Game of Thrones

I hope Robin Arryn wins the game of thrones

Or Gilly

I've finally all caught up.
Who could've guessed that so much dragon-based destruction could be quite so boring.

My prediction is that Sansa ends on the throne (Jon will help to off Daenerys, but decide he doesn't want the throne), but to be honest I'm struggling to care...

I don't think that's true. (and more importantly, I don't think that the writers would do that sort of thing any more).

At it's best, Game of Thrones has been happy for things to happen because they make sense given the characters' motivations, rather than because they feed into some over-arching narrative. This might be treated simply as 'nobody's safe in Game of Thrones' but it felt, at least to me, much more organic and alive than that. The Red Wedding, Ned Stark's death, Prince Oberyn's death, and so on stood out not just because they were unexpected, but also because looking back they make sense within in the world; they didn't feel (at least to me) like scenes that happened simply because GRRM willed them to happen (although, of course, I appreciate that GRRM has had some overarching narrative in mind).

In contrast, this season has had so many scenes that don't feel like they make any 'real' sense, but would be expected in a more mainstream hollywood narrative (or, if I was being mean, fan fiction) because they serve a purpose: In this case largely to show what the screenwriters might think that the fans want to see:

-    Does it make sense that within all the anarchy only Cersei and Jamie meet each other just in time for her to realise her folly, and to die in embrace? No, but that final hug in front of collapsing buildings sure looks fab.
-    Does it make sense for Sandor and Gregor to have a final one-to-one showdown? Nope, but they're brothers!
-    Does it make sense for Euron Greyjoy to be the sole survivor of the sea battle who happens to land on the beach at the same time & location as Jamie? No, but he's a major antagonist now, so needs a cool ending.
-    Does it make sense for (pretty much) all of the main characters to survive the battle with the white walkers? No, but wouldn't it be sweet if Gilly and Samwell to go off into the sunset.
-    and on and on...

All these scenes might be fine in another show, but none of these things make sense if Westeros is supposed to be 'alive'. I have little doubt that there have been similar coincidences that happened in previous seasons but the issue is that they seem to happen in such quick succession this season.

I think they would, in the current social media climate - and had the series not been based on pre-existing books I think the writers would have been under pressure from the studios to scrap it altogether, given the popularity of the characters.

Yes, there were some ludicrous coincidences (Euron on the beach stood out) but fantasy fiction/film and 19thc melodramas are full of them. When Star Trek TNG killed off a popular character in a 'natural' way, rather than in a mega showdown, fans complained and she had a quasi-return via a parallel universe as a fan service. We've had Jon come back from the dead, and Arya must be made of whatever Wile E Coyote is made of to survive the stuff she's been though. I think writers will get flak either way.

Whilst I acknowledge that everyone is entitled to their opinions and it is great the people are so invested in the show - I am now totally over what feels like excessive negativity that has been circulating in recent weeks.

The early seasons certainly had plenty of flaws. And they were more closely based on the source books (which are over-packed with detail, characters, lore and more)

Yet there are many loud voices seeming to believe that everything upto the end of season 6 was near perfection and everything after it has been utter trash.

And that is simply not true.

I just take it all as it comes, enjoy it for what it is, have fun with the wild speculation - but it is still a piece of fantasy. The production values have, on the whole, been outstanding. There has been some brilliant directing, some great performances.

Would I have enjoyed seeing Lady Stoneheart? Very possibly. Did the narrative work without her? Yes, perfectly well for me.

There are still people who bemoan the fact that Tom Bombadil didn't make it into the LOTR movies. That was the point at which I stopped reading the books.

For those who are saying that seasons 7 and 8 are too short - I would point to The Hobbit movies which over-extended the source material to such an extent that it was almost unwatchable. The balance isn't always easy to get right - but sometimes longer doesn't necessarily mean better.

If you are happy with GoT - great, continue to enjoy it. If you are unhappy - there is nothing you can do to change it. Accept it is what it is and if it upsets you that much, just don't watch. It is disappointing when something you have enjoyed doesn't play out as you had hoped - but it isn't worth the anger and upset it has provoked.

Or perhaps I am just too chilled (which I can't quite believe of myself!)

Anyway, roll on Sunday - I am looking forward to it!

This

However, it doesn't address something fundamental - that actual medieval societies believed in god/gods. I think this is something we just don't 'get' now*. It's been an underlying problem with GoT (the TV series - I haven't read the books) - 'rightful' kings have , in the minds of the populace they seek to control, God at their back. Even so, in GoT's relatively godless world, Danaerys has been obsessed with the idea that she is the rightful monarch - and now, with the revelation about Jo Snow, that's been snatched away from her, so she's snapped. Can't rule by being the anointed one, in medieval thinking, but still can through fear/superior weaponry.

I think for a TV series to truly reflect all the factors that shape history, from bad weather to printing presses, good roads etc. would be beyond the budget and patience of studios/writers/actors and audience. I do also think the 'kill baby Hitler' pop culture narrative has misled us into a way of thinking about history that has left many people unprepared for what's happening right now, for example. 

*A Man for All Seasons. It's not really a choice to someone who believes in eternal damnation, is it? Similarly in Guardian-type discourses around faith schools, burquas etc. - if you believe something is pleasing / displeasing to an all powerful deity who created and can punish you, can you have 'free choice'?

After feeling like they missed a thousand plot beats in the penultimate episode, I felt the finale was just right.

I was accidentally spoiled a few days ago (waves fist at reddit addicted coworker) but nonetheless loved the finale.

My late father was in on a wheelchair the last 5 years of his life and died after Season 7 ended. So I cried bittersweet tears today.

And it’s opened up for a new series in 10 years, so yay!


Still hate Sam, still hate Bronn and it has a lot to do with their sing-songy manner of speech. And the supremely self-interested like Bronn tend not to die, which is always annoying.

And Robyn Arryn had a major glow up, y’all