they ran out of GRRM’s material. This is all about wrapping the show up in a satisfactory way. The cinematography and directing are great and it was edge of your seat stuff for an hour twenty.

They came up with a fittingly great ending for Lady Mormont, I’ll give them that.
 
Sorry I just dont understand internet crusaders critiquing shows to the extent where they try to drag it down to others. Especially when they are supposed fans of the show in question.

It’s entertainment, enjoy it. If it’s shite and not for you, don’t watch it

People are allowed to like different things and discuss them you know.

How about you just stop thinking about the comments you don't like instead of trying to belittle people and their opinions.
 
There was only two possible outcomes of that battle. It was literally a battle to the death. It had to end the way it did.
 
Successfully dodged any spoilers until I got home today :D

That episode was a visual feast, so many scenes were breathtaking to watch.

Theon’s character arc has been superb, second only to Jaime in my opinion. Both of them have had by far the best character arcs.

I’m a bit disappointed that the night king saga has ended already. After building up to this since literally the first scene of the show, it just felt so abrupt.
 
I kept on blaming my wifi, my tv and the HBO app for the blurry/hay picture quality, but it does seem that it was made that way. Took a bit of enjoyment.

A magnificent visual spectacle, but prefer the Battle of the Bastards for its rawness. But I loved that ending, all of it.
 
Dothraki for me. Seeing them all ride in to the unknown with their flaming swords was amazing. First ones in to battle.

The dothraki were admirably brave but I don't know the impact they had. The unsullied though stayed out till last and bought them enough to retreat and for the red woman to set the trench on fire.
 
Seriously, some of you are trying really hard to find stuff to moan about :lol: Soundtrack is too similar to Westworld, screen is black (how about you get a decent monitor?), CGI is bad (you understand it's not a 300 million budget 2 hour long movie?), there was only 1 giant (see earlier) etc etc. This was probably the greatest TV show episode ever, it had quite literally everything. The only thing I am not sure about is how Arya killed the NK. I know she is a stealth master but how did no one notice her when there was half an army around? Other than that, brilliant.
 
It needed more deaths for that emotional impact. Brienne, Pod, Sam, Grey Worm, Jaime, and The Hound should have all died. I enjoyed it, but that ending came out of seemingly nowhere. They could have had the Hound distract the dead in the Godswood, thus he sacrifices himself so Arya can sneak up on the NK.

Sam, Jamie and Brienne still have a big part to play imo. The hound is also nailed on to some epic battle with the mountain.
 
Seriously, some of you are trying really hard to find stuff to moan about :lol: Soundtrack is too similar to Westworld, screen is black (how about you get a decent monitor?), CGI is bad (you understand it's not a 300 million budget 2 hour long movie?), there was only 1 giant (see earlier) etc etc. This was probably the greatest TV show episode ever, it had quite literally everything. The only thing I am not sure about is how Arya killed the NK. I know she is a stealth master but how did no one notice her when there was half an army around? Other than that, brilliant.

She used the face of the undead and took on blue eyes. Like Melisandre told her.
 
She used the face of the undead and took on blue eyes. Like Melisandre told her.
Nothing to substantiate this. On the other hand, we've seen the Walkers immediately shatter upon death, so how would one take their face?
 
The dothraki were admirably brave but I don't know the impact they had. The unsullied though stayed out till last and bought them enough to retreat and for the red woman to set the trench on fire.
Yes true mate. I love both for different reasons. You would want both armies on your side if the shit hit the fan!
 
Seriously, some of you are trying really hard to find stuff to moan about :lol: Soundtrack is too similar to Westworld, screen is black (how about you get a decent monitor?), CGI is bad (you understand it's not a 300 million budget 2 hour long movie?), there was only 1 giant (see earlier) etc etc. This was probably the greatest TV show episode ever, it had quite literally everything. The only thing I am not sure about is how Arya killed the NK. I know she is a stealth master but how did no one notice her when there was half an army around? Other than that, brilliant.

It was quite dark, sorry I didnt consult the av club before picking out a tv.
 
Seriously, some of you are trying really hard to find stuff to moan about :lol: Soundtrack is too similar to Westworld, screen is black (how about you get a decent monitor?), CGI is bad (you understand it's not a 300 million budget 2 hour long movie?), there was only 1 giant (see earlier) etc etc. This was probably the greatest TV show episode ever, it had quite literally everything. The only thing I am not sure about is how Arya killed the NK. I know she is a stealth master but how did no one notice her when there was half an army around? Other than that, brilliant.

That wasn't a moan in the slightest. Simply an observation from the visuals they posted last season is all. It's fair they dont have the budget to be doing all the stuff we fans expect which is probably why they chose to end the White Walker threat here and now.
 
Ultimately though the NK's death was always going to be an anticlimax. He's a massively overpowered villain with one fatal weakness that would immediately defeat not just him but his entire army. By his very nature he's a set up for a "random person stabs him and saves the day" ending, which would never be entirely satisfying after years of building him up.
 
Sorry I just dont understand internet crusaders critiquing shows to the extent where they try to drag it down to others. Especially when they are supposed fans of the show in question.

It’s entertainment, enjoy it. If it’s shite and not for you, don’t watch it
It's not their fault. They went on to TV tropes one day and instead of being invested in stuff they're cursed with being anal about everything but they still have to watch the show to tell how everyone how shit it is.

When Walking Dead began shitting the bed uncontrollably, I stopped watching. That seems like the normal response to a shit show.
 
is that Brienne made it out of the episode alive. She must be involved in the Bronn/Jamie story somehow.
 
My only possible nitpick with the third episode is that maybe too less of the focus characters died. It seemed like the infamous plot armour was in swing a bit. While I like that it was Arya who killed the Night King, it would feel more bittersweet if it happened after more of the secondary characters died or one of the main primary characters like Sansa, outside of who died.

But the remaining three episodes will tell if they actually serve a purpose to the story beyond this episode.

GRRM isn’t really all about epic battles. He’s about what leads to those epic battles and the resulting impact of those epic battles. Plus the Night Kings death encapsulates GRRMs view on war... The hero and the villain don’t usually die epicly. Sometimes they just die like some average cannon fodder footsoldier regardless of their stature. Tywin Lannister just dies on the toilet at the hands of Tyrion and not some grand sword duel.
 
is that Brienne made it out of the episode alive. She must be involved in the Bronn/Jamie story somehow.

I thought about this as well. After Jaime made her a knight it seemed like a nice end point for her character, achieving the thing she always wanted. Of all the characters, she’s the one I was the most sure was going to die. Not that I’m complaining of course, she’s a very lovable character.