Game of Thrones Writing Has Become Pretty Terrible

Published August 2, 2017 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey guys,

I’ve really enjoyed your podcast so far, but I feel like you missed the mark a bit on this latest episode. I’m not sure if you guys really believe these ludicrous theories of Tyrion or Varys being traitors, or if you’re just filling the podcast with entertaining conversation. The more likely answer is the simplest, which is that the writing has become pretty terrible and the plotting and pacing is off the rails. Things used to happen in the show because it made sense that it would play out in that way in the world the show/books created. This season everything has happened because basically, that’s where they want the plot go. Nonsensical things happen for dramatic flair and cinema, and that’s fair to a point, but they’ve really beat us over the head with it.

I can forgive that Euron builds a fleet in no time at all, and that he teleports around the ocean without respect to any sort of sensible timeline. But last episode an entire fleet is caught completely by surprise and demolished because apparently they don’t have anyone on lookout. This episode Euron magically appears at the perfect time to ambush the unsullied fleet. It’s all way too convenient.

Danerys landing in dragonstone makes zero sense, and was done entirely for flair, and to set up the nonsensical plot of yara’s fleet getting ambushed and dorne being taken off the board. Dorne was a pit stop on the way over from slavers bay, it makes no sense to go all the way up to dragonstone, a stones throw from kings landing, then go back down to dorne. But the desired plot dictates events now apparently.

I really think trying to smash everything into so few episodes is really doing a disservice to the world and story they’ve built. Everyone has been waiting for this big clash in westeros between these two powers, but they’re just blazing through the story without giving any exposition to justify why things happen the way they do, other than “this is the episode where the Lannisters win everything”. There isn’t a traitor at dragonstone, that would be too smart for this season (so far). I really think it’s just bad writing, which is a real disappointment. I’m surprised you guys haven’t even touched on the missteps the writers have taken, but I hope when it turns out there is no good explanation other than bad plotting that you guys don’t ignore it.

Here’s hoping I’m wrong and maybe there is a clever explanation for all this.

Keep up the good work, really enjoy the podcast.

Chris

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