Game of Thrones is one of the biggest TV shows in the world right now, following an enormous fantasy epic across the land of Westeros. Over the past five seasons, viewers have been introduced to characters that have risen in fallen in power, wars and battles raging across the Seven Kingdoms, and plot twists that have changed the status quo of the world so many times.
Season 5 was a bit of a lull for me in terms of the story; the pacing was very slow, and no huge story developments really happened until the end of the season. There was a lot of meandering around, and I almost lost interest in the show, because it really wasn't engaging me anymore.
But at this point, the show has moved beyond the story of the books, which could be both a good and a bad thing. On one hand, it does mean that the show is moving in its own direction (since George R. R. Martin is never going to finish those books), and could lead to some interesting, unpredictable developments. On the other hand, no matter how much advice that the showrunners are getting from Martin, the show will be moving in a different direction than Martin intended (even though the show had already made some changes).
Between the two options, I have to say that the first one seems to be working out, because this season was the best in the series so far.
Maybe it's just in contrast with season 5, but season 6 was excellent. The story moved along at a consistently fast pace and was never really dragging, the characters faced new challenges and interesting developments, and it had some of the most jaw-dropping moments. This season was also the most humourous; there were times when joke after joke would happen in a scene, and it was a bit strange, but also very enjoyable. Season 6 finally started to bring the overarching story of Westeros together. Characters who have been separated were reunited, long-running plotlines had resolution, and characters faced cathartic moments that were just as satisfying for the viewer. We were also given some looks at the past, which shows that there's more story to tell outside of the ongoing plots, and some answers may be hidden from plain sight. It feels like the ending of the show is approaching, since so many plot threads are starting to tie together. Many plotlines that seemed to be abandoned re-appeared this season, although the majority of them still went nowhere.
The tone of the season was noticeably lighter than past seasons. While there were certainly still scenes of brutality and violence, it never felt gratuitous, and the amount of nudity was certainly decreased. The moments of violence and action felt a little more deserved, and were used sparingly enough that they had more impact. Season 6 didn't feel like a comedy or anything, but it wasn't constantly as gloomy and depressing as it has been in the past.
What made the season work so well was that the first 5 episodes were so fast-paced, and never had a dull moment. Moments and sub-plots that would have taken up to seven episodes in past seasons were resolved within minutes this season. It kept me constantly on my feet, and I never knew quite what was coming next. While there were a few lapses in writing in terms of foreshadowing and surprises that didn't really work, the writers still threw a few curveballs in there. There were even a few huge fan theories that were seemingly confirmed, and then immediately denied (to my endless frustration).
As was expected, all of the characters went through a lot of turmoil and change. It's really interesting to look back on the past seasons, and see how far everyone has come. Well, those who survived, at least. Whether I love to love them or love to hate them, everyone had an interesting journey. The biggest question from last season was regarding Jon Snow, who faced the biggest changes this season of anyone. Not only by literally coming back from the dead, but also by moving out of the environment he's known for almost the entire series, and taking on some new responsibilities. I also found Jaime Lannister's story to be very interesting in terms of development, and his ongoing story is proving to be one of the most surprising. Characters outside of the main cast were my favourite, like Tormund, Bronn, and Lyanna Mormont. The increased amount of humour this season only contributed to the cast's charisma, and made the world seem a little more fun. But some characters, like Arya or Daenerys, were very stagnant in their stories, and didn't really make any progress in any way until the season came to the end.
The season definitely wasn't perfect. There were a few plot developments that felt rushed, or were abandoned after only a few glimpses at them. The only problem I really saw in the writing was one part of Arya's story, where she was acting extremely out of character, and given how things ended up, there was no real reason for it. The story would have reached the same end point, only without Arya seeming to forget all for the skills that she's learned over the years. Episode 8 in general was a pretty low point of the season, in both action and writing (and one of the weakest episodes of the series as a whole). Maybe the problem is that the writers are off-book now, and the stories that they have in mind aren't always as interesting as what George R. R. Martin thought up.
It was strange to see such stumbling in contrast with episodes that could feel so epic and impactful, and this season wasted a lot of opportunities with characters. I felt like there were a few new characters that were introduced with a lot of build-up, and then ultimately did nothing. The Blackfish was the most notable example of this, with characters talking about him for episode after episode, and when we finally met him, he did the nothing for a few episodes and then the story was resolved without any real contribution from him. They didn't even give him an on-screen death scene.
Despite some issues in other episodes, the season really redeemed itself in episode 9. Battle of the Bastards. was one of the best episodes that the show has ever produced. Never has Game of Thrones created a scene that felt so brutal, so real, and so real. Watching Jon Snow cut his way through the chaos, being trampled under a horde of people, being overwhelmed, and fighting back against impossible odds. The effects work in particular were incredible, and cemented Thrones once again as a show with the highest cinematic quality we can ask for. As for the finale, it was nothing short of breathtaking. It was the culmination of so many stories and theories that have been building up since the very beginning of the show. Miguel Sapochnik, who also directed Battle of the Bastards, is nothing less than a genius when it comes to direction. He elevates the show to a whole new level, and what he brought to the finale was perfection. It might be the best episode of the entire series, and it sets up an incredible season 7. They should just hand the whole show over to Sapochnik to direct.
In the end, Game of Thrones season 6 was a fantastic season of television, and the strongest season that the show has ever delivered. It started off very strong, and dipped a bit in the middle, but it continued to deliver tons of satisfying, emotional, and impressive moments throughout. By the time the ending rolled around, I was so impressed with the season that I barely realized it was over.
I absolutely cannot wait for season 7, because season 6 showed off the best elements that Game of Thrones has to offer. In terms of story, characters, effects, creativity, and entertainment, season 6 delivered on everything.
The only question now is how the story will end. Valar morghulis, everyone.
Season 5 was a bit of a lull for me in terms of the story; the pacing was very slow, and no huge story developments really happened until the end of the season. There was a lot of meandering around, and I almost lost interest in the show, because it really wasn't engaging me anymore.
But at this point, the show has moved beyond the story of the books, which could be both a good and a bad thing. On one hand, it does mean that the show is moving in its own direction (since George R. R. Martin is never going to finish those books), and could lead to some interesting, unpredictable developments. On the other hand, no matter how much advice that the showrunners are getting from Martin, the show will be moving in a different direction than Martin intended (even though the show had already made some changes).
Between the two options, I have to say that the first one seems to be working out, because this season was the best in the series so far.
Maybe it's just in contrast with season 5, but season 6 was excellent. The story moved along at a consistently fast pace and was never really dragging, the characters faced new challenges and interesting developments, and it had some of the most jaw-dropping moments. This season was also the most humourous; there were times when joke after joke would happen in a scene, and it was a bit strange, but also very enjoyable. Season 6 finally started to bring the overarching story of Westeros together. Characters who have been separated were reunited, long-running plotlines had resolution, and characters faced cathartic moments that were just as satisfying for the viewer. We were also given some looks at the past, which shows that there's more story to tell outside of the ongoing plots, and some answers may be hidden from plain sight. It feels like the ending of the show is approaching, since so many plot threads are starting to tie together. Many plotlines that seemed to be abandoned re-appeared this season, although the majority of them still went nowhere.
The tone of the season was noticeably lighter than past seasons. While there were certainly still scenes of brutality and violence, it never felt gratuitous, and the amount of nudity was certainly decreased. The moments of violence and action felt a little more deserved, and were used sparingly enough that they had more impact. Season 6 didn't feel like a comedy or anything, but it wasn't constantly as gloomy and depressing as it has been in the past.
As was expected, all of the characters went through a lot of turmoil and change. It's really interesting to look back on the past seasons, and see how far everyone has come. Well, those who survived, at least. Whether I love to love them or love to hate them, everyone had an interesting journey. The biggest question from last season was regarding Jon Snow, who faced the biggest changes this season of anyone. Not only by literally coming back from the dead, but also by moving out of the environment he's known for almost the entire series, and taking on some new responsibilities. I also found Jaime Lannister's story to be very interesting in terms of development, and his ongoing story is proving to be one of the most surprising. Characters outside of the main cast were my favourite, like Tormund, Bronn, and Lyanna Mormont. The increased amount of humour this season only contributed to the cast's charisma, and made the world seem a little more fun. But some characters, like Arya or Daenerys, were very stagnant in their stories, and didn't really make any progress in any way until the season came to the end.
The season definitely wasn't perfect. There were a few plot developments that felt rushed, or were abandoned after only a few glimpses at them. The only problem I really saw in the writing was one part of Arya's story, where she was acting extremely out of character, and given how things ended up, there was no real reason for it. The story would have reached the same end point, only without Arya seeming to forget all for the skills that she's learned over the years. Episode 8 in general was a pretty low point of the season, in both action and writing (and one of the weakest episodes of the series as a whole). Maybe the problem is that the writers are off-book now, and the stories that they have in mind aren't always as interesting as what George R. R. Martin thought up.
It was strange to see such stumbling in contrast with episodes that could feel so epic and impactful, and this season wasted a lot of opportunities with characters. I felt like there were a few new characters that were introduced with a lot of build-up, and then ultimately did nothing. The Blackfish was the most notable example of this, with characters talking about him for episode after episode, and when we finally met him, he did the nothing for a few episodes and then the story was resolved without any real contribution from him. They didn't even give him an on-screen death scene.
I absolutely cannot wait for season 7, because season 6 showed off the best elements that Game of Thrones has to offer. In terms of story, characters, effects, creativity, and entertainment, season 6 delivered on everything.
The only question now is how the story will end. Valar morghulis, everyone.
Comments
Post a Comment