Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
#276
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
#277
Moderator
Thread Starter
#278
DVD Talk Hero - 2023 TOTY Award Winner
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
Personally, I was convinced that either Brienne or Tormund was going to buy it in E3 until I noticed that there was no romantic subplot between them in E2. There will be something between them (although not necessarily anything heavy) before one of them dies. Jorah was an easy one. It was so obvious that he was going to die at some point defending Dany. It was only a matter of when.
#279
Moderator
Thread Starter
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
Per TMZ:
"Game of Thrones" Battle of Winterfell left fans cheering and complaining -- the latter due to it being too damn dark -- but the cinematographer wants to make it clear ... the gripes aren't his fault.
Fabian Wagner -- who was also the cinematographer on lauded 'Thrones' episodes like "Hardhome" and "Battle of the Bastards" -- tells TMZ, he's aware folks are upset that "The Long Night" looked TOO nightly, and he has an explanation.
First, Fabian believes the pixelation and muddy dark colors fans saw on their TVs and mobile devices are due to HBO's compression of the episode ... which leads to poorer visual quality. This is made worse if it's being viewed on a streaming service with a weak connection ... or in a room that's too bright.
As Wagner puts it ... "[GoT] has always been very dark and a very cinematic show" and should be watched in a dark environment. Ideally, this means viewing it like you would a movie -- in a dark theater.
Since that's not realistic for 'Thrones,' Fabian suggests making your viewing room at home as dark as possible, avoid watching on your phone or in places that are lit up ... and adjust your TV settings.
The cinematographer also points out ... the showrunners and director wanted the episode to be dark. Wagner says the battle scenes were intended to be intense, claustrophobic and disorienting -- like they would be in real life -- but not confusing.
Fabian says, "We tried to give the viewers and fans a cool episode to watch," and he believes they did, adding ... "I know it wasn't too dark because I shot it."
Fabian Wagner -- who was also the cinematographer on lauded 'Thrones' episodes like "Hardhome" and "Battle of the Bastards" -- tells TMZ, he's aware folks are upset that "The Long Night" looked TOO nightly, and he has an explanation.
First, Fabian believes the pixelation and muddy dark colors fans saw on their TVs and mobile devices are due to HBO's compression of the episode ... which leads to poorer visual quality. This is made worse if it's being viewed on a streaming service with a weak connection ... or in a room that's too bright.
As Wagner puts it ... "[GoT] has always been very dark and a very cinematic show" and should be watched in a dark environment. Ideally, this means viewing it like you would a movie -- in a dark theater.
Since that's not realistic for 'Thrones,' Fabian suggests making your viewing room at home as dark as possible, avoid watching on your phone or in places that are lit up ... and adjust your TV settings.
The cinematographer also points out ... the showrunners and director wanted the episode to be dark. Wagner says the battle scenes were intended to be intense, claustrophobic and disorienting -- like they would be in real life -- but not confusing.
Fabian says, "We tried to give the viewers and fans a cool episode to watch," and he believes they did, adding ... "I know it wasn't too dark because I shot it."
#280
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
Found this video yesterday. This guy is over the top and appears to be reading his gripes from viewer comments rather than being his own but it kinda sums up how I feel about the episode.
#281
DVD Talk Hero - 2023 TOTY Award Winner
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
Going back to Theon (and I know we are more or less in agreement about him), Theon is an incredibly important character in the books, most especially in A Clash of Kings, where 6 of the 69 chapters are specifically about him. Like in the show, however, his role as a central character has been much, much less since then. I think this makes him seem like less of a major character now than he has actually been since his character sort of peaked when he helped Sansa escape.
#282
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
I just thought of something that could have been cool, is if the Children of the Forest had popped up at the last minute and helped turn the tides. That might have been a little too derivative of LOTR though.
#283
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
Argh! Who the hell would watch this on their phone, and then have the nerve to bitch about the quality?
That preview shot couldn't make me want to watch that video any less.
Found this video yesterday. This guy is over the top and appears to be reading his gripes from viewer comments rather than being his own but it kinda sums up how I feel about the episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5VnIGxAPts&t=0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5VnIGxAPts&t=0s
#284
DVD Talk Legend
#285
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
Because the deadliest battle and most important conflict fought and hyped for 7 seasons should have consequences. Not necessarily Jon or Dany, or even Tyrion, Sansa or Jamie, but certainly one or more among Tormund, Sam, Gilly, Grey Worm, Missandei, Clegane, Gendry, Brienne and Davos.
#286
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
#287
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
When reading the books, you can tell GRRM was writing all the humans as dispensable. The idea was that we and our differences are all irrelevant when it comes to a threat like the NK. Similar to the whole "if aliens ever came, humans would band together as a race". HBO threw that all out the window for the sake of fan service.
#289
DVD Talk Hero
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Hail to the Redskins!
Posts: 25,295
Likes: 0
Received 49 Likes
on
38 Posts
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
Game of Thrones is only the name of the first book. The SERIES is called A Song of Ice and Fire. Pretty blatant that GRRM planned the battle against the NK to be the main story, not a human fight for King's Landing.
When reading the books, you can tell GRRM was writing all the humans as dispensable. The idea was that we and our differences are all irrelevant when it comes to a threat like the NK. Similar to the whole "if aliens ever came, humans would band together as a race". HBO threw that all out the window for the sake of fan service.
When reading the books, you can tell GRRM was writing all the humans as dispensable. The idea was that we and our differences are all irrelevant when it comes to a threat like the NK. Similar to the whole "if aliens ever came, humans would band together as a race". HBO threw that all out the window for the sake of fan service.
(and yes, I will admit I should stop watching Orville just to get that out of the way.)
#290
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
My love of the story is why this episode was so bad (for me).
Last edited by Noonan; 04-30-19 at 09:45 AM.
#291
Moderator
Thread Starter
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
They specifically say in the behind the scenes video she stabs him in the same spot. I don't disagree that it didn't look the same... but this is what they said.
#292
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
I have a theory about the cinematography of the episode (although I'm sure, if true, no one at HBO will ever admit it).
It was obvious that they wanted the look of the episode to be very active/confusing...the whole "fog of war" thing. However, I DON'T think they intended it to be as dark as it was. I think they weren't happy with how a lot of the F/X came out and decided to "hide" a lot of the poorer/more glaring problems through darkness and more digital obscuration (adding digital layers of snow, fire, or whatever was needed).
It was obvious that they wanted the look of the episode to be very active/confusing...the whole "fog of war" thing. However, I DON'T think they intended it to be as dark as it was. I think they weren't happy with how a lot of the F/X came out and decided to "hide" a lot of the poorer/more glaring problems through darkness and more digital obscuration (adding digital layers of snow, fire, or whatever was needed).
And as I said earlier, it just wasn't well staged lit - conveying that the characters feel darkness amid chaos doesn't mean you have to make the viewer feel darkness/chaos as well.
Same as conveying boredom - good filmmakers will be able to show characters are bored without boring the audience.
#293
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
I think Draven meant that Arya stabbed him at the same location as when he was created not the same spot on his body.
#294
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
Too much nitpicking.
The fictional girl pulled a Winter Soldier move and stabbed the ice zombie with a knife made of an imaginary metal, causing him to shatter and all his zombie cohorts to fall down dead. Meanwhile, dragons.
Any extended evaluation of these story points is silly. Kick back, turn off your brain, and enjoy.
The fictional girl pulled a Winter Soldier move and stabbed the ice zombie with a knife made of an imaginary metal, causing him to shatter and all his zombie cohorts to fall down dead. Meanwhile, dragons.
Any extended evaluation of these story points is silly. Kick back, turn off your brain, and enjoy.
#295
Moderator
Thread Starter
#296
DVD Talk Hero - 2023 TOTY Award Winner
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
#297
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
No, I actually did mean she stabbed him in the chest like his creation scene. I had rewatched that scene recently (I couldn't remember exactly what happened) and that's what I thought they were going for. Sounds like the creators thought the same thing. I haven't rewatched Sunday's episode to confirm but that's what I got from it.
#298
Admin
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
I enjoyed the battle. I kinda felt more characters were going to die than actually did. I still think they will off more characters in the next 3 episodes. Maybe you relax a bit with them surviving the battle with the dead and then they get offed in the Cersi battle.
Spoiler:
#299
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
People who know how to shoot are chiming in...
https://twitter.com/JosephKahn/statu...93114326228992
And as I said earlier, it just wasn't well staged lit - conveying that the characters feel darkness amid chaos doesn't mean you have to make the viewer feel darkness/chaos as well.
Same as conveying boredom - good filmmakers will be able to show characters are bored without boring the audience.
https://twitter.com/JosephKahn/statu...93114326228992
And as I said earlier, it just wasn't well staged lit - conveying that the characters feel darkness amid chaos doesn't mean you have to make the viewer feel darkness/chaos as well.
Same as conveying boredom - good filmmakers will be able to show characters are bored without boring the audience.
It may not have been the only problem (although it was, for me), but it was definitely A problem.
#300
DVD Talk Hero - 2023 TOTY Award Winner
Re: Game of Thrones (S8E03) -- 82 minute episode -- “The Long Night” -- 4/28/19
So the weirwood heart tree against which the Night King was created is supposed to be the same one that is at the Winterfell godswood now? I certainly didn't take that away from the flashback to when the NK was created.