So here we are at the end of the second season of Game of Thrones. It really completely sucks that this show is only ten episodes long and we'll have to wait almost a year for the third season. Chop, chop, Game of Thrones, you don't want your kid characters to go all Walt on you, do you? But that's just me, already being impatient. Let's digest what we saw last night.
The point of "Valur Morghulis" was to not necessarily wrap up the second season, but prime the third. I think this is perfect, a good way to present the series as a whole. But if we were to judge the episode solely on itself, I wouldn't say that it was necessarily on point.
But this is where this critique gets convoluted. It is hard for me to separate what I know in the book from what I think of the TV show. Granted, I try to separate them as much as possible. But the glaring moment that stood out for me was Dany's entrance into the House of the Undying. This could have been so much weirder, scarier; the book really took it's time with exploring the mythos of these creepy dudes. There was also some important plot points that the scene missed...but am I allowed to say that I am even disappointed? Because to those that haven't read the books, I'm sure found it just as entertaining as always.
Then there was the most talked about moment, the "zombie" White Walkers. That was pretty exciting, wasn't it? Good way to end the season, n'est pas? Except that it wasn't. It was a little boring. It's just a bunch of zombies marching and unless they make a very specific effort to put in a scene from Storm of Swords in the very beginning, this will just be a smoke screen of special effects.
Of course, I don't want to take away the fact that this is still one of the best shows on television in every way possible. Yes, that still is true, book or no. That's how I should be approaching this! Peter Dinkledge as earned yet another Emmy nomination in his heartbreaking scene with Shae. We all cried over Maester Luwin, we all were someone relieved and yet somewhat scared when Joffrey decides to marry Margarey instead of Sansa.
Overall, the second season wasn't as thrilling as the first, nor was it as faithful to its source material, but I'm trying to not think about it. When you look at the work that is put into the show, the in depth character development, the insane on-location shots, it's impossible to fault such a finely executed program.
SumOlogy: Waiting for season three with baited breath.
Grade: B-
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