The Long Night

HBO | Air Date: April 28, 2019

4.2	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 561 Ratings

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Dvir971Oct 25, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's a little irritating seeing everyone letting themselves get carried with the online negative-buzz surrounding this episode, which makes them belittle the hard work that had to be done to bring us this magnificent episode, so I feel like I have to at least state my piece.

First and foremost, calm down- I had issues with the episode as well. The thing is, these issues mainly come from things I expected to see and didn't happen, and definitely not stuff like "the writers ruined 8 years of buildup" and stuff like that- which I personally don't understand. So yeah, I was expecting to see Jon engaging a little bit more in the battle and get some Hardhome/BotB type material here. More than anything I was a little bit disappointed the White Walker themselves didn't engage more in the battle. But on the contrary, a lot of things I expected were indeed delivered in this episode, and some exceeded expectations. I also had more minor complaints, like some characters seemingly surviving impossible situations and what happened to the Dothraki, which seems like a fail of logic on the strategic side. But wait- isn't the good strategic logic the exact reason the White Walkers chose not to engage the battle themselves, because if they do they can get slayed and huge chunks of the Army of the Dead will immediately get destroyed?

I'm not going to try and debunk every complaint that's ever risen to this episode, but I will just state my point of view of some of the things. Firstly, ever since the first season we saw Arya training to be an assassin. It's one of the most prominent arcs in both the show and the books, and it was all leading to a big culmination of some sort eventually. So, what are those Faceless Men basically? Do you remember all the sneaky stuff J'aquen did in Harenhall in season 2? He did much worse than 'jumping'- that's what the Faceless Men are all about, stealthy and deadly assassins. And indeed- Arya stark slayed the Night King not in a single combat, but with stealth. How would anyone get near the Night King for a single combat anyway? If someone approaches he can just do what he did when Jon tried to do that- and raise the dead around him for protection. With such a central conflict (not the most central, though!) in the most popular TV series of all times, you can expect a lot would get disappointed from who will make the final blow. But how can you say it's 8 years of buildup ruined? We had hints about this for quite some time (Melisandre and Arya in Season 3, Bran giving Arya the dagger exactly where the Night's King was defeated and several other callbacks). People say the battle ended too easily- when actually it was undoubtedly the bloodiest and longest battle in the show, and had the most character deaths from any one of the battle episodes of the show yet. It ended with one dagger-blow, yes. But you can't say the entire conflict was solved with a swoosh.

So about Jon- what about The Price that was Promised, all the Melisandre prophecies, the flaming Sword and Nissa Nissa? The most important thing is to first identify what belongs only in the books and what is on the show. You can't expect theories that showed up in the books only to come to full closure in the TV series that has nothing to do with any of them. As for the show material, it is known that Melisandre's prophecies aren't 100% accurate, but what she said did come true, if you think about it. The Prince that was Promised? Definitely Jon. He is literally a prince, and as the prophecies said, he ended the Great War. Yeah, Arya gave the final blow. But Jon united the North and the Wildlings, gathered Daenerys' Dragons and armies for support and arranged the entire defense of the north and lead the battle, right until the big victory. Again, the battle was not against the Night's King specifically, but the Army of the Dead. And with that view Jon ended the war just as much as Arya. Without him, Westeros would have been in ruins right now. So now, Instead of one arc closing, we got two (Army of the Dead and Arya's development as a warrior) that came together for a single seemingly unpredictable result for both.

I'll end with some good things- Miguel Sapochnik gave us one of the most glorious spectacles ever seen in television or film, and in my opinions it's one of the best episodes I've seen in my life. Ramin Djawadi was brilliant as always- and kudos to the production for pulling all the effort to bring us this episode, I wish people were a little bit more appreciative. Anyway, the show is ending in a second, and when people will go back to watch all the average TV series out there I'm sure they'll miss it, even with all their nitpicking. And people seem to forget that despite what makes them 'hyped' the most- the show was always about people, and the War for the Throne. I never fooled myself even once with thinking the show will end with the War for the Dawn and was pretty surprised that many did.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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Awsomeman889May 11, 2019

This episode was epic, I beeped the edge of my seat until the very end of the episode. May not be the best episode in the series, but its still good!!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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samih_tdMay 3, 2019

The plot is horrible. This is not a real GoT; it is a superhero marvel movie. Yes the direction is great, but the scenario is very bad, unfortunatley

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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CO2017May 1, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I had minimal expectations for the episode, anticipating a fair bit of dark/muddled fighting. But I never saw the kill shot coming. Arya has never been particularly interesting to me, but she stole the show when she put down the Night King. Well played GoT.… Expand

5 of 15 users found this helpful510

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alko2000May 8, 2019

Great visuals, big budget and thrilling plot! Battle scenes were epic, and even the lack of lighting didn’t make it anything less than epic for me!

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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LamontRaymondMay 1, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Other than the fact that much of the episode was just too darned dark, I enjoyed it. Exciting, nerve-wracking, etc. I sure how we learn at some point what the hell was up with the Brandon storyline. Was he merely a device to attract the Night King to Arya the opportunity to get stabby?… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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SILDMay 1, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Just no words, just emotions. It was the final of the king of the night. It remains to somehow defeat Cersei, and there is already an iron throne.… Expand

7 of 28 users found this helpful721

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Olivier7May 4, 2019

Visually spectacular and well written. This episode is the best of the series in terms of show. The darkness was needed and wanted from the producers, I think it's a good immersive choice. I'm just missing some more information from theVisually spectacular and well written. This episode is the best of the series in terms of show. The darkness was needed and wanted from the producers, I think it's a good immersive choice. I'm just missing some more information from the origins of the White Walkers and the Night King to end this arc completely... I hope we'll have that in the next episodes.… Expand

3 of 14 users found this helpful311

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MarcDoyleMay 1, 2019

It seemed a little to simple and easy - I figured that the makers of this show would have had a more innovative way to end the war with the Night King. But still pretty amazing production values.

2 of 11 users found this helpful29

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efonsecajrMay 1, 2019

Pretty close to a perfect episode. The anticipation for this great battle ep was immense. It lived up to its hype for sure.

2 of 15 users found this helpful213

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superfieldsJul 26, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. it had the makings of a masterpiece but they dropped the ball in the final act due to sheer laziness and utter disbelief. The knight king is beaten and we’re no farther along his purpose than at the start of the series too bad.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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BorgorosMay 16, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Dark, moody, twisted and what a cool Arya vs The Night King! The combination of two moves she had tried out on Jon and Brienne. And thank god Sam survived!… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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Connorcox1997May 11, 2019

This episode was dope in my opinion, yeah the lighting is bad, but the ending I did not see coming. If you didn't like the episode, I don't know what's wrong with you to be honest.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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Raos1994May 20, 2019

Episode is great, best and only good one in whole season. Would rate higher if the lighting was better

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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Harimau87May 7, 2019

I’m certain it will look breathtaking on iTunes when it’s available to buy. I have no problem with the darkness, the problem was the terrible amounts of compression broadcasters are having to inflict this season. Looking forward toI’m certain it will look breathtaking on iTunes when it’s available to buy. I have no problem with the darkness, the problem was the terrible amounts of compression broadcasters are having to inflict this season. Looking forward to re-watching it, fantastic survival horror! Mr. Cinematographer, know how your media is going to be consumed!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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ElPhoenixMay 15, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Go Arya, so much for that Azor prophecy. Great Finnish, had me thinking it was over for most of the characters.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Kwrb1976Mar 29, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Everything was perfect, except for all of the plot armour that almost everybody has during this episode… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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