GoT Season 8, Episode 3: The Long Night

Warning: thar be potential spoilers in these here waters; if you're not up to date with GoT, sail with caution.

GoT Season 8, Episode 3: The Long Night

YAS!! YAS ARYA – YOU GO GURL!!

These were my initial thoughts at the close of Episode 3. The closing few minutes of the episode left the hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention, tiny quizzical meerkats on my nape.

Then I thought about things. I watched it again. And I came a distressing conclusion. This joy, the sense of elation, this is exactly how they want you to feel [a fairly obvious statement, I suppose, but bear with]. The thing is, these final closing minutes are good, but they only serve to paper over some massive cracks in the episode as a whole. If a decorator had optimistically entered a building with the intention of using their finest floral print paper to cover similar damage to a home, they’d be crushed in a building collapse before they’d taken the lid off their glue.

Honestly, I was very disappointed in The Long Night and frankly I’m not shocked that this has become the lowest rated episode on Rotten Tomatoes since back in Season 5. From start to (almost) finish, it was a blurry, clunky and disjointed mess.

Perhaps you could argue that my expectations were too high for this episode. That because it was pitched to feverish levels, as the finest fantasy battle we were to have witnessed, I wanted too much. That because my two favourite episodes are Battle of the Bastards and Watchers on The Wall, I was setting the bar to high. That as a fantasy fan, with the battle for Helm’s Deep at the front of my mind, I was always going to be hard to please.

But no. I was ready and willing for my socks to be blown off. Hell, I’d already removed them to the toe; there wasn’t much work needed to oust them entirely.

I should be the perfect audience for this episode.

And it didn’t tickle me at all. In fact, it became one of those awkward situations where someone tries to tickle you so much that they just end up scratching you. Until you bleed.

My issues with the episode are varied, but I’ll start with the (barely visible) elephant in the room. The lighting. Where was it? What happened? I completely understand their intention with the episode. Natural lighting for verisimilitude, draw us in, lap it all up. Film the whole thing over 55 night shoots. The Long Night, I get it – it’s a long episode and it’s set at night. As an A-level project that is very clever. At an independent film awards, it would sweep up. But as a television spectacle? Well, being able to see the thing first should be a priority, then worry about being clever.

I understand that it is dark in the northern winter. But then I watch Watchers on The Wall and I can see the whole thing perfectly. Or Helm’s Deep – no problems there. Both a clearly at night, but with effective illuminations, you can enjoy the spectacle, without being pulled away.

It might be petty of me to make such fuss over this, but I shouldn’t need to upgrade my TV to watch a programme, or even have to alter the settings. I should be able to turn it on and enjoy. And what frustrates me more, is that this is obviously something that was picked up on by GoT as the promo shots for the episode all seem to have been subtly brightened. It feels like a concession of defeat. Why are they arguing that it was the right choice, when they chose to brighten the promotional shots? The only reason to brighten them is if you don’t think they’ll upsell the episode effectively as they are.

The action of the episode may have been marvellous. I know I’ve been dreaming of a dragon battle since Viserion was turned. But I won’t ever know how I looks now, because I couldn’t see it. And that just peeves me off.

My next gripe revolves around the battle plans. Now, I’ve largely been joking about how Jon is an awful strategist. But really? Are you telling me that nobody (either a character or a producer) thought they’d check how cavalry were actually used? Or trebuchets? Or even how a siege is done? I mean, come on, Jon was literally at the Battle of the Bastards. He watched Ramsay shut the door and wait for him to come. Yes, Jon won, but that doesn’t mean Ramsay was wrong. Why not stick all of your siege weaponry behind the walls and lay waste to the enemy from relative safety?

Don’t fancy that? No? How about just charging your entire cavalry straight into the enemy? Great plan. Bear In mind that they weren’t expecting Melisandre to arrive and light the Dothraki blades, so the plan was apparently to do that in the dark too. Yes, it looked very cool, but also, very stupid.

Also, the left flank. What happened to that? It was referenced so much last week; it may as well have been in the credits. But from the off, everyone was just stood in a lump by the main entrance to Winterfell. There was no flank. Perhaps f there was, they could have put the cavalry there. It all just felt like a lot of chatter for ultimately nothing.

This all felt symptomatic of an unassured script – they knew where they wanted the episode to end, but weren’t rightly sure how to take it there. All of the previous large-scale battles have had their moments of serenity, a quiet moment to pull things together, oft shattered by a gutting death. But there wasn’t really anything akin in this episode – it all felt highly predictable. 

The drama which traditionally hangs in the air wasn’t present and nor was the sense of any real peril. Perhaps the acceptance that major characters will be devoured numbs you to some of this, but even when things fall apart for our living army, there wasn’t a sense of morbid fear.

There is a long list of episodes where danger is far less impending, which carry far more threat. Think back to The Dragon and The Wolf last season. The palpable sense of drama grows throughout. Or the subtle threat which hangs in every word in the early seasons. The balance of who allied with who? GoT has always been about these delicate relationships and game playing. Largely, it has done this in a world where the mythical and magical was just that – the stuff of legend. Now it is all out in the open though, it could be very easy to just use this to create spectacle, not suspense.


Then we have the deaths, or more accurately, the lack thereof. Seven named characters died in Episode 3 and somehow, it doesn’t really feel like they’ve made any difference to the cast list.

Throughout the episode I was fraught with nerves, anxiously awaiting the deaths of my favourite characters. Yet it never really came. The gut-wrenching death out of the blue.

Edd’s death came exactly as I expected – sudden, early on and saving Sam. No sooner had he hit the deck, had we moved on to the next bought of action. At first, I thought things were going to go as anticipated – a royal flipping bloodbath; the kind of thing you’d need a week to get over. Instead though, we trundled on until everyone was within the walls of Winterfell.

Here of course, we get what for me is the saddest death was Lyanna Mormont’s death [my exact words when I saw this were “crushing” (pun wasn't even intended)]. She may have had the life squeezed out of her by an undead giant, but she took him with her. A great death for a great character. But ultimately, a character which was only here because the fans warmed to her. It’s nice to know that popular characters are retained, but given that we were heading to the endgame when she was introduced, did she really need to be carried through [don’t get me wrong, I think she’s awesome, but I’d have been just as happy for her to live out her days on Bear Island without fuss].

Three of the deaths in the episode all suffered from the same problem – predictability. If anyone says they genuinely thought that Theon, Jorah and Beric would last the episode, then they’re lying. Beric only made it this far to die in the battle (they even say as much in the episode). It’s a noble death, but a predictable one.

Theon’s death was heart-breaking, but was of no surprise. It was the emotion of the event which was sad – the man who has betrayed his adopted family and run from death, to be forgiven and charge at death to redeem himself.

Equally, Jorah has been waiting to die for Dany since the early seasons, and when his chance came, he certainly took it. It was noble as anything, it was the death he deserved, but you could see it coming a mile off. [That said, Drogon curling around his “mother” as she mourns the closest thing he had to a father figure did pull the old heartstrings. I’m not crying; you are.]

Melisandre arrived in Winterfell out of the blue, told Davos she was going to die, before doing a spot of magic and cheerleading, and going off to meet her maker. A good way to wrap up her predictions, yes. A poetic way to end the episode, yes. Shocking, not really.

The death of the Night King is probably one of the most cheer inducing moments in TV history. I wasn’t too sure what the outcome of the episode would be, but I definitely has Jon pegged to do the killing (so did pretty much everyone else though). His was a satisfying death, but it does feel like a bit of a waste. He has been an omnipresent evil since the very start, lurking in the shadows. He’s barely seen any action, save for shanking a dragon. One quick jab to the gut and your “big bad” is gone. Shame.

Plenty of deaths then, but to be honest, not nearly enough. There were too many occasions where characters should have died, but survived. Wind back to Season 6 and that would have been that for them, but not today. Jaime, Brienne and Pod, pinned to a wall – how did they wriggle out? Sam spent almost all episode lying about like it was a spa retreat, but is still fine. Greyworm was literally stood facing the fight all the way through, but not even a scratch.

I do love the characters and will rue any of their departures, but let’s face it, the cast list is bloated. This should have been the opportunity for a cull. Tormund, Brienne and Pod don’t have any real value to the story now, but killing them would have a huge impact on the viewers. Yet they all survived.

Just remember, this is the show that in Season 3, snuffed out the whole of the Stark army in one swoop. Story arcs didn’t come full circle, people didn’t get the deaths they deserved. No. Just cold, cruel death. And this is my issue. They pulled punches. They’ve softened up. They’re more concerned with keeping fans happy than being ruthless. And the show we love is certainly ruthless.

My worry here is that the notion of plot armour and safety do seem to be growing. Since the series departed the books, it’s been creeping in – our bigger characters have slowly become safer and safer. GRRM wrote GoT to break from the well-worn fantasy path, but it is starting to look like GoT is steering worryingly close to said path. There is still plenty of time to prove that the world of Westeros is not black and white, but shades of grey, I just hope they head back to forging their own original route quickly. The best way to do this, is to return to the cutthroat attitude we know and love.

Complaints aside, Episode 3 did have some wonderful moments in it. Arya’s zestful will to live, snapping The Hound out of his panicked stupor was lovely to see. As he said, she’s the only thing he’s ever fought for aside from himself and it only reinforces my view that he sees himself in a paternal role for her.

Sansa and Tyrion’s heartfelt conversation in the crypts harked back to earlier seasons. Yet now each of them has grown swathes of new layers, gained from their own harrowing experiences. The hand hold and look they share as they prepare to face impending doom in the crypts, indicative of a mutual emotion, something shy of love, but not far off.

Although the crypts were awash with undead, it was nice that we didn’t see any of our favourite Starks dragged back t life. It would have been an easy mistake to make, and one well dodged [although the idea of undead Rickon only moving in straight lines and only turning as he hits obstacles, would have been hilarious]. Yes, it looked like an undead dire wolf, potentially implying Lyanna Stark, and there was a Wight who could easily have been Maester Luwin, but just as easily been another maester.

The one that touched me the most though, was Bran’s final words to Theon. Having mastered the art of ruining a “hello” Bran finally perfected a goodbye. In all of his exploits this season, Bran has played it neutral – Jaime’s actions are what led him here – no emotion or judgement. But no apology or forgiveness.

Yet, as Theon braces himself for a final sacrifice, Bran attributes value to him: “You’re a good man”. The words he wanted to hear his entire life, the words which led him to commit the terrible acts he has, those which he has suffered for. All Theon ever wanted was acceptance and to make someone proud. Upon hearing them, he was able to die a heroic death at last.

And of course, the climactic minutes of the episode have a feel-good factor like no other. Yas Arya, yas!


Where does all of this leave us then?

Despite their victory, the army of the living has taken huge losses. The Dothraki have been wiped out and the Unsullied have lost significant numbers. Winterfell has been at least heavily damaged, perhaps almost destroyed. The stronghold of The North is surely no longer a safe haven. Surely all of this just plays into Cersei’s hands perfectly. Now she just needs to wait for their inevitable march south, to another war of impossible odds.

Each of the remaining dragons have taken damage. We saw Drogon holding Dany at the end of the episode, but he had to fight of a large number of wights beforehand. The last we saw of Rhaegal, he was crash landing into the snow after his dogfight with Viserion. Did he even survive? God knows!

The deaths of Lyanna and Jorah in this episode have broken House Mormont. What next for the bears of Bear Island?

Equally, Edd’s death means the end of Night’s Watch (at least from what we can tell). This doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the watch though – you aren’t born to them, you’re taken, sent or given. That said, is there a need for the Night’s Watch anymore? Their role was to defend The Wall from the northern threats, real and ethereal. But now The Wall is gone, as are the Wildlings and the Wight Walkers. What purpose could they serve now?

The ramifications of this are far greater for Jon Snow though. His entire life was dedicated to serving The Wall, defending the realms. Now the threats and wall are gone, will he look to refocus? He is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne after all. Or will he finally look to live out his days as Warden of The North? Or something else?

Of course, Dany only pledged to help fight in The North, if they helped her take the throne. Yet, since then she’s heard the news that Jon is rightful heir to the Iron Throne. The battle began before this could be dealt with properly – how will she act and feel now? I get the feeling that there is a growing rift between her and the Starks, in a fight which she may be outmatched. I feel that Jorah’s demise could be pivotal here too. He was keeping her on the straight and narrow, preventing the Targaryen madness taking hold. Now her anchor to the straight and narrow is gone, will she succumb to this familial flaw?

And then we have our Prince that was Promised – Azor Ahai, aka Arya Stark. A great choice for this mantle. Melisandre’s prophecies have finally come to pass, despite repeated misfires. With this, she is able to let Beric and herself die – the Lord of Light is finished with them now. There is only one final thread which needs trying off now. Varys. Last season, Melisandre told him that they would both die at Winterfell. Well, she has now. But Varys survived the battle and is still there. Will he look to leave asap, never to return? Or perhaps he’ll take on the role of master or advisor there now and embrace the prophecy. He may not be a fighter, but I’ve never taken him for a coward and I don’t imagine he’ll run scared from these words.

So, the Wight Walkers are all dead, The Wall destroyed, the followers of the lord of Light are wiped out and we may be on the verge of losing both remaining dragons. Very easily, GoT could be preparing to leave us where we began, in a world where magic and monsters used to be, but now no longer are.

Or are they?

I still think my theory about Bran becoming the Night King could still pass, even if he has been killed. You see, he may not be entirely dead. Remember Craster’s babies? Or when he dragged Viserion’s body from beneath the ice? All any of them needed was a touch. That’s all that was needed to turn them into his servants. What is that geotag left on Bran’s arm was something more severe? A horcrux of sorts? Could it possibly be a way of dragging the Night King back to the mortal world, ready to assault it again? 

This is GoT after all, so thrills, spills, twists and turns are only to be expected, and this would be twistier than a plate of curly fries. Perhaps we’ve been lulled into a false sense of security only for something worse than three Red Weddings to drop onto us.

Let’s see.

Until we do, valar mughulis.

PS: How awesome was it to see Ghost back again, if only briefly!

You can find my review of Episode 2: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms here.

If the future is more of your things, you can find my review of Episode 4: The Last of the Starks here.