[8.4/10] I feel like this episode isn't going to please most people. The critical crowd is going to be annoyed at it for indulging in fan service at times and wrapping a lot of character relationships too quickly. The more casual fan crowd is going to be upset that this episode was full of yakking and sparse on action or narrative momentum. But honestly, I really liked this one. I have to imagine that the next four super-sized episodes are going to be filled to the gils with action and high drama and excitement. In the prelude to that, it's really nice to get a series of quiet moments to reflect on where everyone has been to get to this point, and the uncertainty of the future, amid the other grace notes that "The Rightful Queen" provides.
Those are the two big ideas at the center of the episode. On the one hand, you have this sense of everyone both assuming that they're doomed but worrying about what the future holds. More than one character declares that they're all dead. And yet at the same time, you have Dany and others worrying about who might have a claim to the Iron Throne or some slice of the Seven Kingdoms. You have Tyrion and others worrying about who might become (or remain) Hand to the Queen. And you have everyone from Misandei to Sansa thinking about what the world looks like when this battle is over. There's the sense of an inevitable, mortal threat, but also of concern for where things stand after they've picked up the pieces.
But there's also a sense of marking how long the journey has been to reach this point and how much everyone has changed along it. Arya is grown, with her own skills, directness, and desires that mark a sharp contrast from the aspirational little girl who went with her father to King's Landing. Jaime and Tyrion are both much different men since they were "The Golden Lion" and "The Imp" who previously set foot in Winterfell ("the perils of self-betterment"). Hell, even the likes of Podrick has become a capable warrior (and classy singer to boot.) There's a boatload of taking stock in this episode, of remembering where everyone's been and the distance between here and there.
What's more, there's tons of nice little moments. Lyanna Mormont gets a nice scene with Jorah, Gilly gets a little time to shine, and Edd gets a chance to reunite with his Night's Watch brethren. That's all on top of Tyrion's little gathering by the fire, which makes the most of the hang out vibe this episode summons when the time is right.
All-in-all, this feels like one of those Game of Thrones episodes we'll remember beyond the bigger clashes and contretemps the series usually has in store. It's a slower episode, but one that deepens our understanding of where these characters at psychologically and developmentally after nearly eight seasons, and lets us wonder about what the future holds right alongside them.
I am incredibly grateful to Game of Thrones for this adventure I have found myself sucked into for some years now. I am grateful for all the emotions it brought me since day one, bitter and sweet alike. I am grateful for all the laughs, all the tears, all the jokes and gags, every single bit of it, I really am grateful and appreciative of it all. It's been just... wonderful.
That said, I am feeling robbed and betrayed right about now. This ending is arguably one of the worst series finales in the history of television and trust me I realize how bold of a statement that is. The terrible violations the characters have suffered this season, the lack of proper resolution to many of the plots and narratives developed over seasons worth of buildup, the seeking of shock value at the expense of quality writing... that and much much more solidified this as an absolute disappointment of a finale, as opposed to the marvel wrap it could've given this cultural phenomenon.
This episode does have its positives, as always the score, acting and cinematography are perfectly performed but I just do not think it's nearly enough to compensate for how lackluster the writing has been, as much as I wish they did. Oh well, sad as it may be, I'll just hold on to the good stuff and hope that GRRM's book, once finished, will tackle the ending in a more coherent, more respectful and more meaningful way. It's been real y'all...
P.S: I'll leave this here lest some people jump me again. This comment is a representation of my own personal opinion, I am entitled to one just as all of you are. If you enjoyed this season and felt this finale delivered what you were looking for then more power to you mate, but that doesn't nullify my opinion nor does it make yours any valid. If you want to discuss or challenge my views, I'd be more than happy to engage you on that basis but if all you have to offer are petty remarks then please keep them to yourself.
This show is going nowhere. We are six episodes into the season and nothing significant has happened.
So far the worst episode in the worst season. This was terrible.
If nothing interesting happens in the last remaining episodes this will be my last season with this show. And I guess for everyone else too cause can't see how this can be renewed.
This show really has become a parody of itself. What a terrible and boring episode.
Mariah on hearing Ridenhour’s death ~~~ the acting was terrible
Part good part boring episode. Seems to be the MO for this show. Just glad this is coming to an end. This show has ran its course.
The writer(s) and director(s) of this show have lost it completely, the story line is all over the place and I basically lost interest a few episodes back with the prequel episode as a tipping point.
Will only watch it til the end to find out if Raven finally will get the cred she deserves or not.
They should’ve killed off Ivar a long time a go. What was the whole point of the Rus storyline? That was completely random.
Just finished this episode. Took me 2 days to watch...that’s how boring it was. If you decide to watch this episode, watch the first minute & last minute...everything else in the middle is incredible waste of time & adds no value. Think of it this way...it’s an hour of your life you will never get back.
So invested in this series, I feel compelled to see it through, despite the agonising grind, obsession with long sequences of meaningful looks from Elizabeth Moss, and a soundtrack that drowns out the dialogue.
"It's pretty, but what's the purpose?" is my most constant thought while watching most scenes in this final season. It's all just unnecessary filler, but I'm still here because I've a problem with quitting things... and people haha... ha (yeah, it's a problem, I'm working on it). Anyway, my finale was the end of last season when June was martyred and carried over the fields by her goodly disciples, that was beautiful, that was the end - FIN.
The episode was shit. All the Disney plus shows are. They were supposed to be better than agents of shield. Bigger budget doesn't assure better content. Dissatisfied.
I must be one of the few who gets nothing out of this show. I think it's boring, unfunny, I don't like Loki (either one) and quite frankly I don't like the whole concept of the TVA.
But, hey, it's allright. Not everything is for everyone.
Horrible. Utter proof that money doesn't buy quality. The story is weird, Fares's acting is just pants, the soundtrack is awful... This should never have been made.
compared to previous seasons this was so disappointing and boring.
This whole series reeked of season 8 Game of Thrones laziness. Undeserved character moments. Characters teleporting wherever's convenient. Disregarding backstory introduced episodes earlier to present the audience nonsensical redemption of villainous characters. There are thousands of great writers and directors. Many of them big Star Wars fans. Shame none worked on this show.
