I couldn't agree more. The first five or six seasons were absolutely incredible, and this season (and to some extent the last one) have really suffered. I didn't mind the first few episodes this season, but I thought last night's episode was practically a sacrilege... it is difficult to watch all of the intricately woven storylines and character development that were invested over the years dissolve into thin dialogue and meaningless plot twists, not to mention straight up gratuitous violence. Honestly, my husband and I agreed that the only thing that could redeem this season at this point would be if the final episode revealed that everything that just transpired was all a crazy dream sequence (likely Dany's), and the reality would be Jaime offing Cersei (Tyrion or Arya offing Cersei would have been poetic justice as well) and returning to Brienne, the innocent civilians being spared, and while we're at it maybe we could go back in time and spare Missandei and Ser Jorah as well. And of course Arya and Gendry could live happily ever after. But of course that is not going to happen. Up until this season it really has been a fun ride, and I am sorry to see a show of this caliber end this way. Although it really feels like the writers have been phoning it in over the last few episodes (dialogue? what dialogue?) I am nevertheless curious to see how they wrap things up next week!!But the biggest death by far has been the quality of writing. The cinematography and music have been superb, faultless, but the character storylines have just collapsed into insipid heaps of disappointment.
I didn't like this episode at all. 4 and 5 are about the same for me. GRRM is AN executive producer, not the only one, and I remember back in 2017 he was arguing with Benioff and Weiss, but B&W talked him into letting them do the ending they want.Also, GRRM is an executive producer of the show. Can't put all the blame on the others when he is right there in the thick of it
OMG!!!
I thought it was perfect!
I couldn't agree more! I kept waiting for Jon to get on the dragon and ride off.Jon kills Dany. Dany is swept away by Drogon. There’s no reunion between Dany & Khal Drogo or her son, in the afterlife. What did the old witch say?? When she crosses over into the afterlife, only then will she see him, again. That was one of the most dramatic, beautifully moving, and CRITICAL moments in the entire series!! Who else was waiting for the return of Khal Drogo, when Khaleesi fell??? YESSSS!!!!
Where was Jon going, once the gate to Castle Black fell??? To join the Free Folk? Was that the plan, all along? Bran would know; he’s the 3 eyed raven. Did he send Jon back to the wall, only to free him??That is how I took it. I think they were setting him up as the new Mance Raider type leader of the free folk
There are so many questions left unanswered. There were so many missed opportunities to tie the rest of the series into the finale & COMPLETE it.
I’m so damn disappointed.
I have so many thoughts about this... I totally agree that this season felt rushed and to some degree forced. The writers could easily have added another handful of episodes to tie things together more artfully. To say that this season was not the best is an understatement of epic proportions...
As far as the finale, overall I was disappointed, but there were parts that I enjoyed. The scene between Jon and Dany got me only because I thought he was going to get sucked into her spell once again (I guess I was the sucker there!) and then wham! But it seemed more like the scene that should have occurred between Jaime and Cersei last week. That would have been a more fitting end for Cersei (and come on, they were buried under like 6 inches of rubble? My husband joked that if they had run in basically any direction they would have survived that!). I would have been happier with Grey Worm seeing the light and taking Dany out, just so that Jon could stay in favor and be the chosen one. Bran was the dark horse that I didn't see coming, but having him take over was my personal equivalent of eating melba toast... he was there all along, but no one particularly noticed him because he didn't really bring anything to the table, so he was a 'meh' choice (my sincerest apologies to any melba toast fans out there!). I mean, they spent many, many seasons bringing Jon's redemption arc to fruition and having him discover his true identity, and for what? So he could be exiled and Bran could take charge? Or were they just trying to select the least expected ending, because everyone was expecting it to be Jon and maybe that might have felt cliché? IDK...
There were some salvageable moments sprinkled in as well... Drogon liquifying the Iron Throne was poetic (and the prediction that no one would ever sit on the Iron Throne came true!). Also, the scene between Jon and Ghost was heartwarming, and there were other enjoyable surprises in the mix (particularly Tyrion surviving and Bronn and Sam making reappearances). And I did think it was neat that the siblings (Bran, Sansa, Arya, and Jon, although not by choice) each went to blaze their own trails in different regions. I would have loved a Garya redux, but that would probably have been the most out of character choice for Arya, even as fine as Gendry is! But that would have been fun.
So all in all, I guess they did the best they could in the absence of having the book to draw from, and in a series with such complexity there is no finale that could possibly please everyone. I know there are prequels in the works and the finale definitely left a lot of room for sequels/spinoffs, all of which I would probably watch in hopes that Benioff and Weiss could resurrect the mad writing skills they displayed in Seasons 1-5!
I could not agree more... I would have loved to see that as well! The Khaleesi/Khal Drogo love story evolved in a refreshingly unexpected way, and seemed so genuine. Her mourning of his death and their stillborn child was heartwrenching as well, and I wish they had portrayed some reunion in the afterlife. That really was a missed opportunity!EXACTLY!!!
But....Khal Drogo & Khaleesi’s reunion moment is forever missed. There is no way of continuing, or spinning off to allow their reunion to take place. At least, not in a way that makes sense or has the same effect.
Their Union was incredible. Unexpectedly so, which is what made their marriage so beautiful. This is the ONE portion of the series that moved me, and really made them REAL. I am supremely HOT under the collar that the scene did not involve Drogo. She dreamed of seeing him and her son, again. I’m very heartbroken over it.
The rest, I can handle. I’m good with spinoffs. I’ll be looking for more.
Sam has a baby on the way. Jon is off to start a new life with the Free Folk. Arya will have more adventures (and may fall in love) in the West. Sanse will rule well, at Winterfell, and Bran will be a great King. I’m certain they can pull off a mini-series or 2 on all of that.
However, the story of Dany & Drogo has ended, with no possible way of reuniting them.
That leaves a very sour taste in my mouth.
This angle occurred to me as well, and yes, she probably didn't deserve a happy reunion after what she did to the civilians of Kings' Landing, but I for one wouldn't have minded just one more appearance by Jason Momoa! But then, why did they go to all of the trouble to lay the groundwork for the prophecy in the first place? That aspect just felt a bit sloppy.I don't think she gets a happy ending in the afterlife after incinerating over a million civilians.
But then, why did they go to all of the trouble to lay the groundwork for the prophecy in the first place? That aspect just felt a bit sloppy.
Agree, but I think that she was probably always meant to go there. It just wasn't believable the way that they led up to it and jumped head first. It should have been more subtle build up over the course of many seasons with moments that give you pause as to her true nature.This angle occurred to me as well, and yes, she probably didn't deserve a happy reunion after what she did to the civilians of Kings' Landing, but I for one wouldn't have minded just one more appearance by Jason Momoa! But then, why did they go to all of the trouble to lay the groundwork for the prophecy in the first place? That aspect just felt a bit sloppy.
Honestly, though, the singlemost confusing thing about this show has been the writers' treatment of Daenerys' character... she evolved from a relatively naive underling to a strong, empowered humanitarian heroine, only to ultimately turn to the dark side and become power-hungry and hell-bent on destruction. That was what bothered me most about last week's episode... the torching of Kings' Landing didn't need to happen. And in addition, we were groomed to love Dany throughout the history of the show, and then her character was almost irreparably tarnished last week, which was equally unnecessary. The writers kind of soured her character in the end, which was a shame, because they didn't need to go there, and once again several seasons had been invested in developing her character arc. But one thing is for sure: Emilia Clarke did a slam dunk job of portraying Daenerys! Can't wait to see what she does next!