The last two seasons of Game of Thronesare incredibly divisive, but the show went downhill earlier than that — even if viewers didn’t realize it right away. Although Game of Throneschanged fantasy television forever, it never quite achieved perfection. But the possibility of becoming a 10/10 fantasy show was there, especially during its earliest outings.
Unfortunately, things went off the rails when the HBO series outpaced George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire books, and they never really righted themselves. Thanks to a few strong episodes in the middle of Game of Thrones, the shift in quality wasn’t as noticeable at first. However, the stage was set for season 7 and 8’s biggest problems much earlier.
Game Of Thrones’ Last 2 Seasons Get A Lot Of Hate, But The Show’s Problems Started Earlier
What Went Wrong With Seasons 7 And 8
Whether you love or hate the series’ ending, you’ve probably heard people discuss what went wrong with Game of Thrones season 8. Indeed, heated debates about the choices made in “The Bells” and “The Iron Throne” are still cropping up online, even six years later. From Bran becoming king to Daenerys turning into a villain, criticisms of the final episodes are widespread.
That’s not to mention the dissatisfaction with the Night King’s fate and the White Walker storyline. Generally, most of these complaints boil down to the fact that Game of Thrones feels rushed during its six-episode eighth season. George R.R. Martin famously wanted more seasons to cover the story, and it’s clear they would have helped.
Game of Thrones season 7 suffers from similar issues, just to a lesser extent. It’s exciting to see the characters’ journeys converge, but it all happens far too quickly. Travels that once would have taken the full season are condensed to just a few scenes. This makes the series’ pacing feel uneven and takes away from the gritty realism that made it special.
These flaws contribute to the reputation of Game of Thrones last two outings, but earlier seasons laid the groundwork for them.
These flaws contribute to the reputation of Game of Thrones’ last two outings, but earlier seasons laid the groundwork for them. In truth, the cracks in the HBO show’s writing started to show in season 5 — but back then, there was still hope they’d improve.
The Cracks In Game Of Thrones’ Writing Began During Season 5
After A Stellar Fourth Season, The Story Fell Off A Bit
The third and fourth outings are easily the best seasons of Game of Thrones, and their commitment to the source material is why they’re so strong. However, season 5 is where the HBO adaptation begins to move away from Martin’s work. This is both out of necessity (The Winds of Winter remains delayed) and an attempt to condense his many storylines and characters.
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After all, season 5 had plenty to draw from, with A Feast for Crows and A Dance With Dragons already out when it debuted. And the best aspects of the season are taken directly from the books; just look at Jon Snow’s cliffhanger ending. By contrast, things like Sansa’s marriage to Ramsay Bolton and the entire Dorne narrative are altered to simplify the story and move it along.
Such changes can be necessary when adapting fantasy projects, but they don’t necessarily benefit Game of Thrones. The show’s Dorne storyline is among its biggest criticisms overall, as it significantly waters down what’s in Martin’s books. It also feels meandering at times, just like Dany’s season 5 stint learning how to rule.
Overall, most of season 5 feels like a lull between season 4’s major events and the series’ conclusion.
Sansa’s time with Ramsay feels unnecessarily cruel — even if it’s based on Jeyne Poole’s storyline in the books — and it also takes its time moving the plot forward. Overall, most of season 5 feels like a lull between season 4’s major events and the series’ conclusion. Most of its issues are early signs of what’s to come, but it takes a while to really notice the shift.
Why It Took So Long For Viewers To Notice The HBO Show Going Downhill
Season 6 Took Attention Away From Earlier Flaws
Although Game of Thrones’ descent started back in season 5, many viewers look to seasons 7 and 8 as the show’s downfall — and there are a couple of reasons for that. For one, Game of Thrones season 6 does a lot of heavy lifting to make up for season 5’s mistakes.
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While Sansa’s storyline in season 5 leaves a lot to be desired, the following outing leverages it to have her and Jon reclaim Winterfell and defeat Ramsay Bolton. Both are immensely satisfying, and “The Battle of the Bastards” is one of Game of Thrones‘ overall best episodes.
Daenerys’ arc gets a satisfying payoff in season 6 as well, with her reclaiming power from the Dothraki and the Masters, then setting sail for Westeros. And even if the Dorne subplot never gets justice, its problems are less front and center after season 5.
That’s why it’s easy to overlook Game of Thrones season 5 as the beginning of the end: season 6 offers hope of a comeback.
And that’s why it’s easy to overlook Game of Thrones season 5 as the beginning of the end: season 6 offers hope of a comeback. By the end of the sixth outing, it really does feel as though Game of Thrones has found its footing again after leaving the source material behind. Sadly, seasons 7 and 8 prove otherwise.
Game Of Thrones
10/10
- Release Date
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2011 – 2019-00-00
- Showrunner
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David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
- Directors
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David Nutter, Alan Taylor, D.B. Weiss, David Benioff
