Game of Thrones fans passionate as ever as final episode nears

By JEREMY APPEL on May 18, 2019.

This image released by HBO shows Peter Dinklage in a scene from "Game of Thrones," that aired May 12. Daenerys has reduced King's Landing to ashes in a dramatic, heart-stopping episode. Fans everywhere are debating the choices made by writers as the final season comes to a close, and lovers of the show in Medicine Hat are no different.--HBO via AP

jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel

Game of Thrones – the wildly popular and award-winning HBO series adapted from the “Song of Ice and Fire” books by George R.R. Martin – is coming to a close with its final episode Sunday.

The News spoke with some local fans about what it is they love about the show, their assessment of the polarizing final season and how the series compares to its source material.

Angela Stodalka, a professed “superfan,” exchanged Game of Thrones-themed vows at her wedding.

She said she was attracted to the show and books due to the characters’ complexity and the plot’s unpredictability.

“Most characters have an intricate backstory,” Stodalka explained, adding that she appreciates the show’s strong female leads.

“You learn pretty quickly at the end of season one that you cannot predict what’s going to happen in this series. It’s something you can talk about with another fan for hours. There’s so many details.”

Despite her love for the franchise, she’s found the new season underwhelming thus far.

“The show has skipped ahead of the books and I find the books explain everything better,” said Stodalka. “A lot of people – myself included – are upset because they have invested a lot of time and energy into this story. It’s been built up for so long and the writers are rushing through it.”

Kate Sigmundson says “the series is fundamentally about the different ways women obtain power in an extremely patriarchal society,” which she finds fascinating.

However, she’s found the writing in the past couple of seasons disappointing.

“The plot isn’t coming from the characters making logical choices. They’re having the characters make stupid and inconsistent decisions in order to get to the next plot point,” said Sigmundson. “The direction, effects, costumes, sets and actors are as incredible as ever, which makes it even more disappointing to see the writers put no effort into the story.”

She’s also critical of the show’s lack of female writers, as well as it having had just one female director out of 19.

“Ever since leaving the books behind the writing of the female characters has suffered. It’s pretty disappointing for a show with a huge female audience and several major female characters to have no women in the writers’ room,” Sigmundson said. “That said, it’s still been a lot of fun discussing the show and brutally making fun of it this season.”

Scott Raible, a teacher at Eagle Butte High School, says he greatly appreciates the franchise’s historical and literary allusions, as well as the complex characters and unpredictable plot lines mentioned by Stodalka.

“As an English and History teacher, I enjoyed the rich characters that were embroiled in political drama that was similar to the War of the Roses in Tudor England,” said Raible.

“The novels brought to mind the richness of the Tolkien Lord of the Rings novels, with even more unexpected plot twists.”

These plot twists became even more unpredictable when the series departed from the books, he added.

Raible says he disagrees with many of the criticisms levelled at the final season.

“I truly believe that those who have been carefully watching the series are not surprised with what has taken place,” he said.

“George R.R. Martin has been constantly challenging audience expectations, and based on the success of the show, I believe that the final episode will surprise, excite and leave fans talking for years to come.”