In this weeks TTM News I reflect on the show that changed everything whilst thinking about the future of a franchise that gave us so much (including that ending)
Warning Spoilers For The Entirety Of Game Of Thrones Run Ahead
Welcome to TTM News a weekly piece where I pick a piece of pop culture and dive into it, discussing everything new and old about that particular topic. The aim of TTM news is to be a little bit more personal and blog like, I aim to provide you with a lot more opinion's than in a typical review and to create a discussion like feel.
This week we take on Game of Thrones, the cultural phenomenon that took tv by storm when it debuted ten years ago. After now completing it's run (in a somewhat controversial fashion) the franchise is set to make it's return to TV with the prequal House Of The Dragon, with a animated TV series also in the work. This week my task will be take a look back at all the highlights from the eight seasons of the show whilst also take a look at the very little we know about House Of The Dragon.
Before we get into the prequal's I want to get into Game of Throne's original run that, as mentioned, started ten years ago when Ned Stark and co marched onto our screens. For me personally the joy of Game Of Thrones was lost on me for many years, mainly due to the fact I was eleven when the show began. It wasn't till the end of the seventh season that I started watching with the intention to catch up in time for the final season, it's amazing for me to sit here three-four years later having seen all eight seasons and read all seven books to realise the impact the show has had on me. (I will be doing a re-watch with a review for each episode coming in the next month or so, so keep an eye out for that!).
The first season began as it meant to go, deaths, affairs, incest, kids being thrown out of windows, the show wasted no time in showcasing the type of show it would become with it's introduction of a set of characters we would dedicate eight seasons of our life too. The questions is what did the first season achieve? Well everything, the introduction of characters that would become cult icons such as Cersei, Jaime, Tyrion, Arya, Sansa, Jon and Daenerys to name but a few, the show set the building blocks for the phenomenon is would become with an engaging dark story centred around the likeable Ned Stark that was of course, killed off at the end of the season. This of course, sent a clear message that book readers knew already, no one is safe (for now anyway). The first season was by no means perfect but for an somewhat unknown adaption of a novel on a low budget, the season achieved a lot.
I like the first season, I'm often hyper critical when it comes to first seasons because for me, the first season has to be establishing your characters, I want to care about them and feel involved in the story. The first season managed to do this in mere episodes and when the season ended you knew fully well who characters such as Cersei, Joffrey and Littlefinger were and what they were capable of. (the origin of Daenerys being a particularly sad but engaging story too plus dragons!)
Season two for me is a difficult one, by no means a poor season but flawed, the season had a great overall plot with the War of the Five kings and the show was able to expand the world fantastically. Arya's journey and meeting with Tywin Lannister was pure joy (Charles Dance was brilliant in this show). The introduction of characters such as Margaery really benefited the show and the battle of Blackwater bay was the one of the best battles we have seen. The season try's to fit a lot to varying degrees of success, the plot of Stannis and Melisandre while a little drawn out does have a big payoff with Blackwater bay. This season also sets the paths for a lot of characters with Jaime's capture and Robb's marriage to Talissa and Theon's betrayal, Jon's ,meeting with Ygritte and sack of Winterfell. As mentioned it's a lot even for Game of Thrones but does set up a number of great pay offs later down the line.
The flaws of the season unfortunately arrive with Daenerys time in Qarth that drags on too long with very little pay off, this of course was a criticism of the second book as well and one that maybe could have been altered for tv.
For many, Season three may well be the best and I have to agree, continuing on from the second season the third ups the stakes and brings us one of the best tv scenes ever with the devastating Red Wedding. This seasons also brings us Jaime Lannister's best moment with
loss of his fighting hand and subsequent beginning of his redemption arc as well as his friendship with Brienne. The season also gives us the evil Ramsey Bolton as well as the emergence of the wonderful Tyrell's with the fantastic Olenna Tyrell (RIP Diana Rigg). This season is pure joy and for me, is the season that is most remembered (You know nothing Jon Snow) especially with Daenerys finally becoming the would be Queen we all wanted(taking an army in the process). Season three is the best of Game of Thrones and one I truly look forward to re-watching.
Season four is the season of the Lannister's. Joffrey's death, Shae's betrayal and death, Tywin's death, Oberyn's death (Yup a lot of death), Jaime's rape of Cersei (that was changed from the book for very little reason) and Jaime letting Tyrion go after a faux trial is just a small part of the Lannister family drama this season. Oberyn's death being a particularly brutal scene that really highlighted what the show is. Dany's occupation of Meereen is enhanced by Drogon's human killing drama and Jorah revelation as a spy (or former Spy). Bran (who I haven't mentioned till this point for good reason) treks north to find the three eyed raven in a plot that has little more to say than that. Arya continues to be on the run this time aided by the Hound in a great partnership that brings some of the best of the season, Sansa also goes on the run with Littlefinger as she starts to realise how the Game of Thrones is played. Jon also battles the wildlings as Jon and Stannis meet for the first time.
Season four for me, is one of the strongest, the Lannister's shine and the hostilities with the Tyrell's are awesome, the Hound/Arya pairing is equally as captivating.
Season five has a bad rep, one of the seasons with the biggest flaws as the plot with Dorne is some of the worst Game of Thrones has done. Daenerys conflict with the Sons of the Harpy also offers little (the scene where Drogon returns in the battle with the Harpy's is awesome though). Season 5 does have some great moments with the Battle of Hardhome being a masterpiece as the Night King makes his presence felt and Jon's ultimate fall after joining forces with the Wildlings. Elsewhere, Sansa's arc takes a dark heart-breaking turn as she is married and raped by the evil Ramsey Bolton as Reek (A torured Theon) is forced to look on, this leads to their escape. The big divider of this season is Arya's trip to Braavos where she learns to be a faceless man assassin. This is something I am keen to see again in my re-watch as I for one, didn't seem to hate it as much as everyone else, even if it wasn't great.
Season five is not terrible but after four great season it did fall as the worst up to this point, the plots just didn't carry the weight previous have and failed to build momentum (Hardhome excluded.)
Season six, WOW. The season where the pieces start to assemble has some excellent stand out moments in another season that is considered the best by some. The show packs in plenty with Jon's return to life, Yara's alliance with Dany, Hold the Door (so sad) and of course Lyanna Mormont. However the seasons highlight is of course the Battle of The Bastards that is just brilliant, the camera work and pure adrenaline is only enhanced by Kit Harrington's acting as he leads his army into battle. Rickon's death is emotional (despite the zig zag gate) and the acting is tremendous ( the scene where Jon is nearly trampled to death was highlighted by kit Harrington who was actually claustrophobic and not acting). Sansa also finally gets her time to shine after years of abuse she reunites with Jon and eventually wins the battle showing up with Littlefinger's army to save Jon's skin. Sansa also puts an end to Ramsay's tyranny by feeding him to his own dogs (now that's revenge).
Arya also gets her time to shine by reclaiming her name (after the whole faceless debacle) and murdering Walder Frey for killing her family in the red wedding in one of the shows most satisfying twists. Cersei after suffering at the hands of the Red Sparrows loses her last child Tommen and reacts by blowing all her enemies sky high with wildfire in one of the darkest (but cool) scenes yet. The most emotional scene goes to Hodor as we learn that his whole life had built up holding the door and saving Bran (I can't say anymore it's too sad). Season six is thought to be the last great season by many and I have to agree the season packs so much in and delivers so much emotion as the show hit it's peak.
Season seven and eight all lead to one thing, for me they are the most like one season as we build for the end and the great war. Seasons sevens highlights include the Stark reunion as well as Sansa finally getting one over Littlefinger and killing him. Olenna Tyrell's reveal that she killed Joffrey is amazing as she gleefully produces one last punch at Cersei as she dies. Season eight of course has the death of everyone around Daenerys and her descent to madness as well as the long Knight (which I maintain is a great battle with a satisfying if not underwhelming pay off). For me the that's the it for these seasons (Cleganebowl was great though) the lack of written material didn't help matters but while I was disappointed I do understand why it happened and where it came from and will certainly watch it over and over again.
So that's it a very brief history of the original series with some of my thoughts (catch my reviews for more in depth analysis), the franchise is not finished though, with House of The Dragon that will be on our screens in next couple of years. The series will feature the Targaryen dynasty three hundred years before Game of Thrones Paddy Constantine, Olivia Cooke, Emma D'arcy and Matt Smith cast as Viserys Targaryen, Alicent Hightower, Rhaenyra Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen respectively. House of The Dragon promises a lot and one that fans have waited for, with little more known about the series it's hard to make predictions, but if there's one thing guaranteed with a Targaryen it's that every time one is born a God flips a coin...
Comments