Rate/Review 703: The Queen's Justice

As good as they are D&D play loose with dramatic logic on the show. 
How can Euron make to sneak attacks after being stung by the first one?
Too much story simplification.

I don't mind Yara's defeat. I've been saying this for years, but the Greyjoys, and Ironborn in general are totally incompetent in both the show and the books. They are brash, violent simpletons. They have no economy except for raping and pillaging from people too weak to defend themselves. Every time they try to accomplish something, they fail. They somehow developed a small but vocal fanbase among book readers not because of their previous accomplishments, but the speculation of cool stuff they might do in the upcoming books. Aside from failing to rescue her brother at the Dreadfort, Yara has done nothing in the show except for drinking and trying to get laid. It is totally consistent for her not to be prepared for a surprise attack and to quickly be defeated.  The Greyjoys were always going to be terrible allies for Dany, and I'm kind of surprised Tyrion seemed okay with it after knowing their reputation.

Last year we saw how ship-mounted trebuchets and catapults work in the GoT universe during the Siege of Meereen, so we can assume Euron had the same technology when he attacked Yara. I really enjoyed the sea battle and the chaotic energy Euron brought to the scene. It felt like utter madness was consuming everything, and an appropriate confusion for a half-drunk commander watching her fleet be destroyed.

As for Highgarden, the issue there is that they broke the number one rule of visual storytelling in TV and Film: show, don't tell. They just told us what happened, and that's very unsatisfying considering it's such a huge power shift in the context of the story. Olenna has been a major character with significant screentime since season 3, and her death lacked emotional impact because the circumstances felt so forced. It felt especially awkward compared to how drawn out the Jon/Dany story felt at the beginning of the episode. It undermines the political influence the Tyrells had in the first six seasons of the show if they just rolled over in defeat so quickly in The Queen's Justice. I often find ways to defend writing choices in the show, but this one just felt rushed.

Even assuming Asha was incompetent, it would also mean we are to assume there isn't a single, semi-competent captain or even crewman in the whole fleet. Every ship should really have lookouts and should have seen Euron coming There is also the fact his fleet is sailing past Dragonstone to reach Asha's fleet and the Unsullied fleet but nevermind.
I do agree that the Ironborn in the show really haven't been portrayed especially well. Disagree with your interpretation of the Ironborn in the book though. They are rapers and pillagers true, but they don't just do so blindly. They are capable of being somewhat strategic too. Especially Asha, she understands the Ironborn way of life is not sustainable. It's the other dunderheads of the Iron Islands who refuse to listen to her.

Anyway, I'm sorry, all I seem to do is complain in these threads. So for a change of tone, a few talking points;
What do you all think Asha's ultimate fate will be? Euron kept her alive as his prisoner, so clearly there is still a role to play somewhere. I hope this isn't the last we see of her this season, Gemma Whalen is one of my favourite actresses on the show.
As for Theon, I'm not sure what to expect. Another 'overcoming his fear' may be a bit repetitive but I can't see his story going any other way. From the promo
Do you think Jorah will show up on Dragonstone this week or next? I'm not really sure what the point of his greyscale was as right now as it hasn't had any real consequences so maybe it comes back? I dunno..

Yeh, i think Theon's storyline is getting a bit tired. I love Theon and Alfie plays him so incredibly well but i'm ready for him to die. However i don't think it will happen until the end...if it happens at all. He is one of those characters who would survive in war because of his fear of dying. And it is sad that he jumped off the walls of winterfell because death was better than being ramsay's bitch, but now he has some freedom and decides to just fuck over yara.

I think Yara will be the one to kill Euron. They're keeping her alive for a reason, not sure if my predictions are accurate or just reflecting my hopes at this point.

I guess Jorah's greyscale led him through more a character journey than actually doing anything for the plot. It gave Sam and Jorah some good moments so overall i'm not too fussed about it. Don't think greyscale was ever going to become some epidemic like they thought in the books with JonCon.

In fact, i think the Dorne and Highgarden losses this episode are due to the fact that Aegon isn't in the show, and all these houses fight for him, but Aegon will lose agaisnt Cersei and Euron.