TV Show Review: Game of Thrones

So if you are not up to date with Game of Thrones, or if you haven't watched it at all because you are waiting to start it, maybe turn off the episode after this part because there will be spoilers. So you have been warned, okay? Spoiler alert. But before I get into Game of Thrones, I'm going to give you some context about different shows that I enjoy. What shows have been the most impactful or influential for me, and what I look for in TV shows. That said, let's jump in.

You are listening to the twelfth episode of English with Dane. Hit it. And in a way, they define us, I think. It's like the music we listen to. When you meet someone and you have the same taste in music, that's a huge plus, right? I think we are at the point where TV shows are serving that same purpose. Finding someone who watches the same shows as you is the best. You almost feel like you know this person already.

If I meet someone who loves the office or parks and recreation, something like that, then I know we are going to have a similar sense of humor and that we'll probably get along. I'm sure that you have different shows in common with different friends, and that you can't wait to talk to this person about this show. And sometimes you get really surprised that a particular friend likes a certain show, and you can learn about a whole new aspect to them.

TV shows have become a really big part of our lives and are constantly at the center of our conversations. We feel identified with them, we defend them when people are critical of our favorite ones, we have debates about why some shows are better than others, which show is the best of all time. They impact us more than we realize. Several people I know have told me that they put on the TV show Friends when they're just around the house doing something else because it makes them feel like home.

Different people have told me the same thing. So how's that for impact? Show makes you feel at home, that means it really, really got to you. There are so many shows now. People bring up certain shows to me, and I think, what? That's a show? And they say, Yeah, it's the best. It's my new favorite show, you have to watch it. And suddenly they become a salesperson for the show. And then they want you to remember that they showed it to you.

And later when you say you like it in front of other people, they say, Hey, who showed you that show? You're welcome. I never understood that. I've never understood why it is so important to some people to have found the music first, to have watched the show first. I wonder what that's about. I'm sure everyone has that friend. I think those people are necessary though, and I'm glad I have them because they tend to be the people who maybe show you your next favorite artist.

I love when a friend says, Hey, listen to this band, I think you'll really like them, and then you really like them. That's a good skill. That's somebody who has recognized the things that you like in music over the years and knows what you look for in music, and when they hear something that ticks those boxes that has all of those things that you like, they think of you and make that connection.

I have had the feeling of watching a TV show and thinking, hmm, I have to tell my friend about this because he's gonna love it, and I did. And after I told him, he said, Yeah, I told you about this show like a year ago because I thought you would like it. So I guess we look for the same things in a show. Which by the way, for me are maybe compelling storyline, credible character motivation, and good, solid acting. Good camera work, right? Good shots. Oh, and it has to be hard to predict.

And if a show fulfills those criteria, if they meet those expectations, then I think I can commit. It might be easy to have a few of those, but all of them together is tricky. One of the shows that was recently on the edge for me was Ozark. I don't know if you've had a chance to watch it, but it was good. Ozark is like a decaf breaking bad. And maybe not even that. They're similar, right? It's the story of a guy who does everything by the book, right?

So he does everything how you're supposed to do it. He's a very tame and prudent person who is suddenly in a circumstance that is out of his control, which requires him to get involved in the world of crime. But it was good because it kept me watching, right? It didn't impress me in terms of character development, really. The plot and the story were solid, they were credible, I would say, and the acting was solid. But I think at times it felt a bit bland. It's hard to describe it.

It's not a show I would watch again, though, but I also don't recommend it. I think if you recommend a lot of stuff, everything you recommend is less valuable in a way. So I try to use my serious recommendations very selectively. Okay, speaking of great shows, let's talk about Game of Thrones. Remember, spoiler alert, okay, I'm going to talk about episode three of season eight, the most recent episode. So if you don't want to hear it, stop the show now. It's all about who you know.

Okay, I was one of those people who didn't watch Game of Thrones when everyone was watching Game of Thrones. It never appealed to me. It never caught my attention. My friends watched it and they would meet up at someone's house and watch it together. And I often didn't attend those plans because I was proud of not being interested in Game of Thrones. I watched a few loose episodes with my friends and I started to see the appeal, but I still didn't get into it. And then eventually I caved.

I gave in to the pressure and I finally gave it a chance. After a few episodes, I have to admit that I really wanted to know what happened next. And the fact that there are several different characters, all of whom are important, made it even better. After a season, I was really into it. After two seasons, I was a big fan, and then it just kept getting better and more interesting, and now it has blown up. We're in the climax of the show, and everything is finally happening, right?

The culmination of all the stories. It's hard to explain Game of Thrones to someone like myself before I gave it a chance. And to be clear, I'm not trying to convince you to go and watch it, but you should. I mean, if you're on the fence, if you're 50-50 about watching it or not, watch it, is what I'm saying. I don't think there has been a show that has made me feel the range of emotions that Game of Thrones has. And this past episode was the craziest.

So season 8, episode 3, came out and was maybe one of the best episodes I've ever seen of any show. It was an hour and a half long, which as a viewer was perfect, and it delivered the battle that everyone had been waiting for.

The episode starts with everybody getting ready to defend Winterfell, defend it from the imminent threat of the White Walkers, the army of the dead that is going to erase them and convert them to zombie soldiers and destroy the world, etc. So everyone is running around arming themselves with dragonglass, getting ready for the battle that is about to happen. This was a crazy episode because everyone who was watching was probably thinking, okay, who's going to die?

I know someone is going to die, please don't let it be Jon Snow, don't let it be Tyrion, please don't kill one of the dragons, etc. And that's probably one of the reasons why people like the show so much. You have your favorite characters, but it's a show in which a lot of main characters die, and then we get new main characters, and the show is pretty much ruthless. Ruthless means without compassion. So the show is ruthless. They'll just kill someone that viewers like and they'll move on.

Like when they killed Ned Stark. I was in shock, I couldn't believe what happened. Anyway, one of the best scenes in the episode was when Melisandra rode up on her horse and asked the Dothraki to put up their swords and did some magic stuff, and their swords caught on fire. And we see the flames spreading across all the soldiers. That was a great scene.

But an even better scene was when they ride off into the darkness, charging or attacking against the White Walkers, and all you see is the lights of their swords disappearing one by one, until you don't hear them screaming and you don't see any more lights. And then some come running back looking terrified. They're really good at creating these type of moments on this show. They always get me, but moments that give you goosebumps. I was really confused when Melisandra appeared, by the way.

I don't know where she came from. She's really creepy, but she played a pivotal role, an important role. Not only lighting the swords and the trenches, but also when she reminds Arya about the prophecy that she would kill a bunch of people. Some with brown eyes, some with green eyes, and some with blue. This episode had a really great balance between action and dialogue. As you know, some people were hiding in the crypts. Sansa and Tyrion were there.

The bald guy, something with a V, but I never remember his name. They did a good job of showing things from the crypt and then giving us intense battle scenes, right? Then back to the crypt and then back to the battle scenes. So you wouldn't get tired of just people fighting. I also liked how the battle was shown, how the battle was presented, through the lens of each particular character or group of characters.

John and Danny together at first, but then fighting separately, which is maybe something that could happen in the future. And some people are even saying that they think Danny is going to kill John eventually in order to retain her throne. We also see the battle through the lens of Jamie and Brienne, the new Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which was another great scene, but from last episode, when Jamie knights Brienne while they're drinking next to the fireplace.

Then we have Arya's perspective, which is the coolest one in this episode. This is where we finally see Arya as the badass that she is, right? Fully turned into a warrior. And then we see it from Tyrion and Sansa's perspective down in the crypt. You felt like you got good moments from everyone, and not many people died, you know? Who died? Theon died, he was nice, but you know, I don't think anyone's favorite character was Theon. But hey, whatever. And Jorah is dead too, right?

But he completed his mission, he protected Danny and died in her arms. So I feel like, again, Jorah wasn't anybody's favorite character. I like what they're doing. They're preparing us, right? Less important characters die in this battle because it's just the beginning. Right? The Theons and the Jorahs of the world are dying first because then in a few episodes, I feel like we're going to get some really important deaths. Speaking of important deaths, that brings me to the climax of the episode.

Right. And I'm talking about when the Night King is about to kill Bran, and we see the whites behind him, and suddenly one of them feels a slight breeze, and his hair moves as he notices something. And then we get the image of Arya jumping through the air with her knife.

And I swear that moment was so crazy when I saw her face, and then the Night King catches her, and she does one of the coolest things I've ever seen, and releases the knife or lets go of the knife, catches it with her other hand, and stabs the Night King, killing him instantly. Well, him and everyone else, because when he dies, they all die. So that was the biggest moment in the show so far, since the show started. Oh, and another guy died in this episode, too, I think.

The one with the sword that lights up, the one with the eye patch. The guy who was revived by the Lord of Light like 20 times. He died too, I believe. I have to get better with the names of the characters, I know. I know the main ones, but I forget some of the less important ones. So after the episode, they showed the trailer for the next episode, and we are now presented with what seems to be the last big threat, right? Cersei.

She has spent this whole time building up a giant army ready to destroy everyone and to assert her dominance. She has the biggest army ever, and she's the most evil person in the show. So I'm sure it will get even more crazy than what it is right now. There was a prophecy at some point in the show where they mentioned something about Cersei maybe getting killed by a sibling, by a brother, I think. So I wonder if that happens there. If it's maybe Tyrion or Jamie who end up assassinating her.

What I'm also looking forward to is the final battle between the mountain and his brother Clagain or the Hound. Because that needs to be resolved. And I'm sure I'm missing a lot of things, but I didn't want to do a super in-depth analysis, just share some thoughts. In conclusion, I can't wait for the next episode. If you heard all of this and you've never watched Game of Thrones or read the books, then I recommend it sincerely. The hype is real. Okay, that's the show for today.

Don't forget to tune in on Saturday for episode 13 of English with Dane. You can find me on Instagram and Twitter at English with Dane, and remember to support the show, share it with anyone you think would enjoy it. Okay, see you soon. Bye bye.