Came to 'Game of Thrones' fairly late in the game and due to being so busy the binge-watching was gradual. Have found myself truly loving the show, very quickly becoming one of my favourites. It totally lives up to the hype and not only does it do the brilliant source material justice (a rarity in television) it is on its own merits one of the finest, most addictive and consistently compelling shows in recent years and quality-wise it puts a lot of films in recent years to shame.
"The Watchers on the Wall" may not be the most emotionally-charged, with previous episodes with being a little more emotionally investable, episode of a consistently great to brilliant Season 4 (yes, even "Oathkeeper" which is not liked by some book fans) or of the penultimate-episode-of-the-season episodes. It is though the season's most thrilling, if not as epic as "Blackwater" from Season 2.
Basically, "The Watchers on the Wall" depicts the battle of the Night Watchers and the Wildings. It is a truly thrilling one, full of rousing heroism, intensity and some heart-break, 'The Lord of the Rings' comparisons have been thrown around and one can see why. It was the most expensive 'Game of Thrones' episode up to this point, and that is obvious in an episode that looks expensive and has more of a cinematic look than a good deal of films with a bigger budget.
In terms of individual scenes, the major scene between Jon Snow and Ygritte which was heart-breaking. The very end makes one eager for the next episode.
All the performances are great, but Kit Harrington, Rose Leslie and John Bradley are especially note-worthy in the major roles most focused on.
Visually, "The Watchers on the Wall" looks amazing, as one would expect for 'Game of Thrones'. The scenery is throughout spectacular, the sets are hugely atmospheric and beautiful on the eyes with a real meticulous eye for detail and the costumes suit the characters to a tee. The make-up is beautifully done. The visual effects are some of the best of any television programme and are not overused or abused, the scale, the detail and how they actually have character and soul are better than those in a lot of the big-budget blockbusters. As well the cinematography and editing, which are cinematic quality as well.
One cannot talk about "The Watchers on the Wall" without mentioning the thematically, orchestrally and atmospherically multi-layered music scoring and the unforgettable main theme. Again, worthy of a high-budget fantasy/action/drama film.
It is hard not to be bowled over by the quality of the writing, outstanding isn't a strong enough adjective to describe how good the writing is once again. It always has a natural flow, is layered and thought-provoking and demonstrates a wide range of emotions such as suspenseful tension, poignant pathos and witty humour. The story is paced beautifully, structured with such nuance and attention to coherence, a high emotional level and is done with intelligence, passion and sensitivity.
Concluding, wonderful episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox
"The Watchers on the Wall" may not be the most emotionally-charged, with previous episodes with being a little more emotionally investable, episode of a consistently great to brilliant Season 4 (yes, even "Oathkeeper" which is not liked by some book fans) or of the penultimate-episode-of-the-season episodes. It is though the season's most thrilling, if not as epic as "Blackwater" from Season 2.
Basically, "The Watchers on the Wall" depicts the battle of the Night Watchers and the Wildings. It is a truly thrilling one, full of rousing heroism, intensity and some heart-break, 'The Lord of the Rings' comparisons have been thrown around and one can see why. It was the most expensive 'Game of Thrones' episode up to this point, and that is obvious in an episode that looks expensive and has more of a cinematic look than a good deal of films with a bigger budget.
In terms of individual scenes, the major scene between Jon Snow and Ygritte which was heart-breaking. The very end makes one eager for the next episode.
All the performances are great, but Kit Harrington, Rose Leslie and John Bradley are especially note-worthy in the major roles most focused on.
Visually, "The Watchers on the Wall" looks amazing, as one would expect for 'Game of Thrones'. The scenery is throughout spectacular, the sets are hugely atmospheric and beautiful on the eyes with a real meticulous eye for detail and the costumes suit the characters to a tee. The make-up is beautifully done. The visual effects are some of the best of any television programme and are not overused or abused, the scale, the detail and how they actually have character and soul are better than those in a lot of the big-budget blockbusters. As well the cinematography and editing, which are cinematic quality as well.
One cannot talk about "The Watchers on the Wall" without mentioning the thematically, orchestrally and atmospherically multi-layered music scoring and the unforgettable main theme. Again, worthy of a high-budget fantasy/action/drama film.
It is hard not to be bowled over by the quality of the writing, outstanding isn't a strong enough adjective to describe how good the writing is once again. It always has a natural flow, is layered and thought-provoking and demonstrates a wide range of emotions such as suspenseful tension, poignant pathos and witty humour. The story is paced beautifully, structured with such nuance and attention to coherence, a high emotional level and is done with intelligence, passion and sensitivity.
Concluding, wonderful episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox