Flashman14 | 13 May 2019 3:29 a.m. PST |
Ever since they've raced beyond the books, GOT has become a different and inferior thing. I still enjoy much of it, but the last two seasons are decidedly subpar compared to the former ones. That aside, with one episode remaining, and certain you found much to quibble with last night, how would you make this tale end satisfactorily? It'd be hard to "fix" The Bells, without pointing at a show ending finale, but do your best. |
Flashman14 | 13 May 2019 3:44 a.m. PST |
One thing that I was reminded of as the episode unspooled: before professional armies existed, sacking, looting, pillaging was the norm, and often the point of warfare in the first place. Even after nationalism and professional formations came into being, rape and pillaging remain an ever present problem during wartime. It's one of the principal reasons war is to be opposed – not because people dedicated to combat will die, but because innocents on both sides suffer disproportionately. |
Patrick R | 13 May 2019 3:48 a.m. PST |
The threat of looting was standard practice in the 17th and 18th century when mercenaries were phased out. A besieged city would be given the option to surrender honourably or try to hold until relieved or until it fell at which point it was declared free game … Before you condemn it as barbaric, consider the advantages. It's a very effective way of convincing people to surrender and it gives your soldiers a serious boost to their motivation knowing that there will be rape and plunder at the end of the hardship. Weren't the good old days a laff and a half ??? |
dwight shrute | 13 May 2019 5:01 a.m. PST |
Looks like Arya will carve up Dani . I wonder if the horse is deep and meaningful ? |
The Beast Rampant | 13 May 2019 6:14 a.m. PST |
I've made my peace with the fact that the last two-plus seasons feel like a 2:30AM D&D wrap-up: "Aw man, look at the time! Okay, what are you doing? Traveling a thousand miles to King's Landing? Alright [ROLL, ROLL, ROLL], nothing happens, you're there. You meet those guys [points across the table] in a tavern, or standing on a hilltop, or whatever. You all say 'hey', and decide what to do next. Gotta go, work tomorrow, see you guys next week". ALL the seasons should have been ten episodes- it would have mitigated a lot of this "hurry up and kill everybody" attitude. It's like they spent six years setting up dominoes just so they could do a running belly-flop onto them. My apologies to the OP for the rant and lack of pertinence to the topic. I think Jon will bump off the Queen of Ashes, and Sansa will sit on the Iron Doorstop. |
Phrodon | 13 May 2019 6:48 a.m. PST |
I agree with The Beast Rampant (the comparison to the D&D wrap up is hilarious – but true). Dany's arc to madness should have been a whole season. Not one episode. And some other key plots as well should have been fleshed out. Varys dying was an odd one. And I wonder if Jamie and Cersi are really dead? |
PJ ONeill | 13 May 2019 9:38 a.m. PST |
+1 Beast. It was an Epic and ambitious story for 7 seasons (or 5 books), it has become a small story that is just fizzling out. Sorry to see some of the characters, who had heart, just drop off. |
21eRegt | 13 May 2019 9:40 a.m. PST |
My take: Dany dies at Arya's hand, fulfilling the Red Witch prophecy. Jon says "screw this" and goes north to run with Ghost. Gendry, who arrives too late for the fight, is the compromise King of what's left. The Onion Knight is his Hand. Well, most of a hand. Sansa is confirmed as Warden of the North, but plots. Arya disappears, maybe returning to Braavos. Tyrion dies early for betraying Dany again. Drogon "has a moment" with Jon then flies off to lay eggs. Grey Worm dies defending Dany. Bran remains useless, or maybe goes to the Citadel to chronicle the past. Pregnant Ser Brienne (we know Jaime's boys can swim) remains to protect Sansa and rebuild the northern army. We are left to wonder about the Faceless Man and Syrio and Daario and…. |
Gunfreak | 13 May 2019 9:43 a.m. PST |
So Tyrion's worst case scenario was that Daenerys would attack the keep and tens of thousands would die, in reality Daenerys fires bombs the entire city killing the better part of a million people. While it's been clear for half the series that she's really just a bog standard teygeran, she has managed to get a higher body count in one episode then all baddies on the show have had combined. But yes the show has suffered once Marin's influence was gone. Daenerys road to evil was as obvious as Anakin Skywalker in the prequel trilogy. Like in that trilogy you have tones of super smart/intuitive jedi, and they can't spot a single psychopath in their midst. Ayria should have needled Daenerys as soon as the night king was gone. |
The Beast Rampant | 13 May 2019 11:01 a.m. PST |
Dany's arc to madness should have been a whole season. Not one episode. How many ultimate- and penultimate-season plotlines can you count that begin and end all in one episode? Ayria should have needled Daenerys as soon as the night king was gone. And I *really* expected Sandor to take Cersei's noddin off as she went past down the stairs. Just a flick, not even turning around, not breaking eye contact with his brother. She did not deserve the "soft" ending she got. |
Goober | 13 May 2019 11:15 a.m. PST |
I was half expecting to see The Mountain stand up out of the flames like an alchemical zombie Terminator. On the subject of Ayra's exit – I looked, and behold, an ashen horse. |
dwight shrute | 13 May 2019 12:46 p.m. PST |
dani gets worse , tyrion on trial for his betrayal. Jon kills dani in an act of do good Jon confesses and joins the night watch in punishment the new council ( prince of dorn , tyrion , greyworm and others ) appoints bran as king arya goes walkabout we know not where . |
The Beast Rampant | 13 May 2019 2:45 p.m. PST |
Grey Worm has to pay for his sins. He's a goner. There's no more Nights Watch. John may go off North and icefish and drink with Tormund, and go all Dad-Bod Thor. |
repaint | 14 May 2019 4:26 a.m. PST |
yeah, the show is a let down. Half expected. The 2:30AM D&D wrap-up is an excellent (and amusing) analogy :) |
Heedless Horseman | 14 May 2019 6:16 p.m. PST |
Season 7 was rushed a bit too much. I am waiting for 8 to come out on UK DVD but from what I have heard…FAR too rushed, (and, unless there is a big twist to the Night King demise, (unlikely…unless Dany becomes 'Night Queen'!), in a strange order of events…'Winter Is Coming' was the premise! Should have been full series and not shortened. Probably not the screenwriter's fault…budget, CGI time, etc…but think it may be a sad end to a fantastic series. Just hope it will end in better style than the abysmal final series of BSG!!! |
Aethelflaeda was framed | 16 May 2019 9:53 a.m. PST |
Budget is no excuse. The series has been very successful from a business standpoint. They could have gotten two more seasons out of it, instead they are going for spinoffs and prequels. I suspect Martin has been too lazy/ambivalent/blocked to have fleshed out the outlines for the production team and in typical industry fashion they used feature film storytelling pacing instead of literary novel/ long run serial methods. It's what they are used to despite doing so much to break out of the two hour time limit for telling a story. The whole story arc is way to bonkers and even the denouement should take at least 2 hours after the final climax. Bah. Cheap ice cream dessert after a four star meal. |