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

[GagHalfrunt]

So you think it's easier to suspend disbelief of someone exploding a skull with his bare hands over a terrified child running in a straight line?

Yes.

A fantasy series creates its own universe. In some dragons are real and zombies are real. In others elves are real and rings of invisibility are real and giant eagles are real. In others still there are talking blood drinking swords. That's why they call it fantasy. In good fantasy a series respects its own constructs, it sets parameters on what magic can accomplish, how long elves live, how strong giants are, how much weight a giant eagle can carry and then it stays within those definitions.

In GRRMs world some men can grow to exceptional size and strength. That's part of the mythology, it's as much a part of the world as dragons, wights and death magic. If you accept the premise of one you accept the premise of all. The series established that right at the get go as part of that world and then it uses that as part of the story. Gregor is bigger and stronger than what we accept as a normal human in this world.

But this series does not change behavior as part of its backstory. The humans act human, or at least they did back when GRRM was writing them. Now they're just blithering idiots, like the viewers who believe that they're acting in normal ways. If the series established kids as being different from normal humans (like it did with the potential for exceptional size and strength) then perhaps it might be possible to believe that in Westeros kids are born without the ability to learn to dodge. But since it was not established as part of that world and as other people clearly have the ability to move out of the way, it's awful writing and storytelling to rely on that as a way to resolve a situation. Kids behave like normal people right up until the point where the writers need them to behave in unrealistic ways.

Gregor being uber-strong fits with the story. He is consistent.

The kid not having the sense to dodge does not fit that world or this story. It's not consistent, it's a one-off construct that was done just to make a completely idiotic scene play out in a way that would not have happened if the kid behaved in a way that the series said was normal.

 

[zinfamous]

While the lack of zigzag was obnoxious, I don't really care about it either way. Kid was dead at the moment Ramsay cut his bindings and everyone knew that. It could have been handled smarter, but whatever. I assumed the dogs would be unleashed and when I think about it, more realistic and achieve the same effect: He runs straight away from the dogs as you would have to, John still runs out to meet him and just as they get close enough with the dogs tailing, Ramsay still kills him with an arrow. (though what happens with the dogs at that point I dunno...)

I guess we realized with the letter two episodes ago and the fact that Rickon was still alive, the only reason for Ramsay keeping him that long was to goad John into attacking Ramsay and further to enrage him out of his position. Sansa pointed out that he is more valuable to Ramsay than either she or Jon Snow, and there is no reason for Ramsay to allow him to live. ....why she or Jon didn't point that out when they received the letter is rather baffling, but whatever.

 

[Artorias]

Just a random thought, but what if Rickon didn't know Ramsey would be shooting an arrow at him. His first thought might have been than he would be releasing the dogs on him. I can actually buy the panicking part, thrust into a situation like that where you have been kept in a cell for who knows how long is going to have an affect on you.

 

[Regs]

After watching the last episode and reading something about Liam Cunningham (Sir Davos), I decided to look up his imdb page.

I had no idea he was in Star Citizen (SQ42)! That's awesome.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0192377/?ref_=tt_cl_t4

An electrician in the 80's who decided to give acting a try! Hah. I love hearing stories about the road to success. I heard 90% of actors are unemployed. Very tough business.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Just a random thought, but what if Rickon didn't know Ramsey would be shooting an arrow at him. His first thought might have been than he would be releasing the dogs on him. I can actually buy the panicking part, thrust into a situation like that where you have been kept in a cell for who knows how long is going to have an affect on you.

That makes perfect sense right up until the moment when the first arrow lands a foot away. At that point there's no amount of cell time that's going to make the kid think "dogs" rather than "arrows".

 

[Ichinisan]

Just a random thought, but what if Rickon didn't know Ramsey would be shooting an arrow at him. His first thought might have been than he would be releasing the dogs on him. I can actually buy the panicking part, thrust into a situation like that where you have been kept in a cell for who knows how long is going to have an affect on you.

He clearly saw the arrows landing next to him and just in front of him.

 

[Regs]

Yes.


But this series does not change behavior as part of its backstory. The humans act human, or at least they did back when GRRM was writing them. Now they're just blithering idiots, like the viewers who believe that they're acting in normal ways. If the series established kids as being different from normal humans (like it did with the potential for exceptional size and strength) then perhaps it might be possible to believe that in Westeros kids are born without the ability to learn to dodge. But since it was not established as part of that world and as other people clearly have the ability to move out of the way, it's awful writing and storytelling to rely on that as a way to resolve a situation. Kids behave like normal people right up until the point where the writers need them to behave in unrealistic ways.

I was under the impression GGRM only wrote a script here and there (like one per season) and was only consulting. Even when GGRM wrote a script for HBO is was not entirely based off the book but in the spirit of the shows adaptation. I don't understand how the discussion got around about how kids don't know how t dodge?

 

[Artorias]

He clearly saw the arrows landing next to him and just in front of him.

Oh yeah. Well I wont complain endlessly about it.

Edit: Just watched the scene again and he actually looks back when Ramsey gets the bow given to him.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

I was under the impression GGRM only wrote a script here and there (like one per season) and was only consulting. Even when GGRM wrote a script for HBO is was not entirely based off the book but in the spirit of the shows adaptation. I don't understand how the discussion got around about how kids don't know how t dodge?

Whoever is writing a script, the story stuck with what GRRM had already written except where edited to fit into TV. Some plot lines were eliminated, others consolidated, etc. But the characters behaved like the characters, the events unfolded in the same general way, etc.

How we got around to the kids is the bigger picture of how the series have changed (read: gone down the drain) since the scripts are no longer based on GRRMs writings and are solely created by the showrunners and their writers. GRRMs characters behaved in believable ways, they stayed in character and acted according to the rules of the world that GRRM established. Now that the series has outpaced the books they don't. Rickon not dodging is just another examples in an endless series of places where the series doesn't try to keep the characters acting "normal". It's the topic du jour for THIS week. Every week it's something else. Next week come character will do something even less believable and we'll forget about Rickon and laugh at that event instead.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

 

[Elganja]

it amazes me people are getting caught up on HOW Rickon died... he was going to die regardless, even if it was in a "silly" way

there's many "silly" moments in the show...

 

[Sonikku]

Jon Snow is dumb for playing right into Ramsay's hands. It's pretty bad when even Sansa is smarter than you. Snow knows nothing...

Rather than having the Vale swoop in to save them I would rather have seen Snow pull a Robb and unleash some strategic cunning Ramsay never saw coming. Instead he comes off like a dope.

 

[cronos]

it amazes me people are getting caught up on HOW Rickon died... he was going to die regardless, even if it was in a "silly" way

there's many "silly" moments in the show...

That's okay. All you need to do is follow this thread and we'll hear about all of them. Several times!

 

[Sonikku]

Spoilers

Spoiler

Game of Thrones' lead actors are all getting sizable pay raises, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) will each receive more than $500,000 per episode for seasons seven and eight.

 

[Childs]

Jon Snow is dumb for playing right into Ramsay's hands. It's pretty bad when even Sansa is smarter than you. Snow knows nothing...

Rather than having the Vale swoop in to save them I would rather have seen Snow pull a Robb and unleash some strategic cunning Ramsay never saw coming. Instead he comes off like a dope.

To use a wrestling analogy, they used Jon to put over Sansa. At this point its hard to devalue Jon that much, but Sansa needs the push.

 

[JEDI]

Spoilers

Spoiler

Game of Thrones' lead actors are all getting sizable pay raises, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) will each receive more than $500,000 per episode for seasons seven and eight.

interesting that the contract was only for 6 yrs.

and I would have figured a renewal price of $1M per episode, given the cash hbo is making off this show.
hell, Steinfeld was making $1M per episode over 10yrs ago!

 

[Pens1566]

interesting that the contract was only for 6 yrs.

and I would have figured a renewal price of $1M per episode, given the cash hbo is making off this show.
hell, Steinfeld was making $1M per episode over 10yrs ago!

They've had multiple re-negotiations up to this point.

 

[Sonikku]

I'm surprised they aren't making more to be honest. The show is a smash. They must have been making peanuts in season 1.

 

[Kev]

Yes.

A fantasy series creates its own universe. In some dragons are real and zombies are real. In others elves are real and rings of invisibility are real and giant eagles are real. In others still there are talking blood drinking swords. That's why they call it fantasy. In good fantasy a series respects its own constructs, it sets parameters on what magic can accomplish, how long elves live, how strong giants are, how much weight a giant eagle can carry and then it stays within those definitions.

In GRRMs world some men can grow to exceptional size and strength. That's part of the mythology, it's as much a part of the world as dragons, wights and death magic. If you accept the premise of one you accept the premise of all. The series established that right at the get go as part of that world and then it uses that as part of the story. Gregor is bigger and stronger than what we accept as a normal human in this world.

But this series does not change behavior as part of its backstory. The humans act human, or at least they did back when GRRM was writing them. Now they're just blithering idiots, like the viewers who believe that they're acting in normal ways. If the series established kids as being different from normal humans (like it did with the potential for exceptional size and strength) then perhaps it might be possible to believe that in Westeros kids are born without the ability to learn to dodge. But since it was not established as part of that world and as other people clearly have the ability to move out of the way, it's awful writing and storytelling to rely on that as a way to resolve a situation. Kids behave like normal people right up until the point where the writers need them to behave in unrealistic ways.

Gregor being uber-strong fits with the story. He is consistent.

The kid not having the sense to dodge does not fit that world or this story. It's not consistent, it's a one-off construct that was done just to make a completely idiotic scene play out in a way that would not have happened if the kid behaved in a way that the series said was normal.

This is a troll right? Did you just write an essay about a kid not running in a zig zag?

 

[Kev]

#1 rated tv episode of all time

http://www.imdb.com/search/title?num_votes=1000,&sort=user_rating&title_type=tv_episode

but it had a kid not running in a zig zag

0/10

show is garbage

 

[PricklyPete]

#1 rated tv episode of all time

http://www.imdb.com/search/title?num_votes=1000,&sort=user_rating&title_type=tv_episode

but it had a kid not running in a zig zag

0/10

show is garbage

#1 episode and no boobs...impossible.

 

[Eymar]

This is a troll right? Did you just write an essay about a kid not running in a zig zag?

Damn, I didn't read the post until your response. However, worth reading for the LOL realizing your spot on. I have to admit pretty good five paragraph essay (intro, details, conclusion).

 

[Eug]

#1 rated tv episode of all time

http://www.imdb.com/search/title?num_votes=1000,&sort=user_rating&title_type=tv_episode

but it had a kid not running in a zig zag

0/10

show is garbage

Hmmmm... I don't agree with that rating. That was a good episode overall, but Breaking Bad Ozymandias easily beats it IMO. Hell, even Star Trek: Mirror, Mirror beats it easily.

I would give that episode maybe an 8/10. Definitely not a 10/10.

 

[JEDI]

I'm surprised they aren't making more to be honest. The show is a smash. They must have been making peanuts in season 1.

doesn't matter. any agent worth his salt will negotiate based on current ratings.

ie:
big bang theory
the cast was paid peanuts.
then their 3yr contract was up.
HUGE raises in new contract.

I think the guy who plays Sheldon makes $1M per episode now in latest round of contracts

 

[Childs]

Hmmmm... I don't agree with that rating. That was a good episode overall, but Breaking Bad Ozymandias easily beats it IMO. Hell, even Star Trek: Mirror, Mirror beats it easily.

I would give that episode maybe an 8/10. Definitely not a 10/10.

I dont think it was good as last seasons episode 9.