Came to 'Game of Thrones' fairly late in the game and due to being so busy the binge-watching was gradual. Have found myself truly loving the show, very quickly becoming one of my favourites. It totally lives up to the hype and not only does it do the brilliant source material justice (a rarity in television) it is on its own merits one of the finest, most addictive and consistently compelling shows in recent years and quality-wise it puts a lot of films in recent years to shame.
Personally don't agree with the negativity here respectfully, though can understand the disappointment. There are significant deviations from the source material, more so than usual for 'Game of Thrones', which fans have understandably have considered this a detriment for future episodes and story progression and for continuity's sake. This wasn't a big problem for me actually, being somebody who always judges something as a standalone, something that "Oathkeeper" does a great job in from personal opinion.
"Oathkeeper" does have a lot of characters and goings on, and do sort of agree that it would have been better if what happens in the episode was told over more than one episode (two or three) so that everything felt consistently fully formed.
However, the story is thoroughly absorbing even when more subdued than the previous episodes, going at an assured pace, having action that leaves one in awe and having some consistently surprising and intriguing story development (yes there is some here). That for the truth behind Joffrey's death is especially a shock.
Acting throughout is strong, especially Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Diana Rigg.
Visually, "Oathkeeper" looks amazing. The scenery is throughout spectacular, the sets are hugely atmospheric and beautiful on the eyes with a real meticulous eye for detail and the costumes suit the characters to a tee. The make-up is beautifully done. The visual effects are some of the best of any television programme and are not overused or abused, the scale, the detail and how they actually have character and soul are better than those in a lot of the big-budget blockbusters. As well the cinematography and editing, which are cinematic quality as well.
One cannot talk about "Oathkeeper" without mentioning the thematically, orchestrally and atmospherically multi-layered music scoring and the unforgettable main theme. Again, worthy of a high-budget fantasy/action/drama film.
It is hard not to be bowled over by the quality of the writing, outstanding isn't a strong enough adjective to describe how good the writing is once again. It always has a natural flow, is layered and thought-provoking and demonstrates a wide range of emotions such as suspenseful tension, poignant pathos and witty humour. The story is paced beautifully, structured with such nuance and attention to coherence, a high emotional level and is done with intelligence, passion and sensitivity.
Altogether, another very strong instalment though will divide fans, particularly regarding its treatment of the source material. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Personally don't agree with the negativity here respectfully, though can understand the disappointment. There are significant deviations from the source material, more so than usual for 'Game of Thrones', which fans have understandably have considered this a detriment for future episodes and story progression and for continuity's sake. This wasn't a big problem for me actually, being somebody who always judges something as a standalone, something that "Oathkeeper" does a great job in from personal opinion.
"Oathkeeper" does have a lot of characters and goings on, and do sort of agree that it would have been better if what happens in the episode was told over more than one episode (two or three) so that everything felt consistently fully formed.
However, the story is thoroughly absorbing even when more subdued than the previous episodes, going at an assured pace, having action that leaves one in awe and having some consistently surprising and intriguing story development (yes there is some here). That for the truth behind Joffrey's death is especially a shock.
Acting throughout is strong, especially Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Diana Rigg.
Visually, "Oathkeeper" looks amazing. The scenery is throughout spectacular, the sets are hugely atmospheric and beautiful on the eyes with a real meticulous eye for detail and the costumes suit the characters to a tee. The make-up is beautifully done. The visual effects are some of the best of any television programme and are not overused or abused, the scale, the detail and how they actually have character and soul are better than those in a lot of the big-budget blockbusters. As well the cinematography and editing, which are cinematic quality as well.
One cannot talk about "Oathkeeper" without mentioning the thematically, orchestrally and atmospherically multi-layered music scoring and the unforgettable main theme. Again, worthy of a high-budget fantasy/action/drama film.
It is hard not to be bowled over by the quality of the writing, outstanding isn't a strong enough adjective to describe how good the writing is once again. It always has a natural flow, is layered and thought-provoking and demonstrates a wide range of emotions such as suspenseful tension, poignant pathos and witty humour. The story is paced beautifully, structured with such nuance and attention to coherence, a high emotional level and is done with intelligence, passion and sensitivity.
Altogether, another very strong instalment though will divide fans, particularly regarding its treatment of the source material. 9/10 Bethany Cox