Game of Thrones

[Proud_Okie]

It's all coming down to ratings for this season, no matter what. All the spinoffs have reportedly been killed except one, and that's a prequel series on HBO which had its pilot greenlit awhile back. I don't know if and when fans would ever get to see that pilot, unless the show is approved.

Anything's possible, but I'd say it's impossible that it doesn't look like a naked cash-grab, just like the Hobbit trilogy movies, Young Sheldon, the Sopranos movie and every Star Wars movie since RotJ.

Ratings for this season will be skewed, though. If the first season had been written like this one, the ratings would suck. The main reason this season has good ratings is because so many people have invested years in the series and want to see how it ends, regardless of the shit writing.

 

[Proud_Okie]

Regardless of the shitty chapters and the drudge of Dorne/Greyjoy storylines, it was still creative source material that the writers did an excellent job translating to the screen.

Without the creative source material, we get 1990's Syfy channel with a big special effects budget.

Sharknado had better writing...

 

[Mofo]

Ratings for this season will be skewed, though. If the first season had been written like this one, the ratings would suck. The main reason this season has good ratings is because so many people have invested years in the series and want to see how it ends, regardless of the shit writing.

Very true. I think HBO execs can interpret negative reaction to even the final season, despite good ratings, and think twice before putting rehashed ideas on screen.

Sopranos ran out of gas, I think there's enough of a consensus on that. It took more than a decade to greenlight a prequel movie, coming out sometime next year. The show had high ratings even during its crappy final season, but not enough goodwill banked to put out a movie or successor series quickly.

 

[UK Cowboy]

The spinoffs will be just as bad as what we see at the end of GOT unless they have the creative writing of GRRM. I don't expect that it will exist.

Best case, I'm thinking 3 seasons.

Don't watch...

 

[Cowboyinexile]

 

[juliansteed]

The spinoffs will be just as bad as what we see at the end of GOT unless they have the creative writing of GRRM. I don't expect that it will exist.

Best case, I'm thinking 3 seasons.

GRRM is supposed to be involved with the spinoff series and the current show runners will not be. That doesn't guarantee greatness but I wouldn't jump to conclusions about the spinoff series based on the quality of these past few seasons.

 

[Camfantasy]

 

[Camfantasy]

 

[rsw626]

Very true. I think HBO execs can interpret negative reaction to even the final season, despite good ratings, and think twice before putting rehashed ideas on screen.

Sopranos ran out of gas, I think there's enough of a consensus on that. It took more than a decade to greenlight a prequel movie, coming out sometime next year. The show had high ratings even during its crappy final season, but not enough goodwill banked to put out a movie or successor series quickly.

I think that's generally true of most shows, no matter how great they are, 6 maybe 7 seasons is really enough for any show.

 

[Orlando Eagles]

I think that's generally true of most shows, no matter how great they are, 6 maybe 7 seasons is really enough for any show.

So much this!!!

I could even see the case being made for less than 6 seasons in certain cases.

Sopranos was whimpering out by the end. To me....Mad Men was utter crap from after the 4th-5th season. Limping to the barn.

Breaking Bads creator was dead set from the start on about 5 seasons, I remember reading this from him in an interview very early on. AMC tried to get it extended....probably drove dump trucks of money to his house....but to no avail. They went out in Season 5....it was already starting to limp by that point. Shit....I loved watching SoA....but couldnt even bring myself to plow through the last season once it got there.

I debated this on GoT the last few years. If there was a story universe that could sustain that "5 year limp" it was this show with so many different characters. And in the right hands it could have been blazing for the finish line. Instead it will be lumped right into that 5 year limp with the rest....of course for all of its own specific reasons.

 

[Guy Incognito]

So, Moat Cailin is going to factor prominently into at least one of the last two episodes, right?

At least Varys gets back into the mix now, he was completely sidelined in the season so far.

 

[DarthVedder]

So, Moat Cailin is going to factor prominently into at least one of the last two episodes, right?

At least Varys gets back into the mix now, he was completely sidelined in the season so far.

What's going go happen in Moat Cailin?

 

[rsw626]

So much this!!!

I could even see the case being made for less than 6 seasons in certain cases.

Sopranos was whimpering out by the end. To me....Mad Men was utter crap from after the 4th-5th season. Limping to the barn.

Breaking Bads creator was dead set from the start on about 5 seasons, I remember reading this from him in an interview very early on. AMC tried to get it extended....probably drove dump trucks of money to his house....but to no avail. They went out in Season 5....it was already starting to limp by that point. Shit....I loved watching SoA....but couldnt even bring myself to plow through the last season once it got there.

I debated this on GoT the last few years. If there was a story universe that could sustain that "5 year limp" it was this show with so many different characters. And in the right hands it could have been blazing for the finish line. Instead it will be lumped right into that 5 year limp with the rest....of course for all of its own specific reasons.

Me too, BUT, unlike most writers/creators, Kurt Sutter gets it, and stated from the beginning it would be no more than seven seasons for that very reason, same with Mayans, he said it also would be no more than seven seasons (if it goes that far IMO).

 

[Guy Incognito]

What's going go happen in Moat Cailin?

Something. They Chekhov's gunned it on the map when they were detailing their moves to the South.

 

[rsw626]

What's going go happen in Moat Cailin?

Yeah, looks like they will be attacking Kings Landing, unless, somehow they are able to draw Cersei out and try to attack them in the North, I don't see Moat Cailin playing a part.

One thing I don't remember anyone mentioning recently is the Iron Bank of Braavos. Remember "The crown" still owes them A LOT of money, they did back Stannis in order to get their money back (or at least cause the crown's downfall). They could still play a part, either backing Dany/Jon and getting them more troops (Second Sons etc) or out paying Cersei for the Golden Company.

 

[Orlando Eagles]

Something. They Chekhov's gunned it on the map when they were detailing their moves to the South.

I thought Moat Cailin was going to factor in when the NK was still around, not sure if I see that now.

 

[Orlando Eagles]

Yeah, looks like they will be attacking Kings Landing, unless, somehow they are able to draw Cersei out and try to attack them in the North, I don't see Moat Cailin playing a part.

One thing I don't remember anyone mentioning recently is the Iron Bank of Braavos. Remember "The crown" still owes them A LOT of money, they did back Stannis in order to get their money back (or at least cause the crown's downfall). They could still play a part, either backing Dany/Jon and getting them more troops (Second Sons etc) or out paying Cersei for the Golden Company.

I saw something the other week on YouTube that was actually a very well reasoned analysis of how these guys operate.

They highlighted on when Cersei had the banker in KL last season and how that conversation went. How when she told him she was paying ALL the debt off and he commented how she is "just like your father" it was pure sarcasm....because she so is not. Tywin would play the game of paying the bank back sufficiently enough to keep them invested into his families cause.....but not to pay them everything back, so that they have no further investment in his families cause.

It was very interesting and felt like an amazing set up for how the bank might influence the final season. But we are just moving too damn fast at this point.....there is so little runway left. I think we will not see more to this story angle.

 

[DarthVedder]

Yeah, looks like they will be attacking Kings Landing, unless, somehow they are able to draw Cersei out and try to attack them in the North, I don't see Moat Cailin playing a part.

One thing I don't remember anyone mentioning recently is the Iron Bank of Braavos. Remember "The crown" still owes them A LOT of money, they did back Stannis in order to get their money back (or at least cause the crown's downfall). They could still play a part, either backing Dany/Jon and getting them more troops (Second Sons etc) or out paying Cersei for the Golden Company.

I know a lot of stuff doesn't make sense, and they are going for what they think will look good instead of what's logical, but Cersei doesn't have the forces for an expedition North. She only has the Crownlands, and no other kingdom is supporting her.

Dany's forces are also at a very weak state and fatigued, but she's pushing forward. I wouldn't be surprised if they decide to have the big battle, have Dany's forces on the brink of defeat only to be rescued at the last minute by forces from the Stormlands, led by Gendry. They even mentioned that Dorne has a new prince who's eager to join Dany.

 

[Superbelt]

 

[batchaps4me]

Yeah, looks like they will be attacking Kings Landing, unless, somehow they are able to draw Cersei out and try to attack them in the North, I don't see Moat Cailin playing a part.

One thing I don't remember anyone mentioning recently is the Iron Bank of Braavos. Remember "The crown" still owes them A LOT of money, they did back Stannis in order to get their money back (or at least cause the crown's downfall). They could still play a part, either backing Dany/Jon and getting them more troops (Second Sons etc) or out paying Cersei for the Golden Company.

AND

I saw something the other week on YouTube that was actually a very well reasoned analysis of how these guys operate.

They highlighted on when Cersei had the banker in KL last season and how that conversation went. How when she told him she was paying ALL the debt off and he commented how she is "just like your father" it was pure sarcasm....because she so is not. Tywin would play the game of paying the bank back sufficiently enough to keep them invested into his families cause.....but not to pay them everything back, so that they have no further investment in his families cause.

It was very interesting and felt like an amazing set up for how the bank might influence the final season. But we are just moving too damn fast at this point.....there is so little runway left. I think we will not see more to this story angle.

IIRC the Iron Bank was paid in full by Cersei after Jaimie raided the Riverlands. The Lannisters had just gotten all of that gold in the walls of Kings Landing when Dany attacked with the Dothraki and dragons.

Excellent point in bold, the Iron Bank is now not vested heavily in the Lannisters so they may invest in the other side to hedge their influence.