Calm down with the hyperbolic nonsense. You're shitting on a show for dumb action shit.. while rocking a dumb action movie avatar. If you want to name them, put them down. I've read the GoT threads regularly and most issues is cringe inducing arm chair writers who make certain situations seem far worse than they really are.
And? When I want dumb action, I watch dumb action. I don't watch or read Game of Thrones for dumb action. But, if you really want me to go there then hold on to your butt. LET'S GOOOOOO:
First, to start, a very good blog piece was written by Youtuber MrbTongue regarding Season 5 and 6 and how they went completely off the rails, covering many of the points I will. I suggest you read it here:
https://shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=37075
But, let's start:
Jon Snow's Resurrection
-This is one of those things that is so bad that it hurts the entire show, nothing about it and the people's reaction both before and afterwards make a lick of sense. It's classic D&D writing. I'm not talking about the damn magic, I'm talking the actual situation. First, let's put aside the complete nonsense that was Jon's stabbing from last season, you wanted to focus on Season 6 so I'll do just that. I won't even bring up how amazingly dumb Jon's actual mutiny/assassination is, let's solely focus on the aftermath. So first off, neither Aliser Thorne or any of the cohorts think to bury or preferably burn Jon's body. I remind you these are Night's Watchmen who have first hand account of the White Walkers and Wights rising from the dead. In fact, Jon has just come from a battle in which the remaining Wildlings were wiped out by the WW's and their Army of the Dead. As a result, they should be weary of leaving any recently deceased bodies just lying around. Instead, they just let Jon's body rot in the snow. Things only get more dumb.
So, right afterwards Dolorous Edd and Ser Davos find Jon's body and bring him inside one of the rooms within Castle Black, propping him up on a table in ritualistic fashion. Why? Again, this makes no sense. Jon is dead. While this is sad, it doesn't make any sense why they are treating his body like the body of Christ. No one discusses burning his body or burying him or conducting proper funeral rights. They all just express utter disbelief while keeping his body perfectly in tact and on display. Suddenly, Ser Davos takes charge and shows real grief and commitment to this lifeless corpse. I should remind you that Ser Davos barely knows Jon Snow. They've had about one meaningful interaction when Stannis' party stayed in Castle Black and Davos is not a member of the Night's Watch. Now suddenly, Davos cannot believe such a virtuous man could die, as if he's special, and starts giving orders despite, again, not being a member of the Watch. Eventually he decides to turn to Melisandre to ask her if she can do anything, this being despite the fact that HUNDREDS of people have died in front of Davos with Melisandre present, people closer to Davos than Jon Snow, yet he never asks her then if she can raise the dead. Not even for his own son. I should further remind you that Davos has no knowledge of Ser Beric Dondarrion rising from the dead. He just inexplicably decides that Melisandre must be able to raise the dead and that she must do it on Jon Snow.
Alright, so Melisandre raises Jon Snow from the dead, well then how does everyone react to this AMAZING feat? With the equivalent of a wet fart. To quote MrBTongue:
Game of Throne Griping Part 4 said:
Immediately after his resurrection, a couple characters get to express… well, if not shock, at least mild bewilderment at the fact that Jon is alive. Davos gives him a short "this is weird, but let's get on with it" refresher, and then Edd notices that Jon's eyes aren't blue (so at least he's not a wight). Then Tormund makes a joke about his penis.
And that's it. That is more or less the last time that what should be a miraculous event is ever mentioned by anyone. Later, Jon, Sansa, and Davos seek the military support of several northern lords. If any of these lords are unsettled by the fact that they're talking to Westorosi Jesus, they certainly hide it well, and it never comes up in any of their conversations. Do they care? Do they even know? It's not like it was a secret. Anyone who could wander into the courtyard at Castle Black would have witnessed, firsthand, Jon Snow being turned into a human pincushion and then walking around none the worse for wear a short while later.
Jon Snow should be worshiped as a GOD by everyone who witnessed this event. When Beric came back to life all of his band became adamant followers of the Lord of Light and worshiped fervently the Red God as one would expect after witnessing the resurrection of a dead man. You see, in real life there once was a story about some guy coming back to life after being crucified and that ended spawning a global religion. Yet, no one seems to treat Jon any differently after his miraculous rebirth. But enough of Jon Snow, we have more stupidity to cover.
The False Badassery of Ramsay Snow
Now, after the deaths of Joffrey and Tywin Lannister, D&D needed a new villain for everyone to love to hate. And thus they decided to promote Ramsay Snow to this new level of main, badass antagonist. Except whereas Joffrey and Tywin's actions were logical within their world, a trait which added tension and organic plot growth. Ramsay Snow doesn't make a lick of sense as D&D repeatedly try to build him up as "bad ass" and "unstoppable" by completely breaking the logic of the world and any and all consequences of his actions. Again, let me not bring up S5's, "give me 20 good men to defeat the most seasoned military leader in all of Westeros." Instead, I will again only focus on Season 6. Ramsay Snow starts off the season early by murdering his own father right in front of Lord Karstark. *sigh* I know D&D want watchers to think this is just a nihilistic world where murder and brute force is the only way to climb up the ladder, but that is not the case. Westeros, like Feudal Europe, has rules and customs hard-coded into its society. And, the NUMBER ONE taboo above all else is the Act of Kinslaying. A son cannot kill a father, a brother cannot kill a bother or sister, and all other such combinations. The taboo against kinslaying is so hard-coded that it does not matter how bad such a family member has wronged you, kinslaying is still viewed as a negative. And, in the North, we're the Rule of the First Men is still strong, these laws are even MORE SACRED AND IMPORTANT. So, Ramsay Snow, a bastard, killing his Noble Father directly in front of another Noble Lord is pretty much the greatest crime you could possibly commit in the North. It's Red Wedding levels bad.
Now, how does Lord Karstark react to this? Well, he shrugs and doesn't give a fuck, pledging to support Ramsay Snow, a bastard. And, none of the other Northern Lords or even Roose Bolton's own men seek to oppose this either. They all seem completely fine by the obvious lie that Roose Bolton was poisoned or whatever and not the obvious fact that Ramsay killed him. And, the fact that his high born adopted mother and half-brother were mauled to death by dogs shortly after doesn't bother them either. WHAT. THE. FUCK? This is the North; even in the South such crimes would not go overlooked, but the North? THE NORTH?!?!?!?!
Ramsay Snow is only propped up as an antagonist because he is able to just shirk his finger at all rules and consequences previously setup in the world. If the show says you can't breathe underwater, Ramsay Snow will be shown to dive in headfirst and mouth open with his middle fingers pumping in the air. No rules apply to him.
The False Badassery of Daenerys
I'll make this one real short, they once again needed Daenerys to be shown as a total badass, Fire and Blood, wooooooooo! So, how does she escape the Dothraki? Oh, by burning to the ground their most holy sacred site. A site where no weapons are permitted in a culture that is all about violence, that's how sacred it is. She burns these men all to the ground in their most holy site, a site that is the collection of all the various faiths around. You see the Dothraki drag all the religious idols from other cultures through conquest to this site, so the site doesn't just hold the Dothraki Gods, but all the Gods of the people in their horde and more. Yet, what is everyone's response to this heinous act? Oh simple, to bow down to the Dragon Queen. I mean why should they be bothered that she burnt a Holy Temple containing their Gods to the ground. Shit, for that matter, who cares that Cercei blew up the Great Sept of Baelor and everyone within it including the High Sparrow?
The Stupidity of Dorne and the Iron Islands; Kinslaying Means Nothing
Last season was when we were finally introduced to Dorne proper and soon after wished they never included it in the first place. Well, D&D got your message and took it to heart, a bit too literally. They decide to start this Dorne plot off by having Ellaria Sand and the Sand Snakes murder Doran Martell (stabbing him in the heart) and his entire noble retinue. Okay, let me remind you one final time, KINSLAYING IS THE MOST TERRIBLE CRIME IN WESTEROS. Ellaria Sand murders, who is in effect, her brother-in-law, while the Sand Snakes murder their own cousin along with Myrcella Lannister, both also considered "children." And, this is apparently totally okay with everyone in Dorne. Let me also remind you that Ellaria's last name is "Sand" meaning that she is a bastard. Now, not only did she kill the Highborn Lord of the Dornish Marches, but she did so as a bastard. While Dorne doesn't stigmatize bastards as much as the rest of Westeros, they are still viewed as lower and do not inherit the same way natural-born noble children do. Why would ANY noble House follow Ellaria Sand and the Sand Snakes after they (A) committed kin-slaying and (B) are led by a no-name bastard? Well, I have no clue because the show never tells us why. We just accept that Ellaria Sand is ruler of all of Dorne now because that's how you get to the top, you just murder the person in front of you no matter how highborn they may be.
Let's move to the Iron Islands now where book fan favorite Euron Greyjoy finally makes an appearance, only to be revealed as the equivalent of Ramsay Snow. A "false badass" only propped up by the fact that they succeed because the rules do not apply to them. Euron makes his appearance by killing his brother, Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands. A deed he freely admits to all the Nobles and Lords of the Iron Islands. And, despite the Iron Islands being just as rigid as the North when it comes to the rules against kinslaying, no one seems to care. Instead, they crown Euron Greyjoy King after he suggests the bold and innovative solution to all their problems, BUILD. MORE. SHIPS. Which no one seems to ask the important question, "with what?" They are called the Iron Islands for a reason, very few trees exist on them and ships don't sprout out of the Drowned Gods tentacles. What did he think all the Ironborn were doing while he was away, not building ships to fight this massive war? The War of the Five Kings has utterly ravished the land, especially in the Riverlands and the North (the areas closest to the Iron Islands), there should be no goddamn trees left to build anything with. Yet, for his brilliant solution he's crowned King. But, his stupidity isn't entirely complete because as his first act of King he orders that his niece and nephew be murdered, again an open act of kinslaying which everyone cheers to.
*facepalm*
Arya and the House of Dumb and Dumber
Arya used her coin to gain access to the House of Black and White to become an assassin under the watch of "Ja'qen H'gar." Yet, for some reason a character known as the Waif hates her for some reason despite it going against everything the Order is about. Arya keeps training until she decides not to follow the thing an assassin is supposed to do, kill on contract. For this crime she is marked for death by Ja'qen and the Waif gleefully takes up the task. Of course, being the trained faceless assassin that she is, she decides the best means to assassinate Arya is to just walk up behind her and stab her in the gut a few times. Because, as a trained assassin, she knows the most efficient and sure fire way to kill someone is to stab them in the gut. Afterwards, she decides to hunt down Arya in broad daylight without any attempt at disguise as if some kind of stupid Terminator until Arya eventually gets the drop on her and kills her. And, for this great deed Ja'qen H'gar, faithful servant of the House of Black and White, faceless assassin, smiles and allows her to leave freely with all her assassin training and knowledge of how to take the faces of other people to do with however she pleases. I mean, why the fuck not at this point?
The Battle of the Bastards and The North Forgets
Everyone loves the BotB for some reason, I just see it as a further extension of the show's stupidity and reliance on Hollywood action as it too doesn't make a lick of sense. Let's backtrack to the setup, Jon Snow and Sansa go hat in hand around to the noble lords of the North asking for their support against Ramsay Snow. Now, if it were just Jon Snow going alone it wouldn't be entirely without the realm of possibility for them to deny him. He's a bastard and a turncoat of the Night's Watch, an Oathbreaker. But, he's with Sansa Stark, a true born daughter of Ned Stark, and so far as they know, the last living heir to Winterfell. Even if you want to totally throw away any loyalty these Houses may have to the Starks whom they are bound by oath to support, what idiot Lord would pass up the opportunity to take Winterfell for himself by marrying Sansa Stark? Yes, she's married to Ramsay Snow, but in a show where all the rules don't apply, why not tell her to pledge herself to you in exchange for killing her husband and her marrying them. Then that House could rule Winterfell through her for the rest of their ages. None of them seem to think in political terms so such a solution is never brought up. But wait, things get even stupider when it's revealed that Rickon Stark is alive and Ramsay Snow goes parading him around the whole camp. Again, Rickon as the male heir of Eddard Stark, would be the true heir of Winterfell, that means Ramsay's claim to the Hold is useless with Rickon alive. And, it means all the Northern Houses owe their support to Rickon. But again, none of this is brought up. Rickon is shot in the back with an arrow at the start of the battle as all the Lords laugh on. Laughing at the murder of their liege lord. We in D&D territory proper now.
So, let's start the nonsensical battle where foolish Jon Snow falls for the obvious aforementioned trap. But, also one in which Davos somehow becomes a military commander despite having zero experience in such an affair. Yet, let's side step that and look at the actual tactics each side displays. Well...neither side has any. They just mash together in the middle and hack away at each other. No archers are properly used by either side, cavalry appears at the start only to be immediately dispensed with, no discipline, no formations, no actual plan. It's just a slaughter for no real reason, despite Jon Snow telling everyone he had a plan and Davos mouthing like they have some sort of strategy. And then, just before all hope appears to be lost, the stupidest thing in the world happens. The Vale arrives with reinforcements from The Eyrie.
Yes, that's right. Somehow the Vale managed to march their forces outside of The Eyrie, past the Twins controlled by the Lannisters and Freys, up the swap infested Neck, past Moat Cailin controlled by the Boltons, and over the White Knife river to get the drop on Ramsay Snow and all his Northern Forces. Boy, I remember a whole season where Robb Stark had to negotiate passage over a bridge because the movement of armies wasn't such a simple thing in earlier seasons since different Houses controlled certain key strategic points. I wonder whatever happened to that?
Miscellaneous Complaining
-Varys travels from Mereen to Sunspear in Dorne to meet with the kinslaying Sand Snakes to gain their support such that he can sail back to Mereen just in time to be on the ship as Daenerys sails back to Westeros.
-No one seems to react to Gregor Clegane coming back from the dead.
-Tommen removes Jaime from the Kingsguard despite it being a lifetime appointment and despite it already looking bad when they removed Ser Barristan Selmy and the Hound quit. Better to further tarnish the Kingsguard.
-Despite all the "politicking" Daenerys solves the dispute in Mereen by just burning everyone in her way. Again, brute force and violence is the only solution to any problem in this show.
-Brynden Tully, the Blackfish, refuses to aid his own niece and dies like a wimp off-screen.
I could actually go on.
