HBO's Game of Thrones season 6 discussion thread- airing 4/24/16 (No book spoilers)

[Homerboy]

The flying dragon scene was horribly long. Should have lasted 10 secs at most. Especially when they botch about the CGI of dragons and DIrewolves being so ridiculously expensive. (this just shows they are pandering more and more to the masses)

Sam tripping as he entered the crypt was stupid. Pointless and stupid.

I liked the "twist" they've thrown in about how, now that John is the rightful heir to the throne, if Danny will step down and walk away from the crown for the good of all the people. That's the line in the sand that is being drawn. Danny has always been "it's about the people and not about the person in power". And now she's going to be faced with allowing somebody she trusts, and loves and understands is there "for the people" but that means she won't be the one in power. Jon and Danny will now be pitted against each other.

The body being left by the Night King was odd too. But wasn't that how the very first scene in season 1 played out too?

There were lots of problems with episode 1. Lots of stupid, cliche and trite things that never really came into GoT in the past. I'm not saying it was bad and I didn't enjoy it, but after rewatching all 67 episodes over the past ~month, you can clearly see the steady decline in storytelling. Still amazingly entertaining though.

Edit: Ceseri apparently no longer being pregnant was a nice add-on too. I have a feeling that now that she is without Jamie's baby inside her, her motive will be "If I can't have it, and no children can have it, then let it all burn and let the night king win it all"

 

[Aikouka]

The flying dragon scene was horribly long. Should have lasted 10 secs at most. Especially when they botch about the CGI of dragons and DIrewolves being so ridiculously expensive. (this just shows they are pandering more and more to the masses)

I thought the weakest part about the dragon scene was how bad the CGI was of them getting on the dragon. I don't think they usually focus so close to the person to avoid any issues with the chroma work, but in this case, it was really easy to see. ... and that comes from me... someone notorious at missing this stuff!

I liked the "twist" they've thrown in about how, now that John is the rightful heir to the throne, if Danny will step down and walk away from the crown for the good of all the people. That's the line in the sand that is being drawn. Danny has always been "it's about the people and not about the person in power". And now she's going to be faced with allowing somebody she trusts, and loves and understands is there "for the people" but that means she won't be the one in power. Jon and Danny will now be pitted against each other.

Even prior to Jon finding out, I've always thought that the two characters were far better paired up than either would be separate. Jon is a little too nice and Dany is a little too strict, but I think if they ruled together, it would actually work out pretty well. In other words, Tyrion could become "Hand to the Crown" and both king and queen rule. Small decisions could be made by one, but larger require both unless not physically possible due to being away or whatever.

The body being left by the Night King was odd too. But wasn't that how the very first scene in season 1 played out too?

I thought it left for a nice, freaky ambiance... especially as the boy shrilled after becoming a wight. Although, the Umber castle scene did make me wish that HBO NOW offered Dolby Vision as dark scenes don't do well outside of Dolby Vision or at least HDR. (The scene had a noticeable green hue like using night vision!)

Edit: Ceseri apparently no longer being pregnant was a nice add-on too. I have a feeling that now that she is without Jamie's baby inside her, her motive will be "If I can't have it, and no children can have it, then let it all burn and let the night king win it all"

When did they reveal that? I figured the entire point was Cersei was going to let Euron think he impregnated her, but she was already pregnant to begin with. Although, I'm not sure the blonde-haired baby would trick Euron like it did Robert.

 

[Homerboy]

When did they reveal that? I figured the entire point was Cersei was going to let Euron think he impregnated her, but she was already pregnant to begin with. Although, I'm not sure the blonde-haired baby would trick Euron like it did Robert.

Well she was drinking wine. In previous episodes she passed on wine because she was pregnant. When he said he'd put a prince in her belly, she got a little choked up it seemed. So maybe she was never pregnant? Maybe she was and had a miscarriage? Maybe she's hoping Euron impregated her and she can tell Jamie it's his? Who knows.. it's GoT and it's Ceseri - the most conniving of them all

 

[dainthomas]

The body being left by the Night King was odd too. But wasn't that how the very first scene in season 1 played out too?

The bodies were in a pattern on the ground, and the kid was attached to a tree or something. I don't think it was that spiral (but I do remember it from somewhere). Then they came back and everyone was gone.

Acting by Kit Harrington was terribad in the crypt scene. Acting by John Bradley in the scene with Dany and Friendzone was fantastic.

 

[Skel]

Well she was drinking wine. In previous episodes she passed on wine because she was pregnant. When he said he'd put a prince in her belly, she got a little choked up it seemed. So maybe she was never pregnant? Maybe she was and had a miscarriage? Maybe she's hoping Euron impregated her and she can tell Jamie it's his? Who knows.. it's GoT and it's Ceseri - the most conniving of them all

She's declared Jamie was a treasonist. It's bad enough to have a brother for a father, but one that's committed treason to her crown is a bridge too far. I'll bet this is her banging the Greyjoy idiot so she can pretend her kid has a father that isn't to be put to death.

 

[Homerboy]

She's declared Jamie was a treasonist. It's bad enough to have a brother for a father, but one that's committed treason to her crown is a bridge too far. I'll bet this is her banging the Greyjoy idiot so she can pretend her kid has a father that isn't to be put to death.

Yes. This is possibly true as well. I didn't understand why she even agreed to allow him to come with her from the throne room. She tuned a complete 180 on it.

 

[Homerboy]

The bodies were in a pattern on the ground, and the kid was attached to a tree or something. I don't think it was that spiral (but I do remember it from somewhere). Then they came back and everyone was gone.

Acting by Kit Harrington was terribad in the crypt scene. Acting by John Bradley in the scene with Dany and Friendzone was fantastic.

In general, I don't think Kit Harrington is that great of an actor (an even worse interview) John bradley, while I'm not too keen on his character (though he's infinitely better without Gilly around or him mentioning Gilly in general) has always played Sam to perfection I thought.

 

[Skel]

 

[Aikouka]

Well she was drinking wine. In previous episodes she passed on wine because she was pregnant. When he said he'd put a prince in her belly, she got a little choked up it seemed. So maybe she was never pregnant? Maybe she was and had a miscarriage? Maybe she's hoping Euron impregated her and she can tell Jamie it's his? Who knows.. it's GoT and it's Ceseri - the most conniving of them all

I never went back and rewatched the previous season, but wasn't there some sort of miscarriage scare at some point with Cersei? It sounds familiar, but maybe I'm just collating a common soap opera trope with Game of Thrones.

 

[Paratus]

End of the episode when Jamie sees Bran sitting in the cold :

Jamie: Bran do you need a push?
Bran: Why? Are you going to give me a hand?

 

[brainhulk]

They needed to have a longer scene between Tyrion and Varys.

I want Littlefinger back.

I wonder if the red witch is going be involved for the last hurrah.

 

[zinfamous]

They needed to have a longer scene between Tyrion and Varys.

I want Littlefinger back.

I wonder if the red witch is going be involved for the last hurrah.

At the final battle, a dark, smokey shadow will spread across the horizon, then slowly coalesce into the form of a smoke dragon. That smoke dragon will be controlled by Syrio, swooping in to wipe out the Lanaster army. The smoke dragon that Syrio rides will be shown to have issued forth from the crotch of Red Witch.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

The bodies were in a pattern on the ground, and the kid was attached to a tree or something. I don't think it was that spiral (but I do remember it from somewhere). Then they came back and everyone was gone.

Acting by Kit Harrington was terribad in the crypt scene. Acting by John Bradley in the scene with Dany and Friendzone was fantastic.

Previous seasons have had "symbols". One with the horses, one with the body of wildlings, one with people or something around that big ass tree in kings landing. IIRC shapes were like a phi (greek letter) and spirals.

 

[Homerboy]

They needed to have a longer scene between Tyrion and Varys.

I want Littlefinger back.

I wonder if the red witch is going be involved for the last hurrah.

They needed longer scenes for virtually everything. Jon finding out who he really is, is the penultimate moment of the series. And they spent as much time on it as they did Bronn getting it on with 3 girls. It makes no sense. Reunion of all these characters was something everyone was looking forward to, and they all pretty much just amount to a "oh hey! How ya been?" But we get a flying dragon scene like it was The Neverending Story. It's really disappointing how the end of this all is going down...

 

[blankslate]

The body being left by the Night King was odd too. But wasn't that how the very first scene in season 1 played out too?

The final scene in the first episode of Season 8 was indeed a call back to the first scene in the pilot episode which was lifted from the prologue in the first Book.



______________

 

[Jeeebus]

It's good to know I wasn't the only one thinking this during the dragon riding scene....

 

[purbeast0]

They needed longer scenes for virtually everything. Jon finding out who he really is, is the penultimate moment of the series. And they spent as much time on it as they did Bronn getting it on with 3 girls. It makes no sense. Reunion of all these characters was something everyone was looking forward to, and they all pretty much just amount to a "oh hey! How ya been?" But we get a flying dragon scene like it was The Neverending Story. It's really disappointing how the end of this all is going down...

Just stop watching it then. It's obvious that you've already convinced yourself you aren't going to be satisfied with how the show concludes, so why waste your time?

I do agree that the show isn't as intriguing as it used to be earlier on, and this really hit me when I watched a 50 minute recap of the first 7 seasons an hour before the season 8 premiere. But I am still enjoying it a lot.

 

[Homerboy]

Just stop watching it then. It's obvious that you've already convinced yourself you aren't going to be satisfied with how the show concludes, so why waste your time?

I do agree that the show isn't as intriguing as it used to be earlier on, and this really hit me when I watched a 50 minute recap of the first 7 seasons an hour before the season 8 premiere. But I am still enjoying it a lot.

You didn't see my comment in my initial post, did you?

"Still amazingly entertaining though."

And to be fair, much like countless great TV dramas before it (Lost, Deadwood, Sopranos, etc) I knew I'd never be happy with the ending. It's impossible to write such a long detailed story and still wrap things up nicely. What I, and many many other people are bummed about is that they had a great thing going for 5 seasons, then changed the formula and are now cramming it down to wrap it up. It's still great. Just not as great as it should have been.

 

[gorobei]

The final scene in the first episode of Season 8 was indeed a call back to the first scene in the pilot episode which was lifted from the prologue in the first Book.



______________

io9 had the perfect take on the scene.

I had completely forgotten about the White Walkers’ love of arts and crafts, and I find it delightful they took time out of their march south to annihilate all the living to make a collage they had no reason to suspect literally anyone in Westeros would see. Art is its own reward!

 

[zinfamous]

It's good to know I wasn't the only one thinking this during the dragon riding scene....

I said the same thing as it was happening--"just like Aladdin but with dragons."

It really was a scene that didn't need to happen--drawn out as long as it was, anyway.

 

[zinfamous]

You didn't see my comment in my initial post, did you?

"Still amazingly entertaining though."

And to be fair, much like countless great TV dramas before it (Lost, Deadwood, Sopranos, etc) I knew I'd never be happy with the ending. It's impossible to write such a long detailed story and still wrap things up nicely. What I, and many many other people are bummed about is that they had a great thing going for 5 seasons, then changed the formula and are now cramming it down to wrap it up. It's still great. Just not as great as it should have been.

essentially, very few are probably going to be happy with how this thing ends. It's the nature of it all--something so drawn out for these years, fans get emotionally invested in the characters, the story, the sometimes-excruciating events that it pulls you through--of course it will likely be unsatisfying for many--and mainly because it has ended, not how it ended. People will easily confuse the two reasons in defining their response to the finale. The key is to just accept it and roll with it.

 

[Homerboy]

I said the same thing as it was happening--"just like Aladdin but with dragons."

It really was a scene that didn't need to happen--drawn out as long as it was, anyway.

I preferred NeverEnding Story...

All they needed to show was them getting on the dragons and taking off. The rest was CGI masturbation (and poor masturbation at that).

 

[Homerboy]

essentially, very few are probably going to be happy with how this thing ends. It's the nature of it all--something so drawn out for these years, fans get emotionally invested in the characters, the story, the sometimes-excruciating events that it pulls you through--of course it will likely be unsatisfying for many--and mainly because it has ended, not how it ended. People will easily confuse the two reasons in defining their response to the finale. The key is to just accept it and roll with it.

I am rolling with it. Doesn't mean people can't have, or voice opinions on it.
I will watch every minute of it until the end.

 

[dainthomas]

essentially, very few are probably going to be happy with how this thing ends. It's the nature of it all--something so drawn out for these years, fans get emotionally invested in the characters, the story, the sometimes-excruciating events that it pulls you through--of course it will likely be unsatisfying for many--and mainly because it has ended, not how it ended. People will easily confuse the two reasons in defining their response to the finale. The key is to just accept it and roll with it.

As Homerboy said, it was the same with Lost. Personally I loved the whole thing, including the ending. It was the experience of watching it and talking about the latest twist with other people from week to week. Something like that makes it even better, and can't be replicated during a rewatch.

Another factor is that this is the internet, where people complain about everything. I'm sure if you go back to a season 1 thread you'd see the same thing.

It'll be the same with the Lord of the Rings series, I'm sure.

 

[Paratus]

It's good to know I wasn't the only one thinking this during the dragon riding scene....

I was wondering when someone was going to do this.