I wanted to enjoy the series finale without the pressure of having to write a recap, so I didn’t even attempt to start a recap last night. And because this is last recap I will ever write about Game of Thrones, I don’t want to rush it. This is precap: a pre recap post. A few initial thoughts… Ultimately, I liked the series finale of Game of Thrones. I might even grow to love it. But it’s the end of…

After the second last episode of Game of Thrones, the internet is aflame with people debating the spectacular turn of Daenerys from seeming hero to villain. Dany’s descent into fire and blood has been a long time coming. This spectacular episode showcased the dragon queen’s darker side and more importantly shows the pathos of people war touches. Lots of characters die in this episode, but it still isn’t clear who will hold the Iron Throne. Varys Varys could not continue…

The survivors at Winterfell cremate those their dead: Jorah Mormont, Lyanna Mormont, Beric Dondarrion, Dolorous Edd, and Theon among many others. The survivors light funeral pyres and the scene is supposed to represent the massive causalities. As anyone who reads this blog regularly knows, I almost never criticize HBO. They did me a great kindness having me on the Season 5 DVD. But dare I say it? I kind of feel a tiny bit like HBO squandered an opportunity here….

The Battle for Winterfell is quite possible the face-off we’ve been waiting for the entire series.  The third episode of Season 8 is fantastic and didn’t have my finishing a box of tissues like I feared. One thing I particularly liked about the battle sequence is that it has a different texture than the Battle of Blackwater Bay and the Battle of the Bastards and other battles. This episode’s use of fire and music were majestic, and I wouldn’t be…

This may be the perfect episode for it evokes in the viewer – at least this viewer – a faint replica of feeling the events evoked in its participants. As the series marches towards its finale, I find myself filled with sadness and a desire to linger, just like the lovers and old friends who spent their last night together before death marches on Winterfell. For the last two episodes, I’ve been struck by how much this feels like CS…

In Episode 2 of the final season, as he sat by the fire on what may be the beginning of a very long night,  perhaps the longest of nights — Tyrion requests that somebody sings a song. Podrick Payne (Daniel Portman) obliges — and sings the haunting song of Jenny of Oldstones. The song appears in the books. And this fire lit episode was the perfect place for it. The episode is a prelude to tragedy because we know that…

This is a very late recap-ish post because I was sick with bronchitis on Sunday night. But, despite nearly hacking up a lung, I loved every minute of Sunday night’s show. Every season, I have a debate about whether I want to write a book or continue blogging. And every season I vow that I will limit blogging and write a book. At 376 posts, many of which are 2000-5000 words, this website has a lot of content (not all…