Game Of Throne – Episode 3

Published April 30, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey guys,

My name’s Daniel Alexander and I hail from Perth in Western Australia. I’ve only just discovered your podcast and man… I wish i’d found it sooner. It’s been great listening to your indepth thoughts on different aspects of the episodes so thank you for that.

I wanted to provide my thoughts on the third episode of Season 8 – The Long Night. Whilst I enjoyed the episode overall I do feel like there were some key opportunities that they missed to really elevate the episode and make it much more important. Whilst my final judgement will be reserved for when the season finishes (you never know what they may reveal in the final 3 episodes) there were things that I felt either didn’t quite hit the mark or could’ve kicked some real goals.

1) The Dead Rising – This was a massive opportunity to have some real kick in the guts, heartbreaking moments for some of our characters. With the dead being recruited to the Night King’s army I was expecting to see some of our favourite characters forced to face off against dead versions of the people they care for. Could you imagine Brienne’s heartache if Podrick had been killed and then resurrected, or if Brienna had died how Tormund and Jamie would’ve reacted. Even within the already existing deaths if Jorah had come face to face with Lyanna Morment as a Wight and seeing the future of his house decomposing in front of him. Or Dany’s reaction if Jorah was resurrected to attack her just moments after mourning his death.

Also down in the crypts there are generations of the Stark family buried. Could you imagine the horror Sansa would’ve felt watching her family being used as weapons against them. And oh man, if Ned or Katherine Stark had their bodies moved to Winterfell what a terrifying moment that could’ve been. I just thought that with the Night King’s ability to raise the dead they really missed some golden opportunities for some emotional pain for our characters.

2) It didn’t really seem like they had much of a strategy in place for the battle. Within a very short period of time the armies had retreated into the castle and weren’t they damn lucky Melisandre rocked up out of the blue to light the moat on fire to buy them some time. Considering the experience they had within their armies I expected to see some very clever plays from the side of the living. You had Jamie, Brienne, Tyrion, Jon Snow, Dany and Davos not to mention Berric with his abilities. You’re telling me that they didn’t have strategies and fallbacks? Of course I’d expect every measure to eventually fail which would make it all the more terrifying. Instead it seemed they were relying on hacking and slashing rather than a real, solid plan. It felt like once they drew back into the castle that they were out of ideas.

3) Another massive opportunity missed. I fully expected Jon Snow to be roasted… and I don’t mean killed. Can you imagine if in the moment where Jon Snow faced upto Viserion if Dany had run in just in time to see him engulfed in flames only to see that the fire doesn’t effect him. There would be that moment of “Holy Shit!!! He really IS a Targaryean!” Then the body of Viserion crumbles when Arya slays the Night King.

4) Depending with how the rest of the season plays out I don’t have a problem with the Night King and his armies being defeated at this point. However I feel like such a big deal was made out of the prophecies, particularly the Prince who was foretold, that they seemed to have just forgotten about them. Is Arya the Prince? I’ve read the prophecies and am having a hard time reconciling that she fits the mould. The prophecy obviously meant everything to Melisandre but what did she believe in that moment? Hopefully they are still addressed in the coming episodes.

Thanks, i know it was a little long winded but I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Kind regards

Daniel

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