The Long Night was an excellent and satisfying third episode in this eighth season. It was not, however, perfect, but spectacle and emotion carried a few eye rollers away from TV chucking WTF frustration. We'll go into some of those. If you haven't seen the episode, and you don't like spoilers, don't read this until after you watch.
Game of Thrones loves its tropes
It does seem that Game of Thrones gotta Game of Throne — they have been hammering their tropes pretty consistently and well. None of the eye rollingness comes from adhering to classic story patterns. For instance, this episode provided a first prediction whiff about the fate of Theon Greyjoy. I thought he was beyond redemption, and would live for his sins, apparently the writers disagreed and sent him away with a noble death, accepted home, redeemed. In hindsight, I should have taken the obvious and tender moments with him eating with Sansa as a clue that Theon would, in fact, be redeemed, as Sansa had clearly forgiven him his sins.
However, in the case of Lyanna Mormont, I went with the "don't pet Bitey McBitedog" trope, and, alas, was sad to see that come to pass. It was interesting to hear the writers talk about how she was originally a one episode character, but the actress, Bella Ramsey, did such a spectacular job in the role of Lyanna Mormont, that they kept her around and eventually she became such a presence and fan favorite that she got a major death scene. Rest in peace, our heroine of the North.
Game of Thrones remembers
If somebody says something on Game of Thrones, it's generally for a reason. Predictions, arguments, mysterious statements, etc., can't be ignored if you're trying to figure out where things are going. One instance where I used the pattern, but was wrong was in Bran would ride a dragon because of the old Three Eyed Raven said "… you will fly." I took this to mean physically, but he's flown as the Three Eyed Raven possessing the bodies of any number of ravens. Part of this prejudice comes from going straight there the second the old Three Eyed Raven said it because of the special saddle Tyrion designed that allowed Bran to ride. No dragon airlift, needed, turns out.
Melisandre and Beric Dondarrion
It might seem like a risk to just have Melisandre riding up out of the night at the last minute, but it would have been really weird if she had not been there if they had managed to take out the Night King through some other plot line. Obviously, in the one we got she was essential. With Beric Dondarrion, this was their battle — the light against the darkness — and the arc of their characters lead to this conclusion. Her arrival, followed by her setting all the Dothraki arakhs on fire was pitch perfect. What followed immediately thereafter, however… ugh, Westerosi strategy and tactics leave much to be desired. More on that later. But more than most, Melisandre and Beric Dondarrion played essential roles in The Long Night.
When Daenerys goes off script and attacks the Army of the Dead, she gets caught in the whiteout created by the White Walkers and cannot see the signal to set the barricade on fire. Melisandre calls on the Lord of Light to set it on fire, and he obliges, buying Team Living™ much needed time. When Arya is getting overwhelmed by wights, Beric Dondarrion throws his flaming sword into the attacker, allowing her to escape. These two events Arya to be reunited with Melisandre, so Melisandre could guide Arya to her epiphany.
The show, in hindsight, gave plenty of indication that the interaction between Melisandre and Arya would be decisive in the outcome of the The Long Night. Arya recalled Melisandre's prophesies, and Melisandre pointed out that they came true. Finally, Melisandre leads Arya to the idea of whacking the Night King herself with "And blue eyes?" and sending Arya on her way by asking what Syrio Forel asked her long ago, "What do we say to the god of death?" Arya: "Not today." The fear in her face is replaced by determination and off she runs to her destiny.
I won't go into the details, but merely observe that Melisandre's departure was perfect and beautiful and thanks for us having been set up in an earlier episode makes perfect sense. Question is now, what's motivating Ser Davos now his nemesis is gone?
Arya
In a way, this was the culmination of Arya's coming of age story. It seemed a little strange at the time when Arya went from mowing down wights with abandon to almost incapable of action, but in hindsight and with a second viewing it makes more sense — injured, tired, overwhelmed, wights and death everywhere — who wouldn't be? I'm still trying to figure out what was going on in the library and why that scene was necessary. Why were those wights just moseying around instead of running around like the rest of the wights? It seemed like a lot of screen time, and for what, I am not sure. But, in combination with her hook-up with Gendry, her fear and vulnerability have very quickly (re-)humanized her — she's got some of the old Arya Stark back, and can still pretty much whip anyone one-on-one, and, if you don't see her coming, you do not have a chance. And, in overcoming the fear that has gripped her to go and face the Night King, well, that's the definition of heroism. Our little girl has grown up!
I think I am going to have to revisit my Arya Stark prediction in light of new evidence. Three things come to mind. The first is that there may be something developing between her and Gendry, and that can't be for nothing with three episodes to go. Second, they spent a lot of time on her emotional Sturm und Drang between the time she stopped fighting after she got hurt, the time in the library (WTF?), and finally weeping over dying Beric Dondarrion. That all may just have been a set-up for her "rebirth" after Melsandre helps her find her path, but it could have been done in fewer scenes and not at the expense of Samwell finding some good wizard shit up in the Maester's chambers, dadgummit. And third, they spent a lot of time on Beric and the Hound saving Arya and getting her to Melisandre (even if that's not what they were necessarily meaning to do). It sure has the feeling of getting the Arya-Hound team back together. If they get the team back together, if a teammate dies, it's out on mission. Hold your hand up if you want to see Arya and the Hound go on a mission? (Holds up hand)
Guess who else besides the Night King tried that weaksauce grab-the-hand-with-the-blade trick with Arya? Brienne of Tarth!
Game of Thrones remembers!
Ser Jorah Mormont
I was surprised that Ser Jorah went out before the showdown with Cersei or a Jon/Daenerys conflagration, but I am not surprised that it was by her side — it had to be, right? If this is the episode he had to exit, this is about as good a way to do it. It will be interesting to see the Daenerys-small council interaction post-Ser Jorah.
Samwell Tarley WTF? Seriously, WTF?
It was stupid in Episode 2, it was stupider in Episode 3. What in Seven Hells was Samwell Tarley doing "fighting" the Army of the Dead? Why wasn't he boarded up and barricaded in the Maester's chambers trying to find some advantage in books along with Gilly and little Sam? Now, I'm sure that there would have been plenty of opportunities to get whacked in any number of ways, but the one particular way that Dolorous Ed got whacked was because Samwell is such a slack-ass on the battlefield. This is some seriously bad karma. If they're keeping him around, I guess it's to make him King Jon's, First of his Name, King of the Seven Kingdoms, Defender of the Realms of Men, titles… titles… Maester and to sit on his small council. SMDH.
No comments:
Post a Comment