"Holy shit ...."
Those were literally the words coming out of my mouth repeatedly during the final half of what was arguably the best episode in five seasons of Game of Thrones. Twitter blew up as thousands of fans tweeted about the show's most recent hour last Sunday. It was a moment that was compounded by the fact that for the first time in the show's history fans of the books were treated to a chapter that they have never read or saw coming. As someone who has read all of the novels I found myself in the same boat as the friends I watched it with who have not read a word of George R.R. Martin's massive tomes. I realize now that we are officially in uncarted waters and it makes watching the show an entirely new experience for me and for the legions of fans of books.
Fair warning ...... from here on I will be discussing events that happen in both the television show and in the Song of Ice and Fire novels. If you have not caught up with the show or you do not want future events spoiled by my sharing my thoughts from the books, some of which have not happened yet, then do not read any further. There will be SPOILERS. If you already know or don't care, then by all means, read on.
Fair warning ...... from here on I will be discussing events that happen in both the television show and in the Song of Ice and Fire novels. If you have not caught up with the show or you do not want future events spoiled by my sharing my thoughts from the books, some of which have not happened yet, then do not read any further. There will be SPOILERS. If you already know or don't care, then by all means, read on.
"Hardhome" was the name of last Sunday's episode. It refers to the name of a Wildling encampment on the eastern shore of the frozen lands north of the Wall. Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) travels there with Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) to convince the thousands of "Free Folk" gathering there to come south and join the Night's Watch in defending the Wall against the forthcoming invasion of the White Walkers.
Jon and Tormund are met with skepticism and downright hostility by the Wildling elders, who for the most part refuse to side with a "crow" even against an assault by a group of demonic ice warriors who can raise the dead to form an army of blue-eyed zombies. Well, they got a good look at what those White Walkers can do as the spectral monsters launched a full-on attack on Hardhome that decimated the ranks of the Wildlings and gave the young Lord Commander his first look at what not only he is up against, but what the rest of Westeros is facing.
I think we can all agree that after seeing the carnage that the evil White Walkers can inflict it makes all of the petty squabbles in Kings Landing, and other places the show visits, seem inconsequential.
Jon and Tormund are met with skepticism and downright hostility by the Wildling elders, who for the most part refuse to side with a "crow" even against an assault by a group of demonic ice warriors who can raise the dead to form an army of blue-eyed zombies. Well, they got a good look at what those White Walkers can do as the spectral monsters launched a full-on attack on Hardhome that decimated the ranks of the Wildlings and gave the young Lord Commander his first look at what not only he is up against, but what the rest of Westeros is facing.
I think we can all agree that after seeing the carnage that the evil White Walkers can inflict it makes all of the petty squabbles in Kings Landing, and other places the show visits, seem inconsequential.
This entire scene was masterfully staged. Even better than many feature length films. The sense of dread that builds as the wintery mist descends on the fleeing Wildlings was nearly unbearable. And as hundreds of people are instantly transformed by the fog into the undead Jon picks up his sword to help defend these people who were just contemplating killing him. Hundreds of years of enmity between the Nights Watch and the Wildlings is forgotten as the realization sets in that if all of the people of Westeros don't rise up against this threat they all be transformed in to blue-eyed flesh eaters as well.
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| Beware evil children raised from the dead by White Walkers. This was one of the creepiest scenes in the show's history. |
For a television show the production value here is off the charts. Game of Thrones has always been an expensive show for HBO, but here they pull out all the stops. Everyone should realize that for those of us who read the books, we haven't ever encountered a White Walker attack on a large scale like this. It's uncharted territory. We also don't know if what we're seeing is created just for the show or possibly a spoiler for a scene from Martin's forthcoming sixth chapter in the series, The Winds of Winter.
It has to be exciting for David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the showrunners tasked with bringing Martin's vision to the small screen. I don't know how much the author has relayed to them about what happens between here and the end of the series, but I'm guessing he's filled them in on a lot. While I watched this amazing episode I couldn't help but think, "How much of this is going to be in the next book and what won't?"
It is a unique experience, watching a show where for five seasons you pretty much know what is going to happen, episode after episode. It is even more exciting to watch it with family that have no idea what is going to happen when you do. It has become part of Game of Thrones' identity. Why else do you think all of those people posted videos of their friends and loved ones watching the Red Wedding unfold during Season 3? There is a pleasure in seeing the shock and surprise when a particular turn in the plot catches the viewer by surprise. This time I was just as shocked.
Well, I'm skeptical that much of this episode will appear in the next novel. If you've read A Dance With Dragons then you know that this battle at Hardhome never happens. Jon Snow never leaves Castle Black, and instead he is able to convince the Wildlings to join his stand against the "Others" (this what the White Walkers are called in the books) without having to leave the safety of the Wall. Also, I don't think Jon will be venturing forth beyond anytime soon on the page, because in the final moments of the fifth novel he is betrayed by a faction of the Night's Watch, upset about him welcoming the "Free Folk" into their ranks. He is stabbed repeatedly and in typical cliffhanger fashion we are left not knowing if he is dead or alive.
No, I have to think this was all conceived by Benioff and Weiss.
Another equally fantastic part of this episode was the well-scripted meeting between Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emila Clarke). The back and forth quick banter between these two pivotal characters was a fans dream come true. Especially so because these two have yet to meet in the novels with Tyrion still mixed up in the goings on in the fighting pits. It is already apparent that Dany and the Imp will be well suited for each other. Hopefully he will be able to reign in some of the mistakes she made in short time as a queen and she will give him the significance he has always desired.
It is a unique experience, watching a show where for five seasons you pretty much know what is going to happen, episode after episode. It is even more exciting to watch it with family that have no idea what is going to happen when you do. It has become part of Game of Thrones' identity. Why else do you think all of those people posted videos of their friends and loved ones watching the Red Wedding unfold during Season 3? There is a pleasure in seeing the shock and surprise when a particular turn in the plot catches the viewer by surprise. This time I was just as shocked.
Well, I'm skeptical that much of this episode will appear in the next novel. If you've read A Dance With Dragons then you know that this battle at Hardhome never happens. Jon Snow never leaves Castle Black, and instead he is able to convince the Wildlings to join his stand against the "Others" (this what the White Walkers are called in the books) without having to leave the safety of the Wall. Also, I don't think Jon will be venturing forth beyond anytime soon on the page, because in the final moments of the fifth novel he is betrayed by a faction of the Night's Watch, upset about him welcoming the "Free Folk" into their ranks. He is stabbed repeatedly and in typical cliffhanger fashion we are left not knowing if he is dead or alive.
No, I have to think this was all conceived by Benioff and Weiss.
Another equally fantastic part of this episode was the well-scripted meeting between Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emila Clarke). The back and forth quick banter between these two pivotal characters was a fans dream come true. Especially so because these two have yet to meet in the novels with Tyrion still mixed up in the goings on in the fighting pits. It is already apparent that Dany and the Imp will be well suited for each other. Hopefully he will be able to reign in some of the mistakes she made in short time as a queen and she will give him the significance he has always desired.
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| Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) discuss the possibilities of a long term partnership. |
The next episode is titled, "A Dance With Dragons". I'm almost positive this will be in reference to Drogon's sudden appearance at the fighting arena and Dany's ultimate embrace of her true role as dragon queen. It's going to be a whopper of an episode if it follows the book. I can't wait to see her hop on the back of her dragon for the first time.
Now the season finale is titled, "Mothers Mercy" and there is plenty of speculation of what that could mean. The Internet is on fire with theories that point to the possible introduction of Lady Stoneheart, a.k.a. Catelyn Stark back from the dead. I, for one, don't think the writers are going down that road. They seem to have been pretty clear that Stoneheart is not going to be on the show. I think the title has multiple meanings but ultimately deals most with Cersei's confession and ultimate punishment as she is forced to walk naked through the streets of Kings Landing and be humiliated and pelted with rocks and rubbish.
But, we shall see .... in the appendix of the books Lady Stoneheart does have listed as a pseudonym, "Mother Mercy". Hmmmmmm ....
All in all, I was pretty worried about this season and how it would play out, but I have to say I am pretty impressed. Martin has publically confirmed that he will not be involved with the show as much in order to try and complete his next book by the time Season 6 rolls around. I would guess that he's feeling the pressure to complete the series. He has to understand that the sales of his books could potentially be affected by the show spoiling everything that happens. Knowing what we know about how long it takes him to write one of these novels, I feel its a pretty safe bet that he will not be able to beat the HBO show to the ultimate end of the story.
Until then I will certainly enjoy the ride. There is a large part of me that doesn't want this story to be spoiled by its television show and would rather finish it on the page. The way I started it over ten years ago when I picked up the first book and afterwards tried desperately to get anyone I knew to read it. But, I know the show is too good to miss and I can't pull myself away. With "Hardhome", Game of Thrones may have delivered its best episode yet. I feel like there's even better ones to come.
Until then I will certainly enjoy the ride. There is a large part of me that doesn't want this story to be spoiled by its television show and would rather finish it on the page. The way I started it over ten years ago when I picked up the first book and afterwards tried desperately to get anyone I knew to read it. But, I know the show is too good to miss and I can't pull myself away. With "Hardhome", Game of Thrones may have delivered its best episode yet. I feel like there's even better ones to come.
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