Okay, let's talk about Game of Thrones. Specifically, Season 5. Remember that one?
Quick question: How many episodes were there? I'll give you a hint, it involves fingers and a common counting method.
The Obvious Answer (And Why It's a Little Annoying)
The "right" answer is, of course, ten. Yup, just like almost every other season. Ten episodes filled with dragons, betrayals, and questionable fashion choices.
But here's my probably very unpopular opinion. Ten wasn't enough. Or, maybe it was too much...of the wrong stuff.
Why Season 5 Felt...Off
Think about it. Season 5 had some MAJOR plot points. Stuff that book readers had been waiting for years to see. And some stuff book readers were dreading, too.
Remember Hardhome? Absolutely epic! Jon Snow being all heroic. White Walkers being terrifying. That was peak GoT.
But then there was Dorne. Oh, Dorne. A sandy, sun-drenched plotline that, let's be honest, felt like it belonged in a completely different show. Did anyone else get bored?
And don't even get me started on that Sansa scene. Controversial is an understatement.
The Episode Count Conspiracy (Just Kidding...Mostly)
So, here's my theory. Maybe, just maybe, ten episodes weren't the problem. It was how those ten episodes were used.
Perhaps if they'd cut some of the meandering storylines, they could have fleshed out the good stuff even more. More dragon scenes? Yes, please!
Imagine if we traded a Dorne scene for an extra five minutes of Drogon breathing fire. The possibilities!
What Could Have Been: My Episode Breakdown (Hypothetically)
Okay, this is just for fun. But let's reimagine Season 5 with my ideal episode distribution.
Maybe three episodes dedicated to setting up and executing the Hardhome battle. Build the tension, show the threat, and then BAM! White Walker apocalypse.
Then, one episode to wrap up Dorne quickly and efficiently. Sorry, sand snakes, your time is up.
That leaves us with six episodes to focus on King's Landing, Arya's training, and Daenerys's struggle to rule. Much better pacing, right?
The Real Number That Matters: Re-Watchability
Ultimately, the number of episodes doesn't really matter. It's about how much we enjoy them. How often we re-watch them.
I've seen some episodes of Game of Thrones dozens of times. Others? Maybe once. Season 5 definitely has its moments, some scenes are truly great.
So, while the answer is definitively ten, maybe the real answer is "ten, but some could have been better." Am I right?
Don't @ me. It's just an opinion. And maybe, just maybe, you secretly agree.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go re-watch Hardhome for the tenth time.
