Reviews
I'm excited to continue watching this show. I'm only on the second episode of season one, but I very much like the direction in which it's going. It's such a fresh take on a very overdone genre. I like that we get to actually follow the killer as well (the least of those reasons being because he's good looking), and see his life. So many shows focus on the killer as a one dimensional figure. This puts him into context, shows how much he hides. I think it's the most terrifying thing, actually, because it shows that anyone who appears to be completely normal can be a serial killer and hide it so well. As to be guessed, I did watch and love Dexter. But where Dexter showed the life of a serial killer who clearly struggled with normalcy, Paul does a fairly good job of keeping himself together on the outside. He's also methodical, but clearly far more unhinged and prone to emotions. I'll update this as I progress through the show. :)
It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Game of Thrones. It was, at its outset, such a beacon of hope, a testament to what could happen when books-turn-TV is done right. But for the past two seasons, D&D, the steadfast (and lately, insufferable) leaders of this show, have shown time and again their willingness to butcher a story line for the sake of gratuitous nudity and blood (both of which there is plenty of in the text that is actually necessary and essential to the plot), and wrongful deaths. Rewriting Jaime and Cersei's scene in the sept last season as rape was horror enough. But they continuously drop crucial elements of the story, write new ones in, or rework them beyond recognition. I get that they know more than we do because they've had conversations with GRRM, necessitated by the fact that the show is moving along faster than GRRM writes. Really, the only storylines that haven't been completely upended are Jon Snow's and Arya's. Even Cersei's is moving in the right direction. But where is Catelyn? Why has she not reappeared? Where is Asha Greyjoy (renamed Yara in the show)? Why has she not attempted to rescue Theon? WHY OH WHY did they marry the REAL Sansa to Ramsay? Why did Sam and Gilly not travel to Old Town with Maester Aemon? Where is Arianne Martell (by far my favorite character)? SPOILER: Where are Griff and Young Griff (I'll keep their true names out just in case)? They are massively crucial. Last, but certainly not least: where the HELL are Bran, Hodor, Meera, and Jojen? SO MUCH has happened with those particular characters in the book, but they haven't been mentioned at all (I admit that I'm not done with season 5; I'm on episode 8, but I don't see them suddenly appearing any time soon). I have a feeling that Griff and Young Griff show up next season, but as the show will overtake the books, I feel like it's my time to be done with the show until the last two books come out. Game of Thrones is a well-done show, but my loyalty first and forever is to the books. I haven't complained much, knowing that the show has done a great deal to stay true to the story in the novels. I don't argue that it's not well-done: the actors are great and I love them all. The scenery is beautiful. The episodes are full of drama, suspense, and action. Certainly, both those who have read the books and those who haven't can and do love the show. I still think it is a /good/ show on its own merits. But this fifth season has just been unforgivably awkward and unappealing to me, as someone who read the books. It has left too many questions unanswered.
This review contains spoilers. Click the text to reveal.
GIVE IT UP ALREADY. I started watching this show in 2005, when it first aired. I was /in love/ with it. Absolutely enamored, because it was unlike anything I had ever watched before. It was fresh, it was crazy, it was thrilling, it was scary, it was funny and dramatic and engaging. It was literally the perfect show. Then after a bunch of lineup shuffling, I lost track of it for a few years. I went back to it around 2010, watching every single episode I had watched before and all those I had missed, and I was still in love.
Cut to 4 years later and I cannot understand why this show is still running. The storyline got lost around season 7 and no one has bothered to try to go back and find it. Every time I watched it post season 7, I was completely lost as to what the big picture was, the main theme pulling everything together because the plethora of subplots was getting me lost. It should have ended around season 6, MAYBE 7, but that's being generous. They keep chugging along, and it's not getting better. This show used to be so amazing and wonderful, but it is no longer rolling so much as careening downhill. It should have gone out while it was still on top and still worth watching and investing time in, instead of trying to extend the death rattle it has become. I understand it is beloved by so many, but that doesn't mean its remained any good.
I miss this show. It just disappeared and never came back, which was so disappointing because I really enjoyed it.
This show has absolutely grown on me. This last season was phenomenal. I am heartbroken over the many deaths (I kept yelling at the TV, "What does this show think it is, Game of Thrones?") and spent the last several episodes crying my eyes out, but this show is really a must watch. Good plot lines, intriguing villains, solid writing, strong character development...and Stefan's cameo made me so happy. I loved the crossover.
I loved this show. It took a few episodes to gain its footing because at first I wasn't sure about it, and then it became something interesting and fun. I got really into it. I was so upset that it was cancelled, especially with such a massive cliffhanger that left so much potential for a really great story. Its cancellation so suddenly reminded me of how The WB (before it was the CW) cancelled Related when its last episode was a cliffhanger, and how mad I was then. CW execs are really bad about giving a good amount of warning to the show creators when their show is going to be cancelled; they don't give them a chance to wrap anything up.