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[Azzanadra]

Alright, I'l jump on the season rankings bandwagon:

1 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 5

So obviously 1 is the best, it is the most coherent and from a structural perspective, it just works the best as a stand-alone season and story. Also helps that the writing is top-notch, probably because they actually used/paraphrased book lines in this season, whereas in later seasons they kind of made it up themselves except some of the common sayings.

Four was a surprise, its when the series really started to diverge but it was also the most entertaining from a popcorn-flick sort of way. Other than Dany's arc and that little Ironborn scene, it was a well constructed and balanced season. Admittedly it is also the most artificial season, its like at this point the show becomes self-aware about the *shock value* and exploits that at every turn.

Three is when things get interesting. D&D learn from there mistakes in season 2, and at this point there were no outright offensively "bad" storylines. I was quite disappointed in the Riverlands story though, I mean Robb and Catelyn had very little screen time if the point was to build to the Red Wedding. The whole scene that the season had been building up to was set up and occurred in the same episode, whereas there were clues and hints in the book. Theon torture porn was a waste of screen time after the hundredth occurrence, so thats a shame as well. But overall, a decent season.

Season 2 is the one I am the most mixed about. On one hand, the Tyrion plotline was awesome and heck, the whole War of 5 Kings was handled quite well. What sucked? Jon and Dany. And a massive blight this is, considering they are some of if not the most important characters in the story.

And Season 5... had a grand total of one good subplot, and that was the Wall. Everything else ranged from terrible to mediocre.

 

[jett]

Chills man. CHILLS.

The funnier part about this scene is how keenly aware they seemed of how silly-looking Dany's last dragon flight was. You can barely see her riding that thing when it was on the air.

 

[Gigglepoo]

IAnd he wiped out the houses of those who hated him during his conquest anyways, so there's not too much bad blood surviving to the day. Though we do know the North was not happy at all back then.

So if Dany wiped out punk houses like the Lannisters and killed some white walkers, she'd be see as a hero, right?

I really love how Martin is setting up this storyline in the books. Dany is going to go to Westeros with her Dothraki savages who rape and slaughter everyone. And then Aegon is going to fight her, saving the realm from a conqueror, even though he's also a conqueror. Pretty neat idea. I think the show is just going to paint Dany as a baddie.

 

[Dragon Puncher]

Alright, I'l jump on the season rankings bandwagon:

1 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 5

So obviously 1 is the best, it is the most coherent and from a structural perspective, it just works the best as a stand-alone season and story. Also helps that the writing is top-notch, probably because they actually used/paraphrased book lines in this season, whereas in later seasons they kind of made it up themselves except some of the common sayings.

Four was a surprise, its when the series really started to diverge but it was also the most entertaining from a popcorn-flick sort of way. Other than Dany's arc and that little Ironborn scene, it was a well constructed and balanced season. Admittedly it is also the most artificial season, its like at this point the show becomes self-aware about the *shock value* and exploits that at every turn.

Three is when things get interesting. D&D learn from there mistakes in season 2, and at this point there were no outright offensively "bad" storylines. I was quite disappointed in the Riverlands story though, I mean Robb and Catelyn had very little screen time if the point was to build to the Red Wedding. The whole scene that the season had been building up to was set up and occurred in the same episode, whereas there were clues and hints in the book. Theon torture porn was a waste of screen time after the hundredth occurrence, so thats a shame as well. But overall, a decent season.

Season 2 is the one I am the most mixed about. On one hand, the Tyrion plotline was awesome and heck, the whole War of 5 Kings was handled quite well. What sucked? Jon and Dany. And a massive blight this is, considering they are some of if not the most important characters in the story.

And Season 5... had a grand total of one good subplot, and that was the Wall. Everything else ranged from terrible to mediocre.

I think I actually like 4 more than 1. Those Arya + Hound scenes are just goddamn amazing.

Other than that, good rating. I do think every season expect 5 is actually quite good.
6 started out pretty poorly, but the last 3 episodes have at been great and now it actually feels like the D&D set enough things in motion (in their own way separate from the books), that we'll finally get to see some a good payoffs.

 

[clemenx]

I think it's funny how show Dany is now hated at invested places like this but I think most people still really like her. Most of my friends and coworkers who can't give 2 shit about the books or anything else than following the series really loved her speech and mostly, Drogon they were all pretty hyped up.

It's also pretty telling that while they still really like Dany everyone pretty much hates Mereen and the east.

 

[Angry Grimace]

I mean, it seems pretty obvious to me that Arya is gonna win the stickfight to the death and then Jaqen will for whatever reason say something along the lines of "JUST AS PLANNED" and then we will find out its part of a larger plot either from Jaqen himself or the Faceless Men (e.g. they want her to join Dany and kill important people for whatever reason or something along those lines).

 

[dabig2]

So if Dany wiped out punk houses like the Lannisters and killed some white walkers, she'd be see as a hero, right?

I really love how Martin is setting up this storyline in the books. Dany is going to go to Westeros with her Dothraki savages who rape and slaughter everyone. And then Aegon is going to fight her, saving the realm from a conqueror, even though he's also a conqueror. Pretty neat idea. I think the show is just going to paint Dany as a baddie.

I'll give the show some credit for also fostering some of those ideas. Well, at least the writers state they are and I hope they stick to their guns and have the ability to show it on the show proper.

Game of Thrones season 6 director says we should be 'horrified' by Daenerys, alludes to Hitler

But let us not forget that, while she might see herself as a “great liberator” rather than a “great conqueror” (PR master Tyrion’s preferred term), she pretty much just goes around sacking, taking and repurposing whatever and whomever she wants.

She’s almost an anti-hero, and it seems that is exactly the paradox the creators are going for.

“At the end of the scene you should be somewhat roused by her…and a little horrified,” said episode 6 director Jack Bender of her latest dragon-back speech.

“She’s not Hitler at Nuremberg... but she’s got the power.” - Jack Bender

We'll see how the show actually does it as we head down the stretch, but I do like the fact that they are talking about it instead of just going "she's obviously the hero so just bow down to your waifu, nerds".

 

[Speevy]

I would love to see Dany as a full-tilt villain.

I don't know if it makes sense in the context of the whitewalker story, but it would definitely spice things up a bit.

 

[Speevy]

If we're supposed to be horrified by Dany, I'm not sure why they included a scene of her basically forgiving Jorah.

That's not something Hitler would do.

 

[Real Hero]

If we're supposed to be horrified by Dany, I'm not sure why they included a scene of her basically forgiving Jorah.

That's not something Hitler would do.

Hitler was nice to his dog (jorah is danys lap dog)

 

[Gigglepoo]

We'll see how the show actually does it as we head down the stretch, but I do like the fact that they are talking about it instead of just going "she's obviously the hero so just bow down to your waifu, nerds".

Well, they're going the opposite route. "She's obviously the villain!" The show lacks nuance and want everyone to have the same thoughts for every character. It's why they're making her so overtly villainous now.

If we're supposed to be horrified by Dany, I'm not sure why they included a scene of her basically forgiving Jorah.

That's not something Hitler would do.

Even evil people can love. (Eva Braun?)

 

[Psychoward]

So I don't get Dany's scene at the end of this.

- She's asking Daario about how many ships they need to transport the dothraki and unsullied across the sea
- Daario replies with a lot
- She says hold on, she has an idea
- Comes back with a dragon and a speech about how the dothraki need to be loyal to her


??? what about the ships

 

[Speevy]

So I don't get Dany's scene at the end of this.

- She's asking Daario about how many ships they need to transport the dothraki and unsullied across the sea
- Daario replies with a lot
- She says hold on, she has an idea
- Comes back with a dragon and a speech about how the dothraki need to be loyal to her


??? what about the ships

Euron has transformed into a dragon.

 

[Iksenpets]

I'll give the show some credit for also fostering some of those ideas. Well, at least the writers state they are and I hope they stick to their guns and have the ability to show it on the show proper.

Game of Thrones season 6 director says we should be 'horrified' by Daenerys, alludes to Hitler


We'll see how the show actually does it as we head down the stretch, but I do like the fact that they are talking about it instead of just going "she's obviously the hero so just bow down to your waifu, nerds".

Yeah, I think they're laying the groundwork for a Dany heel turn. I didn't read the fascist tones in that scene, but the fact that the director is discussing them definitely suggests something. They've been even more blatant about it with some of her past scenes with the crucifixions and feeding the masters to the dragons.

So I don't get Dany's scene at the end of this.

- She's asking Daario about how many ships they need to transport the dothraki and unsullied across the sea
- Daario replies with a lot
- She says hold on, she has an idea
- Comes back with a dragon and a speech about how the dothraki need to be loyal to her


??? what about the ships

That scene was a total non-sequitur. They wrote it and spent a ton filming it and just didn't know where to put it, so it went there. They didn't know how to connect it to anything, so we get a random convo with Daario and then it just happens out of nowhere.

 

[Speevy]

Yeah, I think they're laying the groundwork for a Dany heel turn. I didn't read the fascist tones in that scene, but the fact that the director is discussing them definitely suggests something. They've been even more blatant about it with some of her past scenes with the crucifixions and feeding the masters to the dragons.



That scene was a total non-sequitur. They wrote it and spent a ton filming it and just didn't know where to put it, so it went there. They didn't know how to connect it to anything, so we get a random convo with Daario and then it just happens out of nowhere.

Hopefully the dragon barbecues Euron and she takes his 1,000 ships.

I'm going to die laughing if the entire iron fleet is built in episode 10.

 

[CopperPuppy]

So I don't get Dany's scene at the end of this.

- She's asking Daario about how many ships they need to transport the dothraki and unsullied across the sea
- Daario replies with a lot
- She says hold on, she has an idea
- Comes back with a dragon and a speech about how the dothraki need to be loyal to her


??? what about the ships

I'm honestly just as puzzled. Unless it was just an excuse to have a cool Dany speech scene, then maybe her plan is to get the Dothraki on board and have them help build some ships...? I genuinely have no idea.

 

[zer0das]

I'm honestly just as puzzled. Unless it was just an excuse to have a cool Dany speech scene, then maybe her plan is to get the Dothraki on board and have them help build some ships...? I genuinely have no idea.

That would be fun, then they all can drown like the Mongols when the weather is subpar.

 

[Veritigo_X]

So I don't get Dany's scene at the end of this.

- She's asking Daario about how many ships they need to transport the dothraki and unsullied across the sea
- Daario replies with a lot
- She says hold on, she has an idea
- Comes back with a dragon and a speech about how the dothraki need to be loyal to her


??? what about the ships

It actually reminded me of the Silicon Valley episode a couple weeks ago. Everyone is stumped coming up with a plan, Gilfoyle goes "wait...I've got it!", he orders pizza for everyone.

 

[Speevy]

I actually agreed with Linda for once when she said they should have done that Dany scene in episode 4.

Have the dragon barbecue the Dothraki temple, then she gives this big rousing speech from Drogon's back.

 

[ChaosZeroX]

The funnier part about this scene is how keenly aware they seemed of how silly-looking Dany's last dragon flight was. You can barely see her riding that thing when it was on the air.

Don't forget her microphone where everyone can hear her over Drogon and the Khalasar yelling at the top of their lungs lol.

So I don't get Dany's scene at the end of this.

- She's asking Daario about how many ships they need to transport the dothraki and unsullied across the sea
- Daario replies with a lot
- She says hold on, she has an idea
- Comes back with a dragon and a speech about how the dothraki need to be loyal to her


??? what about the ships

Don't you dare question our Queen lol

 

[Iksenpets]

Hopefully the dragon barbecues Euron and she takes his 1,000 ships.

I'm going to die laughing if the entire iron fleet is built in episode 10.

You should probably take out a generous life insurance policy now then! Euron has reverse engineered Littlefinger's teleporter and is using it to bring in an entire forest's worth of wood.

 

[Corpekata]

I think they just needed a scene showing her getting Drogon under control (because she'll probably be back home next episode) and couldn't figure out another way to do it.

The episode in general was kind of clumsy with how they ended scenes. LIke did they expect the average show watcher to even remember Cat's brother? Revealing him as the prisoner like it was some big dramatic moment was silly.

 

[Oregano]

The biggest thing I picked up from that last scene was Dario straight up telling Dany that she isn't meant to sit on a throne.

 

[Aurongel]

I actually agreed with Linda for once when she said they should have done that Dany scene in episode 4.

Have the dragon barbecue the Dothraki temple, then she gives this big rousing speech from Drogon's back.

It would have been more efficient considering this past episode ended with a pretty repetitive speech that was probably placed there to liven up an otherwise dull episode. I don't need every episode to end with some huge revelation or speech.

 

[Rentahamster]

I actually agreed with Linda for once when she said they should have done that Dany scene in episode 4.

Have the dragon barbecue the Dothraki temple, then she gives this big rousing speech from Drogon's back.

I think it robs Dany of a little of her independence if she has to rely on her dragons yet again to bail her out. I like that she came up with the plan on her own. However, the speech would have been nice if it were in episode 4. It would have been a really cool and powerful cap on that plot thread.

 

[dabig2]

Well, they're going the opposite route. "She's obviously the villain!" The show lacks nuance and want everyone to have the same thoughts for every character. It's why they're making her so overtly villainous now.

Ehh, she's still shown as being quite sympathetic and caring for the downtrodden. Outright villains would be Ramsay, Walder, Ellaria and her Sand Snakes, and Euron. No nuances there and the show clearly wants the average viewer to hate them. The High Sparrow is also near that point with his blatant homophobia and religious nuttery. Cersei is a step below that as the show has clearly tried making her more sympathetic compared to the books, but she's still a villain.
But Dany is still a goody goody, albeit now with some edge. She hasn't hit that point where the average viewer is rooting against her because they view her as an antagonist. Not yet at least. Maybe when she starts ranting against Starks and anyone tied to the "Usurper's dogs" then more people will start to hate her.

Yeah, I think they're laying the groundwork for a Dany heel turn. I didn't read the fascist tones in that scene, but the fact that the director is discussing them definitely suggests something. They've been even more blatant about it with some of her past scenes with the crucifixions and feeding the masters to the dragons.

Yeah, I did like them having Ser Barristan telling her to calm her shit and practice mercy. Dude was probably having some Aerys post-Duskendale flashbacks. "Not this shit again!"

 

[Gigglepoo]

So I don't get Dany's scene at the end of this.

- She's asking Daario about how many ships they need to transport the dothraki and unsullied across the sea
- Daario replies with a lot
- She says hold on, she has an idea
- Comes back with a dragon and a speech about how the dothraki need to be loyal to her


??? what about the ships

Her plan is as dumb as Euron's! It's a match made in heaven!

But Dany is still a goody goody, albeit now with some edge.

I agree with everything you said. I don't believe Dany is ever going to positioned as the villain in that people want her to die/fail. She's more an an anti-hero. That's what the show is doing. We're supposed to revel in her fire-and-blood mentality. We're not supposed to want her to be stopped.

That's my guess. We'll see what happens.

 

[Orochinagis]

Chills man. CHILLS.

That legendary mount is like having the phoenyx mount in WoW and asking for a group

 

[Talon]

Random thought... Cersei sounds a little bit like the Qing Empress Dowager Cixi. Possible inspiration?

She's a Mongol?

 

[Anton Sugar]

I actually agreed with Linda for once when she said they should have done that Dany scene in episode 4.

Have the dragon barbecue the Dothraki temple, then she gives this big rousing speech from Drogon's back.

This would have been so much better, in every way. Time would be saved and it would likely have been a stronger scene, although I agree that "saved by dragons" is old hat. Better than "found and tamed Drogon around the corner".

 

[mantidor]

That speech was ackward no question about it.

I guess she sensed Drogon nearby (understandable) and decided to go ride him, and then realized she had to at least say something to the khalasar.

But then comes the weird week left until the khalasar reaches Meeren, while she slowly flies around or something? I don't know.

 

[CloudWolf]

So I don't get Dany's scene at the end of this.

- She's asking Daario about how many ships they need to transport the dothraki and unsullied across the sea
- Daario replies with a lot
- She says hold on, she has an idea
- Comes back with a dragon and a speech about how the dothraki need to be loyal to her


??? what about the ships

I completely zoned out as soon as Dany and Daario appeared on screen, so I missed it while watching, but this is funny as shit to me

 

[Brakke]

I hope the reason that Drogon was chill with Dany is that Dany fed her the horse she was riding.

 

[Rentahamster]

Why are people in the other thread referencing Benjen as "Coldhands"? Did the behind the scenes videos mention that or something?

 

[mantidor]

As I saw it the dragon was already tamed at the end of season five, it was just too weak and wounded to fly back to Meeren.

Edit: yes D&D called benjen coldhands in the behind the episode.

 

[Cesare Borgia]

So if Dany wiped out punk houses like the Lannisters and killed some white walkers, she'd be see as a hero, right?

I really love how Martin is setting up this storyline in the books. Dany is going to go to Westeros with her Dothraki savages who rape and slaughter everyone. And then Aegon is going to fight her, saving the realm from a conqueror, even though he's also a conqueror. Pretty neat idea. I think the show is just going to paint Dany as a baddie.

Anyone else think this was the entire point of Varys/Illyrio's plot. In Dance the Golden Company mentions that the plan was for them to meet up with Viserys and the Dothraki, then sail for Westeros. I can't help but think Viserys was supposed to land first. He could surely do a lot of damage and quickly turn the people against him. And then Aegon would land somewhere else, promising to bring justice to his cousin. Thus beloved Rhaegar's son would save the realm from the Mad King's mad son.

 

[clemenx]

I don't understand how you guys have been discussing the couple of minutes Dany got in that episode for like 3 pages.

I saw it as a scene to show off riding Drogon to the new army. And as I said in my previous post, people love Dany and the dragons it was literally fanservice.

Was it pretty much unnecesary? Yeah, agreed. But count me on the people who think Drogon is always cool. I don't see what much is to hate. It was pretty harmless.

 

[kirblar]

The Dany scene was likely for contract purposes w/ Clarke.

 

[CopperPuppy]

I don't understand how you guys have been discussing the couple of minutes Dany got in that episode for like 3 pages.

I saw it as a scene to show off riding Drogon to the new army. And as I said in my previous post, people love Dany and the dragons it was literally fanservice.

Was it pretty much unnecesary? Yeah, agreed. But count me on the people who think Drogon is always cool. I don't see what much is to hate. It was pretty harmless.

That's all fine, but I think the question is why she did it in response to Daario's statements about needing ships.

 

[Sean C]

The Dany scene was likely for contract purposes w/ Clarke.

The actors would not have the clout to negotiate minimum episode requirements (and, frankly, I doubt they'd have the desire).

 

[void666]

That's all fine, but I think the question is why she did it in response to Daario's statements about needing ships.

Drogon will carry the dothraki to westeros.

 

[Jack Scofield]

I haven't watched this show since the end of season three, but I've been interested in the newer episodes since it's brand new information. Out of curiosity, I watched the newest Dany scene, and not one minute in before she says "I will take what is mine."

Talk about spinning your wheels for three years. This is exactly the same stuff Dany was talking about when the show first started.

 

[Brakke]

Why are people in the other thread referencing Benjen as "Coldhands"? Did the behind the scenes videos mention that or something?

The Unsullied aren't idiots, they read the same internet that we do. Either they read A Wiki of Ice and Fire or else some recap article written by someone who read same. For example. They usually figure out book-stuff related to things that end up on the show (like R + L = J), but we have separate threads because they don't know/care about book-stuff like Dick Crabb or Arys Oakheart or Jason Mallister etc etc etc.

 

[TheWarrior]

Any theories that the High Sparrow is one of Varys' guys?

He's sowing a lot of chaos in King's Landing and this seems to help Dany out more than anyone.

 

[Angry Grimace]

If we're supposed to be horrified by Dany, I'm not sure why they included a scene of her basically forgiving Jorah.

That's not something Hitler would do.

Because it's just some director's opinion and not actually an intended plot direction beyond the fact that all of the characters have modified Westerosi morality. Her end-game goal from the beginning of the series has been sailing to Westeros and killing all of the people responsible for her family's demise. In fact these "Dany inspires fervent devotion!" scenes aren't even new, they've been doing them from the beginning.

I don't think you were ever supposed to view Dany as completely benevolent, but I really don't buy that something has happened so far that would make me believe her character is taking a particularly dark turn.

So I don't get Dany's scene at the end of this.

- She's asking Daario about how many ships they need to transport the dothraki and unsullied across the sea
- Daario replies with a lot
- She says hold on, she has an idea
- Comes back with a dragon and a speech about how the dothraki need to be loyal to her


??? what about the ships

I interpreted this as:

She asked about the ships as a callback to Euron saying he was making 1000 ships in the last episode and the dragon's appearance was essentially coincidental because she determined it was flying nearby.

 

[Glass Shark]

If Dany becomes a Hitler figure then this show will have lost whatever shred of goodwill it has left with me.

I am so tired of six seasons of plot lines that never resolve and just spin out into endless despair. I know this isn't supposed to be a happy show, but there have always been little things to root for. But if this goes the route of Sons of Anarchy and throws away all its heroes, it's going to become just as miserable to watch as that show did.

 

[Ralemont]

We just had a season and a half of Arya training to become an assassin, and now she's not actually going to become an assassin.

I guess that's one way to look at it. Another would be we just had a season and a half of Arya deciding whether or not she was going to throw away her identity for....reasons. Ultimately she realized that killing for the Faceless God and forgetting about her family were not things she was willing to do. Seeing her dig out Needle was deeply satisfying to me, and I suspect by the end of the season she'll be ready to rejoin events in Westeros (with a lot more knowledge about assassination/subterfuge).

Also, I'm sure it's been mentioned already, but I thought the way the show has handled getting Brienne and Jaime to meet up has worked out nicely.

 

[SummitAve]

I still think of the Dany stuff as a side plot in service of the main, and I would like to see less of it until it was ready to actually help advance something. I think all the nudity and empowering CG Dragons shaped viewers expectations in season 1 and the show creators have felt that pressure to keep including a fan favorite in episodes even if it is just wheels spinning.

 

[Enosh]

don't worry people, Dany will be the big hero in the end

 

[harriet the spy]

don't worry people, Dany will be the big hero in the end

I hope GRRM had something slightly more original in mind .