Game of Thrones - Season 8

[Moorgan]

1 hour ago, Rubi said:

I mean. The Avengers did time travel. I thought that was lazy story telling. You’re right, just enjoy it for what it is. 

At least no one's mother is named Martha.

[Dex]

I'm doing a write up for my company's quarterly newsletter on why Game of Thrones is so popular. Below is a VERY rough draft. If you're interested I'd appreciate feedback.

             

Quote

 

You may have heard of HBO’s hit TV series Game of Thrones based on George R.R. Martin’s books series “A Song of Ice & Fire”. Since it’s premiere in 2011, Game of Thrones has received 132 Primetime Emmy nominations with 38 wins 2^nd only to Saturday Night Live which has been on TV for almost 45 years. The accolades? Staggering. The cast? Spellbinding. Production value? Shocking. Chances are you’ve probably heard coworkers discussing dragons, epic battles or maybe they just came in on Monday morning noticeably despondent. But what makes this fantasied “political drama” so entertaining? What about it evokes such emotion and fanaticism in its viewers? What is the big deal behind this cultural phenomenon? Well, it’s all in the game.

              Before Game of Thrones aired, fantasy dramas had been done but were still seen as a bit taboo or nerdy. Shows and movie franchises like Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter helped to shatter the stigma that fantasy is not to be taken seriously. Game of Thrones took everything people fell in love with about fantasy and tethered it to reality. When people ask me to describe Game of Thrones it proves difficult because of how many boxes it checks. At its heart, it’s an adult political drama set in a fictional “medieval” world that is as ruthless as it is enchanting. Think House of Cards meets Dungeons & Dragons. Throw in brilliant writing, enthralling characters, some sex, a little violence and you have the recipe for the most captivating show of the decade.

              What I find most impressive about the world that George R.R. Martin & showrunners David Benioff/D. B. Weiss created is how complex it is. The intricacies go far past run of the mill fiction and you believe this world could or maybe did exist at some point and time throughout history. Throughout the day I’m sure we all find ourselves at our desks or in a hardhat occasionally stealing moments to daydream. Game of Thrones offers this form of escapism tenfold. You’ll be running over scenarios and theories in your head long after the credits have rolled sparking creativity and storytelling abilities you may have not known you had. Which leads me to another thing I love about Thrones…

              The Throne’s community is fantastic. The first thing I do after an episode is head over to social media to see the reactions of my fellow fans. Twitter alone racked up over 5 million tweets pertaining to Game of Thrones immediately after the Season 8 premiere. This gives everyone the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings from the past episode. I’ve struck up random conversations at coffee shops with strangers donning Game of Thrones apparel. I’ve hovered over the desk of coworkers eagerly waiting to exchange thoughts from last night’s episode. The viewer base is diverse and massive and appeals to all and being a part of that community makes you feel a part of something special.

 

The show features complex characters that are incredibly well written with Sorkinesque dialogue and sardonic humor. What often accompanies any political drama is the idea of morally grey characters. This isn’t a good versus evil show and no character is perfect. The same character that disgusts you in season 1 you may come to adore in later seasons and vice versa. As ridiculous as it sounds given the subject matter, these characters are remarkably relatable. That’s what draws us to certain characters and makes us root against others. The parallels between Game of Thrones and the real world are there for all to see. A character may commit a vile and unspeakable act, but you understand why they did it. You may even find yourself empathizing with a “villain”, a testament to the writing and performances and that is something powerful.

 

The themes presented in the series are many. However, the overarching ones are power, love and identity. We see betrayal to rival that of Shakespearean works. We see feminism with some of the strongest female characters to ever grace the not so small silver screen. At the height of the #MeToo movement and a time of great divisive and political turmoil in our country it’s no wonder this show is at the pinnacle of television royalty. The idea of power is possibly one of the oldest thematic plot devices in the history of storytelling. Characters fighting over a chair made of a thousand steel swords forged by dragon fire and all the lands that and titles that comes with it. We see characters fall in love amongst complete and utter chaos, bonds of brotherhood formed in times of war and alliances between once upon a time enemies. Noble families will do whatever it takes to see their legacies endure, remorseful outcasts will seek redemption even if it means their own deaths, lowborn and bastards with no titles will seek validation no matter the cost. There is everything and nothing to gain.

 

Now onto what Game of Thrones might be most infamous for, it’s unpredictability. Thrones does not shy away from shock value; in fact, it promotes it. You’ll fall in love with a character and find that character mercilessly taken from you at any given time. But these aren’t your typical expendable side characters that are pure cannon fodder. These are main characters being offed. Playing by the rules in the Game of Thrones only ensures you’ll have the odds stacked against you. Archetypes will be built up and then completely tore down before your eyes. We may happily cheer, throw our remotes or phones across the room, fall into a temporary spell of depression or even need to take a break from the show altogether. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that I daresay has never been executed to this level of perfection. However, in an age of growing indifference, many of us are happy to feel anything at all. Game of Thrones hits everything we secretly yearn for. The true and rightful monarch of television that will remain in our hearts long after the final credits roll.

 

[Zaximus]

6 hours ago, OneBadCat said:

Have to say that I’m disappointed with how it went down with the Night King. Was really hoping there was a backstory there.

im also extremely pissed at how reckless and careless Dany is with her Dragons. Has she ever thought of putting armor on those bad boys? That would have solved a lot of problems for her. 

I believe one of the spin-offs will go into the NK and Stark origins.     I can't help but think some of the show's issues are because of banking on future spin-offs.   

[Goondal]

20 hours ago, Dex said:

I'm doing a write up for my company's quarterly newsletter on why Game of Thrones is so popular. Below is a VERY rough draft. If you're interested I'd appreciate feedback.

             

 

 

That was a very enjoyable read man.  I believe you captured what makes the show so appealing

[Bronn]

21 hours ago, Dex said:

I'm doing a write up for my company's quarterly newsletter on why Game of Thrones is so popular. Below is a VERY rough draft. If you're interested I'd appreciate feedback.

             

 

 

You forgot to add the line:

Quote

"Despite the recent questionable writing decisions, Game of Thrones still ranks higher in popularity, and personal opinion, than former HBO hits like "The Wire" and "The Sopranos."

Other than that, good stuff!

[Dex]

4 minutes ago, Bronn said:

You forgot to add the line:

Other than that, good stuff!

[Bronn]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/BossyJampackedKouprey-mobile.mp4

 

 

 

 

[Ja Rhule]

On 5/7/2019 at 4:29 PM, Zaximus said:

I believe one of the spin-offs will go into the NK and Stark origins.     I can't help but think some of the show's issues are because of banking on future spin-offs.   

I literally called it at work after 3rd episode...  I said I bet they getting ready for spin-offs and leavings “wtf” moments so we can watch them.   

[Zaximus]

12 hours ago, ARSEN said:

I literally called it at work after 3rd episode...  I said I bet they getting ready for spin-offs and leavings “wtf” moments so we can watch them.   

It's a bad play honestly, I think you put all your cards on the table and then do spin-offs.   So many movies were released that were "good" but they didn't have enough meat on the bones and the sequel never came.    

[CRA]

Final season thus far has been an epic disappointment overall.  No way I am going to do a spin off if this holds true.

Unless of course, there is a spinoff about Ghost.  How dirty he was done.  He comes back one day and bites everyone who didn't pet him. 

[TbTeRRoR]

The more I think about it.....not letting J.Snow take out the night king makes me think what is in store for him? 

 

Arya gets the night king

one of the Lannister bros gets Cersi

Clegane bowl.....

Does Yara get Euron?

J.Snow Aegon or whatever you want to call him must continue his doomed cycle of tragic love by killing Daenerys after she freaks out on him possibly with a failed fire roast or Drogon refusing to BBQ John/Aegon.  What else could there be for King Snow?

[RealBitsOfPanther]

18 hours ago, CRA said:

Final season thus far has been an epic disappointment overall.  No way I am going to do a spin off if this holds true.

Unless of course, there is a spinoff about Ghost.  How dirty he was done.  He comes back one day and bites everyone who didn't pet him. 

Ghost is the GOAT. 

[Bronn]

If you want to be potentially spoiled, here's the high points of the "leaks" for the final two episodes.

Again, keep in mind that these could be (and I hope they are) 100% fake/intentional misdirection:
 

 

Dany's army retreats to Dragonstone once again, and is met there by Jon's forces. Varys meets him arriving on the beach, and informs him of what has happened.

The Hound and Arya arrive at King's Landing. They enter through a lesser gate, with Arya wearing the face of a peasant. They go their separate ways. Arya ends up helping a group of people escape the battle, but a beam falls on her. At the end of the episode, she wakes up (we think she's dead) and flees the city.

Dany executes Varys for treason, figuring out that he tipped off Cersei as to her return to Dragonstone the first time, causing the death of Rhaegal. She burns him alive.

Jaime Lannister is "caught" and taken prisoner as a traitor for riding south to Cersei. He pleads his case that he was going to help Dany, but she trusts nobody at this point. Tyrion gets pissed that she isn't listening to reason and is acting crazy. He throws his hand pin down and walks away in disgust. Sansa and crew (now including soldiers from the Vale, her private stash, apparently) arrive at Dragonstone. Tyrion discusses things with Sansa and they agree that they need to work together, when the time is right, to wedge Jon against Dany.

The army once again marches on King's Landing. Jon and the ground troops assemble outside the gates. Jon enters the city in hopes of treating with Cersei, who rejects his offers. She takes him prisoner, and puts him in the dungeons.

Dany takes Drogon to the bay where Euron's forces are. She stays above the clouds and drops in on them before they have time to take aim and shoot. Yara arrives for reinforcements on the water. The fleet is pretty busted up, but Euron makes it to shore.

Drogon destroys the gate leading into King's Landing, and the Golden Company for the most part. Roasted. The remaining GC and Lannister forces fall back into the city, and are pursued by the remaining Dothraki, Unsullied, Northmen, newly arrived Dornish, etc.

The fighting continues in the streets. Cersei's human wall plan comes into play, the Unsullied and Dothraki begin to kill women and children. The bells of the city start sounding, supposedly signifying Cersei's surrender, but apparently drive Dany even more mad (wtf?) She starts roasting everyone and everything, including the Red Keep itself. It explodes, sending off another Wildfire reaction that destroys a big chunk of the city.

During the fighting, Tyrion frees Jaime. Jaime enters the city, looking for Cersei. Tyrion says he will meet them in the dungeons and show them the secret escape routes. Jaime runs into Euron, and they fight. Jaime wins, but is terribly wounded. Jaime then finds Cersei, and the pair attempt to get back to Tyrion. Jaime is too wounded, though, and something happens (maybe Arya?) and both Jaime and Cersei die together (supposedly the roof collapses on them.) Jaime from his wounds, Cersei, unknown (again, roof.) Tyrion arrives to be surprised to find Jon. He helps Jon escape. Jon joins the battle. The bells go off around this time. This is when Dany arrives and starts her wrath. Jon and Grey Worm get confused, because the Golden Company has surrendered after seeing Drogon. Grey Worm and the Unsullied begin their killing of those whom have surrendered.

The Hound finds his brother in the chaos, and we get Cleganebowl inside a burning building. However, in the end, both brothers succumb to their injuries at the end. The Hound does remove Gregor's helm and breastplate before it is over, and comments about how ugly he is (or something like that.) The Hound gets his eyes gouged out, though.

The fighting ends. Jon, Tyrion and Davos walk the streets to survey the damage. Jon is told of Dany's ruthlessness, the Dothraki raping women, and all of them killing women and children. He recalls Grey Worm's and the Unsullied's actions, and figures out they were doing as commanded.

Jon finds Dany. He questions her about her actions, and she grows even angrier. She commands Tyrion be taken prisoner.

Jon pledges himself again to, but then stabs Dany. She makes her way, wounded, to the throne room (which is now missing a ceiling and a lot of walls,) and we see her hand reaching out to touch the throne as she collapses to the floor. Drogon witnesses all of this. He looks at Jon, then somehow "gets Dany" and flies away.

Jon is devastated. He doesn't want to rule. He loved Dany but had to kill her. Bran tells him she isn't dead, or that Jon can bring her back, how to do it, and where to find her. Jon flees North, again towards and beyond the wall, looking for her.

Sansa, Bran, and Arya are left to sort out King's Landing. Tyrion's treachery is revealed via Sansa and corroborated by Bran. He plotted with Cersei since the Dragonpit to either turn Dany mad, or make it appear she had. The killing of the civilians was part of that. He also freed Jaime, and plotted to help Jaime and Cersei escape. He also knew of the wildfire around the Red Keep. He's put to trial, to which he argues that everyone deserved it. He helped free the city from Joffrey's reign, and they were ungrateful to him. The King's Landing people supported terrible leaders, and deserved the terrible things that happened to them.

He's executed on the spot.

There are conflicting reports about the ending. Some say the trial of Tyrion is basically the end. Some say it is Jon finding Dany and bringing her back (maybe she's a new Night King, or maybe she's pregnant and their baby will be?) Some say Jon just becomes a wildling or reforms the Night's Watch (not sure why they would be needed?)

That's all I can remember right now. It sounds pretty bad tbqh, so I hope it isn't true. That said, since it sounds so bad, it probably will be pretty close to being true.

We'll see!

Edited some of the spoilers a bit. I underlined the edits.
 

[Bronn]

lmgdao.

It is all about getting those cameos in before the show is done.

https://dailycaller.com/2019/05/10/aaron-rodgers-game-of-thrones/

 

Aaron Rodgers, lol.