A Different Point of View – Jamie Never Switched Back to the Dark Side At All

Published May 23, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hi, like many people I was really upset about how GOT wrapped up the storylines of Jamie, Cersei and Brienne – BUT as a coping mechanism I gave it some real thought and feel like I came to a way of thinking about the whole situation that fixed things for me a bit. Oddly, I haven’t heard anyone else mention it. This is only a way of looking at what actually happened on the series – not a rewrite!

Jamie”s story arc has been changing and he”s been working toward redeeming himself (as much as possible considering how horrible he was) and this ending really seemed like a change of character but consider it from another perspective and it may not seem like such a change:

Jamie travels to Winterfell knowing it could end bad, Jamie seeks out Brienne and fights by her side in the face of certain death, after surviving he consummates his relationship with Brienne and seems to have fully come over to the light. After that first night together, he sees Sansa and she makes a comment to Jamie about not getting to have a chance to see Cersei killed and this is when you see emotion ripple across Jamie”s face. He spends another night with Brienne and that is when she wakes to find him about to get on his horse and leave. Everyone knows what was said but I”ll add that Brienne makes a comment about not going back to Cersei that shows she does not think he is going back to kill her. Here”s where the other point of view needs to be inserted… Jamie is changed and he is in love with Brienne, but just as his duty led him to Winterfell, his duty also leads him back to… NOT CERSEI HIS LOVER BUT HIS TWIN SISTER (FAMILY). Consider that the incestuous love Jamie felt for Cersei is gone and replaced with his love for Brienne – but Cersei is still his twin sister and family. Just as Tyrion still loves Jamie enough to set Jamie free to save Cersei, Jamie still loves his sister enough to sacrifice everything to go back and try to save her. Consider how Jamie acts with Cersei once he finds her and before they die – if you look at it as a brother and sister instead of lovers it still works. He never gives her a last kiss (no passion), he only holds her and hugs her to him before dying. If you look at this scene from this perspective, it”s possible to see a brother making the ultimate sacrifice trying to save his twin sister (and don’t forget – his child). Does this help Brienne? Of course not! But I feel like if you look at it carefully and from this point-of-view that it doesn’t change Jamie back to evil. Although, he must still think of himself as evil – “I”m hateful” is probably one of the reasons he feels like he doesn’t deserve a good life with Brienne but instead should be there with his family.

Also, regarding if the dragon consciously melted the throne. His first shot of fire went past Jon and didn’t hit the throne. He seemed a good shot (hitting anything else he aimed at before), so I don’t think he accidentally missed. I believe he was just upset and reacting with fire – the throne was hit with his second blast because it just happened to be there (and/or was the only thing in the room to destroy). I’m sure it was meant to show a couple things – like the dragon doesn’t want to kill Jon (probably just sensing the bloodline thing) and also a poetic moment with the throne destroyed in the end – by the only thing that could really do it (collateral damage).

Trish – Richmond, VA

Subscribe Now