What in the actual f*ck.
I'm a reasonable man, I realize I've been crapping on D&D even more than usual this season but I really do have to give them props for doing exactly what they set out to do. They hoped to subvert our expectations and they did just wonderfully in that regards.
We expected all of that buildup over the years to actually amount to something that at the very least passes for a presentable series finale but instead, we got an incoherent, steaming pile of shit. Expectations subverted!
We expected all of that character development to actually result in a beautiful pay-off that respects the journey of self-discovery each and every one of our beloved characters went through to get to where they are now but instead, we got a painful, disrespectful cycle of character regression. Expectations subverted!
We expected the final season of this show to keep us at the edge of our seats with thrilling writing that didn't subvert our expectations for the sake of subverting our expectations via low-quality shock value-seeking writing, but to introduce plot twists that make sense within the overall narrative of the story but instead, we got CW-level predictable, cringe material. Expectations subverted!
I get it. I really do. GRRM let them down by not getting the books ready in time and so they had to improvise away from his influence, but this? This? For a long while, Game of Thrones lived up to the slogan of its parent network, it wasn't just TV, it was something different, something unique and now to have to see it come to this... it's nothing short of disappointing.
On the bright side though, at least this episode didn't suck completely. The acting, score and cinematography were all on point, so I guess it's nice that I didn't walk out of it having appreciated absolutely nothing about it.
So why do I even bother anymore? I honestly could not tell you, though it's probably a mixture of masochism and a faint sliver of hope that they won't flush our collective investment into this series down the drain by the end of it, just one more episode dammit.
I was ok with the poor character development when the TV series departed from the books. I used to like thinking it was a kind of alternate universe from the "real" one.
They struggled on TV to show daenerys as a spoiled and selfish girl instead of the woman who was learning to have patience and wielding power in a so goodhearted way it asked a high price from her in the books.
But nothing could justify her acts on this episode. After their utter and final SURRENDER she says "guess what I'm gonna burn them all". Not even aiming to Central tower. Just make an open air barbecue of the city. The breaker of chains, mother of the slaves, making all peasants BURN. There is no plot excuse. 7 years of character building thrown out the window.
This is not the only problem in this episode. Arya is useless but survives inferno and has a magical horse appearing. Cersei dies in the most disappointing way. Euron just happens to swim to the EXACT LOCATION Jamie is.
Frankly I would not be surprised if D&D choose to end it next week explaining that all of it was a westworld simulation experienced by androids. Because the Deus Ex Machina limit has been breached a long time ago, and they keep forcing it.
What a weird episode.
What a weird plan that apparently noone saw coming? How weird noone decided to just shoot Negan in the nogging? What a weird bunch of speeches and how weird people appeared to be riled up by something so lackluster? How weird that Negan thought bringing out that one guy from that one place would work? How weird some people all of a sudden don't seem to be so appetizing to a horde of zombies. How weird there was apparently only one side to this war? How weird to shoot at windows, to blow up just a courtyard? How weird all those cars could drive out of that area? Weird flashforwards or dreamsequences. Weird aging that only seems to affect Rick.
Weird that the writers of this dreck seem to keep getting away with all this contrived bullshit. There was almost no suspense, no ROAR moment... what a mess. I don't get how Fear the Walking Dead can be so drastically different and more realistic than this. I'm sure there will be good episodes this season but I'm getting a bit tired of the stupidity of the characters and events and the way these episodes play out. I'm so annoyed with this episode and I haven't even listed all it's flaws (including the unlogical nonsense I usually tend to ignore... You are holding an automatic rifle and all you can say is "what?" when your archnemesis tells you you're gonna shit your pants?" COME ON!!! At least let the magical priest lose his weapon on the way?)
Also weird "everyone" seems to love it btw.
Get you dirty hands out of Judith you evil bastard. In that last scene he showed up the little shit he is. Oh boy, Rick is gonna be so pissed off when he finds out it was Carl's fault that Negan found Judith. When Carl went to kill Negan the sentence, "I'm here to kick as and chew bubblegum" echoed in my head, although now, Carl had plenty of bubblegum. Seriously, how does not anyone even try to kill that bastard? I know there really others who will kill them but for a bd guy like Negan he has zilch in security. Anyone can kill him in a blink of an eye, although there will be consequences.
I get why, but I don't understand how could Carl keep his shirt all together when Negan was acting all uncle Negan with Judith. I get now that he wants to kill Rick and Carl so that he can adopt Judith. How sweet!
And Spencer is a tremendous shit! What an asshole. He really has no guts (no pun intended). And I'm starting to like Gabriel. Great character development! Spencer should know that he's just shit when a priest calls you out. Besides, his whole family died and his reaction was the same as when he runs out of cereals.
Now looking forward to the mid season finale. Wonder who will Negan kill to make Rick cry like that, or will he take Judith?
As a high concept film – two soldiers are tasked with reaching a Colonel in enemy territory to prevent 1600 men being massacred – the plot is very simple, something which means you can focus on the characters and the actors rather than any narrative complexities.
The bulk of the film is designed to look like it is one single shot, something done with remarkable skill by Sam Mendes, cinematographer Roger Deakins and all the camera operators and the crew. It's underpinned with a wonderful score by Thomas Newman and it's clear a lot of work has gone into the design, costumes, and by every part of the art department to faithfully recreate the numerous aspects of First World War combat in northern France.
This is a brilliant film, one which is gripping from beginning to end, two parts of the film which mirror each other, and sucks you in at the outset and does not release its hold until the credits roll at the end. I hope to see it again at the cinema that, if not, I'll buy it when it's released and look forward to watching the film and the bonus features about how it was made.
Highly recommended.
