MEDIOCREMOVIE.CLUB
  • Reviews
  • Side Pieces
  • Shane of Thrones
  • Podcast
  • About
  • Archives
  • Game of Thrones Fantasy

Game of Thrones 49: The Dance of Dragons

6/8/2015

8 Comments

 
Back around episode 6, some critic (I don’t remember which) remarked that with what happened to Sansa, the show was in danger of becoming a slog, misery porn dressed up in fantasy garb.  That episode wasn’t all blackness, as it did introduce the business of cock merchanting, but the black moments were so dark, they threatened to consume the entire series.  I remember talking with Ashli about the Red Wedding episode two years ago, where I was worried that the show would have to keep escalating the darkness after something as black as that.  What's worse than stabbing a pregnant woman in the stomach?  Raping a character we've known since she was a child or burning another one alive.  This has never been more true than in this episode, as perhaps the darkest moment in the series eclipses one of the most spectacular.

Braavos: Meryn Trant shows up to likely get a much-deserved knife in his throat.  If the guy can’t get along with the delightfully dumb Mace Tyrell, it’s time for him to go.  Plus, the pedophilia.  Surprisingly tasteful scene in a brothel, the usual location of boobs for boobs’ sake.  I’ve got a pretty good sense of how this is going to go for Arya and where we’re going to leave her at the end of the season.  Not too much for her to do here, as they’re really stretching this out.  It all could’ve happened in one episode, especially if it goes the way I think it’s going to.

Dorne: Doran’s chambers look great, but this whole storyline remains a miscalculation.  Barring a big turn next week, it all could’ve been written off by the snake-a-gram being replaced with a letter to Cersei from Doran, saying that Myrcella is being sent back and that Trystane will take Oberyn’s seat on the small council.  Seems like that was the plan all along.  The Sand Snakes still make little to no impression, Ellaria’s been wasted, and Bronn and Jaime could’ve been better used elsewhere.

The Wall: Pretty straightforward after last week’s fireworks.  The staredown between Jon and Alliser was nice, but with Davos heading to the Wall with an impossible request, the big climax is saved for the finale.

Meereen: Best sequence of the episode.  Tyrion remains awesome and reinvigorated by being this close to power, and his back-and-forth with Hizdahr nicely delineated the themes of the episode.  Cruelty is an abomination, but no great thing was ever done without it, though that’s only something those who benefit from those great things would say in the first place.  The centerpiece fight with all the different styles of fighters was a very nice touch.  The Braavosi water dancer kicked the shit out of Jorah and was only felled by some poor gladiatorial officiating.  Once the Harpies all show up, noticeably dressed in both the noble and commoner Meereenese wardrobe, the resulting slaughter and riot had the right amount of chaotic energy, with Hizdahr getting caught up in the stabbing.  I liked that guy.  Dany’s readying herself for death by grabbing Missendei’s hand was a graceful moment, followed by Drogon’s entrance and the musical sting that precedes his doing something awesome.  Not quite there on the CGI, but it’s not so bad that it deflates arguably the best moment in book 5.  Jorah’s likely role as greyscale vector makes this a Pyrrhic victory for him, as he again manages to push his imminent death off into the near future.  He lives to somersault-stab another day.

Stannis’s Camp: I don’t have a problem with Stannis making the decision he did.  It’s perfectly in character, and a tidy parallel to Azor Ahai, the closest thing to Jesus that exists in this world and something I can’t remember if the show has brought up yet or not.  Non-book-readers can feel free to Google him, as it’s just a piece of Red God mythology and not spoilery.  I do have a problem with this taking all the catharsis out of Stannis’s campaign to unseat the Boltons.  If he wins next week, it’s no longer a triumphant moment at all, when ridding the show of its worst villain in Ramsay should be an unalloyed good.  As a scene, the burning is fueled by denial and then the harsh realization that they’re actually doing this. Even if I buy the scene from all character angles, as stated above, it’s just ugly, removing in Shireen the only light in this particular corner of the world.

So much to wrap up next week, considering that there was no Winterfell or King’s Landing this week.  I always feel like there’s not enough time towards the end of a season.  I’ll lay the blame for it this year at Dorne’s feet.

8 Comments
Bobby
6/8/2015 02:54:49 pm

I agree with most of that...

The CGI wasn't the only iffy thing about Mereen, though... the flame retardant suits just didn't look good either. Visually... that scene was a mess, which is unfortunate because it's a grand piece of the story. But even with how distracting the poor look of a lot of it was... I definitely enjoyed it.

What Azor Ahai parallel are you talking about... sacrificing his wife, Stannis his daughter? Eh. I'm I'm not buying Stannis as Azor. I'd guess it's Jon or Daeny... who are both born of the correct family line...(if you believe the Azor prophecy and the prince prophecy are the same) even if Stannis does have some blood of the dragon in him. Also... we know Longclaw can kill an Other... so at this point, it's more likely to be Lightbringer (or forged from) than the sword Stannis is carrying around.

Reply
Jon
6/8/2015 03:09:55 pm

The root Azor Ahai thing of sacrificing love for power. It doesn't especially matter if Stannis is the reincarnation or not. His right-hand adviser believes he is, so it fits with the Red God mythology for Stannis to do it.

As I'm someone who considers the prophecy aspect of the series to be one of the least interesting parts, whether that Prince Promised thing is true doesn't really appeal. The twisted messiah tradition in Red God religion and trying to live up to the example does more for me. Of course, I don't have any idea if that stuff is in the show. If it's not, it's a missed opportunity.

Reply
Bobby
6/8/2015 03:23:37 pm

I don't even think Melisandre is convinced that Stannis is Azor Ahai at this point.. but that won't stop her from having him do her bidding until the real one can come forward. But yeah, point taken, and I do agree that what he's done is in character... but more so because if he doesn't do it.. he'd be abandoning (or believes it so) everything he's gone this far for... and that just wouldn't work for him with how sure he is of his claim.

Bryan
6/8/2015 03:14:46 pm

"Not quite there on the CGI, but it’s not so bad that it deflates arguably the best moment in book 5. "

I disagree. It's 2015 and this show has a bazillion dollar budget - the CGI wasn't good. Bobby hit it on the head with the flame suits. The whole thing was well written and the dragon itself looked awesome - but everything behind the dragon was so bad I was distracted from what was actually happening.

Reply
Sean
6/8/2015 03:24:07 pm

Am I the only one who is still totally convinced Hizdahr is a Harpy and he got stabbed out confusion in the moment or simply to tie up a loose end

Reply
Bobby
6/8/2015 03:31:28 pm

No... you're not the only one at all.

I'm not even sure if it was confusion.. or just for show. We didn't actually see him die, did we?

Reply
Phil
6/8/2015 03:53:03 pm

They showed his body. It looked pretty dead to me.

Bryan
6/8/2015 04:14:17 pm

I thought the same until he was stabbed repeatedly.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Games

    JUST SOME IDIOTS GIVING SURPRISINGLY AVERAGE MOVIE REVIEWS.

    Game of Thrones
    Fantasy League

    Categories

    All
    Phuessing
    Tournaments

    Phuessing Standings
    1. Lane (6)
    2. David (3.5)
    3. Bobby (3)
    3. Jon (3)
    5. Phil (2.5)
    6. Sushant (2)
    7. Riley (1.5)
    7. Bryan (1.5)
    9. Alex (0.5)
    9. Tdizzle (0.5)

    RSS Feed