14/13
George RR
Narrative
Nine noble families battle for control of the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after lying dormant for millennia. Martin’s wife once said she would leave him if he killed Arya or Sansa. Tywin Lannister: Anyone who has to say “I am king” is not a true king. During the opening credits, each cast member’s name is accompanied by the insignia of their character’s house. Featured in Hollywood’s Top Ten: Critics’ Choice Nominees: Drama (2011).
What’s the consensus?
Main Title (uncredited) Written and Performed by Ramin Djawadi. Let’s say you’re reading these reviews and you haven’t watched GoT yet, but now that it’s over, you’re considering marathoning it. In this case, the consensus is accurate, and that is: Seasons 1-6: Outstanding. Deep world-building, clever dialogue, epic Hollywood set pieces, expert acting, detailed plot, authentic surprises, fantastic soundtrack used sparingly. GoT is definitely worth watching for these seasons.
There are unexplained ideas, inconsistent characterizations, and soap opera-like drama
Season 7: Suddenly you notice that the writing and plot have taken a steep decline in quality. But at least the entertainment value is still very high, so it gets passed. Season 8: This decline goes to depths you didn’t think possible. The writing has become so amateurish that the production values, while still fantastic, are no longer enough to save it. If you ever liked Lost but were shocked by how bad the last season was, you’re in familiar territory here.
Fatal for narrative
The biggest problem with the last season was that it took us out of the story and made us think about its many weaknesses. We lost the suspension of disbelief. It also ruined the series arcs to the point where rewatching the entire series is pointless. So can I recommend a GoT marathon for newcomers? Yes, the first 6 seasons are worth the disappointments that follow.
But the greatest series of all time it is not
It could have been, but dropping the ball in the final stretch puts it behind the following superior series more worthy of your marathon: Battlestar Galactica (2003-2008) Twin Peaks (all 3 seasons, plus the movie) Breaking Bad
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