4.09 The Watchers on the Wall

[Culhwch]

Jon Snow and the Night's Watch face a big challenge.

 

[Lenny]

Well that was... I don't know, kind of disappointing.

I was disappointed that Ser Allister Thorne, a man we're supposed to hate because he clashes with Jon Snow, stepped up and showed competence.

I was disappointed that the Night's Watch, a dangerously understaffed order, appeared to have far more bodies than previous episodes have us believe.

I was disappointed that Ygritte's band of merry wanderers, who looked like they were winning easily, suddenly evaporated.

And I was disappointed that there was no feeling of impending doom. The Night's Watch are facing a force immeasurably larger, and yet our untrained heroes handled it easily.

I did like the Scythe, though. And dangling the archers over the wall so they could shoot down... which, now I think about it, actually seems like a waste of arrows, because, you know, RELEASE THE SCYTHE!

Finally, although much more could have been made of Ygritte and Jon finally meeting up again, it wasn't done badly, and I even felt a slight twinge of sadness.

To summarise, it was pretty naff, in my opinion. Particularly for a ninth episode.

 

[alchemist]

Well, I liked it a lot. The battle was pretty tense, and I thought Jon's return swung the balance. The Scythe and the giants were cool and Ygritte was dispatched karma-like by the son of a man she killed, and in the same manner.

But mostly, Jon and Ghost survived!

 

[paranoid marvin]

I too was disappointed, which is something I rarely say about this series. It felt that a cut-down version of Jackson's assault on Minas Tirith; but not done as well.

I think the scythe was a one-off weapon, so they had to lure as many enemies onto the wall as possible before using it; and yes it was very well done. Also thought it was strange that the giant didn't simply hold up the gate to allow his compatriots in; but perhaps he (she?) was so incensed with what happend to the other giant that they lost all sense. And it was a great shame that we didn't see how he/she was felled by the watchmen.

Nowhere near as good as the attack on Kings' Landing in the previous season, but perhaps we are being spoiled by the so-high standards set by this series, so that anything less than 10/10 is criticised.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Also one thing that puzzles me - why set fire to arrows? They weren't attached to incendiary devices, they didn't need them to light up the opposition. If anything, the fiery arrows would be more likely to put off the aim of the bowman, and of course the enemy has time to evade it. Made no sense at all (other than to make the scenes more spectacular - and the arrows more visible - to the audience).

 

[alchemist]

Contains a spoiler if you haven't seen the episode

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4oQzTGTc_g

 

[Keldaris]

Also one thing that puzzles me - why set fire to arrows?

Same reason modern day soldiers use tracer rounds. When fighting at range in the dark it helps to see how close you are to the target. This would be especially necessary for the archers atop the 700ft wall, their arrows would be impossible to see at that range.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Same reason modern day soldiers use tracer rounds. When fighting at range in the dark it helps to see how close you are to the target. This would be especially necessary for the archers atop the 700ft wall, their arrows would be impossible to see at that range.

The thing is, bullets can't be dodged; a flaming arrow from hundreds of feet away can. And from the top of the wall, even with the flicker of flame from a smouldering arrow, would this really make moving targets that more visible?

But as I said, lighted arrows were needed for the tv show.

 

[Dave]

Maybe so many didn't like this episode because of the change of format. In the past episodes have skipped back and forth between different locations but this was almost exclusively set on the Wall. Everything that happened was on the Wall. Even if you are a fan of big epic battles, the episode had a different feel to it. I hope they return to the old format of jumping about and contrasting the different settings as I think that works best.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Maybe so many didn't like this episode because of the change of format. In the past episodes have skipped back and forth between different locations but this was almost exclusively set on the Wall. Everything that happened was on the Wall. Even if you are a fan of big epic battles, the episode had a different feel to it. I hope they return to the old format of jumping about and contrasting the different settings as I think that works best.

I think the episode about attack on King's Landing just concerned that one event also? I do prefer the multi-view format, but (for me) this didn't disappoint for that reason, it's just that with all the build up we've had to this climatic event , it went off as a sub-standard LOTR.

 

[svalbard]

I think the episode about attack on King's Landing just concerned that one event also? I do prefer the multi-view format, but (for me) this didn't disappoint for that reason, it's just that with all the build up we've had to this climatic event , it went off as a sub-standard LOTR.

Agree. Budgets do make a difference though and I thought this big, climatic battle was much better than the The Battle of the Blackwater episode.

Small gripe. I know they are only minor characters, but why kill off Grenn and Pyp?

Loved Ser Alliser Thorne's speech about leadership. He is growing on me as a character.

 

[Aun Doorback]

I have to say I enjoyed it but I'm so far hooked in now that they could probably show a blank screen for an hour and I would find an excuse to re-watch!


Plus my mate who I work with is the real life father of Olly, who killed Ygritte, so it was an extra special moment I always knew that boy could shoot an arrow.

 

[Jesse412]

I thought the giant riding the wooly mammoth and the giant archer were some of the coolest things I've seen in the series. Also Ygritte picking up used flaming arrows up off the ground and shooting them back was awesome.