A Good Enough Ending for GOT

Published May 21, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hi Guys,

Once again, a big thanks for all your hard work and research, it”s really extended my enjoyment of the shows and has made season 8 one of the most memorable for me.

I”ve got to say I’m disappointed with all the hate this season is copping, especially the finale. I think the only things that have really disappointed me about this season are the jetpacking and attention to detail we lost because of it, and the lack of hidden agendas that we got in previous seasons.. perhaps they died with Littlefinger. We were never going to get the same season we got once the books finished, and I’m really just relieved we got an ending. They left the fans wanting more and did it justice visually. Perhaps all those complainers should watch the behind the scenes and realise just how much work was put in by the cast and crew.

I think the showrunners did a good job of giving all the main characters a relatively ‘happy” yet unpredictable ending. Many people feel Jon got an unfair ending – banished to the wall, right back where he started without a family or a title. I think Bran knew the wildings where at Castle Black and always knew Jon would be with them and if you think about Jon as a character the only time he was ever really happy was when he was living as a wildling with Ygritte – so I think he”ll be happier than he ever could have been next to Daenerys or on the throne himself.

Fans also say Daenerys got the raw end, but she did what she set out to do and cleared the way for a better future, they couldn’t have defeated the night king without her, and while the slaying of the population of kings landing was questionable at best, if Bran knew the future all along and did nothing to stop it perhaps that”s what had to happen to start a better world. Now obviously her ‘House of The Undying” vision came true so sucks for her she never got to sit on the throne and she was betrayed by Jon, but she also went home to Khal Drogo and their child, so she is probably far better off dead than ruling Westeros.

Not many people pinned Bran as the final king, so the showrunners did a good job surprising us with that after the whole world was speculating. Bran felt like such a flat character through the whole series, but if you go back and watch the first episode of GOT you realise how integral he was to the whole story. It all began because Jamie pushed him out that window, and it seems fitting it ended with him, the forgotten Stark brother who”s not really a Stark at all anymore. A King who doesn’t want the crown, who knowsl all the mistakes men have ever made. Also I found it super funny when the small council didn’t know when to sit down because Brans in his BYO throne. I’m super curious if his comment about ‘finding” Drogon was there to tease the audience about him warging into the dragon, or to give us a clue that maybe he already did. It seems like Drogon was gonna burn Jon alive for a minute, until something takes over him at the last second and he burns the iron throne.. coincidence?

Sansa takes the crown as Queen of the North, Arya sails away on to new adventures, Brienne lost her virginity to Jamie and ensured he”ll be known as more than just the King slayer. For Lannister lovers Jamie and Cersei died in each other”s arms (but still died) and as Bran says Tyrion is stuck serving the realm as a type of penance for his actions, but it also feels like the realm is in good hands.

It”s not perfect but damn, it was pretty good. You can’t please everyone, but the show did a great job of completing as many character arcs as they could and giving each character what peace they deserved in the end. GRRM”s ending is bound to be 1000 times better if he ever finishes the books but that”s because he”s a literary genius. We got what we got and if people just relaxed and enjoyed it for what it was without such high expectations, I think they would have enjoyed this last season so much more. Also, I know you guys have asked for alternate endings, but here is one Reddit users take on what the future looks like with Bran as king.. worth a read https://www.reddit.com/r/gameofthrones/comments/bqvnol/spoilers_epilogue_after_the_wheel/

Thanks gents, hope to hear your voices again once the prequels are released! keep up the great work!

Hannah

Sydney, Australia.

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