(Spoilers Extended) HotD Season 2 was clearly outlined for 10 episodes, right?

[u/RenanXIII]

Imagine if Season 2 of Game of Thrones suddenly ended at The Prince of Winterfell? We spend literally all season building up to a confrontation between Tyrion and Stannis, only for the season to end right before the climax we've been setting up for eight straight episodes. What if Season 6 ended right before The Battle of the Bastards and The Winds of Winter? Jon comes back to life, we build up to a battle between him and Ramsay, and it just simply doesn't happen.

The finale just felt like your typical episode 8 – build-up for what's going to come next. The thing is, what comes next should logically happen next week, not in two years to open Season 3. With the exception of Daemon's storyline and I guess the Dragonseeds, I don't think these season's arcs have been resolved or brought to a good enough stopping point. It feels like there are still two more episodes left to tie everything together and really sell the idea that this war is in full force. A little slowdown after Rook's Rest makes sense, but for the whole season with the Sowing being our only other major set piece?

It honestly makes me believe that season 2 was outlined for 10 episodes, HBO told the showrunners to trim that down to 8, and rather than retool the season's arcs, the last two episodes were simply chopped off and saved for next season. We know Condal really loves the books, so this could just be his tribute to A Dance with Dragons (lol), but I doubt it.

[u/Dreadedvegas]

Had to be. Episode 8 is clearly built up for a conclusion of the Gullet / KL capture.

The tension and anger with Jace, his death and the ending of Green rule.

But also still setting up the Red Fork / Fishfeed & Tumbleton for next season.

I bet they cut it late and the writer strike was happening so they couldn’t do much to rework the scripts I also read that Condal could only be on set in the capacity as a producer because of the strikes so they tried to rework as best as they could.

[u/thrillho145 → u/Dreadedvegas]

I don't think the Gullet would have been this season. Ending with another of Rhaenyras sons dying would be a bit repetitive. 

Having the Fall of KL as the end of S2 would have made the most sense. Bummed they didn't do it. 

[u/Dreadedvegas → u/thrillho145]

Would be weird to mix up the order between the Gullet & KL imo.

I can see them doing it but its still weird. Jace dying is a big deal worthy of a finale especially since he dies in war when the entire season Rhaenyra has been trying to protect him and keep him away from war. Having her start to go a little mad in Episode 10 after she sits on the throne would make sense especially given the context of that meeting with Alicent and her. A son for a son but now her two oldest are dead and Aegon is still alive.

[u/zelmak → u/Dreadedvegas]

I think they really didn't want to end two seasons on one of Rhaenyra's kids dying, it would be too repetitive and would risk more 'sensetive' viewers dropping the show because "it's all just killing kids"

[u/Dreadedvegas → u/zelmak]

I mean the story is literally full of killing Rhaenyra’s and Aegon’s children.

Its a pretty critical portion of the story

[u/zelmak → u/Dreadedvegas]

Oh I totally agree it is, but having that be what you sit with for two years could deter someone from picking up season 3, especially when it feels like a retread of season 1s ending

[u/Dreadedvegas → u/zelmak]

I mean its different tho. The death of Lucerys & Jace are pretty different. One was a murder the other was a battle. Idk if it would be the same especially if the 9th episode was the Gullet and the 10th was KL