HBO's "Game of Thrones"

[butchna]

Another opportunity for our resident experts:

Does a wight retain it's fighting prowess from when it was a live person? They seem to be mindless but much of fighting ability is cognitive.

Wights are like berserker Vikings...ferocious and full ahead. When they gave up their bodies to bridge the fire moat, that was from their White Walker lords...or the NK himself.

 

[butchna]

No it wasn't..The Dothraki are notorious for their charges. Nobody had ever stood up to one. It was used to show the utter futility of fighting the WW army of the dead. And it worked perfectly. The greatest calvary fighters in the history of that world were defeated in less than a minute.

So they needed to SHOW the “futility”? I’m not coming from the artistic end. Purely strategy. There’s barely anything left and it served no purpose.

 

[butchna]

Couple a questions:

1. I understand the wights dying (for real) when the NK was killed but why the other WWs? Were they all his creations from Craster babies? Thought some had been around a while but he must have created all of them.

2. Asked earlier - why didn't Beric Dondarion get reanimated when the NK did his raising. Thought we might get another Hound/Beric fight?

3. What do we think Qyburn has come up with to attack dragons?

1. After the Forest Children created him, he created all the rest. When he was destroyed , so was everything spawned from him.

2. Thought Beric died after he did the raising.

3. Qyburn discussed with Cersei how he was making the Scorpion more mobile in some cases portable.

 

[carlos86]

No it wasn't..The Dothraki are notorious for their charges. Nobody had ever stood up to one. It was used to show the utter futility of fighting the WW army of the dead. And it worked perfectly. The greatest calvary fighters in the history of that world were defeated in less than a minute.

I’ve played enough Empire Total War and Medieval Total War to know that you don’t send light calvary in a head on change against heavy infantry. They should used the Dothraki as a screening force and then when they had found out where the Night Kings forces were they should have reported back, went into the castle, dismounted their horses and manned the walls.

 

[Grand Vol]

2. Thought Beric died after he did the raising.

I think you are correct here.

 

[bigdaddy]

Nobody besides a few weirdos want to waste 10 years watching a show where all the favorite characters die.

I doubt that. It’s what made this show so great. Nobody was safe. I hated that Jon’s wildling gorl
Died but that was a great scene. And the kid who shot her played back into the story. The red wedding wiped out so many great characters but still remains one of the greatest pieces in the story. I don’t watch this show for fairy tale endings I watch it for great writing and unpredictably. Last night was neither. Epic battle sure, but not GoT

 

[jjay2518]

I doubt that. It’s what made this show so great. Nobody was safe. I hated that Jon’s wildling gorl
Died but that was a great scene. And the kid who shot her played back into the story. The red wedding wiped out so many great characters but still remains one of the greatest pieces in the story. I don’t watch this show for fairy tale endings I watch it for great writing and unpredictably. Last night was neither. Epic battle sure, but not GoT

Agreed. Overall I liked the episode, but there were way too many "make it look like a main character is about to die only to be miraculously saved at the last second" tropes. Also the aforementioned issues with the battle strategy. They would have been in better shape if literally every single person set up outside the wall pre-battle wasn't even there.

 

[Grand Vol]

I don’t watch this show for fairy tale endings I watch it for great writing and unpredictably. Last night was neither. Epic battle sure, but not GoT

The prevailing theory was if Arya was to kill the Night King, she would take the face of a WW and do it that way. Big problem with that theory as one has to be dead in order to remove their face. Most people figured it would be Jon and NK in some epic battle where Jon prevails.

Arya was not expected. And even I held my breath for a moment when he caught her by the throat because I knew she was getting ready to be a memorial.

I thin most fans expected the NK to die. However, they weren't expecting the way it happened.

 

[Grand Vol]

Surprised Arya didn't make a huge jump in the odds after last night.

Yes, trying to figureout how Petyr Baelish is still on the list...

Jon's The Betting Favorite; But How Does Daenerys Feel About That?

ODDS TO BE RULING WESTEROS AT THE END OF GAME OF THRONES SEASON 8

Jon Snow+125
Bran Stark+450
Daenerys Targaryen+550
Sansa Stark+650
Gendry+750
Tyrion Lannister+850
Jon and Daenerys’ Child+1500
Arya Stark+1600
Petyr Baelish+2500
Samwell Tarly+2500
Cersei Lannister+2500
Jaime Lannister+5000
Varys+5000
Davos+7000
Bronn+10000
Euron Greyjoy+10000
Brienne of Tarth+10000
Jaqun H’ghar+10000
Daario Naharis+12500
The Hound+12500
Yara Greyjoy+15000
Tormund Giantsbane+15000
Gilly+100000
The Mountain+100000

 

[JCP201]

Nobody besides a few weirdos want to waste 10 years watching a show where all the favorite characters die.

It wouldn't be enjoyable to watch Cercie vs. NK. I am glad that we still have most of our favorites left.

 

[ToineMac]

If you watched the inside the episode I thought the weakest explanation from the guys was about the NK getting a face full of dragon breath and just smirking about it.

Basically they said we had no reason to believe he would be killed by it. There should be some explanation other than "you didn't say I couldn't".

Given that Valyrian steel was dragon-linked you'd think the WW's have some problems with dragon-related weapons. Being made of ice cubes also lends itself to vulnerability to a flame thrower.

The walkers are never explicitly said to be vulnerable to fire book or show. Dragon glass is the only that we have seen kill them before last night. Susceptibility to Dragonfire has been a theory especially for how to deal with the wights. Valyrian steel can stand up to WW weapons but I don’t think have killed a walker in the books yet. I know Jon killed one last season with Long Claw. I feel like we are having some revisionist history right now. People saying Arya’s arc led to her killing the NK but when was this? She found out about it last season and never really seemed to care. This has been Jon’s mission in life since season 3. They literally called it Jon’s war last week. Yet Jon didn’t factor in its ending

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

I doubt that. It’s what made this show so great. Nobody was safe. I hated that Jon’s wildling gorl
Died but that was a great scene. And the kid who shot her played back into the story. The red wedding wiped out so many great characters but still remains one of the greatest pieces in the story. I don’t watch this show for fairy tale endings I watch it for great writing and unpredictably. Last night was neither. Epic battle sure, but not GoT

I think we have had plenty of death. I don't understand what the hell you people want. I also don't get why your pissed about. Two great characters bit the dust, along with pretty much all the Dothraki. What do you want really? Every half decent worth a freakin dang human left dead, and Certs and Euron eating what is left of Westeros...I don't get it, the Starks have suffered enough, almost all of the great houses and most of the minor houses are history...there is nothing much left to fight over, except to keep those two lunatics from winning.

 

[Aesius]

The walkers are never explicitly said to be vulnerable to fire book or show. Dragon glass is the only that we have seen kill them before last night. Susceptibility to Dragonfire has been a theory especially for how to deal with the wights. Valyrian steel can stand up to WW weapons but I don’t think have killed a walker in the books yet. I know Jon killed one last season with Long Claw. I feel like we are having some revisionist history right now. People saying Arya’s arc led to her killing the NK but when was this? She found out about it last season and never really seemed to care. This has been Jon’s mission in life since season 3. They literally called it Jon’s war last week. Yet Jon didn’t factor in its ending

Right. Plus, are we supposed to believe that Arya can go ninja-invisible and sneak past hordes of wights and WWs in the open when she nearly got caught sneaking around somewhat clumsily in the library with like 10 wights skulking around and plenty of places to hide?

That's what I didn't like. I don't mind Arya delivering the deathblow because it was unexpected but also not completely unrealistic given her skills, but at least show something between her getting the pep talk from Melisandre and her appearing in mid-air flying towards the NK. Just leaving it up to the viewer to go "oh yeah, Arya studied in Braavos and is really sneaky now" isn't good enough IMO.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Which does make one wonder whether they will try to rebuild the wall.

It's not like the Dead are a threat at this point. Nor the Wildlings. Nor do they have anyone to man it...

The wall built with magic, and that magic was really the barrier that kept them out, and that magic is lost to the world, and also there is no reason to build it back, it was built to keep out the Others.

 

[ToineMac]

I doubt that. It’s what made this show so great. Nobody was safe. I hated that Jon’s wildling gorl
Died but that was a great scene. And the kid who shot her played back into the story. The red wedding wiped out so many great characters but still remains one of the greatest pieces in the story. I don’t watch this show for fairy tale endings I watch it for great writing and unpredictably. Last night was neither. Epic battle sure, but not GoT

It’s partly GRRM’s fault. After D&D got past the source material they wrote your standard tv show. That’s when got the plot armor and inconsistencies with time and wheel spinning. The saving grace has been the cinematography and special effects which have been absolutely incredible. That scene with the dragons above the clouds was beautifully done. Other than always making battle scenes in the dark and hard to see you can’t complain about that.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

That was the sole purpose of the Wall and there was some mysticism involved. Those are dying or have already died off.

You keep beating me to it...Have you read the books too?

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

It was really one of my favorite parts of the episode, from a cinematic standpoint. Such a perfectly ominous start, the way they were all staring out into the darkness. Then, they got fire swords and you're thinking "ok, let's go!"

The view from Jon and Dany's perspective was great, too... Then all those fire swords extinguished in seconds... This is one my favorite cinematic moments I've ever watched. Positively epic.

It set the tone perfectly. It was sad and epic and scary. I guess you have to understand the well earned reputation of the Dothraki to get the full impact...Reading the books and histories was a great help to me in understanding the full impact.

 

[UTK]

Last night episode was frustrating because they shot most of it in complete darkness. I guess you can hide a lot(save money) when you do that.

So far, this season has been a letdown

I may be one of the few but l loved the fact it was dark as hell. Made the immersion as terrifying as if I was actually there.

 

[Aesius]

I may be one of the few but l loved the fact it was dark as hell. Made the immersion as terrifying as if I was actually there.

Did they film the outdoor scenes without any artificial light? Seemed like the sets were lit with just flames.

 

[FLVOL_79]

Never been one to feign tactical knowledge but...

I got all hyped with the fire swords..thought it was gonna be gnarly...aaaannnnnnd then nothing..

 

[ToineMac]

Right. Plus, are we supposed to believe that Arya can go ninja-invisible and sneak past hordes of wights and WWs in the open when she nearly got caught sneaking around somewhat clumsily in the library with like 10 wights skulking around and plenty of places to hide?

That's what I didn't like. I don't mind Arya delivering the deathblow because it was unexpected but also not completely unrealistic given her skills, but at least show something between her getting the pep talk from Melisandre and her appearing in mid-air flying towards the NK. Just leaving it up to the viewer to go "oh yeah, Arya studied in Braavos and is really sneaky now" isn't good enough IMO.

Arya the badass warrior never made sense. She never trained for it. Like her fight with Brienne. Brienne of Tarth has trained with a sword for at least a decade and could hang with 2 handed Jaime and beat Loras and the Hound. No way a barely trained girl with a rapier should be able to hang with her and a longsword. The Faceless Men weren’t Samurai training they were ninja training. Which is why before I read your post I wasn’t bothered by the super sneakiness of Arya last night but you bring up a damn good point.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Made you want to throw your hands up and say "Thats game..."

You could tell it instantly terrified every last one of them. Also the Unsullied are...well...were..so freaking brave..in the face of that horrific onslaught they just held fast. Dany losing her army to save the world, and then them trying to set her up as a obsessive self centered villain going forward is kind of vexing to me.

 

[jjay2518]

It set the tone perfectly. It was sad and epic and scary. I guess you have to understand the well earned reputation of the Dothraki to get the full impact...Reading the books and histories was a great help to me in understanding the full impact.

I've read the books and still thought it was pointless. Beautifully shot but pointless. It would have made a negligible difference in the size of the NK'S army since now all the Dothraki are his.

 

[UTK]

Did they film the outdoor scenes without any artificial light? Seemed like the sets were lit with just flames.

Im not sure, haven't read up on it yet but it sure seemed that way. I get why people are complaining as yeah you're watching a show to actually ya know see it. But this time I think people need to stop and think about how much not being able to see what was happening all the time added to the episode. It kept you guessing and on the edge of the seat the whole time. At least it did for me. There were plenty of times where I was like " wait was that Grey Worm that died??" Or "wait did Pod just die?". It was chaos.

 

[jjay2518]

Im not sure, haven't read up on it yet but it sure seemed that way. I get why people are complaining as yeah you're watching a show to actually ya know see it. But this time I think people need to stop and think about how much not being able to see what was happening all the time added to the episode. It kept you guessing and on the edge of the seat the whole time. At least it did for me. There were plenty of times where I was like " wait was that Grey Worm that died??" Or "wait did Pod just die?". It was chaos.

I feel like the darkness was probably intentional to help the viewer feel how chaotic and confusing the battle would be for the people fighting it.