The real war of thrones11/6/2022 The commonality is that they don’t go away. Some feelings are good, most are bad, some are appreciative, most are disappointing. Leaving a war behind, any war, is an emotional flood that most struggle to dam up. And one good example, even if achieved through fiction, can tap into universal truths.Īnd one of those truths is that wars may stop, but they don’t really end. So the human essence of war lives onscreen, in abundant supply. Weiss and David Benioff were mindful to shoot scenes designed to reimagine real conflicts. THE REAL WAR OF THRONES FULLWe know full well that Martin wrote his books based on real wars, as much as showrunners D.B. The great Battle of the Bastards is a version of Cannae of the Second Punic War, and the dragon’s fire that strafes King’s Landing in the final season was a terrible glimpse into the Allied firebombing of Dresden in World War II. The show’s “Wall” was inspired by Hadrian’s in England, with echoes of the DMZ that separates the North from South Korea. The “Starks” and the “Lannisters” represent the Yorks and Lancasters of the Wars of the Roses. “Game of Thrones” was essentially a reassembly of history. It’s not so surprising that a work of fiction can reveal the real emotional response to war. It included a background character known as the ‘ King of Extras,’ who concluded his own run on the show by weeping. Martin, writer of the books on which the show was based, recently commented on the “madness” that gripped fans on the internet at the series’ conclusion he called it “toxic.” HBO’s own companion documentary to the series, “The Last Watch,” showcased a parade of stars tearfully lamenting the end of the series. Over 1.7 million fans signed an online petition to “ remake” the final season. Never.Īnd “Game of Thrones” fans seem to feel the same way about the end of their own long war.Ĭritics howled. I’ll never feel comfortable with the way my war ended. I’d see their faces, as if frozen in the last moments before death. It’s common for veterans to wear a black bracelet bearing the names of the lost-I went so far as to have one made with their names-but found that I couldn’t wear it without being entirely distracted from daily life. One was a friend from West Point, one a subordinate who served under me, and one a captain I looked up to. I spent two years in combat in Iraq early in my military career and lost three soldiers close to me. Victory parades may look pretty but often mask deep sadness and abundant scars. Nobody feels good about having been part of a war, even when it ends. THE REAL WAR OF THRONES SERIESAnd the ugly reaction to the series finale provides a glimpse into the anger, dissatisfaction, and lingering agony felt by anyone that’s spent a significant period of time invested in a real war. The “lessons” ranged from debt to the meaning of life to the perfect wedding-but everyone knows, in the end, it was really all about war. There’ve been other possibilities floated for years on the internet. But overlooked in these impressive figures-as well as the glitz, bright lights, and raw star power-is the uncomfortable fact that the show about fictional Westeros was full of actual lessons on the brutality of real war. Walking onto the red carpet, the show already held the title for most Emmys won by a comedy or drama (47), and this year’s 32 nominations (for a season that drew in an average of 44 million viewers per episode), raised the show’s overall total to 161 nominations. “Thrones” took in 12 Emmys, including winning for best drama series in its final season. HBO’s “Game of Thrones” did it again Sunday night, demonstrating, yet again, its unquestioned dominance in this Golden Age of Television. *Note: This essay was published in USA Today on September 24, 2019.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |