Cassandra Mogyorody-Cosgrave

Several days later and I'm still thinking about it. How people in utterly miserable circumstances can still hold onto joy and hope, and what inevitably happens when the last of it is taken from them. And for nothing. For the most I prefer the stories I read/watch to have happy or at least hopeful endings. But there is a place for stories that end in tragedy, with no hope, and this one was done beautifully. Because of course we know that "the war to end all wars" did no such thing and only set the stage for the next. When character deaths are frequent one might warn "don't get attached", but I think for stories like this we owe to the people who live/have lived through such times to get attached, even knowing the outcome. There's a lot more I could say about this film but this will have to be it for now.

I was able to watch to the end, so I can't say it was completely terrible. The set design was lovely, as was much of the scenery. The premise was very interesting. And that's about all the good I can say for it. The dramatic moments began to drag and became more and more implausible as the film went on. The non-dramatic moments dragged even more so. Not to mention, daytime does not exist in what appears to be an arctic winter. How did he survive being completely submerged in arctic winter temperatures without even frostbite just by putting a jacket on? Or was that also all in his head? See it just to say you did, I guess, but it might be more interesting to watch with a particularly chatty household member, or maybe while texting on your phone to a chatty friend. Eating a crunchy food. Filling out a spreadsheet. Take your pick.

Wonderful! Thoroughly enjoyed it all the way through and with perhaps the exception of a certain subplot in season 3, it's never dropped in quality through its run so far. The actors are committed to their characters, the characterization is consistent but rounded. The bonds between characters are strong. Gorgeous scenery, epic battles, tender moments, subtle magic, women who act like real women with goals and rational thoughts as well as compassion, men who are as likely to fall weeping into their loved ones' arms as they are to go shrieking into battle, this show has it all. I'm really surprised more people aren't talking about it. Game of Thrones was such a phenomenon but the acting and characterizations don't hold a candle to this show.