It’s Much Better With Books
Is there any movie critique more smug than “but the book is much better”? Probably not. Let me start by being clear about a few key points. First, I have not read any of the Game of Thrones books. In fact, a purist will say that the true title is “The Tale of Fire and something blah blah blah”. I am not that person and I don’t want to be. I am also not trying to disrespect the millions out there who have read and enjoyed the masterpieces of George R.R. Martin. I know little about the man, but I consider him an artistic genius. I also feel like his legacy is being tarnished by the corporate minded Hollywood mentality. The HBO Series Game of Thrones is one of my favorite series EVER. For six seasons, the writing, sets, scenes, cinematography, directing, editing, casting and acting have been amazing. The same is true of the final two seasons…except for the writing aspect. The seventh and eighth (final) season of the show have all been produced by writers who are continuing the series without the aid of the novels of George Martin (and it shows). I am writing this following Episode 3 of the final season “Winterfell”. The episode was filmed and directed in a masterful manner. The scenes were great. The battle scenes were intense and filled with action (really predicable action, but we will come back to that). In my sincere opinion, the action was very predictable and, in all honesty, boring. It was boring because the writers were turning George R.R. Martin’s unpredictable “anything might happen next” into the expected Marvel, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars (ok, you get the point) style where every bad guy (or gal, how dare I) must be slain by the proper good guy (or gal, ok I’m done with this aspect of the discussion). There must be a heroic moment, followed by a moment of suspense, followed by the hero coming through and saving the day. YAWN! Let me also be clear about something else. I loved the Lord of the Rings Series (except the final forty minutes of the Return of the King because it needed to end). Here is my point. Game of Thrones has been amazing. Perhaps the most complex, clever and unpredictable series I have ever watched. Now we are in the home stretch. There are only a few episodes left and I don’t want the most complex show I have ever loved to become the vodka and soda of what was once a fantastic bottle of red wine. I want to be clear again that I am not a complete snob. I love having a Big Mac (or a Burger King Original Chicken sandwich). I added the chicken sandwich in hopes of deflecting a few haters, but I do truly enjoy both. My point is that things should be appreciated (and judged) for what they are. If I order a Big Mac, I can genuinely enjoy a Big Mac. But if I order a Delmonico steak cooked medium at an upscale steakhouse and I get a Big Mac, I’m not satisfied. So many great shows have fumbled at the goal line as they tried to wrap things up. I will use Californication and Dexter as my prime examples. I loved both shows but they floundered at the end. I do not want that to be the swan song for GoT. But if that is how the show ends, I will not pretend I didn’t notice out of blind loyalty or group think. At the end of episode 3 of season 8, no one knows the fate of Ghost (the loyal dire wolf). I am posting this a few hours before episode 4 of season 8 airs and I am predicting that Ghost will emerge unharmed because that is what Hollywood style writing produces. Let’s see if I am proven wrong (and I hope to be). I just genuinely hope that this great series finishes on a strong note and I will not hesitate to criticize it if it doesn’t. I am Jim from the Whiskey Congress podcast and you can hear Steve and I disagree on this issue on our latest episode. You can also email me at Jim@whiskeycongress.com if you want to express your support or displeasure with my commentary. Cheers.
