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| (Photo Credit: HBO) |
Game of Thrones
Season 8, Episode 3
By Garrett Yoshitomi
After a week of fevered anticipation and predications, the long-awaited Battle of Winterfell is finally here, with Game of Thrones’ longest episode ever, in season eight, episode three, ‘The Long Night.’ Going into ‘The Long Night,’ fans already had a general sense of what to expect – the longest battle ever recorded on film and a whole bunch of beloved characters having it out until the bitter end. While this episode certainly delivers on that first count, giving us over an hour of unadulterated high fantasy warfare, fans expecting a significant number of deaths were likely disappointed by the low mortality rate for major characters, relative to the overall body count. On one hand, stakes do matter for a show as fraught with danger as Game of Thrones. If major characters never die, or if they don’t die as often as they seem like they should, then the major storylines that the series has sewn throughout the years start to lose their suspense, as unscathed victory for our heroes begins to feel all but inevitable.
Initially, Game of Thrones fashioned itself as a show willing to kill off major characters without hesitation, but over the past several seasons this mantra has waned. Balance is important, though, and killing off characters too willingly is just as bad as not killing them off at all. Ultimately, the verdict on whether ‘The Long Night’ spared too many lives will rest on how its survivors affect the rest of the series. I have faith that Thrones is too meticulously well planned out to not have something worthwhile in store for its remaining characters. But if the characters who survived do little to impact the show’s outcome, or if they fail to receive a satisfying conclusion to their own character arcs, then it will be hard to argue that the show was better off in keeping them around, as opposed to giving them the kind of epic hero’s send-off that many fans were hoping for.
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| (Photo Credit: HBO) |
In addition to the scarcity of major fatalities, many fans have been quick to criticize ‘The Long Night’ for its cinematography, specifically, how dark its battle scenes appear on-screen. From a creative standpoint, this unrelenting darkness makes sense, as our inability to discern exactly what’s going on mirrors the confusion and terror that our characters are experiencing. However, it doesn't matter how fitting this visual storytelling device is, if viewers are too confused by what they’re seeing to appreciate it. And, while I don’t feel like the lighting issues are prevalent enough that they detract from the overall quality of the episode, there are enough scenes where it’s truly impossible to see what’s going on that it takes you out of the moment when watching what should be Game of Thrones’ most gripping battle ever.
What we are able to see of this episode is amazing, though, and the feats of battle ‘The Long Night’ pulls off places it solidly within the pantheon of greatest television episodes ever. From the Dothraki’s initial charge and their subsequent extinguishing, to Drogon and Rhaegal soaring above the clouds in the light of a crescent moon, this episode is full of amazing moments befitting of THE battle that Game of Thrones has been building up to for the past eight years. What makes these moments even more precious is how fleeting their sense of victory is. Right from the start, Jon and Dany’s forces appear to lose the upper hand in haunting fashion, and never quite win it back until the very end. Throughout the series, our characters have been faced with a constant stream of harsh endeavors, with the only reprieve coming in sporadic, short-lived triumphs. The Battle of Winterfell mirrors this narrative pattern closely, as the entire episode sees our heroes’ valiant efforts succeeding briefly, only to ultimately fail against the relentless onslaught of the army of the dead.
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| (Photo Credit: HBO) |
But it’s not all dragon fire and trebuchets for this week’s episode. There are a handful of notable character moments sprinkled throughout the eighty-two minutes that help fill in the narrative gaps found in-between the overarching battle sequences. By far, the most heartwarming scenes are between Theon and Bran, as the culmination of Theon’s multi-season long redemption tour draws to a close. You could feel the burden being lifted from Theon’s shoulders when he’s finally able to apologize to Bran for the Sack of Winterfell. And, Bran’s response is the perfect blend of Three-Eyed Raven wisdom and whatever trace amounts of the old Bran still exist. These human elements that Bran and Theon breath into their interactions allow these scenes to serve as the much-needed emotional center for an episode that’s generally more concerned with violence and carnage.
Although the scenes between Theon and Bran are responsible for providing ‘The Long Night’ with its more character-driven moments, it’s Arya Stark, who ends up as this episode’s focal point. This is somewhat surprising given the natural assumption that a Jon or a Dany would wind up carrying this episode, but despite starting the battle on the sidelines, it’s Arya who manages to steal the show from what’s largely an ensemble effort. Arya’s importance is initially (and intentionally) left unclear. And, while her solo adventure through the halls of Winterfell might feel like a strange detour away from the “real action,” her entire storyline is actually incredibly key, and also provides a more focused, intimate way for this episode to build dramatic tension.
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| (Photo Credit: HBO) |
Elsewhere in Winterfell, Sansa and Tyrion seek shelter in the crypts, reminiscing about their one-time marriage, and later sharing a tender moment right before what appears to be their impending doom. Sansa and Tyrion’s scenes are quite enjoyable, as both characters share a surprising amount of chemistry as deft political maneuverers who find themselves woefully out of place when it comes to combat. In speaking about their former betrothal, Sansa acknowledges that even though Tyrion was the best of her past suitors, a relationship between them would never work because of his conflicting loyalty to Daenerys. Even with her world on the brink of destruction, Sansa holds fast to the political implications of her relationships, rather than the comfort they might bring in the face of her imminent demise. This scene serves as a useful reminder that not even the threat of the Night King can eliminate the ubiquity of politics within Westeros. And, with the Great War now over, you can expect a swift return back to this regularly scheduled programming.
With the Great War unexpectedly ending after just one episode (although to be fair, it is the longest episode in show history), the series turns its attention back to its core focus of determining who will ultimately rise to power as ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Game of Thronesis entering its endgame, and just like the Avengersfilm of the same name, very little information has been made public about the series’ closing chapters. All season eight trailers and promotional images that were released prior to the start of the season have focused exclusively on the first three episodes, leaving the home stretch of Game of Thrones a bit of a mystery. It’s clear, though, that after her suspicious absence from two straight episodes, Cersei will feature prominently into the remaining episodes. In addition, Dany, Jon, and possibly even Tyrion, all figure to play key roles in the rapidly approaching fight for the Iron Throne.
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