Best Characters on "Game of Thrones"

Few shows have as many great characters as "Game of Thrones". Some have gone through huge changes across the series' eight season. Others have established themselves as some of the best villains or greatest heroes. Then there are those characters that were only around for a few episodes, yet they still had a massive impact on the show and its audience. Today I rank the 30 best characters of "Game of Thrones". Please note: they are who I consider the BEST characters, they are not the character I like the most. I will list my 10 favorite characters at the end.

30. The Night King (portrayed by Vladimir Furdik)
He is the embodiment of evil. Why, exactly, the Night King marches South to destroy mankind remains somewhat of a mystery. But whatever the reason may be, he’s a terrifying foe. Him being defeated by Arya, even he didn’t see it coming.

29. Ramsay Bolton (portrayed by Iwan Rheon)
Joffrey might have been terrible, but he was a spoiled brat that would whine whenever he didn’t get his way. But Ramsay is the absolute worst. He takes pleasure in torturing people and never treats others right. Ramsay eventually dying by being fed to his own dogs, was a terrifying death for a terrible human being, yet very satisfying.

28. Melisandre (portrayed by Carice van Houten)
Melisandre is probably the most enigmatic character in the series. She is a red priestess of R’hllor and a shadowbinder. She worships the Lord of Light. While poor Stannis Baratheon and his peers are her own instruments, in order to realize the realm of the new God. She is a master in secretive behavior and und undisclosed information.

27. Hodor (portrayed by Kristian Nairn)
This big, yet sweet and simple minded servant of House Stark, touched our hearts and made a huge impact without ever saying more than his own name. As the constant carrier of young Bran, Hodor would be featured in one of the show’s most memorable and moving deaths.

26. Samwell Tarly (portrayed by John Bradley)
The soft-hearted Samwell Tarly may have been banished to the Wall by his macho dad, but the avid book lover managed to find himself a sweet position. Best friend to Jon Snow, Sam had been through it all, from White Walker attacks to Wildling invasions. Possessing a nonviolent everyman quality, Sam has made his way around Westeros from Castle Black to eventually becoming a Maester in King’s Landing for King Bran.

25. Robb Stark (portrayed by Richard Madden)
In any other story, the eldest son of the betrayed and murdered lord would surely rise up and claim vengeance. But that’s not the case in the world of Westeros as Ned Stark’s oldest, the galant Robb Stark, found his path to redemption violently and horrifyingly cut short thanks to the Red Wedding. Robb, like his father, was undone by his own honor. But as honorable as Robb was too, it was his oath-breaking that ultimately got him killed.

24. Missandei (portrayed by Nathalie Emmanuel)
As a slave who served the Masters of Astapor, Missandei had a front row seat for Daenerys’ feisty fiery dragon attack and subsequent commandeering of the unsullied army. Sticking with the winning team, Missandei actually found her way into Daenerys’ inner circle and developed and unexpected friendship with her. She also found the way to Grey Worm’s heart. She is a kindhearted, faithful woman, who died for her savior, her Queen.

23. Oberyn Martell (portrayed by Pedro Pascal)
This dashing prince of Dorne arrived in King’s Landing with a giant chip on his shoulder, stil bearing heavy resentment toward Lord Tywin for the death of his sister Elia during the sack of King’s Landing. As our first formal introduction to Dorne, Oberyn was both logical and passionate, restrained but also dangerous. He only lasted one season, but his short stint as a hero when he agreed to fight for Tyrion in a trial by combat, remains one of the most crowd pleasing moments of the series. Even if it did end rather horribly for the ‘Red Viper’.

22. Bronn (portrayed by Jerome Flynn)
Many of the other characters on this list matter to the plot of the politics of Westeros, but Bronn earns his place on this list based almost entirely on what his character says about the nature of the world. Like Davos, Varys or Brienne, he’s one of the few non-nobles to have a voice in the affairs of the great and powerful houses of Westeros, and he’s and unapologetic mercenary which is a welcome antidote to the scheming pretense the rest of the characters are known for. It’s the one quality that makes him in many ways one of the most loyal and honest characters in the entire series. Add in his time as Tyrion’s bodyguard and his buddy-cop stint with Jaime and he’s easily one of the most entertaining characters around.

21. Lyanna Mormont (portrayed by Bella Ramsay)
She may be little, but Lyanna Mormont stands right there with all the grown, strong and brave men. And she is just as brave as them. She stole every scene with her bold, authoritarian flair and I wouldn’t hesitate to bend the knee. And Lyanna went out like a great warrior, by killing a giant with her last breath.

20. Catelyn Stark (portrayed by Michelle Farley)
The Lady of Winterfell, Catelyn Stark, became the series honorary lead after the untimely beheading of her husband Ned, as she tried to take control of spiraling events. Catelyn eventually meeting her tragic end, during the Red Wedding, and her guttural cry of anguish, will stay in our minds forever.

19. Jorah Mormont (portrayed by Iain Glenn)
An older man in love with a much younger woman. Jorah Mormont is an exile and a spy, a servant and a soldier. Although we first meet him spying on Daenerys for Varys under the guise of serving as her mentor, Jorah grew to admire and love Khaleesi. Seeing in her the makings of a true monarch. He is a tragic character, because his love for Daenerys will always stay unanswered. When she is the only person who stayed loyal to her untill the end. And that’s exactly how Jorah died: while protecting his true Queen.

18. Margaery Tyrell (portrayed by Nathalie Dormer) 
Margaery Tyrell, so sweet. So conniving. So giving. So manipulative. But she is above all incredibly ambitious and always ready with a new plan to secure a place at the top of King’s Landing. So did she really care about the poor, or was it all an act to secure their support? Did she have any genuine compasion for young, overwhelmed Tommen, or was she only making sure the young King was under her control as she strove to gain control from Cersei? Or was the true answer somewhere in the middle?

17. Joffrey Baratheon (portrayed by Jack Gleeson)
The sneery, whiney, sadistic former boy-king of Westeros went on a many-year rampage during his tenure on the Iron Throne. His slow transformation from priveliged brat to torture-loving, self-righteous monster was like watching a train wreck unfold in slow motion. Joffrey became more destructive and hard to like with each passing moment. Joffrey was ultimately responsible for the execution of Ned Stark. Outside his direct contributions to the destabilization of the kingdom, his wild inpredictability and spathy toward the good of his people forced those around him to elevate themselves. Characters like Tywin, Tyrion, Cersei and Sansa all had to step into new roles to either try and repair the damage that followed him, or just learn to survive him.

16. Brienne of Tarth (portrayed by Gwendoline Christie)
Brienne of Tarth is a warrior woman in a man’s world. Mocked for her masculine appearance and unladylike features, she nevertheless strives to be a noble person and worthy knight. After failing to protect the one man who truly believed in her, she found herself partnered with the antithesis of everything she stands for: Jaime Lannister. On the field of combat, Brienne’s brutish strength and efficient skill has seen her cut down numerous soldiers. Brienne is an unique and engaging character that’s hard not to root for.

15. Sandor “The Hound” Clegane (portrayed by Rory McCann)
He may not be the most loveable character, and there have definitely been times we’ve hated him, but Sandor Clegane ranks up there on my list. He is one of the most dangerous and feared men in Westeros, but his character arc is one of the most interesting. Sandor grew up in the shadows of his brother Gregor, unil he was eventually appointed to be the guard for Joffrey Baratheon. But while being in that shadow gave him a dark streak, it also gave him empathy for underlings that has translated into soft spots for both Sansa and Arya Stark.

14. Sansa Stark (portrayed by Sophie Turner)
To say Sansa Stark began as the least likeable member of the Stark family is an understatement. The polar opposite of her sister Arya, Sansa felt she deserved a life of luxury, as a Princess and eventually a Queen. But as fate would have it, Sansa would instead learn some incredibly harsh and cruel lessons about how things really worked in Westeros. Enduring unthinkable loses and pain along the way. What makes her stand out is that she is though, not giving up where others would, and slowly but surely adapting to survive in this environment. She started playing the game of thrones herself, using Littlefinger’s unhealthy interest in her to her advantage when it counted the most and eventually getting her well-deserved revenge on Ramsay Bolton. She never leveled with Cersei in being a mastermind or with Arya in battle, but she was the one making the better decisions towards the end and got what she wanted. The North seperated from the rest and her ruling it.

13. Davos Seaworth (portrayed by Liam Cunningham)
In the “Game of Thrones” world there aren’t many character that are consistenly likeable and genuine, without suffering quick and terrible fate. Davos Seaworth is one of those characters, though he is no stranger to heartache and loss. Davos is a gruff and loveable man and he is an element of humanity that’s often missing in the conniving machinations of the realm’s would-be kings. It’s hard not to respect Davos, the smuggler turned kingly advisor serves as the shows moral compass. He’s a humble man with a code who understands that the smart course of action is rarely the right thing to do. He struggles to promote those beliefs and an internal sense of justice amid so many characters are willing to lose themselves in the face of their own ambition. Whether he’s pushing those he believes in to believe in themselves, or delivering genuine, heartfelt pleas when all other options fail, Davos has time again proven that sacrifice in order to do what’s right is as kingly a goal as any claim to the throne.

12. Theon Greyjoy (portrayed by Alfie Allen)
Raised as a surrogate son by Ned Stark, Theon Greyjoy never quite belonged in the Stark family despite being a foster brother to Ned’s children. His complicated feelings towards the Starks, his resentment, and desire to assert himself as heir to the Iron Islands lead not only to his betrayal of the Starks but also to his own destruction as a man. Tortured by Ramsay Bolton, Theon became a shell of a human who only asnwered to the name ‘Reek’. When helping Sansa, a slim chance for atonement presented itself. Eventually Theon grew up to be a true hero, by sacrificing himself to save Brann in the Battle of Winterfell.

11. Jaime Lannister (portrayed by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau)
Forever known as the infamous Kingslayer for his treacherous assassination of the Mad King, who he was sworn to protect, Jaime Lannister was once arguably the most formidable swordsman in Westeros ad a character who seemed irredeemable. His passionate love for his twin sister Cersei, his soft spot for his black sheep brother Tyrion, the lost of his sword hand. The deaths of his children and father and his bonds with Brienne and Bronn. All of these relationships and events have revealed Jaime Lannister to be a far more complicated character than his earlier ‘prince charming’ persona indicated.

10. Olenna Tyrell (portrayed by Diana Rigg)
Being called ‘Queen of Thorns” for her sharp tongue, Olenna Tyrell is a constant high point in “Game of Thrones” thanks to her penchant for saying what’s on her mind. Usually at the expense of whomever she’s backhandedly insulting. Olenna Tyrell has always been the true head of House Tyrell, serving as the brains and chief strategist for the powerful family. Olenna was the one who poisoned Joffrey Baratheon, because she couldn’t see her granddaughter Margaery marry a monster. While Tyrion Lannister was the one they blamed it on, Olenna told Jaime Lannister much later it was her.

9. Eddard Stark (portrayed by Sean Bean)
Even putting aside Sean Bean’s star power, the character of Eddard Stark does so much to set the tone of the show. His lessons about honor and loyalty and justice reverberate through the actions of his children, many of whom became major players in the game. And his execution in that first season further sent the message that maybe honor isn’t as practical as you might hope. Ned’s shadow looms large over the entire series, both as an example of the type of heroic figures we’re used to seeing and as a major player whose actions still continue to ripple throughout the kingdom.

8. Jon Snow (portrayed by Kit Harington)
It’s no question why Jon Snow is one of the most important character in “Game of Thrones”. At one point, he was THE most important character. Jon has all the traits of a classic hero: honor, kindness, intelligence, persistence and selflessness. Jon proves time and time again that his duty comes before his own desires. One of the most intriguing aspects of Jon Snow’s character is his mysterious parentage. Accepted as the illegitimate son of Ned Stark for years, Jon has never expressed interest in ruling Westeros. Even with him being the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, meaning Jon is the rightful heir to throne, he doesn’t want to sit on the throne.

7. Arya Stark (portrayed by Maisie Williams)
Arya’s journey has had a few rough patches, in terms of what the character has been through. What makes her undeniably awesome is that she is the least powerful of the series’ principals, but has managed to keep her head while other smarter, stronger and better connected Starks have lost theirs. She’s reinvented herself multiple times and eventually became on of the most feared assassins. And she saved all of mankind when she killed the Night King.

6. Tywin Lannister (portrayed by Charles Dance)
There are few characters in “Game of Thrones” that are more singularly responsible for the political climate and power standing than Tywin Lannister. The influental and rightly feared head of House Lannister was responsible for the sacking of King’s Landing during Robert’s rebellion, effectively ending the war, setting in motion the union between his house and the crown, and planting the seeds for nearly every major plotline to follow in the capitol. He steals nearly every scene he is in, commanding respect with his unnerving, comtemplative mood.

5. Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish (portrayed by Aidan Gillen)
Lord Petyr Baelish, aka Littlefinger, orchestrated the entire conspiracy that kicked off the events of the game of thrones by plotting the death of Ned Stark’s good friend Jon Arryn and using that to gain power in King’s Landing. Littlefinger has a shrewd, calculating mind and rivals Varys for character with the most secrets and schemes. Everything Littlefinger has done, has been part of a master plan that allows him to climb the ladder of chaos all the way to the top. Yet despite his ways, his unrequited love for Catelyn and then her daughter Sansa adds a pitiful vulnerability to the slimy personality. And his schemes were eventually outsmarted by Sansa and Arya.

4. Daenerys Targaryen (portrayed by Emilia Clarke)
Whether Daenerys Targaryen proves to be a savior out of legend or a conqueror who is bad news for Westeros, there’s no denying she is one of the most monumental characters on “Game of Thrones”. She helped bring magic back into the world with the birth of her three dragons, which is no small feat to say the least. She is one of the most significant players in the story through its conclusion.

3. Cersei Lannister (portrayed by Lena Heady)
Cersei Lannister is flawed, vindictive and cunning. She is bullheaded, mad yet steadfast in her love for her children. There are few characters quite as dark and fascinating as Cersei Lannister. She is a woman in a man’s world who is fighting to be a political equal of men who view her lesser simply because of her gender. Her initial warning – “when you play the game of thrones, you win or you die”- has proved to be her mantra. Though there is something to be respected about how she stood strong for so long, while more likeable and honorable people around her fell. Even when she does the most hateful, awefull things and spirals into madness, we still can’t help but respect how she clawed her way to the top.

2. Varys (portrayed by Conleth Hill)
Also known as ‘the Spider’ and Master of Whisperers, Varys is a spymaster and is a key power on “Game of Thrones” thanks to the secrets and information given to him by informants (his little birds). He often finds himself at odds with Littlefinger, the only other character who can compete with him when it comes to secretly manipulating events to reach a large goal. It was Varys who put Daenerys on the path to power and allowed Tyrion to escape execution to join her in an effort to return the Targaryens to the throne. But he was also the one that betrayed Daenerys and this eventually cost him. The calm and soft-spoken Varys van be counted among the most dangerous and influential character of the series.

1. Tyrion Lannister (portrayed by Peter Dinklage)
Tyrion’s is the rarest of all things in Westeros: a smart person with scruples. While Ned may have shown more moral fortitude, his gullibility made him a quick casualty in the game of thrones. And while Littlefinger may have more insight in how to manipulate and exploit a situation, he only ever really does it for his own benefit. But Tyrion expends those same qualities to protect a realm and a family that reject him at every turn. His willingness to rise above his circumstances, and his own notable failings, to turn his intelligence and connections toward doing whatever he needs to do to keep the realm safe.

My favorite characters:
10. Bronn
9. Brienne of Tarth
8. Davos Seaworth
7. Daenerys Targaryen
6. Sansa Stark
5. Jorah Mormont
4. Eddard Stark
3. Tyrion Lannister
2. Jon Snow
1. Arya Stark

Movie Reviews - Vals

Director: Dennis Bots
Genre: Thriller
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Abbey Hoes, Olivia Lonsdale, Romy Gevers, Holly Mae Brood, Gijs Blom, Jelka van Houten, Thijs Boermans, Niek Roozen, Shahine el Hamus
Description: A girls weekend in a remote cottage in the Ardennes. Relationships are put into focus - do the four girls know everything about each other?

Review: Four city girls decide that, before they graduate from high school, they want to take a trip to a remote cottage in the Ardennes. The rustic environment is quickly disturbed by fights amongst the girls and finding out that each of the them carries a secret.
On their way to the Ardennes you see the contrasts between the four girls. Pippa is the popular girl, while Kim is the silent and timid one. Kim has been best friends with Abby for a long time and Pippa is coming between the two. And then there is Feline, the moral compass of the group.
When they arrive at the cottage, it’s clear that Pippa calls the shots and tries to sabotage the friendship between Kim and Abby. And Feline sees everything from a distance. When they invite a group of Dutch boys into their cottage, it brings even more tension between the girls.
“Vals” is meant for teen girls. It’s based on a book by the same name, written by Mel Wallis de Vries. It won the Young Jury prize in 2012. And for the youthful viewers there are many relevant themes present: (homo)sexuality, bullying, friendship. It will certainly speak to the targeted audience. But the actresses that portray these sixteen, seventeen year old girls are clearly older. Which make it not very credible.
The film threatens to fall into clichés and towards the end, when they decide to throw in a major plot twist, the screenplay is one big mess. The actresses are all very strong and they make this film watchable. But the ending is also not very credible and convincing, that even the performers couldn’t save it.
Entertaining, only for one viewing.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - The Highwaymen

Director: John Lee Hancock
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Kevin Costner, Woody Harrelson, Kathy Bates, John Carroll Lynch, William Sadler, Kim Dickens

Description: A pair of Texas Rangers (Kevin Costner, Woody Harrelson) come out of retirement to catch the infamous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde.

Review: Former Texas Rangers Frank Hamer and Benjamin Maney Gault return from retirement to end the criminal duo Bonnie and Clyde.
Director John Lee Hancock has some historical dramas on his resumé, like “Saving Mr. Banks” and “The Founder”. In “The Highwaymen” he went into a different direction. It’s the tale of two heroes hunting for the world’s most infamous criminal duo.
The film’s strength is its depiction of the 1930s. Hamer and Gault are trying to fight their way though the country where, due to the economic crisis, the citizens have become more fond of murdering outlaws than the actual law.
How both characters respond to everything around them is very different. In this contrast we see the true characters.
“The Highwaymen” is not an action/ chase movie. Its power is set in the silent moments, where Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson get the chance to translate the historical story into words, facial expressions and motion. Both actors are definite favorites of mine and are excellent in this film.
We are actually missing Bonnie and Clyde here, but it was a conscious choise of Hancock to give them almost no screen time. The consequences of their actions, the search for them and the men hunting them are the focus of the story. And this makes “The Highwaymen” into a melancholic film experience.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movies to Look Forward to - June 2019

Another month is almost over, so time to look forward to June.

June 6th – Tolkien
Director: Dome Karukoski
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins
Description: Tolkien (Nicholas Hoult) explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school.

June 6th – Dark Phoenix
Director: Simon Kinberg
Starring: Sophie Turner, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Michael Fassbender, Tye Sheridan, Evan Peters, Kodi Smith-PcPhee
Description: Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) begins to develop incredible powers that corrupt and turn her into a Dark Phoenix. Now the X-Men will have to decide if the life of a team member is worth more than all the people living in the world.

June 13th – Long Shot
Director: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, Bob Odenkirk, Andy Serkis, Alexander Skarsgård
Description: When Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) reunites with his first crush, one of the most influential women in the world, Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron), he charms her. As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte hires Fred as her speechwriter and sparks fly.

June 20th – Child’s Play
Director: Lars Klevberg
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Hamill, Brian Tyree Henry
Description: A mother (Aubrey Plaza) gives her son a toy doll for his birthday, unaware of its more sinister nature.

June 20th – Men in Black: International
Director: F. Gary Gray
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Rebecca Ferguson, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Rafe Spall
Description: The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.

June 26th – Toy Story 4
Director: Josh Cooley
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Keanu Reeves, Patricia Arquette, Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, Joan Cusack, Laurie Metcalfe, Timothy Dalton, Annie Potts, Bonnie Hunt, Keegan-Michael Key, Wallace Shaw, Kristen Schaal, John Ratzenberger, Don Rickles, Jeff Carlin
Description: When a new toy called "Forky" joins Woody and the gang, a road trip alongside old and new friends reveals how big the world can be for a toy.

June 27th – Yesterday
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Lily James, Kate McKinnon, Ana de Armas, Himesh Patel
Description: A struggling musician realizes he's the only person on Earth who can remember The Beatles.

TV Show Review - Game of Thrones (Season 8, Episode 6)

Season: 8
Genre: Adventure/ Fantasy
Episode: 6
Episode title: The Iron Throne
Air date: May 19th 2019
Starring: Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Lena Heady, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, Liam Cunningham, John Bradley, Gwendolyn Christie, Jerome Flynn, Kristofer Hivju, Joe Dempsey, Jacob Anderson, Gemma Whelan, Richard Dormer, Anton Lesser, Daniel Portman

Description: In the aftermath of the devastating attack on King's Landing, Daenerys must face the survivors.

Review: It’s here, the moment we’ve been waiting for for eight seasons: the final episode of “Game of Thrones”. We finally get to find out who ends up on the Iron Throne. This season was highly criticized. And although I get why and I do agree on some points, I think some people are just nitpicking. The final episode was never going to satisfy everyone. Was it the best show ending? No. Was I happy with it? Yes, for the most part I was.
The episode starts with Tyrion, Davos and Jon walking down the streets of King’s Landing, with dead people all over the place and everything covered in ashes. Daenerys’ destructive rage has left its mark and now she’s got what she always wanted: the Iron Throne.
Tyrion finds Jaime and Cersei, his brother and sister, dead in the crypt. It’s a very emotional moment for Tyrion. He weeps for his family and we join him. When the camera zooms out, we see the Lannister twins died in each other’s arms.
Jon walks up to Daenerys, who is about to step in front of her people. The moment we see her, Drogon is behind her and it looks like Daenerys has dragon wings. This is a beautifully shot scene. Daenerys speaks to her people, how she is planning to free the world from tyranny. Afterwords Tyrion walks up to her and tells her he was the one who freed Jaime. Daenerys knows Tyrion betrayed her and he confirms by throwing his pin, that made him the hand of the queen, away. A very important and brave moment for Tyrion. Daenerys holds him captive.
Jon visits him and Tyrion tries to convince him to do the same. We see that Jon is still struggling and he wants to defend his queen. But you can see that he knows Tyrion is actually right.
When Daenerys walks into the throne room, we see her smile and enjoying the fact she finally got what she wanted. Jon joins her and Daenerys tells him stories of when she was little. Jon confronts her with her actions and Daenerys is trying to convince him that what she did, was the right thing. For a second we think Jon believes her and that the two will rule together and join forces once again. But Jon stabs Daenerys and she dies in his arms.
The most heartbreaking moment follows, when Drogon flies up and sees Daenerys’ lifeless body. I balled my eyes out. Not because of Daenerys, but because of Drogon’s pain, which he is clearly feeling. Right when we think Drogon is going to burn Jon, he burns down the throne. And this is actually very logical. Because Jon might have stabbed Daenerys, but her hunger for power was what actually killed her.
Knowing that Daenerys didn’t end up on the throne, there are still some unanswered questions. When Tyrion is joining all the lords and ladies of Winterfell in the Dragon’s Pit, he claims to know who should be on that throne: Bran Stark, Bran the Broken. This is somewhat surprising, which is what I wanted. I didn’t necessarily want Bran on the throne, because he is one of my least favorite characters. But I did want someone on the throne we never expected to become king or queen. And I think Bran would make a good king. He is the Three-Eyed Raven and is able to avoid the mistakes that previous rulers have made.
One decision will change Westeros forever. Sansa doesn’t want the North the be part of the Seven Kingdoms anymore and form a separate kingdom. Bran agrees and Sansa will rule as the Queen of the North. Jon will go back to the Night’s Watch. And I think this is a logical move. Because if we look back, Jon was happiest there. This is where he belongs. And with him returning, this time as Lord Commander, we get what we’ve been wanting since he left Winterfell the last time: a reunion with Ghost and the hug we wanted to see. The best moment of the episode for me.
I also loved the moment where Jon, Sansa, Arya and Bran said their goodbyes. We’ve seen it before, but this time there are far better futures ahead of them.
Arya’s fate was perfect. She decided to travel to the west of Westeros, the part where all the maps stop. This is what she always wanted and what she was meant to do.
When the small council gets together for the first time, we see Tyrion (as the hand of the King) meeting up with Master of coins Bronn, Master of Ships Davos, Grand Maester Sam and Brienne of the King’s Guard. This is a great scene. One moment I didn’t really like, is the book that Sam presents, which is called “A Song of Ice and Fire”. A bit to meta for me.
Tyrion was the star of the episode, he had the best moments. All thanks to Peter Dinklage’s great performance.
It felt like they took more time this episode, to round it all up. To say goodbye to all these beloved characters and their stories. Like predicted, the ending was bitter sweet. It wasn’t a happy ending, because that just wouldn’t fit. Bran ends up on the throne, but he doesn’t really want to be there. Jon is right back where he left off, in the Night’s Watch and no one will ever know that he is actually the true king we all need. And Daenerys, the one who wanted the throne more than anything, is dead. But it’s not all drama. Sansa gets her own throne and Arya does what she was always meant to do. And Tyrion can finally do the right thing for the king he chose himself.
I don’t care what everyone says, I was happy with the ending. “Game of Thrones” is and will probably always be the best show I have ever witnessed. All the times I cried, laughed, was shocked, felt fear, felt nervous, all the excitement I felt after and before each episode. Never has a show done this much with my emotions. No show will ever give me that feeling again and I’m very thankful to have been a part of this fantastic journey. There is only one upside to the ending. We can now watch it all again, from the beginning and start that journey again. And again.

Movie Reviews - Boy Erased

Director: Joel Edgerton
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Joel Edgerton

Description: The son (Lucas Hedges) of a Baptist preacher (Russel Crowe) is forced to participate in a church-supported gay conversion program after being forcibly outed to his parents.

Review: Actor/ director Joel Edgerton always pick interesting projects. And “Boy Erased” is one of them. Edgerton directs this drama based on a true story, but also portrays a very important character in the film.
Jared is the son of a Baptist preacher. He is a kind and intelligent young man, with loving parents. When Jared tells his parents he is gay, they send him to a church-supported gay conversion program, to get ‘cured’.
“Boy Erased” is an unnerving story. As a naïve viewer, you watch this story with perplexity. It really touched my soul, deep, seeing how some circles dealt with homosexuality.
The cast is really strong. Lucas Hedges has showed his skills a few times before, but his performance in “Boy Erased” is fantastic. Joel Edgerton as well. But it’s Nicole Kidman who shines most, as Jared’s mother. A great performance.
“Boy Erased” never played in the Dutch theaters, because they thought it wouldn’t be interesting enough for the mainstream audience. I think more people should see this film, it’s excellent.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

TV Show Review - Game of Thrones (Season 8, Episode 5)

Season: 8
Genre: Adventure/ Fantasy/ Family
Episode: 5
Episode title: The Bells
Air date: May 12th 2019
Starring: Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Lena Heady Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, Liam Cunningham, Nathalie Emmanuel, John Bradley, Gwendolyn Christie, Conleth Hill, Rory McCann, Jerome Flynn, Kristofer Hivju, Joe Dempsey, Jacob Anderson, Pilou Asbæk, Gemma Whelan, Richard Dormer, Anton Lesser, Daniel Portman

Description: Forces have arrived at Kings Landing for the final battle.

Review: The penultimate episode of “Game of Thrones” is all about Daenerys trying to get to her destination: the Iron Throne.
The episode “The Bells” starts with Varys, writing a letter where he states that Jon Snow is the true heir to the throne. We all knew that, after he got the news from Tyrion, he wouldn’t keep it quiet very long. Since Varys is one of the few people that sees the true intentions of Daenerys and that she won’t be a good queen. And he wants Jon to take the throne. Off course, Varys’ treason isn’t a secret for long either and Daenerys sentences him to die. He knows the minute the unsullied enter his room and he is brought outside. Tyrion is honest about it being him who told Daenerys. Varys might be the master of whispers, but he went out with a bang. It’s pretty hard to see him go, although I never had a strong opinion about him. I never knew if I liked him or disliked him. What I do know, is that he has been one of the most important characters. A key character actually.
At the end of episode 4, Jaime left Brienne to go back to Cersei. He is captured by Daenerys’ army before he can enter King’s Landing. Tyrion manages to talk to him and this is truly one of my favorite moments of the episode. I loved seeing the two together and both actors did a fantastic job. A very emotional moment for both characters, even without them knowing it was the last time seeing each other. Back to Jaime going to see Cersei. I hoped that, when he left Brienne, he did it to push her away so he could kill Cersei himself. But instead, he actually went back to her because he loves her (in all the wrong ways possible). That really disappointed me. Because the past 7 seasons, Jaime went through a big change, eventually freeing himself from Cersei and her manipulative nature. Him going back to her and his old ways, make his character arch (which was one of my favorites of the show) a complete waist of time. It was all for nothing. As for the way he goes. That fight with Euron was unexpected and for Euron it was a more heroic death, instead of him just being blown up by Drogon. Jaime looks for Cersei and they try to find a safe place and flee the Red Keep. When there is no way out, the two hold each other and are killed by… bricks. I hoped it would’ve been Jaime killing Cersei and then Jaime dying from his wounds or something. Both character have been very important and their deaths were a bit lame.
Most people have issues with Daenerys and think her actions are out of character. I don’t agree. During this season, she has lost everything. Her most trusted servant Jorah, her best friend Missandei, one of her dragons Rhaegal and the fact she isn’t the true heir to the throne. And when she confronts Jon about her love, he simply rejects her. She has nothing left, but that goal in life: getting to the Iron Throne. Daenerys knows that she has to fight dirty to get there, so she does. And she burns King’s Landing and the people in it. Innocent citizens. Jon and Tyrion are looking at her actions, like they didn’t see it coming. Knowing that Varys was right after all. And with that, she is no better than her father, the Mad King, or even Cersei. She was a nasty bitch, but even Cersei wouldn’t have done this.
We saw, in episode 4, that Arya and the Hound left for King’s Landing together. Arya wants to kill Cersei and the Hounds wants revenge on his brother, the Mountain. The Hound convinces Arya she has to leave, because Cersei will die anyway. And if she follows him, she will die too. The Hound finds his brother and the moment we’ve all been waiting for happens. And it’s epic. The moment The hound walks up the stairs towards the Mountain, we see Drogon flying over them and it’s the most beautiful shot of the episode. And the fight is ruthless, sometimes hard to watch. But it was worth the wait.
At the end of the episode, we see Arya, one of the few survivors of Daenerys mental breakdown. She sees a white horse, standing in the fallen city surrounded by dead bodies. I think there is a hidden meaning behind this, but what is it? It was pretty poetic though.
I’m really excited to find out how it will all end. Jon will probably try and stop Daenerys. Maybe he will team up with Tyrion and Arya. Jon doesn’t want the throne, so I think he will live but someone else will end up ruling the seven kingdoms. I know this season was highly criticized, but it’s still one of the best (in my opinion THE best) show of the past ten years. And I can’t wait to see the end.

TV Show Review - Game of Thrones (Season 8, Episode 4)

Genre: Adventure/ Fantasy
Episode: 4
Episode title: The Last of the Starks
Air date: May 5th 2019
Starring: Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Lena Heady Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, Liam Cunningham, Nathalie Emmanuel, John Bradley, Gwendolyn Christie, Alfie Allen, Conleth Hill, Rory McCann, Jerome Flynn, Kristofer Hivju, Joe Dempsey, Jacob Anderson, Iain Glenn, Pilou Asbæk, Gemma Whelan, Richard Dormer, Anton Lesser, Daniel Portman

Description: The Battle of Winterfell is over and a new chapter for Westeros begins

Review: We are more than half-way through the final season of “Game of Thrones” and by now it’s clear it’s all about closure and endings. To finish off dozens of storylines in only a few more episodes. And with that it’s no surprise some characters don’t get what they deserve. After seeing the fourth episode, “The Last of the Starks”, I’m seriously doubting for the first time if us fans will get the ending we deserve.
The episode starts strong. After the big battle, the survivors say their last goodbyes to their deceased friends. A celebration follows. We see how Jon is especially celebrated and Daenerys sees that everyone loves him. She feels like the outsider and knows that the North men will never look at her the way they look at Jon.
There are some similar moments as we saw them in episode 2, before the fight. But now in the aftermath. Tyrion, Jaime, Brienne and Podrick playing a drinking game. A really fun scene, which ends in Brienne leaving early and Jaime following her. Tormund is seriously heartbroken by seeing his dream woman leave, followed by another man. The scene between Brienne and Jaime, in Brienne’s room, was something expected. And somewhat something I was secretly hoping for. But “Game of Thrones” wouldn’t be “Game of Thrones” if they would stay happy until the end of the series. Jaime decides to leave Winterfell and join Cersei and he leaves Brienne in tears. This really broke my heart, seeing Brienne like that. What I’m wondering is, if Jaime is really going to King’s Landing to protect his sister/ lover or is he just saying that so that Brienne won’t follow him or fight for him?
Gendry was named the Lord of Storm’s End and he because of it he asked Arya to join him there and marry him. I guess we know Arya better than him, because she is not the kind of girl to settle down and be a lady. Painfull for Gendry though.
I’m glad the show got back to its roots for a moment: politic games. And those moments were between Varys and Tyrion. Great dialogue between the two and it seems like these moments are rare in “Game of Thrones” nowadays. It all feels so rushed and it’s mostly about the spectacle and fan-service. Because the show isn’t that surprising anymore either. These scenes between those two, were key moments in the episode.
We also see it with the scene that stars Bronn, Jaime and Tyrion. A great scene, that I wanted to be longer than it was. Especially because of the dynamic between the three characters.
Fans seem to be struggling with the plot holes in this season. Like how is it possible Daenerys never saw the ships coming, when she was up in the air overlooking everything? And how they easily hit Rhaegal three times, but Drogon is unharmed even when he was closer to the shooters? I have to be honest, it’s something to think about, but it doesn’t bother me as much. I’m more bothered by the fact that some characters don’t get the ending of their storylines how they deserve it. Like Ghost, Tormund and Sam. They were all very important at one point in the series. And now they just leave (and Ghost didn’t even get a hug or anything). Hopefully they will come back, but I think we’ve seen the last of them.
I am happy with that final scene though. Something that made me love “Game of Thrones” in the first place. A conversation between Tyrion and Cersei, with a lot at stake. A conversation of life and death, somehow that’s even more interesting then the fight for life and death. Especially with the characters they can work with.
Daenerys is a character to watch this season. She is going through some serious character development in season 8. It’s clear that she only has one goal: the iron throne. And I don’t think anything or anyone can stop her from going there. And in that way, she probably isn’t even better than Cersei. Cersei is only playing the ‘game of thrones’ a lot better. Cersei clearly makes the better decisions and nows how to hit the right nerve with Daenerys. And at the end, we saw a glimpse of what might become the ‘mad queen’.
And we should also look out for Sansa, because she is getting better and better at it as well. And seriously can see her on the throne now.
Two episodes ago I thought Cersei had no chance against Daenerys and her army. Now, I don’t know how Cersei will lose. It seems impossible to beat her now.
I’m happy this episode showed us there is still room for the political games and great dialogues. But overall, this was not the best episode. Poor writing and everything feels rushed. I’m hoping the show will redeem itself in the last two episodes and us fans get what we deserve for being so faithful.

10's Movie Review - Bumblebee

Director: Travis Knight
Genre: Action
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendenborg Jr., Pamela Adlon, John Ortiz, Angela Bassett, Peter Cullen, Justin Theroux

Description: On the run in the year of 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken.

Review: It was 2007 when the first Transformers film came out in theaters. The film was a success, but for the real fans a disappointment. Many sequels followed, but somehow it looked spectacular but there was no depth or any layers. One of the stars from the franchise, Bumblee, gets his own film. And it’s a more authentic Transformers film. The best of them all actually.
We meet Bumblebee, probably one of the most recognizable Transformers aside from Optimus Prime. This story is a prequel, that is set before the first movie. It’s the year 1987 and the movie opens with a battle on Cybertron: Autobots versus the Decepticons. The massive CGI spectacle is limited, luckily. From this moment on, there is an actual story and it does have depth.
The Autobots lose and flee from Cubertron. Bumblebee gets one task from Optimus Prime: hide on planet Earth and wait for back-up. Here we meet Charlie. After her father’s death, she never found her way back and can’t move on. She loves working on cars, because that’s something she did with her dad. When Charlie finds an old yellow Beetle, she tries to hide in her garage. And then she meets Bumblebee.
The story is not spectacular, but there at least is one. It’s mostly focused on Charlie’s connection with Bumblebee. Hailee Steinfeld, who playd Charlie, really does a fantastic job. All the Transformers spectacle is taken back a notch and it gets more personal. It even makes you care about the Transformer.
It’s not a very surprising movie, but that’s not really what a Transformer movie needs. The power is in the little, more human moments of the film. Charlie is a strong leading character and her bond with Bumblebee will really touch you.
“Bumblebee” is the best film in the Transformer universe and I really enjoyed this film. It’s still popcorn entertainment, but with a little bit more depth to it.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Director: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
Genre: Animation, Action
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Magershala Ali, Bryan Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, Zoë Kravitz, Nicolas Cage, Katheryn Hahn, Liev Schreiber, Chris Pine, Oscar Isaac, Stan Lee, Lake Bell, John Mulaney

Description: Teen Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) becomes Spider-Man of his reality, crossing his path with five counterparts from other dimensions to stop a threat for all realities.

Review: It’s pretty shocking that the movies “Venom” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” come from the same studio. Even though Tom Hardy plays a fun double role in a pretty standard superhero film, is “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” a perfect love letter to Spider-Man, his comics, his fans and everything that has to do with the character. No useless action sequences, predictable plot points or forced humor, but stunning animation, incredible style and an authentic comic book feel that you will find nowhere else. Ever Spider-Man fan, Marvel geek or animation enthusiast can expect a fantastic film adventure.
Where to begin? “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” tells a story, the way Edgar Wright did it with movies like “Hot Fuzz”. Constantly there are creative switched, comic book styles, great effects and characters that narrate the movie in their own way. It’s intense, stylish and a joy to watch.
It’s quite a challenge and a great accomplishment, because the stories of many iconic characters cross. We are talking about several ‘spider heroes’ in one animation. And each has a unique personality, animation style and life story. Without having to receive a load of information at the start of the film. Different universes clash and that’s how they meet. With this, the story is pretty surprising.
You think you know what’s will happen with Spider-Man. Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman managed to create a fantastic screenplay to write this original film. The clashing dimensions lack structure and give the well-known story some dramatic moments, nice surprises and smart plot twists.
Outside the fact that you have to be a fan to love this film, there is no critical note from my side. Film, comics and the superhero genre melt together to this unique story. It’s the best Spider-Man film ever made. Sadly enough I never saw it in theaters.

Rating: 5 / 5

Movie Reviews - Avengers: Endgame

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 181 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Bradley Cooper, Josh Brolin, Tessa Thompson, Evangeline Lilly, Pom Klementieff, Tom Holland, Jon Favreau, Elizabeth Olsen, Dave Bautista, Sebastian Stan, Michelle Pfeiffer, Katherine Langford, Tilda Swinton, Letitia Wright, Kerry Condon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chadwick Boseman, Winston Duke, Frank Grillo, Ty Simpkins, Sean Gunn, Emma Fuhrmann, Hiroyuki Sanada, Benedict Wong

Description: After the devastating events, the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe.

Review: “Avengers: Endgame” isn’t only the finale to last year’s “Avengers: Infinity War”, it’s also the end of the journey that film studio Marvel started eleven years ago together with its many fans. “Avengers: Endgame” is supposed to be a tribute to all the experiences and memories we have from the past years in this universe.
Thanos left a dystopian world behind with the snap of his fingers. The titan completed his mission, perfectly balanced out life and the Avengers have been defeated for the first time. And it paid its toll, because the superheroes have obviously suffered from it. They are broken, damaged. Nonetheless the team is determined to defeat their nemesis once and for all, after a new sign of hope.
The Marvel universe grew over the years, but “Avengers: Endgame” focuses on the six original Avengers. They don’t need any introduction and are the praised characters it all started with. The playing field is known and the returning directing Russo brothers don’t pay a lot of attention on background stories. This film is simply for the fans.
“Avengers: Endgame” is a true Marvel film. Humor, sharp dialogues, extravaganza, spectacle. And it has sky high ambitions. Somehow some elements feel uninspired. No introduction to Captain Marvel and Tony and Nebula’s return feel unsatisfying. And some developments don’t live up to our expectations or rules of logic.
I didn’t like what they did to Bruce Banner/ Hulk. It felt weird and I really don’t understand the choice for this. I did like the sacrifice one character made. Thinking it was going to be the other one, it was a cool twist that it eventually turned around. And Scott Lang’s role in the story was pretty cool.
During the end fight, they go all out. It’s a fantastic moment and the definite highlight of the film. The moment where Captain America says ‘Avengers assemble’, that just gave me goosebumps. An epic fight, a great finale.
In “Avengers: Infinity War” the focus was on Thanos, but here the attention had to be divided over several characters. Some protentional plot points have been sacrificed because of that. The end of the film is really strong and it feels like a perfect ending. And it is one final tribute to the Marvel universe. But from the last minutes of the film, you can also conclude that Marvel is not done with new stories yet. So it’s not really the end, but a new beginning.

Rating: 4/ 5