The last two episodes undid years of character development...didn't really have any major issues with it until that. (Reason for not stopping watching it).
As for RW's "Sky is falling" narrative....I know, I just think I just got Triggered by those last two GOT episodes.
- ReginaPEN15

Who’s character development did it undo?

2 seasons (7 and 8) x 10 episodes/seasons x 90 minutes/episode =1800 minutes

And I didn't know you were a professional writer. Please let me know you film and TV successes, I'd be interested to see your work.
- jmatchett383

umm, no. we already have 13 out of a (needed) 20 episodes. all i was saying is if they made s7 and s8 @ 10 per, which is an additional 420 mins if we’re going with 60 min ones, maybe up to 500 mins if a few are longer.

take two years in between each, if need be (as they did in between s7 and s8 anyway), scale down production values a little on stuff that was obviously super expensive to film (episode 3 and episode 5 of season 8 in particular were likely two of the most expensive ones to film in the series history), i’d much rather have stuff make sense and characters stay in line with their arcs over grand spectacle that makes zero sense for either of those things (or at best, overtly rushed, subverting 7 years of buildup of arcs & plotlines to reach GRRM’s endgame points for the sake of getting there).

and no, i’m not a professional writer, just an avid fan of the series, and the books way before that. any fanboy with a half-decent ability to write would be able to provide a more fulfilling way to reach GRRM’s endgame than D&D did. go to any of the numerous GoT subreddits to see fan-fiction that trumps what we’ve actually been given, and none of those people even knew ahead of time where GRRM was going, as D&D had the luxury of.

if you’re a fan of the series- whether show or books or both- i dunno how you can possibly justify the crap that is s8, particularly e3 onwards. the OP was totally accurate in drawing parallels between Michael Bay (or i’d throw in Zach Snyder for that matter) and D&D in s8. spectacle over substance is a total betrayal of the fanbase; if gigantic explosions and pretty scenery at the expense of any logical character arc/plotline development is what you desire, go rewatch Transformers or Batman vs. Superman. i expected more from the particular series in question and so did the vast majority of the fanbase.

ah, well, whatever. hopefully GRRM manages to release the last two books before he croaks so those of us who care about arcs and plots not being shoved to the side for the sake of getting to the endgame can read it for ourselves.

Who’s character development did it undo?
- j.boyd919

Daenerys

I don’t get the hate for the last episode. That poop was awesome. Easily one of the best episodes in the last few seasons.
- j.boyd919

Yeah, I think episode 4 was weak, but Episode 5 was actually driven totally by Dany's character. Everything and everyone she ever trusted and loved in either gone or has betrayed her. She was told people longed for her return, and they treat her like an outsider in reality. So the only way she can gain their loyalty is by otherworldly fear and...well, mission accomplished. That was what drove 90% of episode 5.

umm, no. we already have 13 out of a (needed) 20 episodes. all i was saying is if they made s7 and s8 @ 10 per, which is an additional 420 mins if we’re going with 60 min ones, maybe up to 500 mins if a few are longer.

take two years in between each, if need be (as they did in between s7 and s8 anyway), scale down production values a little on stuff that was obviously super expensive to film (episode 3 and episode 5 of season 8 in particular were likely two of the most expensive ones to film in the series history), i’d much rather have stuff make sense and characters stay in line with their arcs over grand spectacle that makes zero sense for either of those things (or at best, overtly rushed, subverting 7 years of buildup of arcs & plotlines to reach GRRM’s endgame points for the sake of getting there).

and no, i’m not a professional writer, just an avid fan of the series, and the books way before that. any fanboy with a half-decent ability to write would be able to provide a more fulfilling way to reach GRRM’s endgame than D&D did. go to any of the numerous GoT subreddits to see fan-fiction that trumps what we’ve actually been given, and none of those people even knew ahead of time where GRRM was going, as D&D had the luxury of.

if you’re a fan of the series- whether show or books or both- i dunno how you can possibly justify the crap that is s8, particularly e3 onwards. the OP was totally accurate in drawing parallels between Michael Bay (or i’d throw in Zach Snyder for that matter) and D&D in s8. spectacle over substance is a total betrayal of the fanbase; if gigantic explosions and pretty scenery at the expense of any logical character arc/plotline development is what you desire, go rewatch Transformers or Batman vs. Superman. i expected more from the particular series in question and so did the vast majority of the fanbase.

ah, well, whatever. hopefully GRRM manages to release the last two books before he croaks so those of us who care about arcs and plots not being shoved to the side for the sake of getting to the endgame can read it for ourselves.
- avsgrinder

Okay, I didn't see you were including the last 2 seasons in your 10 per.

Still, I think that people who have never written professional screenplay find it much easier to female dog and whine that they could actually do a better job themselves (much like hockey fans). I know that, as much as I love Tolkein, I could not have done a better job with LOTR than Peter Jackson did even though he took some MAJOR liberties with those books. I don't know you, but I doubt you could have done a far superior job than what's been done with GoT. Just my 2 cents.

RW should have included the decline of his blogs as well.
Maybe have bottomed out on this one.

Daenerys
- ReginaPEN15

No?

They've been telegraphing that she's nuts for years.

The girl had to be talked out of committing war crimes every 3 episodes for (frank)s sake.

Daenerys
- ReginaPEN15

What??? That chick has been insane since season 1. The entire series has been foreshadowing her becoming the Mad Queen. She’s burned poop for 8 seasons now. She’s burned innocent people before. She literally said “I will take the throne with fire and blood” or some poop like that.

She’s lost everything. Her lover now rejects her. Her best advisor got her head chopped off. Her other advisor tried to betray her. Tyrion has failed her like 9 times. Jorah ultimately betrayed her to begin with, 2 of her dragons died, and her claim to the throne is no longer valid with Jon snow being the rightful heir. No wonder the chick went berserk. It makes so much sense.

No?

They've been telegraphing that she's nuts for years.

The girl had to be talked out of committing war crimes every 3 episodes for (frank)s sake.
- BINGO!

Not to mention that her "good intentions" in Mereen and the surrounding cities threw the entire region into chaos and civil war. Playing nice doesn't seem to work out well for her.

RW should have included the decline of his blogs as well.
Maybe have bottomed out on this one.
- mont23

Its hard to decline when you start at the bottom

Yeah, I think episode 4 was weak, but Episode 5 was actually driven totally by Dany's character. Everything and everyone she ever trusted and loved in either gone or has betrayed her. She was told people longed for her return, and they treat her like an outsider in reality. So the only way she can gain their loyalty is by otherworldly fear and...well, mission accomplished. That was what drove 90% of episode 5.
- jmatchett383

it’s not what she did, it’s how they got there. her descent into madness was foreshadowed countless times throughout both the series and in the books- lots of us pretty much already knew it was gonna happen.

problem was, in execution it felt like a snap decision rather than slow descent, which threw away and made irrelevant everything they carefully laid out prior to this. with a few additional episodes before the events of episode 5, they could’ve easily focused in on her and made it feel more rewarding, logical, and satisfying

Not to mention that her "good intentions" in Mereen and the surrounding cities threw the entire region into chaos and civil war. Playing nice doesn't seem to work out well for her.
- jmatchett383

"But she's the good guy!"


female dog there ARE no good guys. That's the who point from the beginning. The Hound was right about everything. If you try to be an honest to god good guy, you'll lose.

Know what I don't buy about GoT?

In episode 4, when Dany is flying with her 2 dragons 2000 feet above sea (and fails to notice a gigantic (frank)ing fleet below her), the first bolt hits one of the dragons in the chest. the second one nails his wing, and the 3rd one gets him in the throat. Then, in a rage, Dany flies her last remaining dragon down towards the fleet (making it a much easier target) and the subsequent 700 arrows all fail to hit the dragon.

Now THAT is some nonsense.

it’s not what she did, it’s how they got there. her descent into madness was foreshadowed countless times throughout both the series and in the books- lots of us pretty much already knew it was gonna happen.

problem was, in execution it felt like a snap decision rather than slow descent, which threw away and made irrelevant everything they carefully laid out prior to this. with a few additional episodes before the events of episode 5, they could’ve easily focused in on her and made it feel more rewarding, logical, and satisfying
- avsgrinder

Yeah but now we're just being petty. If everyone can see it happening, do you really need an extra couple episodes to lay it out?

Yes, it was rushed, but if you needed more build up you weren't really paying attention in the first place.

Know what I don't buy about GoT?

In episode 4, when Dany is flying with her 2 dragons 2000 feet above sea (and fails to notice a gigantic (frank)ing fleet below her), the first bolt hits one of the dragons in the chest. the second one nails his wing, and the 3rd one gets him in the throat. Then, in a rage, Dany flies her last remaining dragon down towards the fleet (making it a much easier target) and the subsequent 700 arrows all fail to hit the dragon.

Now THAT is some nonsense.
- jmatchett383

That's some Carolina Hurricanes level shooting luck.

"But she's the good guy!"


female dog there ARE no good guys. That's the who point from the beginning. The Hound was right about everything. If you try to be an honest to god good guy, you'll lose.
- BINGO!

My favorite 3 characters have been Bronn, The Hound, and Tyrion. For the most part, they don't hide anything, they are who they say they are, and they don't care what other people think.

I still think Bronn has a major role to play (and no, I have not read any spoilers, so if you have, please don't comment on that).

I have never seen Game of Thrones before. I actually stopped watching TV other than sports about 10-15 years ago, but holy god it's all I ever hear anyone talk about.. Is it really that exciting? I discovered 15 years ago that living my own life was a lot more fun than sitting on the couch and watching other people have fun, but holy people are obsessed with this show. What is the big thrill?? Should I start watching tv again?

I have never seen Game of Thrones before. I actually stopped watching TV other than sports about 10-15 years ago, but holy god it's all I ever hear anyone talk about.. Is it really that exciting? I discovered 15 years ago that living my own life was a lot more fun than sitting on the couch and watching other people have fun, but holy people are obsessed with this show. What is the big thrill?? Should I start watching tv again?
- bochangs

It's the most epic fantasy TV show ever. Think LOTR without hobbits on a bigger scale. Or, think of the MCU but switch out space with snow-covered wastelands and bolts of energy with zombies.

My favorite 3 characters have been Bronn, The Hound, and Tyrion. For the most part, they don't hide anything, they are who they say they are, and they don't care what other people think.

I still think Bronn has a major role to play (and no, I have not read any spoilers, so if you have, please don't comment on that).
- jmatchett383

I won't ruin it.

Does feel like they wasted Bronn a bit this year.

But yeah, Bronn, Tyrion, and The Hound all saw things for what they were and it wasn't until Tyrion went and decided to try and place his faith in someone else that he actually got burned by it.

No?

They've been telegraphing that she's nuts for years.

The girl had to be talked out of committing war crimes every 3 episodes for (frank)s sake.
- BINGO!

She was the Breaker of chains. Turned down offers from slave masters to give her gold and an army to sail to Westeros to reclaim her throne, because she wanted to end slavery and help people. You are right that she ALMOST commited war crimes every couple of episodes but she didn't...driving the development of the character. In the last 2 episodes she's acting like a teenage insecure psychopathic murderer. Now, I get the point you're making about the foreshasowing of her "crazy" but that seemed overtly rushed and would have been nice if her spiral downward would have at least been a progression rather than the feeling like the flicking a switch. Anyway that's my thoughts.

it’s not what she did, it’s how they got there. her descent into madness was foreshadowed countless times throughout both the series and in the books- lots of us pretty much already knew it was gonna happen.

problem was, in execution it felt like a snap decision rather than slow descent, which threw away and made irrelevant everything they carefully laid out prior to this. with a few additional episodes before the events of episode 5, they could’ve easily focused in on her and made it feel more rewarding, logical, and satisfying
- avsgrinder

Yes This!

I have never seen Game of Thrones before. I actually stopped watching TV other than sports about 10-15 years ago, but holy god it's all I ever hear anyone talk about.. Is it really that exciting? I discovered 15 years ago that living my own life was a lot more fun than sitting on the couch and watching other people have fun, but holy people are obsessed with this show. What is the big thrill?? Should I start watching tv again?
- bochangs

before this season, i’d 100% say yes, watch it. but given how it’s all ending, you’re better off staying away from the couch. the books, though, highly recommended.

She was the Breaker of chains. Turned down offers from slave masters to give her gold and an army to sail to Westeros to reclaim her throne, because she wanted to end slavery and help people. You are right that she ALMOST commited war crimes every couple of episodes but she didn't...driving the development of the character. In the last 2 episodes she's acting like a teenage insecure psychopathic murderer. Now, I get the point you're making about the foreshasowing of her "crazy" but that seemed overtly rushed and would have been nice if her spiral downward would have at least been a progression rather than the feeling like the flicking a switch. Anyway that's my thoughts.
- ReginaPEN15

In the episode before last, her top adviser got her head chopped off, her 2nd and 3rd most trusted advisers "betrayed" her, and her lover decided he can no longer love her (and he "betrayed" her). I'd say that is enough to make a person become unhinged when they enter into battle.

Know what I don't buy about GoT?

In episode 4, when Dany is flying with her 2 dragons 2000 feet above sea (and fails to notice a gigantic (frank)ing fleet below her), the first bolt hits one of the dragons in the chest. the second one nails his wing, and the 3rd one gets him in the throat. Then, in a rage, Dany flies her last remaining dragon down towards the fleet (making it a much easier target) and the subsequent 700 arrows all fail to hit the dragon.

Now THAT is some nonsense.
- jmatchett383

Yep yep yep!
lol

before this season, i’d 100% say yes, watch it. but given how it’s all ending, you’re better off staying away from the couch. the books, though, highly recommended.
- avsgrinder

Yes, let 5 episodes ruin 8 years.

I like reading fantasy, but I don't like 1200 page books where the narrative focus shifts every 20 pages. But I know that a lot of people like them, I just couldn't get into them.