Game of Thrones (TV, fantasy) Thread

[axeman90210]

Honestly, I don't even know if this was my favorite episode of this season. Obviously the production values were off the charts for a TV show, but the actual story unfolding wasn't as good as some of the other "big" episodes in prior years. The battle of the bastards itself was somewhat anti-climactic as it would have made zero narrative sense to have Jon Snow brought back from the dead only to die at the hand of Ramsay a few episodes later. Jon Snow's stupidity on the battlefield made his subsequent victory less of a triumph and more of a case of his having been a dumbass and was only bailed out by additional forces arriving at the last minute, forces Sansa kept from him for... reasons unknown. It's also annoying that they went with the surprise cavalry trope twice in the same episode. Don't get me wrong, the effects, staging, and cinematography were spectacular, and I loved seeing Ramsay finally get his, but overall I probably wouldn't put this in my top 3  episodes for GoT.

[gmillerdrake]

Storywise, it may not have been the best.

But the sheer brutality and awesome cinematography of the Bastard battle makes it the best for me.

Not to mention the atmosphere and 'feel'. We all knew the Knights of the Vale we're going to show up but they created a great impending doom feel and at one point i thought to myself, Holy Crap....they're gonna kill everyone....maybe Ramsay does win.

Then they hit us with sheer joy and exhilaration.

[Prog Snob]

While I enjoyed the episode a ton, am I the only one who didn't think Bastardbowl was nearly as tense or thrilling as, say, Hardholme, or the battle at the wall? It definitely felt a lot more predictable to me. I was quite confident that Ramsay would lose, and was just waiting for the Knights of the Vale to show up. I was also quite confident that Jon wasn't going to die, as he was only recently brought back to life.

It was probably one of the most predictable episodes of the show. That being said, I still felt that it was rife with intensity. The scene where Jon is standing with his sword and waiting for the cavalry, with that epic music playing in the background, is one of my favorite moments in the show.

[hefdaddy42]

Same here.

[Podaar]

I also thought the scene where Jon has to swim up through the human press to get air was very well done. Unique and stifling. I loved how once he rose above, the camera drifted up into the air. I felt myself inhaling deeper as the camera went higher.

[Podaar]

Who else was screaming, "EVASIVE MANEUVERS...ZIG-ZAG...ZIG-ZAG!"

[Prog Snob]

I also thought the scene where Jon has to swim up through the human press to get air was very well done. Unique and stifling. I loved how once he rose above, the camera drifted up into the air. I felt myself inhaling deeper as the camera went higher.

I had trouble watching that scene. I'm exceedingly claustrophobic and found myself trying to catch my own breath.

[gmillerdrake]

Who else was screaming, "EVASIVE MANEUVERS...ZIG-ZAG...ZIG-ZAG!"

Yep. I think there was a lot of that being shouted.....

[Prog Snob]

[hefdaddy42]

Who else was screaming, "EVASIVE MANEUVERS...ZIG-ZAG...ZIG-ZAG!"

My wife yelled "Serpentine!  Serpentine!"

[King Postwhore]

I was thrilled to death so see a few people die in that episode.  It was very gratifying.

[Implode]

I'm pretty sure a few thousand people died in that episode 

[gmillerdrake]

I thought it was kind of neat also how they had a former loyal Stark ally now enemy....Smalljon Umber.....get killed by a former enemy now close ally.....Tormund.

[Prog Snob]

I was glad to see Tormund take care of him, though typically we see the betrayed person get their revenge against the betrayer personally. That was one of the few things I expected but didn't see.

[MirrorMask]

While I enjoyed the episode a ton, am I the only one who didn't think Bastardbowl was nearly as tense or thrilling as, say, Hardholme, or the battle at the wall? It definitely felt a lot more predictable to me. I was quite confident that Ramsay would lose, and was just waiting for the Knights of the Vale to show up. I was also quite confident that Jon wasn't going to die, as he was only recently brought back to life.

Yeah, it was predictable in the sense that I knew / wildly guessed that Ramsay would die, that the Vale would arrive at the last moment, and that there had to be at least some casualties among the good guys.

Hardhome was insanely awesome because - especially for non book readers - it came really out of nowhere. I was sure I was watching an intermediary, peace-mission scene and then all of a sudden all icy hell broke loose in devasting ways. Unforgettable episode.

I also thought the scene where Jon has to swim up through the human press to get air was very well done. Unique and stifling. I loved how once he rose above, the camera drifted up into the air. I felt myself inhaling deeper as the camera went higher.

Yes, this was brilliantly done, and while other points may have been predictable, I couldn't have imagined the hero being cut out from the battle because he was busy almost choking to death beneath a pile of corpses.

[Prog Snob]

https://winteriscoming.net/2016/06/22/battle-of-the-bastards-director-miguel-sapochnik-on-why-ghost-wasnt-in-the-fight/?utm_campaign=WiC+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

[gmillerdrake]

https://winteriscoming.net/2016/06/22/battle-of-the-bastards-director-miguel-sapochnik-on-why-ghost-wasnt-in-the-fight/?utm_campaign=WiC+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

As cool as it would have been to see Ghost in a battle....I'm glad he wasn't because a full on battle is no place for a 'weapon' of his nature....he's more of a small group or stealth attack.....he'd have been killed for sure. It's good to have him around still.

[MirrorMask]

Another article on that site has an interview with the actor playing Rickon, he says "So far in Season 3, I want Khaleesi to be queen of Westeros."

Geez.

Even one of the actors believe Khaalesi is her name. I have no hope left for humanity.

[Prog Snob]

https://winteriscoming.net/2016/06/22/battle-of-the-bastards-director-miguel-sapochnik-on-why-ghost-wasnt-in-the-fight/?utm_campaign=WiC+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

As cool as it would have been to see Ghost in a battle....I'm glad he wasn't because a full on battle is no place for a 'weapon' of his nature....he's more of a small group or stealth attack.....he'd have been killed for sure. It's good to have him around still.

Indeed. I figured it was obvious why he wasn't on the battlefield. We have enough dead wolves. I don't want to see Ghost die.

[gmillerdrake]

https://winteriscoming.net/2016/06/22/battle-of-the-bastards-director-miguel-sapochnik-on-why-ghost-wasnt-in-the-fight/?utm_campaign=WiC+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

As cool as it would have been to see Ghost in a battle....I'm glad he wasn't because a full on battle is no place for a 'weapon' of his nature....he's more of a small group or stealth attack.....he'd have been killed for sure. It's good to have him around still.

Hopefully he was out knocking up a couple females to get some more in population...

Indeed. I figured it was obvious why he wasn't on the battlefield. We have enough dead wolves. I don't want to see Ghost die.

Hopefully he was out knocking up a couple females to get some more in population...

[RuRoRul]

Another article on that site has an interview with the actor playing Rickon, he says "So far in Season 3, I want Khaleesi to be queen of Westeros."

Geez.

Even one of the actors believe Khaalesi is her name. I have no hope left for humanity.

I saw that interview as well. Took away a bit of the sting from Rickon's death knowing that he was a filthy casual 

[King Postwhore]

I'm pretty sure a few thousand people died in that episode 

Yes but a few made me really happy.  Don't stomp all over my joy of seeing characters that deserve to die, die!

[Prog Snob]

https://winteriscoming.net/2016/06/22/battle-of-the-bastards-director-miguel-sapochnik-on-why-ghost-wasnt-in-the-fight/?utm_campaign=WiC+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

As cool as it would have been to see Ghost in a battle....I'm glad he wasn't because a full on battle is no place for a 'weapon' of his nature....he's more of a small group or stealth attack.....he'd have been killed for sure. It's good to have him around still.

Hopefully he was out knocking up a couple females to get some more in population...

Indeed. I figured it was obvious why he wasn't on the battlefield. We have enough dead wolves. I don't want to see Ghost die.

Hopefully he was out knocking up a couple females to get some more in population...

I didn't say that. Where the hell did that come from?

[gmillerdrake]

https://winteriscoming.net/2016/06/22/battle-of-the-bastards-director-miguel-sapochnik-on-why-ghost-wasnt-in-the-fight/?utm_campaign=WiC+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

As cool as it would have been to see Ghost in a battle....I'm glad he wasn't because a full on battle is no place for a 'weapon' of his nature....he's more of a small group or stealth attack.....he'd have been killed for sure. It's good to have him around still.

Hopefully he was out knocking up a couple females to get some more in population...

Indeed. I figured it was obvious why he wasn't on the battlefield. We have enough dead wolves. I don't want to see Ghost die.

Hopefully he was out knocking up a couple females to get some more in population...

I didn't say that. Where the hell did that come from?

I wrote it....first accidentally inside the quote....then I thought I clipped it out. I just hope he was out procreating.

[Prog Snob]

Maybe he's still at Castle Black? I doubt it. He's probably running wild somewhere.

[faizoff]

Crazy ratings for the show so far and I'm not surprised.
https://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/23/game-thrones-ratings

[seasonsinthesky]

While I enjoyed the episode a ton, am I the only one who didn't think Bastardbowl was nearly as tense or thrilling as, say, Hardholme, or the battle at the wall? It definitely felt a lot more predictable to me. I was quite confident that Ramsay would lose, and was just waiting for the Knights of the Vale to show up. I was also quite confident that Jon wasn't going to die, as he was only recently brought back to life.

It was probably one of the most predictable episodes of the show. That being said, I still felt that it was rife with intensity. The scene where Jon is standing with his sword and waiting for the cavalry, with that epic music playing in the background, is one of my favorite moments in the show.

I think the approach made the best of this predictability. I knew what would happen but it was delivered in an exceedingly interesting fashion.

It's in marked contrast to Arya's plot this season.

[gmillerdrake]

I re-watched the battle scene last night and man it was just as good as the first time. Also, anyone catch that look Jon gave as he'd been shot off the horse and the Calvary started to charge him? He looked around at his surroundings....kind of gave a look where he admitted to himself he had done exactly what Sansa warned him not to do....then that 's when his honor surged and he ripped his sword out and prepared to fight. That was cool...

[cramx3]

I re-watched the battle scene last night and man it was just as good as the first time. Also, anyone catch that look Jon gave as he'd been shot off the horse and the Calvary started to charge him? He looked around at his surroundings....kind of gave a look where he admitted to himself he had done exactly what Sansa warned him not to do....then that 's when his honor surged and he ripped his sword out and prepared to fight. That was cool...

Yea, that moment was AWESOME.  Sure he was in a bad spot, but that shot with the calvary coming right at him was so sick (behind the scenes said that was all REAL, no CGI there).

[gmillerdrake]

I re-watched the battle scene last night and man it was just as good as the first time. Also, anyone catch that look Jon gave as he'd been shot off the horse and the Calvary started to charge him? He looked around at his surroundings....kind of gave a look where he admitted to himself he had done exactly what Sansa warned him not to do....then that 's when his honor surged and he ripped his sword out and prepared to fight. That was cool...

Yea, that moment was AWESOME.  Sure he was in a bad spot, but that shot with the calvary coming right at him was so sick (behind the scenes said that was all REAL, no CGI there).

I particularly liked the switch from the look of "man...I F'd that up and did exactly what Sansa warned me of"...to..."Alright, LET's GO!!"

[MirrorMask]

It's Davos' fault, he told him to go fail again 

I agree however that the scene was massively epic 

[Prog Snob]

While I enjoyed the episode a ton, am I the only one who didn't think Bastardbowl was nearly as tense or thrilling as, say, Hardholme, or the battle at the wall? It definitely felt a lot more predictable to me. I was quite confident that Ramsay would lose, and was just waiting for the Knights of the Vale to show up. I was also quite confident that Jon wasn't going to die, as he was only recently brought back to life.

It was probably one of the most predictable episodes of the show. That being said, I still felt that it was rife with intensity. The scene where Jon is standing with his sword and waiting for the cavalry, with that epic music playing in the background, is one of my favorite moments in the show.

I think the approach made the best of this predictability. I knew what would happen but it was delivered in an exceedingly interesting fashion.

It's in marked contrast to Arya's plot this season.

In regards to your first paragraph, I absolutely agree. I think at some point, in a fantasy epic, there will be some predictable occurrences to some degree. It's one of the trademarks of fantasy. Sure, GRRM is the best at throwing a curve ball at us, but some things are forever ingrained in fantasy writing. The Knights of the Vale coming to the last minute rescue, a la the Riders of Rohan in The Two Towers, is something that makes a story appealing because we want there to be those moments of desperation where the heroes have all but lost, only to be saved in the eleventh hour.

Arya's storyline this season has been uneventful and lacking any intrigue. Yes, she's going home now, but everything up until that point seemed empty.

[gmillerdrake]

Arya's storyline this season has been uneventful and lacking any intrigue. Yes, she's going home now, but everything up until that point seemed empty.

Totally. The single most disappointing story line in GOT with Dany's being a close second. At least Dany's picked up a bit and had killer screen time last episode. Arya's this season was total bunk.

[Prog Snob]

Arya's storyline this season has been uneventful and lacking any intrigue. Yes, she's going home now, but everything up until that point seemed empty.

Totally. The single most disappointing story line in GOT with Dany's being a close second. At least Dany's picked up a bit and had killer screen time last episode. Arya's this season was total bunk.

I agree about Dany. Her segment last week was quite possibly one of the best of all segments this season.  All around, last week's episode was one of the best, if not the best.

Where's Gendry? 

[Cyclopssss]