Oct. 10, 2024

Game of Thrones Season 5: "A Dance with Dragons"

Show Notes
Transcript

In this episode, Journey Joe Mitchell dives into the divisive fifth season of "Game of Thrones." He discusses the show's bold departures from the source material, particularly in the Sansa Stark and Stannis Baratheon storylines. Joe also delves into the season's most controversial moments, including the rape of Sansa and the burning of Shireen, and how they sparked intense debate among fans and critics. Despite the mixed reception, Joe highlights the season's strong performances and its setup for the show's endgame. It's a complex and controversial chapter in the "Game of Thrones" saga, and Joe isn't afraid to tackle it head-on.

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Calarogus Shark Media. Welcome back to the TV basement, loyal Subjects.

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Today we're venturing back to the realm of Westeros for

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a deep dive into season five of HBO's epic fantasy

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series Game of Thrones. As the show moves beyond the

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source material of George R. Martin's novels, the game takes

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some bold and controversial turns. Sharpen your Valerian steel and

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join me as we explore the triumphs and missteps of

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this divisive season. Season five of Game of Thrones sees

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the sprawling narrative threads of the show start to converge,

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setting the stage for the endgame. In King's Landing Circe,

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Lanister Lena Hetty schemes to maintain her grip on power,

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aligning herself with the fundamentalist high Sparrow Jonathan Price. In

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the North, John snow Kit Harrington faces a crisis of

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loyalty as the new Lord Commander of the Knight's Watch.

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Across the Narrow Sea Denaries Targarian Emilia Clark faces rebellion

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and marine and the threat of the growing Sons of

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the Harpy insurgency. This season is notable for its departures

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from Martin's novels, particularly in the Sansa Stark, Sophie Turner,

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and Stanis Barathion Stephen Delane storylines. These changes sparked intense

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debate among fans and critics, with some praising the show's

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bold choices and others lamenting the loss of beloved book moments.

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Season five sees some significant additions to the already sprawling

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ensemble cast. Jonathan Price joins as the High Sparrow, the

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leader of a religious movement that quickly gains power in

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King's Landing. His soft spoken but iron willed performance is

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a standout, adding a new layer of complexity to the

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political machinations of the Capitol. Alexander Sidig also joins as

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Dorin Martel, the ruler of Dorrin and brother of the

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late Oberon Martel. His storyline, along with the introduction of

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the sand snakes Oberin's illegitimate daughters, was a highly anticipatedition

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for book readers, but ultimately felt underdeveloped on screen. Other

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notable editions include Deobia Operet as Ariohota Dorn's loyal bodyguard,

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and Toby Sebastian as Tristane Martel. Doran's son and heir.

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Season five of Game of Thrones was no stranger to controversy,

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with several moments sparking intense backlash and debate among viewers.

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The most controversial moment of the season was undoubtedly the

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rape of Sans Stark by Ramsay Bolton Ewan Rion on

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their wedding night. This scene, which was a departure from

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the books, was criticized by many as gratuitous and exploitative.

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It sparked a larger conversation about the show's handling of

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sexual violence and its treatment of female characters. Another controversial

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moment was the burning of Scheren Barathion Carrie Ingram by

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her father Stanus, a sacrifice to the Lord of Light

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in hopes of turning the tide of battle. This heart

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wrenching scene was shocking, even for a show known for

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its brutality, and many felt it was a disservice to

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Stannus's character arc. The season was also criticized for its

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handling of the Dorn storyline, which many felt was rushed

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and underdeveloped compared to the richness of the source material.

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The sand snakes, in particular, were a disappointment for many

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book readers who had eagerly anticipated their introduction. The reception

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to season five of Game of Thrones was mixed, with

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many considering it a step down from the show's previous heights.

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the season holds a ninety three percent

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critics score and a fifty four percent audience score, the

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lowest of any season. Critics praised the show's continued high

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production values, strong performances, and moments of shocking drama, but

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many also noted the pacing issues and the uneven handling

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of certain storylines, particularly dorn In The Faith Militant fans

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were even more divided. Many book readers were disappointed by

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the deviations from the source material and the omission of

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certain beloved characters and moments. The Sansa and Sharen controversies

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also soured the season for many viewers. However, the season

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still had its defenders, who appreciated the show's willingness to

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take risks and chart its own path. The epic hard

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Home episode, with its stunning White Walker battle, was widely

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praised as one of the series best. Despite the mixed reception,

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season five of Game of Thrones still received significant awards attention.

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It won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, marking the

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show's first win in the category. It also took home

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Emmys for Outstanding Directing, Mother's Mercy and Outstanding Single Camera

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Picture Editing The Dance of Dragons. The season also won

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the Golden Globe for Best Television Series Drama, as well

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as the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by

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an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Season five of Game

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of Thrones is a transitional one, bridging the gap between

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the show's early and its endgame. It's a season that

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takes bold risks, sometimes to its detriment, as it moves

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beyond the safety net of Martin's novels. It's a season

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that sparked intense debates and controversies, particularly around its handling

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of sexual violence and its treatment of certain fan favorite storylines.

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But it's also a season that delivered some of the

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series' most memorable moments, from the haunting Walk of Shame

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to the epic White Walker battle at hard Home. In

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the end. Season five is perhaps the most divisive of

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Game of Thrones run. It's a season that challenges viewers

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for better and for worse, and sets the stage for

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the show's final act. So what did you think of

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Game of Thrones Season five? Did the deviations from the

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books work for you or did they fall flat? How

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did you feel about the controversial Sansa and Sharene moments?

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And did the season's high points outweigh its missteps. This

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is journey Joe Mitchell signing off from the TV basement.

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Until next time. Keep exploring the rich and complex world

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of television storytelling, and remember, when you play the Game

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of Thrones, you win or you die. There is no

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middle ground.