We all know how subtle the internet can be and this recent Thrones backlash is no exception. This kind of extreme reaction perhaps should be expected considering we are now in the final season of a tv phenomenon that has consistently been praised to such a very high standard that it could never possibly deliver on such high expectations. But I still feel it's a reaction that is somewhat unwarranted as people jump on every issue with sharpened axe and murder in their eyes

And yes, there are issues.

Despite said issues there is still much excellence unveiled that betrays such terms like "trainwreck" and "the show has died". And we all know the main plot element that has inspired such vehement vitriol. As claims rage of episode 4 presenting us with heroes behaving out of character, what they are actually referring to is a specific hero.

1- Daenerys going dark - "It was out of nowhere!" they'll exclaim. And thus, the whole of Game of Thrones is suddenly over because of such a betrayal of our hero. Or so they'll have you believe.

But no. This wasn't out of character. They were seeding this plot element many, many seasons ago, way before she ever came to Westeros. And I predicted this would happen way back then. Not just predicted, I hoped it would happen. It would make the show even more interesting to demonstrate the political cycle of the idealistic hero becoming as corrupt and compromised as their many predecessors. To show that politics is essentially doomed by it's very nature. I predicted this would happen because I could see that Daenerys' arc was inspired by Tommy Carcetti's arc in The Wire.

She was even ruthlessly killing prisoners of war last season yet still people are claiming her behavior was out of nowhere.

Before I watched episode 4 I even guessed that this would be the very plot element that everyone was whining about. And I was right.

Admittedly, the writing here does feel rushed. A direct result of the bizarre decision to finish the show in 6 episodes. So, no. It isn't perfectly done. But the drama and intriguing depth it creates. The scene in which Tyrion and Varys discuss committing treason was fascinating and tense as hell. It was the perfect example of the rebelliousness of GOT and in direct opposition to all these claims that GOT has succumbed to mainstream storytelling.

2- The Night King was wasted - This is more a case of personal opinion than outright fact. He never spoke. We never found out anything about him. We never found out his motives. But he is much more terrifying because of all this. The part where he is approaching Bran in slo-mo was scary, it had power. He is a cold unstoppable, relentless evil and that is how he was portrayed.

Does everything have to be explained? Can't we have some ambiguity?

And come on, we all know his motives. He wants to take over the whole realm just like all the others. Do you really want him to stop and monologue like Dr Evil?

3- Arya killing the Night King - It ruins the prophecy of Jon Snow, etc, etc. All the past episodes mean nothing! They make it up as they go along.

If you choose to look at things that way then yes, you are right. But that is just one of many ways to look at it.

The prophecy could be something he still has yet to do. It could be that he becomes King. It could be something he has already done. He gathered everyone together, he is a symbol. The prophecy states that someone will lead the fight in a giant battle. And that's exactly what he did.

People have just decided that the prophecy is killing the Night King.

And how about this? The prophecy is bollocks. Prophecies resemble religion. And do you really expect GOT or George RR Martin to be pro-religion? This prophecy could be a way to examine how people behave when confronted with myths of the past as a metaphor for how people behave towards religion now. Again a far more rebellious notion in fitting with the GOT style. And Martin himself has even said he is not keen on solving prophecies too literally. I have looked into this.

4- The battle was too dark - I agree. You can have this one. It was a let down and clearly done because of budgetary constraints.

But that still doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. There was greatness within. The part where you see all the torches go out in the distance was great and horrifying visual storytelling. The way the army of the dead just kept advancing no matter what was thrown in it's way created such tension and made it genuinely believable that the heroes would lose.

As a whole, I do accept their have been disappointments but even with some flaws GOT is still deeper and more enthralling than most other shows out there. And it does seem to me that people are opting to look at plot points in the worst way they can because we're at a pivotal point and things are not playing out the specific way they wanted them to. Behavior only being fed by the countless 45 minute YouTube videos on why the last couple of episodes are so bad.

But if an episode is really so obviously bad, do you really need a 45 minute video explaining in explicit detail why it's bad?