I will preempt my review by saying that I've positively reviewed a couple of episodes this season (despite often fast and loose source material deviations).
I'm not hating on this episode because of politics (even though it's in your face at times), I'm negatively reviewing this episode because the arrogant and egotistical show runner thinks his story is better than the story of a novelist who put his heart, soul, and nuance into creating a beloved book series that has, and will continue to, stand the test of time for generations.
I've enjoyed some of the small changes made throughout the 1st season - it's completely understandable and expected for changes to be made when adapting a book into a TV show. But what I don't enjoy or find acceptable is widespread story archs being amended to suit a political narrative, and characters behaving like alien versions of themselves.
Message to the show runner: if you think you are genuinley so amazing at telling stories, why don't you create your own book series or TV show and fill them full of your amazing ideas? Why do you think it is appropriate to co-opt an already amazing story and strip it down to fit your agenda? In particular, why do you think it's appropriate to do this under the false guise that you are a fan of the books and intended on doing a (in some way) genuine adaptation?
Bottom line: this season has shown a lot of promise at times and there were some genuinley great moments. But it is essentially Game of Thrones from season 6 onwards (although this show runner actually has the benefit of amazing source material to hide his inept story telling abilitiy, but has chosen not to use it).
I'm not hating on this episode because of politics (even though it's in your face at times), I'm negatively reviewing this episode because the arrogant and egotistical show runner thinks his story is better than the story of a novelist who put his heart, soul, and nuance into creating a beloved book series that has, and will continue to, stand the test of time for generations.
I've enjoyed some of the small changes made throughout the 1st season - it's completely understandable and expected for changes to be made when adapting a book into a TV show. But what I don't enjoy or find acceptable is widespread story archs being amended to suit a political narrative, and characters behaving like alien versions of themselves.
Message to the show runner: if you think you are genuinley so amazing at telling stories, why don't you create your own book series or TV show and fill them full of your amazing ideas? Why do you think it is appropriate to co-opt an already amazing story and strip it down to fit your agenda? In particular, why do you think it's appropriate to do this under the false guise that you are a fan of the books and intended on doing a (in some way) genuine adaptation?
Bottom line: this season has shown a lot of promise at times and there were some genuinley great moments. But it is essentially Game of Thrones from season 6 onwards (although this show runner actually has the benefit of amazing source material to hide his inept story telling abilitiy, but has chosen not to use it).