Given my vast experience with medieval military history and as an authority on the subject...
(PHD in Medieval 2 Total War & Kingdoms - University of Steamworks
)
I never found the Dothraki to be a serious threat against a well organised infantry force, but the dramatic effect/tension of their swift defeat was a visual treat. So well done there. On the subject of the Dothraki, never having read the books is there an explanation as to why the Lannisters who despite having what appear to be a well equipped army, struggle so much against them?
I think an exhausted lot of crusading Franks would still wipe the floor with Dothraki, but that's my opinion.
The darkness has to be complimented, it kept the tension high and made the Walkers all the more horrifying, even if there was some kind of budget constraints, I wouldn't want more of the horde depicted. I think it's a mistake to give too much away to the viewer.. ALIEN did this well enough.
What bothered me however, is that they went with dramatics over realism during the scenes with the Castle being overrun. I know there must have been a substantial amount of allied troops fighting off the Walkers to allow the few getting past them and into buildings and what not, point is there was a concentrated battle being fought somewhere or in multiple areas but they didn't clearly depict this to increase dramatic tension.
My problem is that they then decided to isolate our heroes and depict them being overrun and beaten down, and I love these characters but really only each of them manage to survive their respective positions? Just by placing five or six other human extras around them it would have felt more realistic and you would still fear for their lives anyway.
And the whole Ice King dies and then suddenly the entire Trade Federation Army shuts down, along with all the Hunter-Killer Tanks and Aerials crashing in to the ground with the terminators standing motionless as the ground gives way swallowing up all the orcs and trolls from Mordor...
YEAH ok it made sense to the plot, he was controlling them with his Mr Wippy ice magic,.. but I just wasn't left satisfied, it was a great episode had awesome moments no doubt, but it wasn't a complete meal if you understand my meaning, it could have been, but it wasn't.
I also think there should have been some balls to let more characters die.. i love them all but I really think this should have been the cut throat episode, BUT having never read the books perhaps that is still in store, we'll see.
