LawrenceJoseSinclair

Previous seasons have pretty much followed 3 story lines:

Parker mines steadily on proved ground and, in spite of too many mechanical problems given their revenue, still mines more than the others combined. We all loved John Schnabel so this is a fitting homage to John's legacy of inspiring younger miners.

Todd and the Hoffmans start with lots of hope, optimism, braggadocio, then thank God for the little gold they do find while never reaching their goals, and sometimes appearing to lose it all on one bad decision after another, like the jungle mining in Guyana, or the slim deposits in unproven ground in Oregon. More often than not, the Hoffmans are showing us that perhaps you may not find what you seek after all due to lack of experience, capital, and bad decisions.

Tony Beets gives us a view back to another era, that of seafaring pirates, pillagers, and what I see as almost 'viking' determination to kick the butt of everything in his way until he dominates his domain. He has such disdain for other people that he'd probably like a completely unmanned dredge in his fantasy utopia. You always have to admire his 'get the ******* job done already' attitude, which would work well in wartime, but he'd get a lot more done even with his leadership and a company of people he treats and pays well. Tony, please, after decades in America, learn HOW to pronounce "dredge", it's just one syllable, not two.

Tony has a medieval commission schedule demanded of Parker, 20% of all mining revenue up to 5000 ounces while 10% is standard -then 30% at that level, which if I get this correctly, its not what is over 5000 that's 30% but all of it, so Parker pays 20% up to 4999 then suddenly loses 10% more for the next ounce? Insane, he should have a sliding scale so there's no incentive for creative math, lack of incentive to continue full bore until the weather stops you.

Now that Parker has found new land to mine in S8, Episode 1, at just the standard 10%, he has absolutely no reason to mine 5000 oz. He and Todd began S8 with a 100 oz bet on the season's total as well, so I smell a plot, a way for Parker to thumb his nose at Tony and 'give' Todd 100 oz that would have gone to Tony if each miner gets near the 5000 oz goal. That is, Todd gets 5000, Parker just stops at 4999 or less, saves 10% in commission, gladly gives Todd 100 oz that would have just gone to Tony's greed and apparent lack of math skills.

Season 8 hints at being a more interesting season than simply watching Parker dominate the overly-optimistic whose dreams are usually much larger than their skills as complete system analysts, who devise a workable plan that they can put into action with a competent company of skilled workers.

Most boring major show ever -- I gave up during season two -- nothing was happening, and the entire story is just like a bloodthirsty medieval royal family, France to be exact, where he got the idea, from series of historical French novels taking place in the 13th century..

The only thing making it "modern" or a fantasy is apparently a dragon, which never appeared while I watched.. then a friend said that big wall in the wilderness was to keep out zombies? unreal - how trivial, and unimaginative.. when you want vapid fans to flock to see it, add vampires or zombies or both..

Lowest common denominator stuff, just made with big money... I don't have a decade to spare to wait for this to unfold more violence and greed, that's been done so often that there's nothing illuminating or cathartic in it for me, but apparently it's new to people who are probably new to life itself, like those under 30..

My hope is that before finishing the book series or the TV show, George Martin will suddenly die, that would be appropriate.. his SF writing is much better to me, like Sandkings.. check it out..

I give it five on production values alone, and Peter Dinklage's acting, but he's better in The Station Agent