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Fandom and Game of Thrones, and Commentary on Cultural Items
Fascinating discussion on fandom and how social media has been affected by it in response to Game of Thrones. Cast of Kings Podcast on Game of Thrones S8 episode The Bells
But you don't need to watch GoT or know anything about to appreciate this portion of the podcast.
It examines why we all feel a need to voice an opinion on things, and the need to stop people from critiquing things we enjoy.
The first half of it is all about how people interact on social media about how fans interact and how their opinions on stories/television shows/etc items of culture. And how we are NOT what we watch or our opinions on it.
And then it goes into the episode. You can stop before you get there...because the first half applies to all fandoms and discourse on social media.
If you just want the stuff on fan interactions, just stop before they go into Game of Thrones. They also talk about vague bit about this week's Barry -- making me want to check it out again.
The second half does a very good job of explaining why the episode does not work. And how contrived the plot is to reach a certain point.
Take away...which is why I had issues...please note these commentators felt the same way I did:
"This episode made me retroactively angry at things that happened in previous episodes. Such as the fact that Drogon is unbeatable in this episode. While the dragons are easily killed in previous ones, with little effort."
"Also isn't there something about Stone not being affected by Dragon fire? But it cuts through it like a hot knife through butter."
"Also, how laughable is the Golden Company...Cersei doesn't even have a chance?"
Yep...this episode shows how bad all the preceding episodes are.
And...
"What happened to these characters felt so unearned that it really upset me. It's not the idea of Dany going mad or becoming a bad tyrant that upset -- it's how it was executed."
"It's frustrating discussing this online because there is a big difference between foreshadowing and making you believe a character is going a certain direction. Or mistaking well-earned surprise for shock."
Exactly. The audience should be able to feel it coming or expect it. The Red Wedding..you sense coming, but the burning of Kings Landing is...shocking not well-earned. And it could have been earned, if they bothered to do the heavy lifting, and the leg work.
I agree with absolutely everything the podcasters state in this, and it is worth listening to even if you've never watched Game of Thrones. In part because they also explain why it is important to earn a moment, you can't just do it with metaphor or foreshadowing. It's an important lesson for writers like myself to see and acknowledge.
But you don't need to watch GoT or know anything about to appreciate this portion of the podcast.
It examines why we all feel a need to voice an opinion on things, and the need to stop people from critiquing things we enjoy.
The first half of it is all about how people interact on social media about how fans interact and how their opinions on stories/television shows/etc items of culture. And how we are NOT what we watch or our opinions on it.
And then it goes into the episode. You can stop before you get there...because the first half applies to all fandoms and discourse on social media.
If you just want the stuff on fan interactions, just stop before they go into Game of Thrones. They also talk about vague bit about this week's Barry -- making me want to check it out again.
The second half does a very good job of explaining why the episode does not work. And how contrived the plot is to reach a certain point.
Take away...which is why I had issues...please note these commentators felt the same way I did:
"This episode made me retroactively angry at things that happened in previous episodes. Such as the fact that Drogon is unbeatable in this episode. While the dragons are easily killed in previous ones, with little effort."
"Also isn't there something about Stone not being affected by Dragon fire? But it cuts through it like a hot knife through butter."
"Also, how laughable is the Golden Company...Cersei doesn't even have a chance?"
Yep...this episode shows how bad all the preceding episodes are.
And...
"What happened to these characters felt so unearned that it really upset me. It's not the idea of Dany going mad or becoming a bad tyrant that upset -- it's how it was executed."
"It's frustrating discussing this online because there is a big difference between foreshadowing and making you believe a character is going a certain direction. Or mistaking well-earned surprise for shock."
Exactly. The audience should be able to feel it coming or expect it. The Red Wedding..you sense coming, but the burning of Kings Landing is...shocking not well-earned. And it could have been earned, if they bothered to do the heavy lifting, and the leg work.
I agree with absolutely everything the podcasters state in this, and it is worth listening to even if you've never watched Game of Thrones. In part because they also explain why it is important to earn a moment, you can't just do it with metaphor or foreshadowing. It's an important lesson for writers like myself to see and acknowledge.