Ghost deserved so much better
This is a post about the latest episode of the hit HBO fantasy show Game of Thrones, and as such includes plot points from the latest episode (commonly known as spoilers).
You have been adequately warned.
In this week’s episode, Jon Snow’s treatment of his beloved wolf Ghost provoked the ire of a lot of Game of Thrones fans.
Following the defeat of the Night King, Tormund and the Wildings are heading back north of the Wall. And Jon Snow – supposedly noble warrior and hero Jon Snow – told Tormund to take Ghost with him. Why? Because Ghost “belongs in the North”, apparently.
But Jon Snow didn’t even give him a goodbye pet. No belly rub, no ear scratch, no “Good boy”. Nothing.
John Snow didn’t pet his wolf goodbye and you guys want him as your KING?? #GameofThrones
— Allie Goertz (@AllieGoertz) May 6, 2019
Now episode director David Nutter has revealed the reasoning for the decision: it is all to do with CGI, basically.
“Since the direwolves are kind of CG creations, we felt it best to keep it as simple as possible,” Nutter told Huffington Post. “And I think that it played out much more powerfully that way.”
“Keeping Ghost off to the side, I thought that played out better,” he continued, pointing out that it allowed Snow to have a moment with Tormund and Gilly.
“Then he just walks off by himself, he turns to Ghost and has this moment with Ghost that I thought was very, very powerful.”
Ok, that seems to make sense at first. Iffy CGI can definitely take the viewer out of an emotional moment.
But many fans have interpreted it as “We skimped on the CGI budget”.
“We couldn’t have Jon pet Ghost cuz we blew our CGI budget on the blood spraying out of Rheagal’s throat. And Starbucks.”
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) May 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/Blvckedout/status/1125860434618322945
