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Originally Posted by O.A.F.K.1.1
They could not have been more lazy and generic with the NK.
I was really expecting some reveal about his link with Bran and a motivation deeper than some people just want to see the world burn, well not burn that would be problematic for him, see the world freeze.
To me this sheds a light on the biggest issue with not only the episode but the WW/NK plot itself; it doesn't really fit in the GoT universe at all. The best & most interesting part of GoT has always been the detailed study of the vast array of characters. Actions had consequences. Decisions mattered. Things that happened didn't play out for seasons down the line.
The WW/NK have always felt immune to this type of storytelling. There's way less subtlety, way less characterization. We've spent 8 seasons preparing for winter but it was probably always going to be a letdown because they didn't really give us a reason to care about them. The lack of development removes tension. Leading up to it there were all of these theories about the WW/NK because GoT fans were hoping that there was actual meaning to them. They wanted them to belong in the universe they took part in. Unfortunately there wasn't any meaning, and I think the truth of the matter is that any resolution to the arc that contained no exposition or swerve, no matter how dramatic or how many lives it cost, was always going to be a disappointment. Because we all kind of realize that we've been waiting 8 years to resolve something that didn't really matter all that much.
And hell, even the writers didn't really respect the WW that much. Sam ****ing Tarly was able to hold off like 100 of them at once. I think they did the best they could given the box they put themselves in. It was an entertaining 82 minutes, and I'm thankful they got this out of the way so they could spend the last 3 episodes resolving what really matters; the characters.