Now Our Watch Has Ended...

The final episode of the most popular show on television aired this past Sunday, and unlike most people on the web, I can say that I found it to be a satisfying conclusion. I thought it wrapped up the storylines adequately, and I liked how it put the main Stark characters exactly where they wanted to be. In that way, I felt rewarded that there was some happiness to be found for these characters that had suffered so much.

Sure, there are bones to pick, people are going to have wished for more, but that's always the case whenever you invest so much time and passion in a story. The conclusion is bound to disappoint in some ways because your imagination has already written what you wanted. But a story must end, that's the horrible truth about stories. There has to be an end. 

The one thing that I can agree on with the haters is that the final episode felt a little anti-climatic, especially after the episode before. There wasn't a lot of action. There was a lot of talking, a lot of sitting around. What I would say to everyone is to think about the last two episodes as one episode. If you had watched them together, I don't think it would have felt that way. The final episode was all conclusion. Those two episodes feel as though they should have been one movie length episode, and I think had that been the case, people would've felt better about it. 

I enjoyed that it didn't end the way I'd predicted. I like that there was a twist, even though we can debate the way that twist was revealed and the satisfaction of it. But there was an evolution that came to this fictional world, and that is a positive thing, otherwise we went on this decade long journey for nothing.

Game of Thrones...The End is Coming

The final season of one of the best television shows ever to air is now only three episodes from completion. Halfway through this short season seems like a good time to reflect on what is possibly to come. I will try not to reveal anything critical, but to be safe, if you have not caught up *STOP READING NOW*....

This season was always going to be about two things, the war against the army of the dead and the battle for the Iron Throne. I think wisely, the producers decided to split those two storylines. I've read many fans complaining about how they chose to end the first of those two storylines. There's been a lot of.."that's it? it just ends?" and I'm like, "well yeah...that's what stories do. They end." The first three episodes did more than just end one of the two storylines though, they have moved the pieces into place for the second of the two. 

The lines have been drawn and the characters have chosen their sides. Of course, they are free to switch allegiances, as many have done throughout, but for the most part, we know where they stand after 8 seasons. It also deepened some of the bigger mythologies of the show, the place of the gods, the prophecies, and hinted at character destiny. 

I still hold true to what I said on a post dating back to Season 3 or thereabouts, and that is Ayra Stark is really the center of the story. I would venture to say that many of the viewers share her thoughts on pretty much everything that has taken place. She represents our point of view and has always seemed the most sensible character, one who has rarely made a choice that has made us shake our heads, unlike all of the others, with the exception of Tyrion. So when all the bets are being placed, I would bet on those two to still be around when the dust settles. Everyone else is up for grabs.

Winter is Here

The seventh season of Game of Thrones ended this week with a blockbuster feature length episode. Though only eight episodes, this season was still packed with plot and saw the story advance farther than any previous season. We all know the game is coming to an end next year, which has forced the show to move closer and closer to the eventual conclusion. 

All sides have been clearly drawn, though some uncertainty lies in the reception for the Targaryen family in the North. The Great War has begun in earnest now that the white walkers have acquired their blue fire breathing dragon to break through the barrier of the wall. And though that battle is sure to be costly and deadly, the real intrigue still lies in the future occupant of the iron throne. We have one true heir, one sitting line from a rebellion built on lies, and one who has shown to be a worthy ruler but whose claim can be challenged. 

Whatever happens in the final season, I will be glued to each episode and watching with an active brain, because that is what this show does best. It causes you to think and speculate while it entertains. And though I want to know how the game turns out, I never really want it to end.

Game of Thrones...Winds of Winter

So begins a long year of waiting to return to my favorite fictional world. This season of Game of Thrones was perhaps the best yet in terms of story. Though other seasons have had more action, of which Season 3 has to rank at the top, this season dove deeper into the game. Most of the season was spent moving the chess pieces around to put them into place for the final climax and conclusion. All along they were hinting at big things to come, and in the final two episodes, they delivered.

One of the things that was interesting about this season (and please stop reading if you don't want any spoilers) is how the women are now fully in control, be it Cersei Lannister in King's Landing, Daenerys Targaryen across the narrow sea, or Sansa Stark in the North. While the women have always been powerful players behind the scenes, they are now out front. Let's see how they fair.

As the season ended, the cards have once again been shuffled and the noble families have realigned their allegiances in preparation for the wars to come. I still hold onto my prediction from way back in the first season that a Targaryen would end up ruling the seven kingdoms, but with recent revelations, who that Targaryen is, is now in question. We also have to wonder about the Stark perspective that has driven the narrative up to this point and wonder how much of what we've believed from the beginning is actually true. All that I know is that I am going to enjoy thinking about it often over the next several months.

Game On!

As I've mentioned in posts over the past year, my television time has been greatly reduced with the coming of baby, who is quickly outgrowing the 'baby' moniker. However, I've made it a priority to keep up with Game of Thrones as the new season has finally begun. In today's world, it's crucial to stay up to date with this show as people continue to post status updates that while technically aren't spoilers, they are spoiler hints that prepare you for things that will happen. Just the mention of a character's name is sometimes enough. Well, I'm not going down like that this season.

The first two episodes have been fantastic, really laying out the evolving storylines for the main characters, which had taken turns by the end of the last season. There's still no telling who is going to end up winning the game, but their immediate paths have been laid out, and future complications can already be anticipated. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Winter is Coming

I know I'm late to the game, but over the past few weeks, I've been trying to catch up. I've been binge watching Game of Thrones and seeing as how I just watched the "Red Wedding" episode last night, it seemed as good a time as any to share my thoughts on this highly addictive series. 

Game of Thrones breaks nearly all of the rules when it comes to television, mainly when it comes to killing off main characters. In the first three seasons, there have been multiple times when after I've finished an episode, I wonder how they can continue now that the hero is dead. But that's where the show continues to defy traditions. Usually in a show like this, where the characters are divided up into sides, with various agendas, a viewer's allegiances tends to be settled early on. And though I initially made judgements on most of the characters, I've found my opinions ever evolving. 

A perfect example of this is Jamie Lannister, the Kingslayer. In the first episode of the show, he's seen pushing young Bran Stark from a tower window. In subsequent episodes, he didn't do much of anything to redeem himself. But after one scene in the third season, my opinion of him entirely changed, and it didn't even have to resort to anything that went against his character. 

Another aspect where I find my allegiances changing is on who I hope will ultimately win the game and be seated on the iron throne. Initially, I held the same opinion of the Targaryen's as King Robert and Lord Stark. Viserys Targaryen certainly lived up to the reputation of tyranny and lunacy established early on, but as Dany's character makes her long march to regain the throne, I find myself thinking that perhaps the Taragaryen's should rule. After all, they are the rightful heirs, and Dany seems far more competent than the ravel fighting it out in Westeros. (With the exception of Rob Stark...but alas, the Stark reign appears as though it will never happen).

Though allegiances and feelings towards characters are ever-shifting, there are two characters who feel like the moral barometer to me; Tyrion Lannister and Ayra Stark. They've been my favorites since the beginning, and thankfully both have survived the bloodshed so far. But curiously enough, even the characters I loath, yes I'm speaking to you Joffrey, I enjoy. They all serve a greater purpose to the story. It's rare for a series with so many story lines happening at once not to have at least one dud, one story that makes you want to fast forward to the next. Game of Thrones is exceptional in that manner. Every scene feels as compelling as the next...which makes it quite suitable for binge watching. 

All of that said, there's no telling what will happen next. It's unpredictable, and besides, winter is coming.