Game of Thrones (S8)

[Bender]

Another consolidative episode. Some good aspects, some bad. Felt like some of the internal drama was forced in Winterfell but it's looking more and more likely that Dany turns into the very thing she's fought against, which is kind of fitting. We'll see what happens but it's almost like the show pivoted away from Dany being the perfect ruler where everything goes right to John in the end. You'd think she learned enough in wherever she ruled before (Essos?) to not lose her cool.

Also is anyone hoping that the writers don't fuck up Jaime's redemption arc by joining back with Cersei? I think he's going to either take on the mountain with the hound or he'll be both King and Queen Slayer.

 

[Bender]

Caught up last night, a touch disappointed.

I'm unclear as to why all the investment/screen time was made in the Bran character arc all these seasons if all he really amounted to was bait. I was waiting for something cool to happen, and natch.

I think you'll still see something. The conversation between Tyrion and Bran will likely come up again (some have speculated Bran told him about Jon's true parentage) and where Bran went while warging during the battle has to play a role yet too.

The show can't just move from one battle against the White Walkers to the next against Cersei with no consequence between. It would be too jarring and everything in the show has always been connected in some way so far.

At least I hope. I don't have 100% faith in the writers after season 7, but I am giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Sansa told Tyrion. I'm liking the political plotting again but I haven't loved the writing since Arya started learning from the faceless man in Braavos. It fell back a bit to more predictable and tv style writing once they ran out of source material.

 

[Palmateer29]

Another consolidative episode. Some good aspects, some bad. Felt like some of the internal drama was forced in Winterfell but it's looking more and more likely that Dany turns into the very thing she's fought against, which is kind of fitting. We'll see what happens but it's almost like the show pivoted away from Dany being the perfect ruler where everything goes right to John in the end. You'd think she learned enough in wherever she ruled before (Essos?) to not lose her cool.

Also is anyone hoping that the writers don't Frig up Jaime's redemption arc by joining back with Cersei? I think he's going to either take on the mountain with the hound or he'll be both King and Queen Slayer.

Dany has been terrible the last couple episodes. Terrible decisions with the dragons, not smart enough to use the dragon's speed to fly around to the rear of the ships and attack or come down from above where the ballistas couldn't reach her. Terrible decisions with her remaining troops etc etc
As for Jaime I think he confronts Cercei and she throws the baby not being his in his face. Jaime kills her (she had a seer tell her she would be killed by her brother) and then Jaime is revealed as Arya LOL

 

[herman]

Fridging Missandei, the only woman of colour with a speaking role, is so, so lame. I am pissed.

 

[Kin]

Podrick is the only King I recognize.

 

[Zee]

Another consolidative episode. Some good aspects, some bad. Felt like some of the internal drama was forced in Winterfell but it's looking more and more likely that Dany turns into the very thing she's fought against, which is kind of fitting. We'll see what happens but it's almost like the show pivoted away from Dany being the perfect ruler where everything goes right to John in the end. You'd think she learned enough in wherever she ruled before (Essos?) to not lose her cool.

Also is anyone hoping that the writers don't Frig up Jaime's redemption arc by joining back with Cersei? I think he's going to either take on the mountain with the hound or he'll be both King and Queen Slayer.

Dany has been terrible the last couple episodes. Terrible decisions with the dragons, not smart enough to use the dragon's speed to fly around to the rear of the ships and attack or come down from above where the ballistas couldn't reach her. Terrible decisions with her remaining troops etc etc
As for Jaime I think he confronts Cercei and she throws the baby not being his in his face. Jaime kills her (she had a seer tell her she would be killed by her brother) and then Jaime is revealed as Arya LOL

Yeah I didn't get that either. So one dragon down and she just....leaves?  Couldn't she have circled around them and fried the entire fleet before they had a chance to turn around their sling shots?


Then Tryion basically walks up to Cersei but she doesn't get her archers to take him out easily? I thought she wanted him dead so badly. Meh

 

[Bullfrog]

Fridging Missandei, the only woman of colour with a speaking role, is so, so lame. I am pissed.

I'm sorry to hear you're pissed about this. But, it was somewhat predictable. Once I saw Grey Worm was alive (right at the beginning funeral scene) I called it.

This one, at least, has some layers to it: it's both Grey Worm and Danaerys who are enraged.

 

[Bullfrog]

My main question is: how did Qyburn just disappear? After Missandei's head went rolly rolly, why didn't they take his?

 

[Kin]

I know it's unsatisfying and I've been as guilty as anyone of wanting the show to make more sense recently but I think people are going to have to come to terms with these last few shows not making much sense in any sort of spatial/reasoning sort way but rather just as delivery systems for the plot and character moments that the writers want.

I think it's pretty clear that we're in a situation where the demands of the story and the realities of the TV business are butting heads and we're getting what should be a few seasons crammed into one. So we're going to get sudden head-choppings and armadas out of nowhere and Half-Caf Soy Lattes. How much people can dig that is probably what's going to determine reaction over these next few weeks.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

My main question is: how did Qyburn just disappear? After Missandei's head went rolly rolly, why didn't they take his?

They were pretty outnumbered.

 

[herman]

Fridging Missandei, the only woman of colour with a speaking role, is so, so lame. I am pissed.

I'm sorry to hear you're pissed about this. But, it was somewhat predictable. Once I saw Grey Worm was alive (right at the beginning funeral scene) I called it.

This one, at least, has some layers to it: it's both Grey Worm and Danaerys who are enraged.

That's exactly why fridging is gross. Missandei is diminished to nothing more than an emotional/plot trigger. The shot is focused not on her defiance, but on how Grey Worm and Danaerys feel about the situation and their subsequent reactions.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Some scattered thoughts:

-I really wish they thought of something other than a giant crossbow to use to take out a dragon

-The whole "Jon died and was resurrected" thing came up again in a giant room full of people but none of Dany or Varys or Tyrion (well he was pretty drunk) thought to ask about more information about it? I don't even think this is nitpicky... the writers purposefully brought this into the conversation why not make it into a bigger deal? Surely it could have been brought into Varys' and Tyrion's conversation about whether Jon is a better king

-Instead of killing a bunch of characters last week so the story can focus more on a central few they just sent a bunch on their merrily way (Tormund, Sam), and you know what I'm good with that. Not everyone has to die

-The Bronn scene... I love Bronn and I get that he's always been motivated by whats best for himself and that's fine, but this scene just felt very odd and out of place

-Arya and the Hound hell yeah

All in all I thought that most of this episode was among the best stuff the show has done in a long time. But it sort of fell apart in the last quarter/third.

 

[Kin]

That's exactly why fridging is gross. Missandei is diminished to nothing more than an emotional/plot trigger. The shot is focused not on her defiance, but on how Grey Worm and Danaerys feel about the situation and their subsequent reactions.

Well, and not just the particular shot but contrast her death with Theons or Jorahs from last week. Both get meaningful sequences that are major reflections of their characters(Theon's journey to redemption and Jorah's devotion to Danerys). Missendei is just captured and deaded for effect.

I'm maybe not as upset as you but it does feel cheap in a way this show didn't used to.

 

[herman]

All in all I thought that most of this episode was among the best stuff the show has done in a long time. But it sort of fell apart in the last quarter/third.

Leafs playoff series in a nutshell.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

All in all I thought that most of this episode was among the best stuff the show has done in a long time. But it sort of fell apart in the last quarter/third.

Leafs playoff series in a nutshell.

Rhaegal = Gardiner

 

[herman]

That's exactly why fridging is gross. Missandei is diminished to nothing more than an emotional/plot trigger. The shot is focused not on her defiance, but on how Grey Worm and Danaerys feel about the situation and their subsequent reactions.

Well, and not just the particular shot but contrast her death with Theons or Jorahs from last week. Both get meaningful sequences that are major reflections of their characters(Theon's journey to redemption and Jorah's devotion to Danerys). Missendei is just captured and deaded for effect.

I'm maybe not as upset as you but it does feel cheap in a way this show didn't used to.

Missandei has been Dany's only friend for the last few seasons who hasn't been trying to get into her bed in some fashion. Every scene shot to develop that relationship into something more than just translator/valet/gossip buddy has been cut and reduced her into a Grey Worm love interest because... they match.

I'm mad, but I didn't actually expect Weiss and Benioff to actually do anything better, considering their pattern thus far. They're very good adapters, but problematic as creators. They've Zack Snydered this show.

 

[herman]

All in all I thought that most of this episode was among the best stuff the show has done in a long time. But it sort of fell apart in the last quarter/third.

Leafs playoff series in a nutshell.

Rhaegal = Gardiner

Grey Worm is going to Kadri this up, isn't he?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Rhaegal = Gardiner

Grey Worm is going to Kadri this up, isn't he?

I can't decide if Tyrion represents Babcock (constantly failing at his tactical decisions and getting by on his reputation from his one victory) or if he represents Leafs fans turning on Babcock the way he might turn on Dany.

I guess it could be both.

 

[herman]

Rhaegal = Gardiner

Grey Worm is going to Kadri this up, isn't he?

I can't decide if Tyrion represents Babcock (constantly failing at his tactical decisions and getting by on his reputation from his one victory) or if he represents Leafs fans turning on Babcock the way he might turn on Dany.

I guess it could be both.

Euron is Marchand. Robert Strong is Chara. Bronn is Pastrnak.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/rejectnation/status/1126102081557999617

This doesn't exactly erase all the problems of fridging but I've seen a number of people suggest this would have been a better way to get what the writers wanted out of that situation.