Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 3

4/27/2015

We're three episodes into Game of Thrones this season, and in my opinion nothing of importance has happened. Here's my list of engaging scenes-ish during this season, in no particular order...

The Wildling guy about to be burnt at the stake was cringe worthy.
Tyrion's kidnapping, we knew it was coming.
I did think Khaleesi's dragon might fry the city on his way out of town.
Arya sliced that pigeon's head off.
Littlefinger is constantly up to something
Jon Snow decapitated the unimportant guy

What am I missing? I feel like I had to stretch to reach 6. Why is this season so lame?

10 Comments

Bobby

4/27/2015 11:26:56 am

I've been a bit disappointed with the season so far as well.

A part of it is because of some massive changes from the novels (which i know you don't care about), that feel unnecessary and really change the landscape of some some characters. But also, for the same reasons as you.. they've had 3 episodes and it still feels like they're trying to set everything up and establish something... so it better pay off really well.

Jon

4/27/2015 05:07:26 pm

I'm really liking this season so far. I've talked before about the comparison between my season 1, show-watcher experience and my seasons 2-5 book reader experience. The season 1 experience was better, and season 5 is approaching it with all of the book changes.

If George RR Martin could've dropped dead after any book, it was the third one. It wasn't a perfect ending, but it leaves things in a relatively-well-arced place for a lot of the main characters. Books four and five introduce a dozen new main characters, and several times as many supporting ones. It's the series restarting itself after so many characters were killed in book 3 (season 3 and 4), but the show can't do this. It's just the limits of the medium. There wasn't even enough time in this last episode to show anything with Dany, much less a bunch of new Greyjoys.

The way it seems the writers are doing this is contriving ways to get the characters together, and I'm all for it. GRRM talks about the series beginning to curl back in on itself in book 6 after wildly expanding in books 4 and 5. They're just accelerating the process.

That said, when books 4 and 5 are a series of journeys and training sessions, the show's doing the best it can. I've very much been a fan so far, and I'm excited to see what they do next. There's a ceiling to my Ramsay-Sansa tolerance, though, and we'll have to see if the show bursts through it.

Bobby

4/27/2015 06:23:00 pm

I disagree that they're doing the best they can... I am completely okay with changes that are necessary to fit the medium. But I guess it irks me that they're forcing it into 7 seasons because of some 'that's the perfect length for a series' belief and more so they're 'seven books, seven kingdoms, seven gods' line they've thrown out there... which isn't even truly accurate.

I agree, we don't need to see a lot of the Greyjoy stuff, the king/queen's moot, etc. There are a ton of mundane details that make the books what they are, that don't have to be included in the show. But putting things like... diminishing what Sam really does to get Jon the LC vote, Tommen/Margaery having sex instead of Tommen being a young innocent, which sets up Cersei's line (though, we don't know if the show won't find a different approach to that), bring Jaqen H'ghar back, etc... all seemed completely unnecessary and to some point taking away from some of who the characters are or becoming.

I'm assuming we'll get to see more Dorne and meet the Sand Snakes next week... which I am looking forward to.

Bobby

4/27/2015 06:23:49 pm

*their. Ew grammar fails.

Jon

4/27/2015 07:03:37 pm

That seven thing is a more palatable way to say, "HBO doesn't want to pay for contract re-negotiations when everyone needs to re-up after seven seasons." Sure, the show nets a lot of money, but there will be more Westeros series coming eventually through their GRRM development deal. There's way too many examples of shows that stretched out their lives and got steadily worse. I'd rather the GoT ended than got stale.

Jon

4/27/2015 07:05:28 pm

I'm happy to see Jaqen again. I'd be very surprised if the show did the Oldtown stuff, and it's not even clear if he's down there in the first place. Always preferable to use an established character than introduce a new one.

Bobby

4/27/2015 07:19:44 pm

Except, it's not HBO who wants 7. I've read a couple articles about them wanting more.. but D&D are dead set on making it 7. And as much as I actually do what to see Egg & Dunk or old Targ history, that's irrelevant to the ASoIaF/GoT discussion.

I think having a familiar face there changes Arya's development.. sure, the show will get her where she needs to be, but it doesn't feel right. It's either telling us Jaqen is actually the kindly man or it's just an unnecessary change to give viewers somebody else the recognize in a new place... which, i think, is weak decision.

Jon

4/27/2015 07:31:31 pm

That's a good point about HBO. D&D are likely exhausted by the production schedule.

Maybe Arya isn't as isolated by knowing Jaqen, but it's not like they're old pals. He's going to help her exactly as much as the book equivalent. I'm approaching it from the 'more Tom Wlaschicia is a good thing' perspective.

Bryan

4/28/2015 03:24:13 am

Jon, If one must read all the books to appreciate this season, HBO is failing at directing.

Jon

4/28/2015 09:02:54 am

Bryan, I wholly agree with that statement. The books are the books and the show is the show. However, they're going to have similar pacing, and after the upheavals of the last two seasons (Northern army destroyed, wildling army mostly destroyed, slave cities conquered, guy holding it all together killed on the toilet), it's natural for everyone in the series to take a breath, see what kind of ground they're on, and go from there. That's why I don't think the season's been slow; I like watching these characters plan as much as I like them do.

Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 3

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