Got S8e3 Overview From A Fighter Pilot

Published April 30, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey Guys,

Here is the overview of S8E3 I got from a Fighter Pilot. Thought it was worth sharing, enjoy:

“My thoughts?

Remember… you asked.

1. Battlefield disposition of friendly forces was not well thought out. The trench should have been further away from the main wall, wider, and deeper. Second, The unsullied should have been established behind the trench, along with the bulk of the infantry-NOT in front of it. Third, the field artillery should have been behind the wall, not in front… and certainly not embedded with the infantry. After the initial volley that terminated after friendly horse cavalry and enemy forces were in close-quarter combat, the artillery was never used again. This is a huge missed opportunity, and this was largely due to the initial position of the artillery.

2. Execution was not well thought out either. First, sending mounted cavalry that far forward to engage enemy forces prevented freedom of fires from combined indirect fires and CAS (Coordinated Air Strike). Obviously aside from Arya’s individual effort at the end, MVP for the campaign is inarguably Dany. As inspiring as the sacrifices of individual sword-swingers, Dany clearly had the highest body count from pass after pass of dragon fire, killing thousands of undead, many of which were danger close to friendly forces…. All without a fratricide. VARSITY CAS right there-a mission close to my heart. They needed more persistence however… more on that later.

3. The Personal Security Team (PST) assigned to Brann was woefully inadequate, and there were none in the crypt with the remaining HVIs (High Valued Individuals). Nothing says “you’re important” like leaving the kids and HVIs completely undefended. Derp.

4. Jon and Dany clearly needed a few more sorties focusing on formation, defensive ACM (Air Combat Maneuvering), and IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions) intercepts. They were chasing a single bogey through the clouds without mutual support, which led to the loss of an airborne asset, even though the bogey was wounded in the process… the bogey was definitely a factor later-particularly for Jon. Additionally, effective formation with visual mutual support would have reduced the kill chain against the bogey, which would have allowed more time over the target area providing much needed Close Air Support. Finally, the friendly location marking plan was insufficient for the prevailing weather. It’s easy to blame the forecasters, but effective contingency planning would have brought out reduced visibility / low ceilings in as a planning factor, as “favorable weather & good visibility” are identified by JP 3-09.3 as conditions for effective CAS. All in all, Dany figured out this was going to be a low war, and went with low-show attacks against the enemy lines of troops with great effect. This could have been intensified had they not wasted so much time blind from their wingman and digging through crap weather for the bogey. Persistent CAS fires could have given ground forces sufficient breathing room to gain the initiative.

Thus, a better thought out disposition of forces and proper use of a combined arms offensive with synchronized indirect fire and CAS assets may have prevented even the necessity of the individual valorous efforts of Arya at the end (#glovesave), and the sacrifices of Edd Tollet (g’night Lord Commander), Jorah (#friendzonedforever… still my hero), Lyanna (nice giant kill, kiddo-shit of legends right there), Beric (probably should not have thrown his flaming sword.. “I immediately regret my decision!”), Theon (waited his whole life to fight like that… c’mon bro.. #latebloomer… why did you wait so long to swing a polearm?), and of course, Milisandre (who decided to go out on a high note, I guess… let’s hope Arya finds the collar so she can live forever and set stuff on fire with her hands). With the bulk of the sword-swingers safely behind a larger trench per my observation above, friendly forces could have exhausted the artillery and run the dragons winchester before serious losses started to pile up… which, of course, they needed to fight later because their plan sucked & the enemy HVT (High Value Target) brought em back. On my count, one horse lived through the initial cavalry charge. That was enough for me to realize they suck at planning. Derp.

Obviously, this was filmed in the times before Warden’s Air-Land doctrine and Deptula’s Effects-Based Operations were drafted, and obviously Sam never found a copy of Joint Pub 5-0 (joint planning), 3-09 (Joint Fire Support), or 3-09.3 (Joint CAS) in the Citadel, or perhaps this would have gone better. That being said, I’d write Jorah & Beric up for the Medal of Honor, Arya for at least a Silver Star with a V device… perhaps a service-cross-might be more appropriate… and Dany for a Distinguished Flying Cross… crappy ACM notwithstanding. Overall, the Commander’s Intent was met, but largely because of the actions of a single Delta operator (Arya). The battle was a dismal failure, and largely due to a lack of planning. I grade them a D+ for military-ness, and only because they won in the end out of sheer dumb luck & one badass “stickin’ him with the pointy end”.

Even so, it made for some good TV!

Questions to ponder:

Did Gilly live? How about little Sam? Will Sam claim his house and appropriate the manpower to help rebuild Winterfell?

How will they defeat the Lannisters with fewer than 20 people (from what I saw)? Based off the prophesy, Jaime or Tyrion have to kill Cersei. Unclear how they’ll get in.

Who has to clean up the bodies? Man that’s gonna stink. I think they should make the dragon do it. It’ll take time to rebuild Winterfell. Place is a wreck (“it’s raining men”).

Why are the writers so hell bent on happy endings? George RR would’ve killed a main character we love… Theon? Not good enough. Perhaps they’re building up to a serious letdown.

Will the hound receive decent care at the VA in King’s landing, or will he get tired of the wait times and find another hippy commune to live in?

I’m a little disappointed Ned Stark’s head didn’t pop out of a grave and bite someone. C’mon… Sean Bean’s sole opportunity to make a come-back cameo and they blew it.

I’m excited to see where they go with all of this…. As far as endstates are concerned… a dead night king is good for Team Targaryan-Stark (yes, I hyphenated), but they have nothing left and no-one around to help. I think the overall endstate is looking bleak. As long as Cersei dies, I’ll be happy… which if George RR has anything to say about it… I won’t be happy.

This IS game of thrones after all.

Ok… that is all.”

Steven Cesare

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