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#GameofThrones has always been about power. What it means and how it's used. But, in the end, the true power lay with the showrunners who, no matter how indefensible or nonsensical, were always hurtling toward this moment.
The worst abuse of power in #GameofThrones was in the writing - The unwillingness or inability to deviate from a flawed plan. The unfaltering determination to arrive at a set conclusion. GoT is meant to be about the consequences of our choices. We just witnessed it.
Whether or not this is GRRM's intended conclusion, the show failed to craft a convincing argument for its deployment. Dany fought to save mankind from the apocalypse only to destroy her own humanity against a lesser threat? I'm sorry, it just doesn't track.
I loved the first part of the episode. I loved Arya + the Hound. I loved Tyrion's actions. But I didn't love how #GameofThrones depicted the ultimate corruption of Dany's soul. I believe it could have worked if the final two seasons were regular length.
I'm not disappointed in beloved character breaking bad. That's television writing 101. It's justifiable in a vacuum and often compelling on a whole. IT COULD HAVE WORKED. I'm disappointed that Dany's ultimate turn lacked earned catalysts. True development & progression.
And of course #GameofThrones has been planting these seeds for awhile. I'm not blind. The set up has been thorough. I respect that. But just because a watered seed can sometimes grow in the darkness doesn't always mean it should grow and flourish.
I don't want a happy ending. Joy is fleeting, pain leaves scars. The darkness is what we all have in common. But carnage isn't inherently interesting or emotional on its own. Dany sparring w/ Sansa, Dany & Jon splintering, Tyrion & Varys saying goodbye. THAT'S the good stuff.
This was the second-best episode of the season so far. In another world, I loved it. There is so much interesting meaning to unpack from it all. So many lasting implications. But that doesn't mean we can't evaluate and critique it. If you loved it, I'm genuinely happy. Seriously.
They told us repeatedly she had Mad Queen tendencies. But even her worst actions -- crucifying slave owners and burning the Tarlys -- were either morally intentioned or within established rules of engagement. Most of the time, she tried to save lives. #GameofThrones
Two episodes ago she selflessly set aside her ambitions and life's destiny to save the world. Now, she's burning civilian women and children.
Compare and contrast Sandor's arc with Dany. Everything The Hound has been through has been well explained and potently shown. We understood what happened to him and how it impacted him which crystallized the reasons behind his reactions to it all. Dany's turn lacked that.
Jon is a great man, but he's also a fucking idiot.
I think a better way to have handled it would have been to show Dany desperately hoping for the bells to ring as her army actually struggled within the walls. Finally, with certain death surrounding her allies and no bells, she reluctantly turns to total warfare.
To this point, his devotion to honesty and honor and his love of Daenerys indirectly led to this cataclysm. That aligns with GoT's overarching themes from Day 1 and is the type of fascinating thematics and dualism that I love.
While I don't agree with anything that Jaime has done (or how) over the last two episodes, I believe his scene tonight was presented beautifully. While I hate Cersei, I loved how her veneer finally cracked with him. Lena Headey has yet to win an Emmy for GoT. THAT JUST CHANGED.
They did Jaime dirty. He slew the Mad King to save King's Landing, sacrificing his honor for the greater good. Last time he saw Cersei, he was disgusted by her and willing to die to escape her. Now he rushes back to her and doesn't care about 1M residents of KL? Sketchy.
