Vibalist

It would have been an honourable lie. You're trying to save the world.

Except Ned often didn't tell the truth, because he recognized it was sometimes more honorable to lie. He didn't tell Robert about Jon being a Targaryen (hell, he didn't even tell Jon, or any of the other Starks), because it would have gotten Jon killed. He said he was a traitor before he was executed, as he knew this was the only way to save his daughters. The parallel the writers want to draw between Jon and Ned is based on a complete misunderstanding of Ned as a character. He knew how to play the game, he just didn't care to. Jon, on the other hand, is incapable of playing the game, because he's an idiot.

Re: your first point. The books and show are not 'completely unrealistic' fantasy, but semi realistic. They have dragons, certain characters that are larger than life (especially on the show), but the main characters are mortal, flawed and, most importantly, very restricted by the rigid feudal society they inhabit. To call a story that goes out of its way to show realistic consequences, that purposefully makes its characters confused, flawed, tragic and subject to rules and laws larger than themselves, that actually has them react believably to many situations (contrary to what you say) is not the definition of 'completely unrealistic' by any stretch. Re: your second point. You're wrong about the show and books not breaking tropes. To say this is, once again, a complete stretch. Even if you're right that no one major dies after Robb (which I'd dispute), there's still the fact that Ned and Robb do die. And then there's the fact that one doesn't need to kill a character to break a fantasy trope. aSoIaF breaks tropes in so many other ways. Evil schemers like Littlefinger don't get their comeuppance (at least not yet), but thrive because they know how to plan. The charming mercenary sidekick, Bronn, turns out not to have a heart of gold, but really is as selfish as he appears outwardly. The skilled knight who builds his entire identity on being a good swordfighter loses his hand, and is forced to re-evaluate his entire life. These are the exact kinds of things you'd see in a story that isn't interested in playing tropes straight, and all these things serve to make aSoIaF exactly the kind of (semi)realistic tale you claim it isn't. Also, just as an aside, here are a few other shock deaths that aren't Robb or Ned: Renly, Oberyn, Khal Drogo, Viserys, Quentyn, plus what happens to Theon (not a death, I know, but still shocking and unexpected).

Many things are global, cultural phenomenons. Transformers, for instance. I'm pretty sure those movies will never go down in history as anything. it's true, however, that the tv series is groundbreaking in terms of visuals, and will probably be remembered for that. But the story isn't going to hold up to any level of deeper analysis. When you look back at it in twenty years, you won't remember it as a classic, but as, precisely, a phenomenon. The cultural impact of the show is what we will discuss in the future. Not the show itself, which will rightly be remembered as a good story that turned into schlock halfway through.

Yes, because what fans want on a surface level is something that makes them feel good. Seeing Tyrion become a hero feels good, reuniting the Starks feels good, seeing Daenerys come out of nowhere yet again with her dragons to turn the tide of a battle feels good.... initially, and especially if you watch the show with other people, where everyone is hyping each other up. It's only when you reflect on the plot inconsistencies you begin to dislike the story, but HBO isn't interested in the type of viewer who does that, they're interested in the initial hype factor, the spectacle, the ratings. And the show delivers on that front. Watch the hundreds of reaction videos where people cheer when Arya kills Frey or when Daenerys burns the Lannister army. GoT is a pop culture phenomenon now, with millions of fans who could give less of a fuck about the larger themes and the deconstruction of traditional fantasy, and only want the epicness.

I don't understand all the tens and elevens and twelves people give this episode.I consider it a three or a four. Maybe not as a standalone episode, but as a continuation of a season that has been very, very bad. I think the worst moment was the one leading up to the meeting in the Dragon's Pit. Not because anything egregious happened there, but because the scene with all the characters walking along together solidified how much of a fan service show Game of Thrones has become. I think it's obvious that the writers have been trying to work towards such an event from the minute they were given full reigns over the story, a moment where fans can go "Oh, look! It's The Hound and Brienne, together!" "Cool! It's The Hound threatening his big brother! Cleganebowl is coming!" "Oh, wow, it's Jon, Cersei, Daenerys, Tyrion, Brienne, Davos, Missandei (if anyone cares about this boring non-character), Bronn and Jaime, all in the same room!" It felt like some weird ensemble thing that could only happen on an SNL skit, or in a show where all logic and internal consistency has long been thrown out of the window. It felt like giving in to the fans' wishes that characters are constantly reunited and thrown into situations where they meet each other, because "wouldn't it be cool if...". It was simply the consequence of the writing being a complete train wreck for the past three to four seasons. A shit storm that's been building for 30 episodes, if you will. There's really nothing new to point out here that hasn't already been said, because this episode is bad for the same reason every episode since season 4 has been bad. Characters are a complete far cry from their original selves, not because they've evolved, but because they've devolved into stock heroes and villains (in a show where the author famously said that the battle between good and evil "takes place within the human heart", and not between good guys in white and bad guys in black). Littlefinger's death was the result of a non sensical scheme which caused two characters – Arya and Sansa – to act completely irrationally for no reason. It was obvious that this plot line only served to create false tension and to kill off the useless Littlefinger character, whom the showrunners had no clue what to do with. Theon's fight against that Ironborn commander was a complete joke, not least of all because they decided to make a humorous moment out of Theon's castration ("it doesn't hurt when he gets kicked in the balls because he doesn't have any, har har"), but also because those ridiculous Ironborn turned at the drop of a hat and suddenly decided saving Yara is worthwhile, because what? Because their ridiculed and emasculated prince won a scrap by a stroke of luck, brought on by him not having a dick? This show doesn't even have the guts to kill off Theon, a character whom they've given ten minutes of screen time in the last 20 episodes, a guy who by all means could have had a fitting ending on that beach, betrayed by his own men who no longer respect him, weakened and humiliated. But of course he ends up pulling through because this is now Lord of the Rings, and he's one of the good guys. Lena Headey is the only thing I liked about this episode, maybe this season. Cersei is still a moderately interesting character, and Headey can act, unlike dead pan Emilia Clarke. Having Daenerys and Cersei together in a scene really solidified the massive gap between their respective levels of talent, even if they barely said a word to each other in a scene that, by all logic, should have centered around them. I also have to mention the non existant chemistry between Kit Harrington and Emilia Clarke. This is in part due to the fact that the actors portraying them are the least talented on the entire show, but also because there's no reason these characters should like each other. They just have sex because, hey, the fans want it. There's just nothing here anymore, aside from good acting and nice visuals. Granted, that's pretty important, but without a coherent story, everything else is just a backdrop to bunch of nothing. The best we can hope for in season eight are some spectacular fights and maybe an ending that isn't all flowery, but I wouldn't even bank on the latter by now.