Or is the new series of GOT a bit shit?

[PCBananaHammock]

Just that really... the last two episodes have been so slow!

I’ve rewatched the episode and I’m now thinking it’s pretty excellent. Difficult to assess fully without seeing the conclusion next week, and then looking at the plot from the start, including character development.

The pacing is an issue, yes, but that’s what happens when they go from having intricate novels to base their scripts off and working with just knowing the ending and not much more.

Ooh yes to Varys. There’s no way he’d have just gone like that. It’s like they had to get rid of the character so they gave him the quickest death scene they could get away with.

I feel like I need to rewatch just all the Dany storyline to see how exactly she ended up okay with burning down innocent people that surrendered. It made for horrific watching. I actually found this episode far more scary and tense and emotional than the NK battle.

Really disappointed with that episode tbh I thought Sersi’s death would’ve been more of a battle, with her ‘people’ guarding her until the last minute and then a big final showdown where she had some last words.

And the whole burning of the city was just ridiculous! No need, not realistic. She also surly would have gunned straight for Sersi and she didn’t. There was no need to destroy the whole city, just the red jeep once they were inside would’ve been enough.

How many episodes left?

I think if we look back Danny always had that crazy impulse in her. At first she listened to her advisor then slowly as she grew more power crazy she made horrid choices and mistakes, like killing poor Sams family for refusing to bend the knee.

Danny was always like this - there’s plenty of quotes and evidence to back it up, starting pretty much from season 2.

My question though is what now? If she dies, who can control her Dothraki and Unsullied?! No one, surely? We have to assume Drogon dies with her but I don’t buy that Jon for example would kill her and not just immediately get killed by her armies. It’s not like the northmen could defeat either of those in the field either.

Cersei’s ending is not the ending Lena Headey deserved. I understand why the writers chose that exit but it could have been so much more!

Cersei’s ending is not the ending Lena Headey deserved

But what’s the alternative? I struggle to think of a convincing one - a showdown with Dany? What sort of showdown would it be when she knows the city is lost. It would’ve been awful to see her completely submit in the end. I think dying in Jaime’s arms was the best possible outcome for her, really.

The thing is it hasn't been the same for a while now, since after S4. The writing isn't the same and D&D are only working from an outline, GRRM is stuck too. Because the last few seasons went downhill it was expected this one wouldn't be the same standard as 1-4, or at least it should have been.

It would have been better to show this over two more seasons or at least a full 10 ep season and there have been things that aren't so great, it's not perfect but I don't think it's terrible either, better than S5 and 7 anyway.

Cersei’s ending is not the ending Lena Headey deserved.
I think it was a perfect ending. She was killed by Kings Landing, with Jaime. Cersei would never have let herself be killed by Dani, she'd have killed herself before that ever happened.

There were just so many theories what would have been amazing. Arya killing Jaime and taking his face was my favourite but yes, with the way the series is panning out it was the best ending for the characters. I didn’t disagree with that.

Arya killing Jaime and taking his face was my favourite

This is a very cool theory, but ultimately Ayra is a young woman. She has vulnerabilities. She is talented and fierce but it’s not conceivable that she can somehow to everything.

I’m
Not sure these episodes would work strung out either - they are fantastically crafted epic episodes. How do you split them into several? It’s not possible to have episodes of the high quality dialogue because there isn’t the source material available; nor do I think stringing our the plot for another few seasons as so many shows do makes for better television.

Not sure these episodes would work strung out either
I think if they'd had 10 episodes it wouldn't feel so rushed. The writing wouldn't be any better but it would allow more time for character progression and everything unravelling. GRRM has a very large story left to tell with only two books to do so, so if we ever get his conclusion I'm not convinced it will be all that much more satisfying. Overall I think they've done well with this season considering and I'm just happy it's better than 5&7.

Arya killing Jaime and taking his face was my favourite
I'm so glad this didn't happen. If Arya had killed Cersei and NK it would be overkill. If she hadn't killed him it would have been good though.

I think if they'd had 10 episodes it wouldn't feel so rushed

I would have enjoyed more too, but people have complained about the “slow” episodes like episode 1 too so they can’t win! I think a lot of people just like to complain and can’t accept that not everyone will be happy. I was personally upset about Jaime having totally loved him but it makes sense when I think about it.

Book Varys and show Varys are poles apart though. I agree, no way would book Varys get himself betrayed by Tyrion. Book Varys is very mysterious in his motivations, D&D hadn’t a clue what to do with him.

I also don’t think Cersei will be the big bad in the books the way she is on the show. I wasn’t keen on Jaime getting back to her or their death, but in the circs it moving enough.

Dany turning was phenomenal though. A shocking end and cast the decision to dispose of the Night king so early in a different light (it’s not supernatural forces that screw the world, but the very people who think they’re a force for good).

What next though? How do Jon and Tyrion salvage this? Maybe they don’t.

My husband complained about episode 1 but it’s been two years, of course it was going to be slow paced. They usually are. It’s just all feeling a bit rushed now.

If they had put the Battle of Winterfell as the Season 7 finale they could have done a bit more with Daenerys’ downfall. I just hope it’s a cracker of an ending next week so all is forgiven.

The thing is, its not slow but instead is rushed with no twists and no character development and so it makes it feel lacking which I think people interpret as slow.

Some of my favourite scenes in previously have been "slow" ones with Ayra and Sandor because those scenes actually had character development and story telling.

This series doesnt seem to have any of that really.

Well I think Dany burning Westeros down when she had it in her grasp is a major twist, no? Felt like one to me.

Everyone by King's landing will die. Most likely by killing each other. Yara will rock up and take the throne and give Sansa the North. Arya will roam both kingdoms (South Yara, North Sansa) taking care of problems and Bran will be happily reviewing human history.
There😁

I have no problem with slow episodes tbh, GoT is more about the politics than the action and I loved the tense build up in ep1&2, the calm before the storm. But I'd have liked more Sansa, Bran and Ghost and don't think one episode is enough to conclude everyone's arc. Not so bothered about everything being tied up exactly as I think some things are better left hanging, but I'd like a satisfying conclusion for some of them.

Agreed though that people would complain no matter what, they can't make everyone happy esp with a show that is so huge and has such high expectations and is rife with a fandom of theory crafting, it was always going to be pulled apart no matter what they did.

I’m still very confused about Bran. What’s his deal? Why is he the Three Eyed Raven? What have I missed?!

I don’t understand people’s issue with Varys! Yes in the books and earlier in the show he was smart - so was Tyrion, so was littlefinger. So what? I think it’s part of his character development to try to solve problems himself, rather than hiding behind shadows and whispers. There’s also no time for him to be planting seeds etc because a bloody war is about to happen.

im still very confused about Bran. What’s his deal? Why is he the Three Eyed Raven? What have I missed?!

You haven’t missed anything. If you want more on the TER, you need to hope more books get published. I bet the show never mentions the words again.

Thanks, Laurie. I had heard things that they’re leaving some things to be explained more in the prequel series

Yeah, bit of a cop out.

I think in the books the Night King/WW/Three Eyed Raven/Bran are all interconnected in some way.

In the books, they’ve dumbed all this down quite spectacularly to concentrate on other stuff.