Game of Thrones wrapped up its sixth season with a sensational finale full of decades old mysteries solved, shocking and satisfying deaths, tons of loose ends tied up, and plenty of setup for next season. The season dragged a tad at some moments but ultimately closed with one of the show’s finest episodes yet, leaving fans satisfied in the process.
In order to tie up so many loose ends in such a short time there were some liberties taken with time, not only in this finale but during this season as a whole, something that was not lost on fans. It was glaring when characters in one location seemed to go through just a few hours in an episode while other characters elsewhere traversed long distances that would have taken weeks or even months, all in the same episode. It seemed odd for time to tick differently at each location, but it was a necessary storytelling device to push the plot forward.
Bryan Cogman, a story editor and producer on the series, took to Twitter to explain the time differences and why it’s a necessary evil. The explanation was actually quite simple, and makes a ton of sense. As Cogman puts it, it’s better to just skip a ton of the travel time, or have the timelines not necessarily match up than the alternative, which is, as he puts it, “Arya spending four episodes on a boat.”
https://twitter.com/b_cogman/status/747542462311260160
https://twitter.com/b_cogman/status/747542673930629121
And for the rabid fans commenting on this inconsistency, well, Cogman doesn’t mind the question because it bothers him, too.
https://twitter.com/b_cogman/status/747543504323121152
https://twitter.com/b_cogman/status/747543695197503488
It really is for the best that we don’t have to worry about minutiae like how Varys got to Dorne and back to Meereen in an episode, while Cersei spent a day sipping wine, causing mass destruction, and ringing her own shame bell. With just two abbreviated seasons left, it’s time to see some dragons and White Walkers go to war already, and anything that helps us get there faster is understandable and welcome.
