MovieChat Forums > Game of Thrones (2011) Discussion > They bit off more than they could chew.....

They bit off more than they could chew...

posted 6 years ago by Fandango (535)
16 replies | jump to latest

There is a lot of backlash regarding the trajectory the show has been taking since the end of source material. I believe it's apparent to most viewers who take an objective glance that the show has been steadily declining in quality since season 5.

Who do we blame here? GRRM for perhaps leading D&D on, making them believe that he will either supply them with infinite source material, or will finish the books before the show passes the books.

Or do we blame D&D for biting off more than they could chew? I firmly believe the show was created on too large a scale to truly finish in a competent manner without the original writer at the helm.

The production values are top notch. The visuals are incredible. The costume design is phenomenal. I will certainly await every episode with eagerness, but sadly the narrative has suffered greatly and so has plot consistency. This makes the show a fraction of what it was in the earlier seasons.

Perhaps with GRRM at the helm for the final two episodes, we can at least have an incredible conclusion.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 6 years ago

You believe wrong, as far as this viewer, and decades-long fantasy fan, is concerned.

[–] BrunoAntony (1198) 6 years ago

They bit off more than they could chew.

With a ton of material from the books, it was easy for the show to pare it all down into five good seasons, while adding some original flourishes.

But when they had no book material, the writers had to try and replicate George RR Martin’s style of plotting, dialogue and characterization ... and that is impossible.

Luckily, the show has increased in popularity and had its budget increased so it’s become more a visual action spectacle.

[–] Alex (1508) 6 years ago

Would GRRM rob the readers of this epic battle of Night King vs. Jon Snow just to subvert expectations? How could they think it was a good idea to send Dothraki into the dark?

[–] [email protected] (1367) 6 years ago

My question is why did they wait to send the dragons out? They let the Dothraki charge in, without even one dragon as backup? I was pissed.

[–] Alex (1508) 6 years ago

Ikr, Dany did exactly that against a human army. But when it comes to wight army and fate of humanity, naaaaaaah.

[–] [email protected] (1367) 6 years ago

LOL this episode has me scratching my head,,,like Jon was basically useless, the dragons were taking a tour of anywhere but where they were supposed to be, and why were the Dead bleeding so much? I thought they were made to crack and crumble.. Oh dont mind me, I am on a roll at the moment.

[–] Alex (1508) 6 years ago

I think the dead bleeding basically depended on how fresh the corpse was when it was raised.

[–] [email protected] (1367) 6 years ago

Ahhhh good point. I should never have watched this so late tonight. Too riled up and now I need to wind down. Goodnight all. See ya next episode.

[–] winslow (1318) 6 years ago

They were waiting on the night king to come out so they could intercept him when he went after Bran. They believed if they showed that much force on the battlefield, he wouldn't expose himself.

I'm not sure they were supposed to charge all the way out there. The Dothraki went so far they outpaced the range of the trebuches, so they had to cease fire. Turns out, the Dothraki fighting style sucks against the dead. The phalanx style of the Unsullied were a much better defense, though if the enemy nimbers are high enough, they are gonna overrun you in the open field no matter what.

[–] Fandango (535) 6 years ago

D&D have a visual idea of what they want to show. In the case of the Dothraki scene, they wanted to show the visual beauty of flaming swords juxtaposed with the dark night. The problem, however, is that although the scene is very breathtaking, it was shot at the expense of any sort of logic or narrative consistency. Now we wonder where the Dothraki went? Why didn't they do reconnaissance first to ascertain where the enemy was? They didn't really know where they were going, or if the enemy was even there.

Things like having Jorah, Jaime, Brienne, etc on the front lines makes it difficult to take the episode seriously and put it in the realm of anything but eye candy for the viewer.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I think they felt empowered by the magical flaming swords. After all they always were impressed by fire. Remember Dany won them over by walking out of a burning temple. They are not deep thinkers, just loyal fighters. It seems a sad but poetic end to them for putting too much faith in fire, but ice won their final battle. Dany put too much faith in ice too aiming Drogon’s flames at the Night King. In the end, it was Arya’s icy stealthness, taught to her by the God of Death, that won.

[–] chrisjdel (2714) 6 years ago

The Dothraki? Reconnaissance? Their fighting style is to charge straight at the enemy - today is a good day to die! It usually works. They would've beaten the Lannisters even without fire breathing air support. But it turns out their approach to battle is poorly suited to an army of swarming zombies who feel no pain and no fear.

White walkers aren't any more subtle though. The Night King's strategy is pure brute force. Throw a hundred thousand cold bodies at your opponent and overrun their positions. Then "recruit" them all and replenish your ranks. Rinse and repeat. His objective seemed to be the extinction of humanity, and there was never any possibility of negotiation. So it always had to come down to this: a great big battle, where victory goes to the side still standing and the other side is utterly destroyed. Very different from the plotting, scheming, and politics of the war against Cersei.

[–] winslow (1318) 6 years ago

There are people who like it and people who don't, personally I disagree with some of their decisions and some I think are awesome. I'm just glad that even people who criticize the show still acknowledge the amount of work put into it.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

GRRM slacked off, and the show had to go in without him. Yes, it has lost some of its literary richness, but viewed solely as tv series it is still great. I hope GRRM does finish the books and gives an alternate ending. GRMM killed Jon Snow, so who knows if he’d even bring him back like D&D did. Maybe one day there can be a follow-up series based on GRMM’s final books; it can simply write off this version of events as Jon Snow’s last thoughts before he dies.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

GRRM will never finish the books.

He's old, morbidly obese and Winds of Winter is what? 5 years late now?

He had a taste of celebrity and fortune since the show started and he seems to have lost the will to complete his story.

It's a shame, A Song of Ice and Fire will always be remembered has that unfinished fantasy saga which fizzled out after 3 amazing books and 2 mediocre ones. Same for the TV show..

If anyone ever wanted to finish GRRM's work, it will now be tainted by the stupid show.

[–] OhHeyBro (362) 6 years ago

Yup. They should have let go of their pride and just pass the show onto some new competent writers.

Perhaps with GRRM at the helm for the final two episodes, we can at least have an incredible conclusion.

He's not at the helm though... And unless the writers have fooled us and have some insane twist up their sleeves and the NK isn't really dead, then how can this show possibly have anything close to an incredible conclusion? The show is done, man. The last 3 episodes are non canon as far as I'm concerned.