Game of Thrones Season 6 Ep 10
Jun. 27th, 2016 05:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shapinglightBeen reading various reviewers' thoughts about this season of GoT, and the consensus seems to be that it hasn't been as good as previous ones.
This baffles me, because in my opinion, season 6 is way better than season 5, which was at times quite dull and at others (whenever a horrible Bolton was on screen), unnecessarily horrible.
Anyway, spoilers for the season finale behind cut.
That said, though we are clearly building up to the end-game, I can't help feeling that we've gone full-circle back to the beginning of season 2 in some ways.
To whit:
There's a nasty blonde psychopath on the Iron Throne, and invading armies, led by rival contenders, are approaching from all sides.
You've got to admire Cersei, I suppose. She's really tough. She took Tommen's death without a flinch. On the other hand, she's completely and utterly horrible, and I'm now wondering what Jaime was thinking when he was looking at her at the end there. Was he remembering how he broke his oath and killed the Mad King to stop him doing what Cersei has now actually done?
I'm not sorry to see the back of the High Sparrow, obvs, but I am pissed off about Margaery. I feel like, as with Osha, a great character has ultimately been wasted. I'm only glad that Margaery got to tell the High Sparrow to STFU about the gods, before they all got blown to smithereens.
Other storylines, concluded (for the season), more satisfyingly, with Dany and her dragons finally on the way to Westeros, and the north once more united under a Stark (or a Targaryen, actually, but who cares? And I loved seeing Jon and Sansa hug again. It's so good that they have each other), and -very, very satisfyingly for me, given what lame characters they are - with Granny Tyrell, hell-bent on revenge, telling the ridiculous Sandsnakes to shut up and let the grown ups talk.
I did think they could have done more with Uncle Benjen's brief return (after so effing long!), but no doubt he'll get a heroic death scene at some point before the end of the series. And who knows? Maybe Melisandre will too? I wonder what she'll do with herself now? If she really thinks Jon Snow is The One, she surely won't offer her services to Cersei, or whoever? We'll see, I suppose.
Likewise, we'll see if Arya makes it back to her siblings (her revenge on the Freys was a bit too grisly for me, have to say, but at least it's over), and if she meets up with the Hound on the way.
Then there's Bran, of course. Will he also make it back to Winterfell, and what will he do with his newfound knowledge that Jon isn't his brother but his cousin (which would make no difference round our way, but they might feel differently in Westeros)?
So anyway, yes, a strong season on the whole, I thought. The cast was whittled down considerably with the following casualties among the recurring characters:
All the Boltons (hoorah!
All the Freys (likewise)
Osha (boo! waste!)
Rickon Stark and Shaggydog the direwolf (sad)
Margaery and Loras (boo!and waste where Margaery's concerned)
Tommen (also sad)
The High Sparrow and Mrs Psycho Bell-Ringing Nun (hoorah!)
Hodor and Summer the direwolf (also sad)
The Waif (not going to miss her one bit)
The Giant (also, also sad)
Theon and Yara's dad (who cares?)
Tell me if I've forgotten anyone.
It also looks to me like Daario Wotsit is gone for good, and it's possible that Jorah Mormont may be too, but I think it's more likely we'll see him again than Daario.
Best new character: Little Lady Mormont.
So what did you all think?
ETA: Should have said, I think Tyrion fell in love with Dany in this episode. Everyone does in the end.
ETA: 2 I have thought of another regular character who was killed - Grandmaester Pycelle. Not going to miss him either.
This baffles me, because in my opinion, season 6 is way better than season 5, which was at times quite dull and at others (whenever a horrible Bolton was on screen), unnecessarily horrible.
Anyway, spoilers for the season finale behind cut.
That said, though we are clearly building up to the end-game, I can't help feeling that we've gone full-circle back to the beginning of season 2 in some ways.
To whit:
There's a nasty blonde psychopath on the Iron Throne, and invading armies, led by rival contenders, are approaching from all sides.
You've got to admire Cersei, I suppose. She's really tough. She took Tommen's death without a flinch. On the other hand, she's completely and utterly horrible, and I'm now wondering what Jaime was thinking when he was looking at her at the end there. Was he remembering how he broke his oath and killed the Mad King to stop him doing what Cersei has now actually done?
I'm not sorry to see the back of the High Sparrow, obvs, but I am pissed off about Margaery. I feel like, as with Osha, a great character has ultimately been wasted. I'm only glad that Margaery got to tell the High Sparrow to STFU about the gods, before they all got blown to smithereens.
Other storylines, concluded (for the season), more satisfyingly, with Dany and her dragons finally on the way to Westeros, and the north once more united under a Stark (or a Targaryen, actually, but who cares? And I loved seeing Jon and Sansa hug again. It's so good that they have each other), and -very, very satisfyingly for me, given what lame characters they are - with Granny Tyrell, hell-bent on revenge, telling the ridiculous Sandsnakes to shut up and let the grown ups talk.
I did think they could have done more with Uncle Benjen's brief return (after so effing long!), but no doubt he'll get a heroic death scene at some point before the end of the series. And who knows? Maybe Melisandre will too? I wonder what she'll do with herself now? If she really thinks Jon Snow is The One, she surely won't offer her services to Cersei, or whoever? We'll see, I suppose.
Likewise, we'll see if Arya makes it back to her siblings (her revenge on the Freys was a bit too grisly for me, have to say, but at least it's over), and if she meets up with the Hound on the way.
Then there's Bran, of course. Will he also make it back to Winterfell, and what will he do with his newfound knowledge that Jon isn't his brother but his cousin (which would make no difference round our way, but they might feel differently in Westeros)?
So anyway, yes, a strong season on the whole, I thought. The cast was whittled down considerably with the following casualties among the recurring characters:
All the Boltons (hoorah!
All the Freys (likewise)
Osha (boo! waste!)
Rickon Stark and Shaggydog the direwolf (sad)
Margaery and Loras (boo!and waste where Margaery's concerned)
Tommen (also sad)
The High Sparrow and Mrs Psycho Bell-Ringing Nun (hoorah!)
Hodor and Summer the direwolf (also sad)
The Waif (not going to miss her one bit)
The Giant (also, also sad)
Theon and Yara's dad (who cares?)
Tell me if I've forgotten anyone.
It also looks to me like Daario Wotsit is gone for good, and it's possible that Jorah Mormont may be too, but I think it's more likely we'll see him again than Daario.
Best new character: Little Lady Mormont.
So what did you all think?
ETA: Should have said, I think Tyrion fell in love with Dany in this episode. Everyone does in the end.
ETA: 2 I have thought of another regular character who was killed - Grandmaester Pycelle. Not going to miss him either.
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no subject
Date: 2016-06-30 11:51 pm (UTC)Speaking of come-uppance, I loved the scene of Melisandre being blasted by Ser Davos. Even pouty Jon emerged from his post-death funk and got a bit aereated about Shireen's death.
I almost feel sorry for Cersei: Granny Tyrell is truly formidable.
no subject
Date: 2016-07-01 12:46 pm (UTC)She is. On the other hand, I won't write Cersei off until she's dead (which I hope she is by the end of next season). She's capable of absolutely anything.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-05 09:12 pm (UTC)I can't say I was sad to see Margaery go, because in a show like GoT, we simply need characters to go and I never saw her as one of the characters in the end game so to speak. I was relieved to see Theon finally becoming more of a human being again, and I very much enjoyed Ramsay's demise. What struck me in the last episode was the music. I love the score and I have listened to season 6 on repeat. There are some lovely songs. Ligt of the Seven is exquisite and Winds of Winter. Oh, but there are so many throughout the 6 seasons and the composer Ramin Djawadi plays a huge part in the series' success.
I am quite excited to see what Jaime is up to in season 7. Surely he can't keep wanting Cersei or? Sadly he's been quite the prick in the last couple of seasons. I miss the Jaime who was changing while with Brienne. Wonder if he's lost forever? I did not enjoy Tyrion this season at all. Except for the last episode where his scene with Dany did move me. But the rest of the Meereen scenes were yawn to me this season. I did enjoy Dany and the Khals even if the ending in that episode was a bit too much. But it's Dany and Game of Thrones and alright.
I LOVED the last scenes with Theon looking at the Greyjoy banner which is flickering the wrong way until it turns and straightens and sunlight shines on Theon. Finally, for crying out loud.
And I loved the sight of all those ships heading towards Westeros while Winds of Winter played. It was spectacular like only Game of Thrones can do it.
Frey's death: yuck. But good riddance.
The Hound coming back: YES!!
Littlefinger: oh, die already. Can't stand that character.
Sansa Stark. Sophie Turner gets a lot of hate for her portrayal. I actually think she did a splendid job both in season 5, and in season 6. I'm curious to see what happens in season 7, the second last season. Will Sansa simply end up Lady of Winterfell and that's it?
Bran: I never thought his scenes were very interesting but they might be next season. I hope he reunites with Sansa.
Sorry, late to the game regarding commenting this post, but I'm thrilled to find others who like to watch the show.
I had to learn to be able to watch all that violence but I'm now fully hardened and have watched quite a few episode more than once by now. :D
no subject
Date: 2016-08-07 03:44 pm (UTC)Heh! I'm afraid my tolerance for the extreme violence has, if anything, got less as the show has gone on. But I still love it enough to continue to watch, even if I have to look away/shut my eyes rather a lot. I actually thought that in terms of extreme violence, this season wasn't quite so bad.
I'm afraid don't see Jaime falling out of love with Cersei anytime soon. That doesn't mean that he won't ultimately kill her, but I'm pretty sure he'll make certain he won't survive her death either.
I can't understand people hating on Sophie Turner. I think her Sansa Stark is wonderful. What do people not like about her portrayal?
I'm a member of Watchers on the Wall, the biggest site for fans of the TV show, rather than the books. And the general consensus is that season 6 has been the best of them all.
That's good to know. I was really surprised by the reviews I read. It felt like we'd been watching different shows.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-07 06:45 pm (UTC)They claim she only has 2 facial expressions and basically can't act at all. And I just couldn't disagree more as I think she is excellent as Sansa. Her acting - especially in season 5 but in 6 and earlier seaason too - has moved or impressed me several times.
But it's like with the bad reviews. Sometimes it feels as if we're watching different shows as well as different actors. But you know, there are people out there voting for Donald Trump (not to be political but... )
no subject
Date: 2016-08-10 02:05 pm (UTC)Me too. The character has grown so much sine season 1 and IMO she's portrayed that wonderfully.