Game of Thrones Season 7: "The Dragon and the Wolf"

In this episode, Journey Joe Mitchell tackles the breakneck pace and epic convergences of "Game of Thrones" Season 7. He discusses how the show's accelerated storytelling resulted in some of its most thrilling moments, like the loot train attack and the first meeting of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, but also some of its most criticized logical leaps. Joe also dives into the season's key controversies, including the handling of certain character arcs and the show's continued use of graphic violence. It's a season of high highs and notable lows, and Joe isn't afraid to address both.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Calarogus Shark Media. Welcome back to the TV basement, friends
of the realm. Today we're diving into the penultimate season
of HBO's epic fantasy series Game of Thrones. Season seven
sees the show's sprawling storylines converge as the race for

(00:25):
the Iron Throne enters its final stretch. With only seven episodes,
the pace is breakneck, the stakes are higher than ever,
and the spectacle is unmatched. So let's grab our dragon
glass and prepare for battle. Season seven of Game of
Thrones is all about the coming together of storylines and
characters that have been separated for years. Denaris Targarian, Emilia

(00:47):
Clark finally arrives in Westeros, John snow Kit Harrington leaves
the North to seek allies against the coming White Walker threat,
and Circe Lanister Lena Hetty schemes to maintain her grip
on the Iron and Throne. This season is notable for
its breakneck pacing, with only seven episodes instead of the
usual ten. This accelerated storytelling results in some thrilling set

(01:10):
pieces and long awaited character meetings, but also some logical
leaps and rushed plot developments. The season builds towards a
dramatic cliffhanger that sets the stage for the show's final
season with the revelation of John Snow's true parentage and
the devastating breach of the Wall by the Night King
and his undead Army. Season seven is packed with momentous meetings,

(01:32):
shocking revelations, and epic battles that had fans on the
edge of their seats. One of the most anticipated moments
was the first meeting between Danaris and John Snow in
the episode The Queen's Justice. The chemistry between Amelia Clark
and Kit Harrington was electric, and the meeting of ice
and fire was a satisfying payoff to years of build up.
The season also featured some of the most spectacular action

(01:54):
sequences in the show's history. The loot train attack in
the Spoils of War, where Denaris and her doth Rocky
Army ambush the Lanister forces with the help of her
dragon Drogan, was a jaw dropping display of fire and blood.
But perhaps the most talked about moment of the season
was the shocking final scene of the penultimate episode Beyond
the Wall, the death of Danaris's dragon Vicerian and his

(02:18):
resurrection by the Night King was a game changing twist
that raised the stakes for the final season. Fans reacted
to these moments with a mix of awe, shock, and
heated debate. The accelerated pacing of the season was a
point of contention, with some praising the show's propulsive storytelling
and others criticizing the logical leaps and rushed character development.

(02:40):
Season seven saw some notable additions to the cast, as
well as stand out performances from the show's ensemble. Jim
Broadbent joined the cast as Arcmeaster Ebros, providing a delightful
foil to John Bradley's Samuell Tarley and the Citadel scenes.
Broadbent brought his usual wit and gravitas to the role.
The season also saw the return of some fan favorite characters,

(03:01):
like Joe Dempsey's Gendry and Ben Hawkey's Hot Pie. There
reunions with Aria Stark Mazie Williams provided some welcome moments
of levity and nostalgia amidst the high stakes drama, but
it was the show's core cast that really shown this season.
Lena Hetty continued to be a force of nature as Circe,
delivering a chilling performance as the ruthless Queen. Kit Harrington

(03:24):
brought new depths to John Snow as he navigated the
tricky politics of Dragonstone and beyond, and Amelia Clarke had
some of her best moments as Denaris, particularly in her
fiery confrontations with Circe and her tender scenes with John.
Season seven of Game of Thrones received generally positive reviews

(03:45):
from critics, though not quite as rapturous as the previous season.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an eighty nine percent
critics score and an eighty five percent audience score. Critics
praised the season's epic set pieces, the satisfying convergence of storylines,
and the strong performances from the cast. However, many also
noted the logical leaps and rushed pacing that resulted from

(04:07):
the shortened episode count. The season still performed well at
the award ceremonies. It won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series,
as well as Emmys for Outstanding Music Composition and Outstanding
Special Visual Effects. It also took home the Grammy for
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. While season seven was
largely well received, it wasn't without its controversies and critiques.

(04:30):
One of the main points of contention was the accelerated
pacing of the season. Some fans and critics felt that
the show was sacrificing character development and logical consistency for
the sake of speeding towards the finale. The rapid travel
times between distant locations, in particular, became a point of
mockery among fans. There was also some criticism of the

(04:51):
show's handling of certain character arcs. The sudden romance between
John Snow and Deanaris, while anticipated by many fans, felt
rushed to some, and the treatment of Tyrian lanister Peter Dinklage,
who spent much of the season making uncharacteristic blunders, was
a sore point for many. The show also faced some
backlash for its continued use of graphic violence and its

(05:13):
portrayal of the loot train attack, which some felt glorified
war and destruction. Season seven of Game of Thrones is
a thrilling, if flawed, penultimate chapter in the show's grand saga.
It's a season of satisfying convergences, jaw dropping spectacle, and
game changing twists, even if it sometimes sacrifices depth and
logic for the sake of speed. The accelerated pacing is

(05:36):
both a blessing and a curse, resulting in some of
the show's most memorable moments, but also some of its
most criticized. It's a testament to the strength of the
show's world building and character work that it can mostly
sustain this breakneck speed, even if the seams sometimes show
despite its flaws. Season seven sets the stage for an

(05:56):
epic final showdown, with the fate of Westeros hanging in
the balance. It's a reminder of the show's unmatched ability
to captivate audiences and generate conversation even as it hurtles
towards its conclusion. So what did you think of Game
of Thrones Season seven? Did the accelerated pacing work for
you or did it feel too rushed? What were your

(06:17):
favorite moments and performances? And did the season's high points
outweigh its controversies. This is journey Joe Mitchell signing off
from the TV basement. Until next time, Keep exploring the
rich and thrilling world of television storytelling, and remember, when
you play the Game of Thrones, you win or you die.