JR's TV Reviews - GAME OF THRONES, Seasons 1-8

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GAME OF THRONES, Seasons 1-8

Year of Release: 2011-2019

JR's Rating:  (9.8 out of 10, Impressive)
⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️

"Fire And Blood"

Putting politics and war at the forefront of poetry and artistry is just one of the many achievements this series has to offer. It’s a rare feat even for a TV series to create a massive fanbase last replicated by Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. It’s a cultural phenomenon you can’t just miss. Game of Thrones isn't your typical chill or guilty pleasure series but rather it challenges human morals and principles to create an extraordinary experience in this generation of film and television.

Game of Thrones brings us to the not so prosperous nation of Westeros where the seven kingdoms is ruled and inhabited by several houses that may want a claim to the most powerful seat that is the Iron Throne. The most prominent houses include the Starks, the Lannisters, and the Targaryens, all are getting a shot to rule and command. When ruled by the wrong king or queen, however, chaos is sure to erupt within the entire realm, war is but bound to happen. How will the entire Westeros handle though when the real threat has been with them all along, an army that might surely erase what has been their history for so long. The Game of Thrones is but a game where living fights against the living and also the living against the dead.

The symbolic overthrow of power has always been a part of humanity for so long. Game of Thrones reflects how power ultimately makes good or bad of any individual who pursues it, how man's desire for power blinds them to the real social problems of economic and judicial inequality. Why I love watching the series is how relevant it is in today's modern politics when what has been taught to be gone in the past is still very much existent at present. Power is power and it resides where men shall and continue to believe. Political dynastry and patronage has always been a continuing problem, when all we trust on how good a leader is through their last name, their popularity and their luxury. As made evident in the series is how wisdom, character and story makes the best leader, the key to create a fruitful nation and a great way to design it. The reality sometimes is that the wisest one doesn't even want to lead in the first place and the one who wants it only desire for the immunity and perks that comes with being the most powerful man alive. I doubt you wouldn't engage in political dialogue after you watch Game of Thrones.

JR's TV Reviews - GAME OF THRONES, Season 8

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GAME OF THRONES, Season 8

Year of Release: 2019

JR's Rating:  (9.2 out of 10, Impressive)

"Winter Is Coming"

The final stretch looks rough but the battles against the dead and for the Iron Throne has been anticipated for so long. Power has always been a point of discussion, and weighing its consequences is a duty.

"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives."
- said Sansa Stark to Arya Stark

Waging war against the dead is inconceivable but it idealizes the concept of death being the enemy of all. The difficulty of winning against death is in reality not possible but when everyone is up for one goal, the once impossible may become possible. Defeating the Night King has always been known from the onset of watching the series. It's one of the threats that glooms king and men in Westeros that without action may also mean their end. The dead was successfully withstood not without casualty. The end of the fight against the dead eventually starts the war for power.

"Love is more powerful than reason. We all know that. Love is the death of duty.
Sometimes, duty is the death of love"
- Jon Snow & Tyrion Lannister dialogue

Jon Snow, Cersei, Daenerys. These three we invested so much time and emotions (may it be love or hate) for so long. But when decisions are to be made, the living, the people, are what marks being a king or queen in the first place. The rise towards the top of dynasties come with a huge fall especially when all comes to naught. The abuse of power had threatened Westeros for so long and the end of the Iron Throne brings forth an enlightened leadership that is of the people, for the people, and by the people. Birthright doesn't really justify being good, wisdom is formed through experience and choice which are what makes a king. What better way to have a king than putting someone who already knows how it should be done. I guess that's a way to end it.

Technical wise, cinematography, direction and design were spot on. Narrative wise, I have to say this season could have been stretched out for 2-3 seasons separating the storylines for the fight against the dead and the fight for the Iron Throne. Everything we so loved about the series was cramped into 6 episodes not without paying tribute to many stories of the past. The last season is self-referential but the degree of parallelism and detail was intricate proving that indeed the Game of Thrones is a so powerful story that has it's modern day ramifications and worth. Chaos and fear may inspire good endings after all.

JR's TV Reviews - GAME OF THRONES, Season 7

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GAME OF THRONES, Season 7

Year of Release: 2017

JR's Rating:  (9.9 out of 10, Impressive)

⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️

"We Do Not Sow"

"There is only one war that matters, The Great War. And it is here."
said Jon Snow after showing a Wight to Cersei at King's Landing.

It has been a long way coming, the dead are now bound for Westeros. We had our first glimpse of them at the very first episode when members of the Night's Watch were attacked by the undead. We would visualize how large an army they really are when Samwell Tarly and Brandon Stark would see them at separate instances. This time, Jon Snow with a group of his men are bound to get just one wight to show proof to everyone that the threat is real. Catching the attention of both Queen Daenerys and Queen Cersei, the game towards the Iron Throne would seem to halt in preparation for the Army of the Dead. The question is would they drop arms against each other and instead raise it towards the real enemy. The Great War is bound to happen one way or another.

This season is intense as it builds the foundation for what will be the Long Night in the final season. Scores are settled as House Tyrell and House Martell would meet their demise leaving House Stark, House Targaryen and House Lannister at the game of thrones. If they win this war against the dead, what's to happen next? And how would the entire Westeros handle the reality that Jon Snow is indeed the more valid heir than Daenerys Targaryen and Cersei Lannister? All we can do is wait for these last two wars.

JR's TV Reviews - GAME OF THRONES, Season 6

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GAME OF THRONES, Season 6

Year of Release: 2016

JR's Rating:  (10 out of 10, Outstanding)

⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️

"Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken"

"Kill the boy and let the man be born."
- Maester Aemon to Jon Snow

The great game is now and it's terrifying. The battle against the dead and towards the throne is finally going into motion. Behold, our beloved Jon Snow rises from the dead vengeful as ever, not just he avenges for his death but also for the entire North as he battles Ramsay Bolton for Winterfell. Down south in King's Landing, Cersei is about to kill all her enemies after being shamed by the Sparrows. Everything goes according to plan as she manages to burst the Sept of Baelor into flames. Meanwhile, outside Westeros, Queen Daenerys has fought for peace in Meereen. She would eventually form a large army comprising of Unsullied and Dothrakis while also creating alliances with the Greyjoys, Tyrells and Martells as she finally decides to go towards Westeros. We are on close guard on these three people - Jon Snow, Queen Daenerys and Queen Cersei - as the true battle in Westeros is now starting.

The first eight episodes build up tension in what will be two of the strongest in Game of Thrones, eventually these would set up the future battles towards the Army of the Dead and against the diabolical Cersei Lannister. Each episode keeps us hanging making us want for more and more and more. It's no doubt that Season 6 is the best the series has to offer. The "Battle of the Bastards" alone provides us a spectacular, action-packed ride that exceeds violence and rather triumphs over war films as it depicts a battle in the most legitimate and strategic medieval sense. It's well-choreographed with excellent direction and cinematography unmatched by the upcoming battles in the final season. The "The Winds of Winter", on the other hand, presents a poetic ending for your typical violent series going all theatrical and orchestral as we see a shamed Cersei gets her dramatic retribution but again not without casualty.

JR's TV Reviews - GAME OF THRONES, Season 5

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GAME OF THRONES, Season 5

Year of Release: 2015

JR's Rating:  (10 out of 10, Outstanding)

⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️

"Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken"

"Kill the boy and let the man be born."
- Maester Aemon to Jon Snow

Foreshadowing is the key to set forth the many events that will take place in the powerful nation of Westeros. The start foreshadows the grim that is yet to happen to Cersei, her children and an ominous overthrow of her reign as queen as well. That begs the idea of an eventual downfall of house Lannister. At the moment though, while we might probably have a new, more prosperous king, in the form of King Tommen, there are many threats still looming under the king's direction. The army of the dead, Daenerys, Stannis, the Boltons and the newly minted Sparrows are still to be dealt with in the not so much prosperous nation. Peace and alliances are to be made but more and more enemies are bound consequently. You can't just feel confident and calm when defeat is a snap away.

To defeat the army of the dead, Jon Snow assembles truce between the wildlings and crows but ends up being killed treacherously as a traitor to his cause. To claim the North, the Boltons have ransacked Winterfell and is fixing marriage between the bastard Ramsay and Sansa but the former escapes just as the Boltons won war against Stannis who came short of furthering his claim as king. To set her path to Westeros, Queen Daenerys is just but starting her reign in Meereen but is contested with having her ideals and principles on the way of tradition and politics in the nation of her people. To punish sin and spread the true message of faith, the Sparrows are slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with as, despite the power that are the Tyrells and Cersei, they managed to implore correction and atonement. This season is about personal agendas and scores to be settled in what seems to be the start of the war against the dead and also the war towards the throne.

JR's TV Reviews - GAME OF THRONES, Season 4

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GAME OF THRONES, Season 4

Year of Release: 2014

JR's Rating:  (10 out of 10, Outstanding)

⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️

"Hear Me Roar!"

"What good is power if you cannot protect the ones you love?"
- Cersei Lannister to Prince Oberyn Martell

And finally the moment we've been waiting for, King Joffrey Baratheon, or better, Lannister has been killed. Yes I said it, it's been a long way coming but it finally happened. We follow the consequences of his death which leaves the Lannisters stronger and at the same time vulnerable. Both Sansa and Tyrion are at the forefront of the suspects. People all over Westeros are taking pleasure from his demise since a king as mad as him never deserve the throne to begin with. The Tyrells are on the peak of reaching the throne while the Martells are close at getting their revenge. Daenerys is slowly picking up her army while Stannis and even an older and younger Bolton are slowly claiming the North to their advantage, the former knowing the presence of a greater threat beyond the wall. Chaos is sprucing all over Westeros as the play for the Iron Throne continues.

JR's TV Reviews - GAME OF THRONES, Season 3

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GAME OF THRONES, Season 3

Year of Release: 2013

JR's Rating:  (9.8 out of 10, Impressive)

⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️

"Family, Duty, Honor"

"I want to fight for the side that fights for the living. Did I come to the right place?"
- Jon Snow to Mance Ryder

The season begins where it ended. Samwell Tarly is spared but the message is clear of a greater and more dangerous threat for the entire of Westeros. As much as men (and woman) are waging towards their claim for the throne, this greater danger is making its presence known. The question is when and how. While Jon Snow is already aware of this, he gets conflicted with how to fight for his cause as a newly developed love, an eventual violation of his oath, would hinder him down. Down the wall in Westeros, we are left with Robb Stark, Stannis Baratheon, and Joffrey Baratheon still at odds while a Queen Daenerys is sparing the advocacy of breaking chains, going against slavery in a bid to gain the trust and love of the people. Who would live and die is a continuing question. The true Game of Thrones is just getting heated up.

JR's TV Reviews - GAME OF THRONES, Season 2

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GAME OF THRONES, Season 2

Year of Release: 2012

JR's Rating:  (9.6 out of 10, Impressive)

"Ours Is The Fury"

"How can a man be brave if he's afraid? That is the only time a man can be brave."
- Robb Stark to Talisa

The real game of thrones has started when four men and one woman is ought for the Iron Throne. When alliances are supposed to be made, the choice is either to fulfill or neglect. When promises are meant to be said, the choice is either to make or break. Stannis Baratheon is known to have a heavy hand losing almost none of his battles. Renly Baratheon a more righteous ruler yet with a homosexual proclivity wants ascendence despite not being in accordance to the rule of succession. Robb Stark seeks vengeance for his father's death whilst saving his two sisters and also the cessation of the North from the Kingdom. Daenerys Targaryen, with her dragons, seems to be a virtuous one but is far to the throne and yet to find a way back to Westeros. And ultimately, the one who is with power, Joffrey Baratheon or better yet a product of incestous Lannisters is proving unfit of a king by making hesitant decisions and leaving an army at war. When everyone is at war, will they come prepared for a bigger threat, the threat of an undead army residing beyond the wall.

JR's TV Reviews - GAME OF THRONES, Season 1

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GAME OF THRONES, Season 1

Year of Release: 2011

JR's Rating:  (9.8 out of 10, Impressive)
⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️

"As High As Honor"

"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die"
- Cersei Lannister to Ned Stark

When you are a king ruling seven kingdoms that are home to several houses, the fight for the throne is always at play to whoever wants it especially when the lineage has been meddled and changed. An infuriated Targaryen siblings are on a quest to reclaim what was supposed to be theirs after being left as the two living members of their house. A patriarch Stark has to deal with the planned overtaking by the Lannister's for the Iron Throne with risk of death or defeat for his own house. The game is as good as it gets as we first get an understanding how one throne can ultimately be the cause of wars, how one throne can cause the further hatred of one house to another. The fight for power whilst being pleasured by whores, wine and non-stop killing is just but the concept of the Game of Thrones as the first season gives us the tone for what is in store.