Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Game of Thrones: The Complete Seventh Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 11, 2017

Most series which have achieved seven seasons tend to show signs of aging, along with attrition of audience numbers tuning in, in what is almost a seemingly inevitable trajectory for television popularity. As it has done in so many other ways, though, Game of Thrones continues to defy expectations, and some online data charting the amount of fans watching the show indicate that, if anything, the numbers glued to their screens have grown almost geometrically over the past couple of years, a trend that seems sure to continue as this much lauded show enters its reported final season. This seventh year acts as a bridge of sorts to that anticipated endgame, and as such it may tend to strike some longtime fans as providing what amounts to almost an onslaught of info dumps and plot machinations as the series attempts to stuff a lot of content into a season that has at least a few less episodes than previous seasons, even if some of this season’s episodes do run a few minutes longer than usual. As with most (and arguably all) of Game of Thrones’ previous seasons, there’s a novelistic approach to the show, even though the series has rather famously left George R.R. Martin’s source tomes (largely) behind, and as such, season seven is perhaps even more vignette and set piece driven than previous seasons. That said, while the show may be perceived as overly “busy” this year, it doesn’t waste much time on “niceties”, preferring instead to maraud headlong into any number of long simmering plot dynamics, kind of like a bunch of White Walkers penetrating a certain wall.

Perhaps more than any other series currently running on television, Game of Thrones requires a flowchart for all of the interweaving stories and characters. Those not up to speed on this dense series’ often convoluted stories can get at least an inkling of what’s been going on by clicking on our reviews of Game of Thrones’ previous seasons:

Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season Blu-ray review

Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray review

Game of Thrones: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray review

Game of Thrones: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray review

Game of Thrones: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray review

Game of Thrones: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray review

Note: As I’ve attempted to do in all of the reviews of previous seasons of Game of Thrones that I’ve personally done, I try in the following summary to deal largely in generalities so that no individual spoilers are posted. However, I do crack wise (what else is new?) about one particular revelation with regard to a major character which probably does in fact at least verge on spoiler territory (at least for those who can read between the punchlines), so forewarned is forearmed. That said, those who do have a history with Game of Thrones but who may not have seen the seventh season of the show yet for whatever reason may want to skip down to the technical portions of the review, below.

There’s a communal aspect to being an audience member of Game of Thrones that is in some ways quite unique in the television viewing universe. Perhaps because the show has provided such regular “water cooler” fodder for so many for so long, there’s a feeling in this season that the writing staff wants to wave virtual shiny objects from time to time, perhaps if only to see if various fans will turn away from underlying plotting to take time to notice. This season has a strangely circuitous feeling at times that seems to defy the fact that it’s obvious that a lot of dangling plot threads need to be woven together in order for the show to get to some kind of reasonably satisfying conclusion in the upcoming season. Therefore, while there are overall arcs that portend big trouble for Westeros, the show continually detours into “smaller”, almost episodic, treatments of the interrelationships between various characters.

Without seeming too cheeky about it, large swaths of this season tend to play like some kind of ancient mythical reworking of The Walking Dead at times, what with a horde of rampaging quasi-zombies threatening to make mincemeat out of the Lannisters and Targaryens and Snows and everyone else should they not put aside their petty (?) differences and learn to work together. That’s an underlying if kind of almost inherently incredible seeming subtext throughout most of this season, though as a number of revelations are doled out (Jon’s true parentage, Cersei’s plans for future Lannisters, etc.), the show also weirdly gets lost in needless detours along the way. There’s a whole kind of padded subplot featuring Sansa (Sophie Turner), Arya (Maisie Williams) and Littlefinger Baelish (Aidan Gillen) that is not only completely illogical but seemingly designed just so the show’s writers can emit a hearty “A ha! — got ya, didn’t we?” to the viewers when a surprise is sprung about what’s really been going on.

The show is considerably more effective in its arguably upped number of set pieces, which offer various episodes the sort of epic scope that has become one of the series’ hallmarks. But perhaps even more interesting here is some of the interplay between the characters. Jon (Kit Harington) and Daenerys (Emelia Clark) develop into something more than merely friends, something that along with the denouement about Jon’s parentage seems to suggest incest is all but inevitable in and around Westeros. Even the arguably over extended Sansa — Arya subplot has some interesting development in the relationship between the sisters, with a kind of wry acceptance entering the fray once common enemies are noticed. In fact common enemies in and of themselves are a running current throughout this season, as evidenced by the whole tense “summit” meeting that caps this season, one which suggests Cersei (Lena Headey), for all her "shame" a season or so ago, can at least seem to be acting honorably. A variety of competing allegiances and backstories threaten to keep these wary adversaries from realizing that those “walking dead” types are getting closer every day.

Game of Thrones: The Complete Seventh Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Game of Thrones: The Complete Seventh Season is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of HBO with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. This seventh "at bat" for the series is another near home run, with some really sumptuous imagery brought winningly to life with a problem free transfer. The show's prevalence of finely wrought costumes and sets delivers near uniform excellence in fine detail levels, sometimes even in less than optimal lighting situations. Once again, as with many and maybe even all of the show's previous seasons, there's a kind of bifurcated grading regimen at play, with a lot of the show's almost trademark cool blue scenes alternating with those that are almost sepia toned. The blues scenes crackle with surprising detail quite a bit of the time, delivering excellent views of things like wolves' fur or even wounds on various characters' bodies. Note the texture of the fabric on the target in screenshot 10, another blue graded sequence that offers great fine detail levels. Some of the sepia toned material doesn't fare quite as well, especially when lighting conditions are sparse. My only main complaint with regard to this season is some fairly variable CGI. Some of the CGI, notably close-ups of the dragons, is absolutely spectacular, delivering excellent detail levels across the board and helping to support a feeling of reality despite the improbability of it all. But there are other moments, notably some of the scenes of fleets of boats in the water or even masses of soldiers on horseback, that have a much more digitally rendered look that tends to undercut that feeling of reality.

Game of Thrones: The Complete Seventh Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Game of Thrones: The Complete Seventh Season features another beautifully detailed Dolby Atmos track, one that utilizes some really stunningly effective overhead placements when dragons fly. Several huge scenes involving battles or even threats of battles also offer a glut of surround activity courtesy of preparations being made. Some fairly boisterous LFE is utilized when dragons are used as combatants, or in one impressive climactic moment, as something of a flamethrower. Even dialogue is nicely directional throughout the season, and some of the outdoor material offers good subtle placement of things like lapping waves or wafting breezes. Dynamic range is impressively wide throughout the season, and fidelity is top notch throughout as well, with no problems of any kind to report.

Game of Thrones: The Complete Seventh Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc One

• In Episode Guides


• Audio Commentaries

  Episode One with Director Jeremy Podeswa, Gwedolyne Christie (Brienne of Tarth), and John Bradley (Samwell Tarly)

  
  

  Episode Two with Gemma Whelan (Yara Greyjoy), Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm), and Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei)

  Episode Two with Co-Executive Producer / Writer Bryan Cogman, Prosthetics Supervisor Barrie Gower, Stunt Coordinator Rowley Irlam, and Pilou Asbaek (Euron Greyjoy)

  
  

  Episode Three with Executive Producer Bernadette Caulfield, Production Designer Deborah Riley, and Costume Designer Michele Clapton

Disc Two

• In Episode Guides


• Audio Commentaries

  Episode Four with Director Matt Shakman, Director of Photography Rob McLachlan, Special Effects Supervisor Sam Conway, and Camera Operator Chris Plevin

  Episode Four with Producer Chris Newman, Visual Effects Supervisor Joe Bauer, and Visual Effects Producer Steve Kullback

  
  

  Episode Five with Writer Dave Hill, Director Matt Shakman, and Director of Photography Rob McLachlan

  Episode Five with Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth) and Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont)

  
  

  Episode Six with Director Alan Taylor, Director of Photography Jonathan Freeman, and Camera Operators Sean Savage and David Morgan

Disc Three

• In Episode Guides


• Audio Commentaries

  Episode Seven with Executive Producers / Writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), and Kit Harington (Jon Snow)

  Episode Seven with Director Jeremy Podeswa and Director of Photography Greg Middleton

• From Imagination to Reality: Inside the Art Department (1080p; 24:26 and 21:59) is a very well done two part featurette focusing on Production Designer Deborah Riley and her crew.


• Fire and Steel: Creating the Invasion of Westeros (1080p; 30:02) offers - wait, maybe that title should come with spoiler tags.


• Histories and Lore offer more (minimally) animated tours through various topics:

  The Dragonpit (1080p; 3:08)

  The Citadel (1080p; 2:38)

  Casterly Rock (1080p; 3:39)

  Highgarden (1080p; 3:24)

  The Golden Company (1080p; 2:55)

  Prophecies of the Known World (1080p; 4:08)

  The Hand of the King (1080p; 4:01)

  The Rains of Castamere (1080p; 5:40)

Bonus Disc

• Conquest and Rebellion (1080p; 44:45) offers a set of (minimally) animated stories weaving ten chapters which detail the prehistories of the great families of Westeros, in what may be of further interest once the announced prequel spinoff gets off the ground. These are very much in the style of the Histories and Lores supplements that are included on this season's set and previous seasons as well. Series regulars do some of the voicework. This features a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track that is fairly reliant on narration and so tends to offer surround activity in the background. I've provided three screenshots (in positions 21 - 23) so that those interested can get an idea of what these chapters look like.

Game of Thrones: The Complete Seventh Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I have a friend who's a major Game of Thrones freak (there, I've said it) who insists that the odd numbered seasons are always the weakest, and that the fifth and seventh have proven that beyond a doubt. I hate to argue with friends since I have so few of them to begin with, but I never really saw the supposed downturn this show took a couple of years ago and, despite some missteps (in my perception) this show takes this year, the storytelling is still brisk and often astoundingly exciting. The show continues to have stupendous production values, though this season has a tendency to be a bit more "potty mouthed" than usual, for those who may be squeamish about such things. Technical merits are once again first rate, and the supplemental package is excellent. Highly recommended.