'This was abysmal': Nearly 1 million disgruntled 'Game of Thrones' fans demand a final season remake

[hlthe2b]

Yikes!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/05/17/game-thrones-petition-remake-season/?utm_term=.31e66a4bddb2

If more than three-quarter of a million disgruntled “Game of Thrones” fans had their way, dragons would unmercifully torch the eighth season of the HBO hit, screaming an endless stream of firestorm upon the story line of the show’s final episodes.

A Change.org petition demanding that the final season be remade “with competent writers” has transformed this week into a fire-breathing dragon of vitriol aimed at showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss ahead of Sunday’s series finale. The petition, started last Sunday by a user named Dylan D. from Fort Worth, has collected about 760,000 signatures as of early Friday, reflecting how strongly a vocal section of fans want to say “Dracarys” to the whole season.

“David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have proven themselves to be woefully incompetent writers when they have no source material (i.e. the books) to fall back on,” the petitioner wrote. “This series deserves a final season that makes sense.”

The user added: “Subvert my expectations and make it happen, HBO!” The wild success of the petition is the latest sign that disgruntled fans of the nation’s most popular show are ready to take matters into their own hands, whether by begging HBO for a do-over, duping Google’s algorithm into having a picture of Benioff and Weiss show up under the search term “bad writers,” or re-cutting death scenes to the delight of thousands online.

[dewsgirl]

1. I don't watch, to much to catch up with. Was it really that bad?

The names of characters are always for a period of time taking up most of the Twitter trending slots on Sunday nights, I assumed this was a good thing.

[hlthe2b]

2. I think the expectations had been set so high that a let down was predictable.

But, it is true that they engaged in tremendous character building, development, and evolution-- just to ignore it all in the last two seasons in the effort to "wrap it up"... That seems really incongruous.

[dewsgirl]

4. Thank you, i saw the petition yesterday. The couple friends

I have that watch haven't really
said anything, of course I don't watch so they probably wouldn't.

[Codeine]

23. I disagree.

They built that character up as a villain. It was practically a comic book villain origin story!

When the daughter of a murderous dictator with a penchant for burning people alive arrives in a kingdom she’s never lived in with a barbarian horde and an army of brainwashed stormtroopers and immediately demands everyone “bend the knee” because of her last name that character is, by definition, NOT THE GOOD GUY!

And when she uses her dragons (whom she proclaims to be her children) to burn alive those who refuse to accept divine right to rule that pretty much seals the deal. No amount of tragic backstory makes up for the fact that she’s a power-hungry maniac hellbent on ruling over everyone just because she wants to and she’s got the right genetic background.

The burning of Kings’ Landing wasn’t an anomaly or a discarding of story development, it was her inevitable character arc.

[marylandblue]

35. I always knew she would burn King's Landing, but the motivation felt off.

She wasn't gratuitously violent, it was always about gaining power. In this case, she had already won the battle, so there was no point to burning the city. If she had instead been losing the battle, then used her dragon to win, it would have made more sense. And Daenerys would have maintained that carefully balanced combination of nobility and power lust, and the ability to inspire both love and fear.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

42. We've seen her arc every step of the way. I think they are spoiled brats.

Probably get everything they want.

My only disappointment is in Tyrion's actions. Although, he said love gets in the way of leading. And his love for Mother of Dragons may have thrown him off kilter.

There is all kinds of logic going on.

[shanny]

27. Do you think they ignored Dany's character?

She was raised and trained to rule by Viserys and Khal Drogo; and she has always, ALWAYS! burned everyone who got in her way. It's just that up to now they have been bad people.

I do agree--if that was part of your meaning--that Jamie should have killed Cersei instead of comforting her: his has been an arc of redemption and she deserved a less-forgiving end.

[hlthe2b]

36. Referring to several characters, Jaime being one, Tyrion went from all wise counsel to never getting

a single thing correct in season 8. While Khaleesi certainly showed her ruthlessness all along, she'd had had several episodes of restraint and developing concern for the people she ruled. Still, I would agree that her reversion to the ruthless side was not really a surprise, though the past two seasons had largely set her up for some evolution beyond her mad king (Queen) destiny. Then there is Cersei whose independent, calculating, malevolent brilliance is turned to dependency on Euron--a half-baked pirate making big promises.

I'm not among those who are grumbling about the course the final season is taking. The show plays out as it plays out. However it ends, I'm betting it will surpass some of the really horrible finales of popular series past. Some get it right, like Breaking Bad, Six Feet Under, M*A*S*H, The Americans, Justified come to mind... Then there are the disappointing ones like Sopranos, Seinfeld, Lost or those which just seem to leave one wanting more with no clear ending (Deadwood).

We shall see...

[shanny]

49. To me the big problem is the show (unavoidably) getting ahead of the books.

I don't know if you have read them, but if you go back to the early seasons, virtually all of the dialogue is lifted word for word from the books. That has been completely absent since we got past book 5, and it shows. Similarly the action--compressed by the writers/showrunners--abounds with stupidity. Tyrion now both stupid and repeating himself with lame jokes. Jon is entirely ineffective, spending much of his time being rescued and--seriously!--yelling? at Viserion in the Battle for Winterfell. Dany et al just forgot that Euron was out there? that scorpions had been built? that her dragons could be at risk? She already lost one, granted to a supernatural being but still. Arya, having said Cerise's name to herself every night for 8? years, and having traveled to King's Landing and gotten into the Keep, just gives it up as a bad job and walks away? WTF?

It doesn't surprise me that Dany broke bad. It does piss me off that what would take Martin hundreds/thousands of pages to set up happens in the blink of an eye: two episodes? three? Dany felt entitled to the Iron Throne and was willing to be ruthless to acquire it, but what on earth made her think that burning King's Landing would further that goal? She had really won already! After smashing the fleet, the scorpions and the gate she could have and should have gone straight for the Red Keep. There was no one to stop her, or even slow her down. And yeah, I would have been much happier with a nastier, more personal ending for Cersei. At least the castle collapsed on her head: she built that.

The idea that the Westerosi will ever accept Dany now, or any ruler with a dragon, is absurd. So I assume Jon kills her: to protect (Sansa) or avenge (Arya) his family, and because he must.

Ned Stark had a choice: be honorable or lie and admit guilt to protect his family. He lied.
Jamie had a choice: be honorable and stay true to his vows, or protect his family and the people of King's Landing. He killed Aerys.
Jon has a choice: be honorable and stay true to his vows, or protect/avenge? his family and the realm. I think he kills Dany...and I suppose he's the one who offs Drogon, somehow. Who else could, or should?

Jon Snow, Dragonslayer.

[Chemisse]

41. Jamie's return to Cersei was far too abrupt.

But if done more gradually, with his internal struggle evident, it would have made some sense to the viewers.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

43. I see it that he did what he pledged. "fought for the living".

Once the dead were defeated, he was not about to set out to attack King's Landing. Or Cersei. Dying in her arms was an early wish and though not a great death, it was as likely as any dramatic death. They could have pulled a Cleopatra and Marc Antony death. I prefer death by King's Landing landing on top of them.

[Solly Mack]

3. lolol

How many of them have read the books (thus far), I wonder.

I have been enjoying the reactions.

[JonLP24]

5. I never watched the show

I'm not into dragons.

[hlthe2b]

6. I'd guess half the audience (myself included) is not either--but the show was much more than that

and the production values alone were incredible for tv--or even for the big screen. I doubt we'll see something on this scale again.

[Codeine]

16. Amazon will be spending a billion dollars

on its upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel series. I suspect with five seasons in the works they’ll end up exceeding that figure.

[shanny]

29. It aint about dragons

...unless you mean the dragons of our nature.

[earthshine]

7. We're allowed do-overs?

Remake the last season of LOST, please.

[Codeine]

15. And the end of Battlestar Galactica.

What a shitshow that turned into.

[earthshine]

18. BG went off the rails in the third season.

The show was great up until the point where Col. Tye and others were outed as Cylons.

And get rid of the gratuitous sex. The three-ways with the Cylons were ridiculous. And any sex scene with Dean Stockwell -- double so!

[Codeine]

19. I don't think of myself as particularly prudish

but I’m definitely over the needless inclusion of boffing scenes in every show being produced recently. Even the Netflix Marvel comics stuff (Jessica Jones was the most egregious) kept tossing that shit in.

[earthshine]

22. Generally, the sex is to make up for the lack of plot points.

I must admit, the sex scenes involving her boss (Jerry) were done erotically. Both my wife and I thought so.

Any scene with Jessica was just pointless boffing and rather uninteresting.

Daredevil did that better -- almost no sex -- just plot and action.

Can't help but notice that the actress Rosario Dawson went from being Luke Cage's love interest to that of Cory Booker. Maybe she has a type!

[emmaverybo]

38. Not prudish either. But if I wanted a porn movie, I'd get one. nt

[Thyla]

8. This is worse than the Star Wars prequels, lol

Seriously though I'm quite happy with the show, even better that it pisses people off. It means it's working.
People have issues.

[GemDigger]

9. I just have to laugh at those people who used change org for something so trivial.

Stomp their feet much....

[BlueTsunami2018]

10. Utterly ridiculous.

This season has been killing it. Perhaps these jokers should just write their own fan fiction if things aren’t going as they wanted.

[Codeine]

17. This.

Did these people really think the end of the show was going to be a happy celebration of primogeniture? The entire underlying theme of the story has been about power corrupting and the inherent injustice of the notion of a divine right to power, and that goes as much for ivory-skinned platinum blonde dragon riders as it does the scheming and sadistic products of incest.

[Iggo]

25. Some of the most major plot-points of this entire thing have been Storytelling 101.

1. If there's a wall, and it's a central part of the story, that wall IS coming down.

2. If there are zombies and there are dragons, there WILL be a zombie dragon.

I'm a little annoyed that I didn't see those two things coming together until about two seconds before it happened, but that just meant I enjoyed it more than I would have.

And for anyone paying attention, the white-haired girl was being set up as the bad guy the whole time. That was apparent even before there was a TV show.

All that being said, the writing has gone precipitously downhill since they ran out of source material. That's just a fact. I really, really, really can't wait for the next book to come out so I can hear the story told correctly.

[emmaverybo]

39. When Sean Bean got executed I knew what I was in for. Petty existential show.

[shanny]

31. well, kinda

The action in this season (actually the last two at a minimum) could have and should have been foreseen. The big problem is the pace: it's like two books' worth in 6 episodes. Doesn't leave any time for...much besides the action.

It feels truncated, unlikely, jarring because, in fact, it is.

[dlk]

11. Perhaps Women Writers Would Have Made a Difference

[JonLP24]

12. I think that is a good point

I have seen complaints made.

Just from a Google search

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.katyfulfer.com/rape-culture-and-game-of-thrones/&ved=2ahUKEwjM-fbWnKPiAhULj54KHWm2CbMQFjAAegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw1u0UCyp2D4vuMw-tihzkt7&cshid=1558118803516

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thewrap.com/game-of-thrones-accused-of-promoting-rape-culture-torture-pornography/amp/

Frame of Thrones: Portrayals of Rape in HBO's Game of Thrones - The Ohio State University
PDFThe Ohio State University › kb › handle

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://kb.osu.edu/bitstream/handle/1811/86109/OSLJ_Furthermore_V79_113.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjM-fbWnKPiAhULj54KHWm2CbMQFjACegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw2LtP-l_HojhlVm7AstUpQ7&cshid=1558118803516

[hlthe2b]

13. 'GOT' Star Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm) Takes A Sword To The Do-Over Petition

The British actor, who plays Grey Worm in HBO’s epic fantasy-drama, summed up the Change.org petition with one word.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/game-of-thrones-jacob-anderson-petition_n_5cdff038e4b00735a9176126

Almost 1 million names had been added to that controversial Change.org petition by Saturday morning calling for a do-over of the eighth and final season of “Game of Thrones.”

But Jacob Anderson, who plays Grey Worm in HBO’s epic fantasy-drama that ends on Sunday, has summed it with just one word-- "rude".

Not sure that's going to quell the outrage...LOL

[PoliticAverse]

30. I still think he should have died in the 3rd episode this season. n/t

[Iggo]

44. About ten of 'em should've. (n/t)

[Codeine]

14. Too many people convinced themselves

that the obvious villain was a hero because she is pretty and blonde and has cool dragons. Every time she’s ever been forced to choose between justice and power she’s favored power. She’s spent seven seasons insisting that the world needs to “bend the knee” to her because of her last name and suddenly you’re surprised she’s power-hungry and crazed? Puh-leeze.

Idiots.

[Iggo]

26. Exactly.

And I should have read further before I responded to your post upthread...lol.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

51. Indeed

Remember when Khal Drogo killed her brother? She was pretty dismissive about it and said, "He clearly wasn't a dragon".

[Codeine]

52. Even then she welcomed any opportunity

to move closer to power. One less Targaryen was to her advantage.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

20. I demand a final season remake. But, ...

... I also demand a revote on Brexit, and a redo of the Nov 2016 general election.

Are any of my demands being met?

I thought not.

[hunter]

21. I'd go with the St. Elsewhere snow globe ending.

Camera zooms out, through the clouds, into a 21st century home.

An autistic kid, or maybe George RR Martin himself, says "Winter is coming..." and shakes the snow globe containing the entire Game of Thrones universe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Elsewhere

[Codeine]

24. I'd watch that. nt

[blur256]

28. I really like GoT

But, I finally got around to watching the second season of West world. I like it better than GoT. Just saying. And not because everyone else thinks the last season of GoT is crap . I'm enjoying the last season.

[Downtown Hound]

32. Whatever. Bunch of crybabies.

I actually thought last week's episode was one of the most brilliant things I've ever seen on TV. It makes a powerful statement about the futility and self-defeating nature of revenge, the corruption of the pursuit of power, and how otherwise good people can become the monsters they fight against. Even Tyrion has the blood of Varys on his hands now. His biggest mistake was in trusting Daenerys too much. But it's hard to fault him, he just wanted someone to believe in after a lifetime of seeing the worst in people.

The people who are upset are those that wanted the fairy tale ending. They might still get one (Arya Stark), but it won't be Dany and Jon falling in love and ruling with wisdom and compassion. That's what they're angry about. Too bad. That was always a pipe dream. And I love that Game of Thrones is willing to risk their wrath to deny the fans that. This is the ending they need, not the one they want.

[Codeine]

34. "This is the ending they need, not the one they want."

Goddamn. That’s the most perfect summation of the issue I’ve yet seen.

[marylandblue]

45. I'm predicting Sansa ends up on the throne.

She's smart, practical and ambitious. She'll rule wisely but has no pretensions of making the world a better place. The game will continue but her scheming will keep the peace for a time.

[CrispyQ]

33. Maybe they should have waited for Martin.

[Codeine]

40. Lol! Forty years later -- Dany with a dragon-shaped walker,

Tyrion with a long white beard looking like Gloin at the Council of Elrond, Arya a grandmother of three, and Jon Snow in the throes of dementia (but nobody notices because he’s always been an idiot.)

[CrispyQ]

46. Excellent!

[Ilsa]

37. I'm fine with last week's show.

It makes sense to me.

[hlthe2b]

48. It is likely many will not be fully satisfied with the finale, but I do think they will do justice

to the series.

[blogslut]

47. Girl went full Boudica

Not surprising.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

50. Some people need to get a life

The show always had it's disturbing moments. The beheading of Ned Stark and the Red Wedding for two examples.

Good fiction is not always "They lived happily ever after."

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

53. Dare I say, get a life.

Okay, so I am not a fan of the show. Never watched it. Never read any of the books either. But really, get a grip. It is just some out there fantasy thing. It's nice that you care about the outcome of the show, but please do not lose track of the fact that IT IS FICTION. IT IS NOT REAL. Enjoy the show, but please do not confuse it with reality.

[hlthe2b]

54. You know, if you want to make a rhetorical point, you should really make it clear you are doing so.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

56. I know, sometimes I just don't express myself very

clearly, do I?

[JuJuYoshida]

55. I've never seen the Game of Thrones

articles like this kinda make me glad I didn't invest in it.