Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 6
Writers: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
Directors: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
Runtime: 1 hr 19 minutes
Content Warnings: TV-MA: Adult Content, Adult Language, Violence
Video Preview: Season 8 Finale Trailer
What began over eight years ago ends tonight with the season and series finale. Join us now for live discussion, filled with hopes, predictions, and memories, in advance of tonight’s episode, with the Night’s Cast:
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Dracarys!
This is the end.
My only friend.
The end.
My predictions for the last episode:
Bronn will kill Dany when she wants to kill Tyrion. Because without Tyrion, he won’t get his castle.
There won’t be no Iron Throne, but several kingdoms (so the wheel is broken). There will be a great council where this is decided:
– The North => Sansa Stark
– The Riverlands => Edmure Tully
– The Vale => Robbin Arryn
– The Reach => Bronn or Samwell Tarly
– The Stormlands => Gendry Baratheon
– The Iron Islands => Yara Greyjoy
– Dorne => New prince of Dorne
– The Rock/Crownlands => Tyrion Lannister
Jon chooses not to become king (like Maester Aemon), but goes to live beyond The (former) Wall with Tormund, Ghost, … He doesn’t want to have anything to do with his Targaryen side after he sees what Dany has done.
The Unsullied and Dothraki go back to Essos, now their Queen/Khaleesi is dead.
Drogon goes to live in the ruins of Old Valyria.
Davos finally returns to his wife.
Yohn Royce helps Robin rule in The Vale.
Brienne goes back to Tarth and becomes The Lady of Tarth. Podrick joins her.
Bran grows old in his tree. There is no new greenseeer after him.
Sam writes the song of Ice and Fire about his friend and hero Jon Snow/Aegon Targaryen, with baby Jon crawling around his desk. And Gilly reading for Little Sam.
Arya is on her way home, after what happened in Kingslanding she realises she needs someone after all. Hopefully it all ends with Arya seeing Gendry again at the Inn with Hotpie. And maybe this time she wants to be his lady.
Not ready!!! So not ready. I cannot believe this journey is nearly over. It’s strange for me. I started watching GOT as season 2 aired. My friend told me I’d love it (boy was she right) and we sat and watched season 1 in only a few sittings. I’d just had my first child and I remember so vividly sat on the sofa with my friend, holding my baby and watching season 1 shortly followed by 2 as it aired. My obsession with this show has been the duration of my time as a mother and seeing as I can’t now remember what life was like pre-kids (way too sleep deprived for that!), it feels like this show has been a part of my life as far back as I can remember. I’m not ready to lose that!
I really hope the prequel is good and I hope the books come out soon. I need to feel like this isn’t the end!!!
hodor
I can’t believe the end is here. I’m already feeling the waterworks coming.
Happy (hunger) Throne Game, may the odds be ever in House Stark favor!
All characters watch is ending tonight, and we will never see their like again 🙁
My money is on Bran wont walk but he will fly…warged into drogon at some point that matters most…flying as a flock of crows isn’t enough for as significant as they made that line sound when it was first said…or the entire episode will be the beginnings of the spinoff “Tormund and Ghost” about their adventures solving mysteries north of the wall…but I could be wrong
Some thoughts on the ending:
– Maybe Bronn will be involved in the endgame after all. Perhaps his “kill the Lannisters” quest was to get him out of King’s Landing while it burned. He’ll return, find it ablaze and rescue Tyrion from Dany….
….even as I type that, I don’t buy it myself actually. I can’t see Bronn being the one to kill Dany in the books. My money is on Jon (who dies doing so) or Tyrion.
– I’m rewatching all of season 8 tonight (currently watching 803 and Mel is telling Arya about the eyes she’ll close). What struck me as odd was that where everyone else in 802 was saying “we will probably die tomorrow”, Arya is the only one who says (to Gendry), we will probably die “soon”. I wonder if this is a hint she will die in the finale.
– Bran, Sansa and Brienne must come to Winterfell, surely? They won’t split the finale between Winterfell (where nothing is going on) and the smoking ruins formerly known as King’s Landing. I wonder if they are brought as hostages.
– GRRM’s third big twist must involve Bran and time travel. It simply must, or what is the point in Bran and why show him affecting time in season 6?
– I fear there will be one more other WTF moment were lots of characters we love die (the red wedding part 2).
And now our watch is ending.
I feel like I prepared myself for 5 years for Jaime to get an ending I would hate but I still wasn’t ready. People backslide and go back to toxic relationships sure, but honestly, isn’t the reason usually that they are afraid to be alone? People who have moved on (especially men) to someone else are the ones who tend to stay moved on from what I’ve seen.
I re-read the last chapter in AFFC to confirm my memory of where Jaime was emotionally in that chapter and it occurred to me that they left out one of the big “shocking” moments they tend to like and they could have just moved it to the end of S8E4 – Jaime and Brienne are in bed, someone brings a message that has come by raven from Cercei, Brienne tries to let him read in private, he doesn’t care and they read it together – Cercei says that Daenerys is coming for her, she needs Jaime’s help to defend king’s landing, etc… etc…, she needs him, she loves him, whatever. Brienne (stiffly, honorably) asks if he wants to send for a maester so he can send a message back, and he gives her the scroll and says “No, throw it in the fire.” I was really shocked by this in the books, and think it would have worked well here.
Then they can stay out of ep 5 altogether and come with Sansa to King’s Landing for the political drama in 6, where to keep things from being boring there can be some light tension between them as their natural affinities and allegiances among the remaining characters are a little different – hers to Sansa, his to Tyrion. Also, he can feel a little badly about abandoning Cercei to her fate once he finds out she died alone under the rubble (like poor old Lancel in S6E10 for some parallelism). He likes to torture himself, so let him have one more thing to feel guilty about!
What a wild ride it has been. Thanks for the memories and putting up with me all these years. GoT has been a big part of my life the past 6 years (I started watching after Season 3) and this community also has been a big part of me since its inception. I would have liked a few more episodes this season, but I’ve still enjoyed it immensely. There will never be another show like it. Thank you to George, David and Dan, HBO and the entire cast and crew. I’ve enjoyed every second of this epic saga. Can’t believe it’s all ending tonight. Hope the prequel takes off and we can do it all again.
Until then, enjoy the finale everyone and thanks again for the years of entertainment 🙂
Really excited for tonight. I thought I was sure how this would end (Aegon/Jon on the throne). The more I think about it, I’m not so sure anymore. As long as it is done well, makes sense and is entertaining, I will be happy.
Final Predictions
Aegon/Jon – Alive. On the throne.
Dany – Dead
Sansa – Alive. Warden of the North.
Arya – Alive
Bran – Alive (Kind of)
Tyrion – Alive. Warden of the West.
Brienne – Alive
Gendry – Alive. Lord of Storm’s End
Grey Worm – Dead
Drogon – Dead or gone.
The only ending I really don’t want is Sam writing ASOIAF. Tolkien already did that one. I really hope they don’t rip that off.
It is the end of an era tonight. It is a bittersweet ending that the show-runners are aiming for, and that is how I am feeling. I’m sad that it is ending, but I do feel that it is time for it to end as well. This site will be different as well in a few weeks time, but I’ll cherish the memories. Nothing will replicate the these last few years.
Thank you to everyone involved with both the show and this site. It has been a great journey and now is the time for that journey to end.
Here we go for the very last time…
So here we are people, crazy mixed emotions right now! Firstly glad I am here in the US so I don’t have to stay up through the night and be a zombie the next day. Secondly thank you to all fellow contributors for making my GoT experience these past few years so enjoyable! Too many of you to name but special shout outs to Dee Stark, Ten Bears, Che, Mr Derp, Jack Bauer, Tavi, Lord Parramandas, Inga, Carole, LL Drinkwater, Wolfish, and all the mods.
I have just watched episodes 2 & ep3 and about to watch 4 in anticipation of the big one. I go in hoping for a death fitting of Danys tragic arc, Grey Worm needs to die too, I fear for Tyrion as the centre of her wrath, I am sure she want to kill Sansa too. On the positive side I hope for a happy ending for Jon and Arya as my favourite characters ideally as King and the other going off to explore.
The two best things to come out of GoT: the cast and Ramin Djawadi. They will stay with me, no matter what has happened to the franchise.
I rewatched episode 5 today and Dany’s snap is not as sudden as it is, and I’m starting to believe it was not a mad-reaction but calculated from the start (with a little bit of insanity that started her plan):
– We had a scene with Tyrion where she stated Jon has betrayed her. That made one thing clear, she is not sane anymore, her paranoia (that her father also had) had already rooted in her.
– She talked about Mereen, where the people rose up to the tyrants living there, the slaves took their own freedom. She talked that the citizens of KL didn’t rise up to Cersei at all. She even stated that the people or guilty for not taking their own freedom and choosing Cersei over herself. She expected the people to rise against Cersei to welcome their true queen Dany. Dany felt betrayed by the people of KL. They were not innocent in her eyes.
– Tyrion changed her mind for a short time. Dany started to hope the people will choose her (else why choose the civil route first) once Cersei has lost her army, and that they will feel free to choose Dany at that moment. Which make sense right? Dany is there to free them from Cersei’s grip.
– What happened is once the bells start ringing, the citizens of KL reacted in a way that Dany saw as betrayal. They didn’t celebrate that the Tyrant Cersei was powerless, what she saw was the people choosing Cersei over Dany. She saw people reacting to Cersei as the savior against herself, not the other way around. She felt betrayed that people saw her as the tyrant instead of Cersei. So she chose that path, the path of fear, the path that showed the people of KL that they were wrong to not choose Dany the instant Cersei was powerless.
Che,
I’m not ready either. Tomorrow (for me I’m from Europe and watch it in the evening) it’s all done. Yes we have the books, but we don’t have this amazing TV show with their brilliant performances.
My predictions for tonight:
Bronn get at least one castle!
Danny does dracarys to another character who survive!? and Danny died at some point.
Bran will say something important…hopefully.
Jon will talk more in this episode compare to the last 5th 😉
A knight is still alive (a girl can dream) or someone (Bran?) will say something that ‘restore’ Jaime’s honour.. he did care about the innocent…was he the one that ring the bells?
we will/have to see Ghost again..because honestly that how I feel in love with house Stark, Sean Bean and little ghost..pups were so cut and I knew it was a way to single out Jon Snow. So I want a proper good bye with Ghost!!
Tyrion and Sansa are still alive by the end of the episode, because they are the smartest people? and Brienne because she is the best knight of the 7 kingdoms so who could kill her!
I’m ready and not ready. I took the day off tomorrow as a two days early birthday present to myself so I can stay up all night discussing the show here and so that I can drink something than wine and beer. I’m making my Fire and Blood cocktail (Absolut Grapefruit with San Pelligrino Blood Orange, sadly the grocery store didn’t have any blood oranges so I’ll have to have them sans garnish) for the first time this season.
I don’t even have any predictions anymore. Except that Dany will die. Probably. I’m still holding out hope that Bran’s powers will have something else to do.
Whatever happens, it’ll be interesting. And I’m sure as divisive as the season thus far. I’m hoping people don’t get too toxic around here, but that’s probably a futile hope. I agree with the criticisms about this season being too rushed, but there’s been a lot of positives too. This series should’ve been unfilmable, but it has been filmed and it’s mostly been great. I for one, will miss this show so much and I hope everyone else remembers that they are fans too. Or they wouldn’t be here.
My son came home after finishing his freshman year of college saying, “Mom, you need to watch this show.” Of course, I did. I finished S1 in a matter of days and read all of the books by Christmas of that year. Our shared love of this story is one of the great bonds that I have with my son.
And regardless of what we see tonight, I will still say that I love this story and these characters. I will miss them! I love being part of this fandom. Thanks to WOTW, there was always a civil place to read filming news and casting updates and share thoughts.
As far as predictions for tonight, I also believe that there is some twist yet to come that involves Bran. No clue what it is but I think that there is a greater purpose for him than what we have seen to date.
Enjoy!
I’m okay with any ending they give us, because at least we’re getting one, but don’t kill Drogon off! That’s all I ask of D&D.
Well, I can’t believe we are actually here. How quickly these past few weeks have gone! I’m staying up to watch the finale at 2am as there’s no way I can get through tomorrow knowing it has already aired!
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the articles on this site and the majority of comments (those which aren’t just hate for hates sake). Thank you all, and now to prepare for the end of the end!!
I will miss discussing this wonderful series, the contributors and many of those who have commentated on the site. I have followed the site since just before season three although I have rarely commented. You have enriched me with your insight and humour, so this is a very sad farewell (although I will still be visiting the site on/off), I thank you all and wish you good fortune in the wars to come (for now, we will meet again).
If Jon had escaped, then I would have been content with last week episode as the finale. The fact that the show runners have said that the ending will split opinion, makes me worry that what we will see something much more contentious than episode five, we all know the can of worms that opened!
I think the issue with last week episode is the sudden change in Daenerys behaviour which went against what many viewers saw as her moral compass. In some respect it is good for the viewer to able to speculate about the motivations of a character but when it contradicts the core values of the character then problems occur.
This was not a failure of writing in the episode, although they were some areas of contention (pantomime villain Euron, susceptibility to scorpion arrows suddenly diminished), but failure of writing across the last two seasons due to the restricted number of episodes. Although I wonder if D & D were capable to adding such insight if there had more episodes to work with especially as when they have had the opportunity over the last few seasons they have not taken it – I have listed how they could have achieved this in previous comments.
This reminds me of the controversy surrounding the muddled Jamie, Cersei rape scene in the Sept of Balor in season four. I perceived it as rape as did many other viewers but the writers and director seemed to be under the impression they have portrayed something different on screen. Various articles and comments have argued last week’s events were a ruthless act whilst the show runners have hinted towards the mad queen angle.
As viewers we never really got to properly understand Daenerys propensity towards having some degree of madness, her ruthless nature, how loss had affected her and her narcissistic traits.
If the following scenes had been added to give the viewer an insight into Daenerys than perhaps many viewers would not have been so surprised by the outcome. Although not her usual behaviour, when Cersei blow up the Sept of Balor, the viewer fully understood her reasons for doing so.
Loss – This has been speculated as being one of the causes of Daenerys going berserk but apart from Jorah’s death, we did not really see the effect loss had on Daenerys.
Despite being described as one of Daenerys closet advisers, bar being a love interest for Grey worm, Missandei was woefully short of scenes and character development in the last two seasons. In my opinion, Daenerys seemed to have a much closer relationship with her Dothraki handmaidens during seasons one and two than with Missandei during the last few seasons.
I would have liked to have at least seen Daenerys have a heart to heart with Missandei after she had begged Jon not reveal his parentage in season eight, episode four. She could have discussed her fears with someone who was now her longest serving ally and someone who knew her history and achievements. Daenerys could have said she feared that she had forsaken the Iron Throne (loss of momentum, soldiers and Viserion) and given up so much for Jon but he would not return her love (not how she wanted). Trusting Missandei enough to share the truth about Jon’s parentage and that she feared he was threat to her crown. This reveal would have put Missandei apart from Tyrion and Varys and made her death more poignant as Daenerys had lost her only remaining confidant.
The people didn’t love her – I do not believe the show fully illustrated the public apathy to the possibility of Daenerys rule. Very much like Hilary Clinton in the last U.S election (a U.K view of the situation), regardless of what see did, certain sections of the society would never support her and had a preexisting negative view of her.
I also think the writers may have tripped up a little, in a previous season (can’t remember which but think five/six), she dismissed the fallacy that the people of Westeros were awaiting her return and would welcome her rule with open arms. She seemed fully aware that the public would not automatically love her or accept her rule.
In addition, her experience in Meereen showed how fickle the public were regarding their rulers. The public reaction after the execution of the freed slave who murdered a captured member of the sons of the harpy.
Although Cersei in season seven used propaganda to get the support of some of the lords of Westeros, we never fully saw propaganda used to discredit Daenerys in the eyes of the public. It would have been useful to have seen Cersei to attempt to cast Daenerys in a negative light in the eyes of the masses. That Cersei was their protector against the mad queen, her foreign savages who would rape and pillage Kings Landing (we all get the irony!)
In the brothel scene with Bronn in season eight episode one, rather than talking about ginger Eddy, the prostitutes could have talked about the mad queen butchering Lannister soldier and the foreign savages on their way to sack Kings Landing. At the very least some public discussion about the pretender to the throne during the past two seasons.
Despite the long standing animosity between the Starks and Targaryen’s, the Winterfell public seemed rather passive. I would have liked to have seen a more febrile atmosphere, something akin to what Cersei faced on the walk of shame or the public hostility we saw in Meereen.
The response of the northern lords seemed muted, in season seven when Jon bent the knee to Daenerys, there should have been a very clear backlash. Especially as they had made Jon, King of the North and were willing to support him in fight against a foe they had not seen nor believed to be real – a presence of northern lords at the dragon pit in season seven, episode seven should have been included (Lyanna Mormont, Glover, Manderly). The backlash of the northern lords would have assisted no end the nonsensical Littlefinger treason storyline and illustrated Sansa’s skill to damage control a situation and position herself as a likely ruler of the north.
Varys – his sudden epiphany regarding Daenerys felt as out of the blue as Daenerys change in behaviour in the last episode. Never once did he state that he had started to see elements of the mad kings behaviour in Daenerys. The opportunity to flesh out the change in Varys view of Daenerys over the past two seasons was possible, I can’t even remember what Varys did in season seven?
With the bad blood between the Starks and Targaryens, Varys should have gone in season seven to instigate the alliance with the north and convince Jon Snow to go to Dragonstone. He would have seen/heard the mercy that Jon Snow showed to the Karstarks and Umbers, that he put the realm first by championing the alliance with Daenerys and put his need for power to one side and potentially risk his throne by leaving his sister in charge in his stead. Thus making the case for Jon being a considerate (slightly naive) ruler and also allowing Varys to become aware of Sansa as a threat to Daenerys ruling all the seven kingdoms.
Conleth Hill said he regretted Varys not having a scene with Littlefinger in season seven, this would have added immensely to the storyline. Would it not have been mind blowing for Littlefinger to have sown the seeds of doubt about Daenerys in Varys head?
Ruthlessness – we saw Daenerys being ruthless against enemies but we needed to know there was scope to go beyond this.
In season seven, episode two – Daenerys should have been almost adamant on taking Kings Landing by force, only to have Tyrion and Missandei really have to make an effort to convince her otherwise. This would have shown the Iron throne was the overriding goal regardless of what the consequences might be.
In season seven, episode five – burning all Lannister soldiers, even those who had surrendered. This would have shown her unpredictable behaviour, a black and white view of who she viewed as her enemies and been a major point of contention between Varys and Tyrion thus setting up the storyline for season eight.
An extended Siege of Meereen, although season six was jam packed and I am not sure where you could fit this in (to allow this, personal preference would have been carrying over into a longer season seven). I think this was necessary to show Daenerys the consequences of war, so she was fully aware what might happen if Kings Landing was taken by force and that her actions in Kings Landing were a clear choice for the character.
Four years ago, I ended up in hospital with heart failure. My husband and I were watching the final episode of season 5 in the hospital, on my laptop, and I remember thinking “Will I be alive long enough to see what happens in the next season?”
The last 4 years have been a series of “Not today” moments for me, and soon I will know what happens in the very very last episode.
Dany broke one wheel but created seven
Am going to the cinema tonight where they are airing the episode for free. Really looking forward to it!
Have to say I’m really sad that it’s ending tonight, especially on a well anticipated bittersweet note.
It’s been a fantastic ride though folks.
My predictions:
Jon kills Dany.
Jon dies after fulfilling LOLS purpose- or goes NOTW.
Drogon goes apeshit and Bran wargs him to bring him down and kill him.
Bran possibly dies as a result.
We’ll have a big twist where Bran has orchestrated many of the events of the story.
Arya goes off on her own- with no Gendry.
Sansa is crowned queen of the 7Ks or lady protector of the realm, heading a senate type government.
Tyrion will be her King consort.
Davos/Brienne/Pod have a happy ending
GW will take the US to Naath.
Dunno about Dothraki.
Bronn gets HG.
Seems like a long 8 years.
That usually does not happen.
9 years. It ends tonight. I, for one, am completely at peace with Season 8. It has been one hell of a ride and I will miss this show. Incredible actors, incredible cinematography and an incredible score.
And, with that, I wish you good fortune. #ForTheThrone
Can’t believe I was 13 when I watched the first episode. I’m 21 now and I think the end of the show is going to feel like closing the chapter of my childhood, pretty emotional actually. But, I have exams to revise for so will have to watch in the morning, enjoy everyone!
One last time guys, this is it…night gathers and so our watch begins. Ive so enjoyed this group for years. Ill enjoy it still for years to come. I wish you all good fortune in the episode to come.For the watch.
Chilli,
Nope, waaaaay too disney. One of the only things I am confident of is that there is no happily ever after coming that we haven’t already seen from Sam and Gilly
My money goes on Arya heading west of westoros – as she talked about while in Braavos.
And Brienne will be someone’s military leader or queen’s guard for Sansa.
I would love to see Jon off to the north as a free-follker but not sure that will happen…
I am so not ready for this day. GOT on its worst day is still better then anything else on their best. I will miss you old friend.
I’m still not happy with the last episode and the ending for some of our favorite characters, so I’m going to try rewriting it for fun. Here it goes :).
Back at Winterfell, after the Dead are defeated:
Jaime overhears Gilly say she’s pregnant. In a pang for the past, Jaime doesn’t want his unborn child to die in the battle to come, so he breaks Brienne’s heart to save Cersei, and heads to Kings Landing.
Like in the show, Jaime still gets captured by Dany, and Tyrion still sets him free.
Jaime struggles to get back into KL as the battle begins. He finally makes it past the gates but the carnage has begun. He spots three young kids that look a lot like Joffrey, Tommen and Myrcella when they’re children. It shakes his conscience.
He realizes he can’t make it to Cersei in time to save both her and the city, so he decides to ring the bells himself. He fights his way to the tower, climbs the stairs, and rings the bells.
Dany and Drogon are on a nearby wall. She hears the bells and Drogon stops firebombing the people. For a minute it appears she’s accepted the surrender. Victory!
Then Dany catches a reflection in the bell tower. It’s Jaime’s golden hand. She looks intently and sees it’s him.
She realizes…Tyrion has betrayed her. After the sacrificing both Viseryon and Jorah to the Northern Cause, only to have them turn their backs. After losing Rhaegal and Missandei, after Vary’s betrayal, Tyrion’s betrayal is the final straw.
She directs Drogon to the bell tower, Dracarys! And it’s blown to smithereens, a final last noble stand from Jaime Lannister. Yes he wanted to save Cersei and his unborn child, but the man he had become made him choose the people, and he died trying to save them.
Dany then starts blowing everything up on her way straight to the Red Keep (because as pissed and vengeful as she is, she’s still not going row by row killing a million innocents, right??). Cersei is looking out the window.
But wait! Cersei, smart as she is, has an escape plan. Qyburn has gerryrigged a sort of medieval zipline to evacuate her quickly from the Red Keep into a safe house in the Fleabottom. There she goes, flying through the city!!
Cersei lands right as the Red Keep is being demolished by Drogon. She rounds the corner and runs into Arya(!), who has just left the Hound behind. Arya grabs Cersei and pushes her behind a building, saving them both from falling rock. Then…she slits her throat. The end of Cersei! For all her cleverness, she’s made just too many enemies to escape them all.
Arya takes her face. She doesn’t want Dany to be queen…Jon has the rightful claim after all. So she pretends to be Cercei so she can surrender and get close to Dany. She comes upon Tyrion and gives herself up.
But Tyrion knows that Dany will fry Cercei and he doesn’t want that brutal ending for her. He grabs a knife and pushes it through her heart, not knowing it’s really Arya.
Jon happens upon the scene right as Cersei’s face falls away.
Shakespearean indeed! Jon is heartbroken, and kills Tyrion in his despair. Dany lands Drogon and dracarys! Kill Jon! But Drogon refuses and throws Dany off.
Jon climbs on Drogon, and flies away to the north, back to Tormund and Ghost. Leaving Dany to sit on the Iron Throne, the Queen of the Ashes.
Dany eventually marries Bronn and they die childless of old age, leaving Gendry Baratheon and Meera Reed’s son as the sole heir to the Iron Throne.
The End. :).
(Goofy I know.)
Thank you for being part of this great community. It is after midnight in Berlin, at three a clock in the morning I will see the last episode of a phantastic, awesome show that accompagnied me for eight years. This will never happen again. It was great!
Rodent,
I am happy for you! I hope you have many more years ahead. Blessings.
Just Will watch for watch, im felling nothing, and thats about right what they deserve from me.
Already know what happens but lets see It on screen.
May the ending resonate within us for years to come.
Bran/3ER: Please use your amazing skills (for good or evil) before you petrify
Arya: Please use your amazing skills to set things right
Tyrion: Please use your strategic mind wisely
Sansa: Please lead a new north and don’t be used as a tool
Jon: Please demonstrate your leadership, then walk away
Dany: Please realize what you’ve done and who you’ve become
Drogon: Please fly away, tour the world and lay some eggs
Sam: Please write a suitable memoir, considering all PoVs
Iron Throne: Destroyed
Dothraki and Unsullied: You are at risk…choose your next move wisely
I fear that betrayal, capture, and vicious retribution may compromise many of these requests.
Whatever happened to Larry Williams? lol I remember I enjoyed his reviews back in 2011 and then he hate watched until season 4 and I never heard from him again
ThisGirlHasNoName,
This isn’t goofy. Except for the Dany/Bronn/Meera thing at the very end, this is pretty damn good actually.
Apollo,
He’s owed ” two castles” remember? Haha I think I heard him say that once. He gets The Twins!
i am going to ignore how rush the last two seasons have been. just going to take it all in
tonight. sad its ending, RRMartin please finnish the books. let raise a glass or two or three and just enjoy tonights ending to a wonderful story.
I’m not ready for this.. What a weird feeling to know that this is the end of this magnificent story with all these characters we love.
My watch began shortly after season 2 aired, and I’ve been a massive fan ever since. So here we are. See you on the other side, folks!
I’m strangely calm before this episode. I’m not as nervous as last week, so I’m sure it will be a devastating finale. I’m struggling to see how there can be any happiness with just one episode left. So we’ll see if this “bittersweet” ending was all just a simple embellishment by GRRM, or if Ramsey had it right, “If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.”
My only hope is that it is indeed ‘A Time For Wolves’. I’m hoping for all of the Starks to survive, including Jon, though I feel like he is in the most jeopardy. If he dies, I hope it is the most meaningful death in the series.
My prediction is that there will still be a monarchy. How they get there, if Jon and/or Dany dies, I’m not sure. How will they get to the point of Sansa or Tyrion being queen/king all in one episode? That’s partly why, despite my worries about his fate, I do think it’s going to be Jon as king in the end.
The twist will probably involve Bran. Maybe we’ll get a prophecy? Maybe we’ll find out why the weather patterns are so strange, or who/what is Rh’llor. Or it is just Dany and/or Jon being killed.
J,
This is much better than what we saw for Jaime.
tarGARYen,
been thinking about that for a while. Tho perhaps he already has; some speculation that he is now th NK and warge into the dragon to set KL on fire. Hope not tho
Well crap balls. We are here. I’m already drinking and hoping to not embarrass myself with too many tears. So many emotions. So I will drink my emotions away. Or will that make it worse?? Whatever. Took tomorrow off so it’s ON.
Bittersweet is coming…………
I’m wondering how much wrap-up they’ll be doing after the climax.
I don’t suppose we’ll get 30+ minutes of ‘endings’ a la LotR, but I’m curious to see how much of the episode will be spent wrapping up various loose ends.
This should probably go in the previous thread, but this one is more active, so here it is.
Although there is undoubtedly additional scenes that could’ve gotten us in the character’s headspaces more to mitigate the rushedness, I’m wondering if there was ever going to really be a way to end this show that wouldn’t feel rushed.
The first three books set everything up so beautifully. GRRM knew the end. But he’s so clearly having trouble figuring out how to get there. So the story just keeps expanding more and more. He obviously doesn’t know how to get the threads of the story to converge again back to what will happen at the end. If he did, the last books would be published by now. So, D&D took the exact opposite approach. Instead of agonizing over the story while it grows more and more, they rushed headlong toward the endgame. I’m not sure there is a way to have accomplished it in 4 seasons that would’ve satisfied everyone. Stretching it out to 11 or 12 seasons was just never going to happen for reasons that should be fairly obvious. It will be interesting to see how GRRM ends things. If he ever does. I have a feeling that the books will be divisive as well.
I’m expecting a short montage accompanied by a “bittersweet” score or a voice-over by Sam.
#ChaosIsALadda
weirwoodtreehugger,
Indeed. And on that subject, something that occurred to me recently. Even if the books have no buildup to ‘crazy Dany’ at all, even then GRRM would still get away with it by including a couple of pages offering insight into her thought processes as she makes that decision.
Being a visual medium, the show doesn’t have that luxury.
Lol,
I’m sure everyone cares about that and you telling us that . Usually when i don’t care about something i don’t go on a specific fansite telling that i don’t care about that something(which is a contradiction in of itself) but maybe your mind works differently .
I wish they would treat us with the episode title before it airs this time lol
LadyMelisandre,
A Song of Ice and Fire
There you go!
I always said I would not read one book until this show was done. Well I ordered them yesterday. I just hope a miracle happens and Winds of Winter comes out before I’m done.
Rodent,
This made me smile! Wishing you continued good health!
Ten years ago I first heard the possibiity of one of my fav books in the world (not just in fantasy, in any genre) might be a series. I remember a bunch of us sitting around the tv during the premeir, crossing fingers that they not screw this up. Thrilled that they didn’t! a lot to love in the last few years, along with the ‘not so much’ – but being able to come here and chat with like minded folk*, participating amazingly intelligent and complex discussions, and getting into the silly side as well. This site kept me sane during my broken hip and hip replacement, and kept me interested in the show even when it strayed. Thank you to all the moderators and the fans who made this just a fun place to be
*shout out to wolfish, wimsey, Jared. Ten Bears, Thronetender (sp?)ACME, lulumom, DeeDee, the one that come to mind immediately. 🙂
howtathor,
!!!!!cool! where?
I’ve never really been one to comment too much (which I regret, actually) but I’ve lurked consistently for the past couple years and I just wanted to say that I’ve had a lot of fun reading everyone’s discussions and theories!! Here’s to a hopefully satisfying finale.
I drank all afternoon at the bar keeping an eye on the clock listening to so much random chatter around me on what’s going to happen. I’m home now and ready to accept whatever happens. The shots and drinks have dulled my senses, but I don’t think it’s going to be enough……..
vigilist,
ASNAWP!!!
Hodors Bastard,
One of the things this show does very well are the montages with great music and voice over. Anyhow, I agree, that is how they will end it.
I’m on to my second bottle of wine 🙄 it’s half midnight here and I started at 7pm, so I am actually not as drunk yet as I feel I need to be come 2am!
Just at the end of 804 in my season 8 rewatch. I fear I’m going to need a bigger glass for 805. I’ve not watched it since my rewatch Monday night.
ThisGirlHasNoName,
How about everything happens like it did in the episode, but Jaime arrives at Cersei’s chambers in time. He pleads with her to ring the bells and give up, saying there will be no more bloodshed. Cersei agrees and the bells are rung. Dany’s army moves forward into King’s Landing knowing everyone surrended. Then all of a sudden…BOOM!!!
A massive wildfire explosion planned by Cersei takes out a big chunk of the city, killing citizens and many unsullied/dothraki. Upon seeing this, Dany realizes she has been played again and starts burning everything and everyone in sight. Jaime saw everything happen and finally realizes that Cersei is a true monster like the mad king and that she will burn King’s landing to the ground before handing it over to Dany. He grabs her by the throat with his good hand and starts strangling her, just as Dany arrives at the Red Keep. Dany blasts the red keep with dragon fire. After a long struggle Cersei is finally death, strangled by the Valonqar. Then Jaime looks up and BANG! a big portion of the red keep collapses, caused by the damage done by the dragon fire and Jaime dies.
This way we get a satisfying end to both Cersei and Jaime’s arc and Daenerys has more reason to ”turn” into the Mad Queen
This is the first season in a while where they didn’t release the soundtrack after the penultimate episode. I remember the past several seasons scouring the track titles and listening to the songs we hadn’t heard yet to try to work out what the finale of that season would hold. I remember listening to the Light of the Seven before 610 and wondering what the hell was going down to warrant such a track! I guess this year they are keeping everything a well guarded secret. Hurray for that! Hurray for not being spoilt!
Che,
Ha! Yeah, it’s almost too late for “regular” drinks to kick in now. Might have to pull out the Big Dogs!! Seriously though, we may want to wait until it’s all over. “Over”…. so sad… 🙁
Ready but not ready. I wanted it to go on and same time would like to see the conclusion of this saga. So much mixed conflicting emotions 😀 🙁
vigilist,
I’m the same as you. A longtime lurker who has thoroughly enjoyed the intelligent and wonderful viewpoints here! Thank you to WoW for providing a space for these discussions and “therapy” after each show!
Cheers to a magical 8 seasons and happy we all survived to see the ending!
That’s actually quite good.
+1 storytelling
We’re in the end game now
Parting is such sweet sorrow; hoping their will be some amount of sweet tonight to go with the bitter from last week. Rewatched it and aside from the rush of the episode, it was outstanding. I hope Sansa and Bran die, their personal machinations destroyed any chance of Jon’s happiness.
BTW, is their a HD quality pic somewhere online of that epic shot of Sandor and Ungregor on the stair with Drogon. That is one of the most epic shots in television history, it’s a work of art.
Episode title:
“Aegon Targaryen”
“The Last Targaryen”
“A Dream of Spring”
“A Song of Ice and Fire”
“Hour of the Wolf”
Predictions:
Dany is crowned. Arrests Tyrion. Tyrion sentenced to death. BUT before that is carried out; Jon kills Dany (Treason for Love)
Unsullied and Dothraki are dealt with. Drogon dealt with. Arya???
Jon refuses the Throne. Goes North, reunites with Tormund and pets Ghost.
Great Council is called. Either Tyrion or Sansa elected King or Queen; with the caveat of a “Magna Carta” that will limit the power of the King.
Bran Vision?? Twist??
Flashforward: Old Sam writes the Book.
Final Scene: Bran finally awakens from his defenestration coma, and dreams, to the joyful tears of his parents and all his siblings as they crowd around his bed at Winterfell. Outside the walls of his room, it’s the warmest, longest summer ever.
Tyrion’s expression in that shot:
“This is it people, my last chance. The war is finally over, and there’s no Lysa Arryn nor any fucking slavers to interrupt me this time. I’m gonna tell the world what happened when I walked into a brothel with a honeycomb and a jackass”
The Onion Knight,
And the end game is terrifying!
I don’t post much, but I read just about everything on this site, including the comments. There are so many amazing people here and I’m hoping most stick around after tonight for the prequel, and hopefully another book… Sometime.
I’m a bit worried that Greyworm will try to kill Jon. In 804, he gives Jon a weird look as he moves the troop counters. In 805, as he passes Jon in the Painted Table room, as Jon goes to speak to Dany, he gives Jon a weird look again. Then in the battle, when Jon tries to stop his the joining the fighting, there is that prolonged glare. I just have a bad feeling about those two.
Winter Wind,
If only.
I hope they don’t ‘Frodo’ Arya and send her off into the proverbial sunset..
She should decide to stay with her family (pack) so they will all survive for whatever future is in store for them. Whether with Gendry, or simply staying by her sister’s side.
I can’t believe this is the end. I started watching the show before season 2 aired and have been obsessed by it ever since. I think we all should be grateful for what everyone involved in the show has brought to us for these many years.
Some actors already posted their farewell posts on Instagram. Reading them actually made me tear up and remember how much I love these characters and their stories.
Since I don’t live in the US and I have classes tomorrow, I won’t be able to watch the episode till tomorrow night. I’m preparing for a nerve wrecking 80 minutes, like the last couple of episodes.
I won’t be checking in here till after I watch the episode myself.
For everyone watching tonight, enjoy these characters one last time and hopefully we will get a satisfying end to their stories 🙂
Che,
I definetly think those 2 fight tonight. Whether it is a trial by combat or just a straight fight, I’m not sure.
I feel very weird tonight. I don’t feel like it’s the LAST one. It just feels unreal, that’s all. I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels this way. It’s going to be strange not having the show and these characters/actors in our lives every Sunday. I don’t want it to end!! T_T
I’ll be going offline for the night but I wish everyone well this evening. Hope you guys enjoy the last episode!!
I was thinking about this all day ….what if Jon goes to kill Dany but somehow finds out she pregnant ??????? Now that would be a twist I want to see !! …. regardless the outcome thanks D & D and HBO for giving this show a chance.. I have loved it and hated it all the same .. And to George you have an amazing mind and .. Wow what a story teller … THANK YOU … and thank you for a story WORTH following for 10 years … CHEERS to all of you !!
So tonight … the series finale. Game of Thrones is far and away my favorite show of all-time, and it’s sincerely been one of the most important things in my life over the past decade. So obviously, I’m feeling a lot of emotions tonight, but one stands above them all: Gratitude.
I’m so grateful for this incredible journey that Game of Thrones has taken me on. I’m grateful to the cast and crew who brought it to life. I’m grateful to David, Dan, and George for their vision. I’m grateful for the friends I’ve made in this fandom and the memories we’ve shared!
Above all, I’m so grateful that I got to see this epic story unfold and be a small part of it all. As a lifelong lover of fantasy tales, I never dreamed I would see one this brilliantly executed, to the point it captivated the world. It’s been an honor and a dream!
So to anyone and everyone – especially those of you here at Watchers on the Wall – who has shared in the love I have for this story and played a role in making this experience so indescribably special … from the very bottom of my heart, thank you! And one last time – until the next time – And Now Our Watch Begins!
There will be some bitterness tonight. And sadness. And probably some anger, too.
For my part, I only ever wanted to see A Storm of Swords on tv. If I got that much, the rest would be gravy. Well I got that — and much more. And I even managed to invent a word here on the previous incarnation of this website — the portmanteau “sexposition” — that fell into general worldwide use!! Seeing that happen will always be an unceasingly cool memory of the show to me.
So yeah, we got A Storm of Swords and more besides. Lots more. Not only did we get a whole series of epic prestige television on a budget that nobody would have dreamed about when this started that, but the worldwide phenomenon that has been Game of Thrones is very much behind Netflix’s The Witcher, and Amazon’s Lord of the Rings S.A. prequel, and perhaps above all — Amazon’s forthcoming Wheel of Time. Kingkiller Chronicles and The Black Company, too, should they ever see the light of day past an optioning.
We owe HBO and D&D a huge round of thanks. And until (maybe even sadly, unless) we get GRRM’s final two novels, this is as close to an ending as we have.
You guys are great (well most of you are!), the series is among the best television series of all time and this has been awesome. It’s been a helluva ride. I will miss it. A lot.
SerKnight,
I like that too! The biggest thing I was trying to accomplish with my silly fan fiction was to bring both Jaime and Cersei’s end about in a way that did justice to their complex characters. I wanted Jaime to face his lifelong struggle with honor, and Cersei to have a few tricks up her sleeve. You did that nicely!
Che,
Cersei will be jealous with that amount of wine.
SerKnight,
Are people really thinking that a snap always need a reason? As somebody suffering from anxiety disorder, I’m a bit shocked people really don’t understand how disorders work.
What the show did is much more how reality is with becoming when people loses their shit. It’s not always a reason that happen in the moment itself. 99% of the time it just happen and the reason why happen a while back. It’s like a delay in the snap itself.
I see a lot of reactions they should have done this or that and all I realize is that many people don’t understand depression, mental disorders etc and I’m glad D&D understand it a lot more. What they showed is much more realistic.
As somebody who got anxiety disorder and depression because of losing all my grandparents in 2 years, dealing with my own chronical health disorders, maintaining schoolwork, a partner (now ex reasons broke up nothing to do with next part) having cancer while I was the only one that he had (no relations with his relatives).
What dany showed and goes through I understand (like many others), it’s clear to me she is suffering from depression combined with anxiety disorder (everyone is against her). With me the snap where I become angry because I couldn’t control my sadness and tireness was also on a moment that didn’t have a real trigger itself. It was something about somebody making a comment about a song I liked. Not really something to snap about but I did. Just like dany snapped not at the moment we would expect. (combine it with my other post about she already blaming the people of kl for choosing cersei as the savior and dany as the tyrant and you have it).
So I think D&D know more then we think they know. I think they have a lot of insign what dany was feeling in that moment.
As for that part with cersei. I think it would have been amazing if Jaime would have convince her to ring the bells. And she meant it. She finally cried in episode 5, she wanted to flee no matter what. Her ringing the bells and trying to get away would have added another layer when dany loses it. It would have amazing to have cersei say something like: I ring the bell. Why is she attacking?
I always mourn the loss of my favourite characters, or even those that aren’t. They’re just so darn familiar now.
My sadness tonight is that for so many years, we’ve had an absolutely stellar cast working on the same show – some of my old favourite actors/actresses, and some new ones that became favourites. And to know that they’ll never all be in the same place again together, well, that makes me the most melancholy and at loose ends.
The crew behind the scenes has been just incredible. So many thousands of people working as a unit to bring this world alive. Mind-blowing. Thank you to every extra, every stuntman/woman, the amazing directors, CGI, costume, props, etc etc etc.
Jared,
I agree
Except…now it ends….
I reckon you are right Che, some sort of Jon vs Grey Worm fight is coming, presumably before he kills Dany. I wonder what then happens with the remaining unsullied?
Winter Wind,
Oh gawd, no, just, no!
I hope it’s that way round, with Jon killing GW and not the other way round 😬
We didn’t see a farewell-ish (closure giving) end scene between Sansa and Arya, so I think those two will reunite this episode. That may not mean Arya stays with the Starks though, as I am worried Dany’s people will abduct Sansa and bring her to KL. they may see each other then.
Jon in the other hand got a goodbye montage with all his nearest and dearest, so I am pretty concerned for the lovable, handsome doofus this episode.
If they’re gonna screw over Jon & give Tyrion and/or Sansa the Throne, they should have just let the WW’s win. Kill everybody but Ghost & Drogon. And Arya. And Jon. Let the Others take the rest.
I fear the opposite will happen. As assumed by Dany in ep5, somehow Sansa will be the one to decide Dany’s dire fate.
As we’re all here in the Crypts, waiting for the outcome of the fighting above, I am grateful to be among friends. Many GoT fans/pundits have turned on the show in the most vicious way, but at least we’re keeping calm. I just hope the episode wipes out the vitriol and the whinging masses stuff that petition down the loo and cry Mea Culpa Mea Culpa!
I started the books 20 years ago, and in recent years the show has become an obsession. From the off, it was Arya who caught my eye, and she still has it. I suspect she is pregnant, which will probably protect her. In the end, I hope tyranny is beaten, that a more representative and socially diverse government takes over, and that the Iron Throne is destroyed. If there must be a ruler, it should be Jon. And most of all, I hope that Arya Stark, the bravest person in the room, survives and finds the happiness and protection she’s given others for eight years. While she was fleeing, a man resembling Gendry ran up to her asking, “Where’s my wife?” I hope that presages her reuniting with the real Gendry. She can marry him and NOT be a lady. But she will always be ASNAWP.
Che,
He got a goodbye with Tormund and Sam, which I think means that they probably won’t appear. He hasn’t had one with Sansa, Arya or Bran. I’m hoping we see all of them together one last time.
Maybe do a Star Wars ending, where Ned, Catelyn, Robb and Rickon appear as force ghosts to Jon as he sits alone on the new throne… 😉
Tyjon,
See how this works:
http://https://static.spin.com/files/2019/05/claganebowl.0-1557761326-828×552.jpg
I don’t think Jon will kill Dany unless it is to save his family. So in that sense, it would be the betrayal for love, the love for his siblings/cousins.
I’m afraid to read the comments here as some may post spoilers as “speculations”. I was told detailed description of the episode had leaked a few weeks ago.
Anyway, I came here to wish my fellow GOT fans a fantastic viewing experience. This is it, folks. The end of an era. I’m sad, excited, nervous… 🙂
Enjoy, everybody, and thanks to Sue, Luka and everyone for all they do here.
Que sera, sera.
The X-Files remains my all-time favorite show in spite of having an all-time terrible final two seasons. One way or another, we got a decade of cinematic magic and this cast and crew showed the world that fantasy could be taken seriously and become both popular and prestigious. Hopefully, the years to come bring a golden age of fantasy television and we can look back and say that it started here.
Which The X-Files did do, of course. Even if it ended terribly, it showed the world that multiple-season arcs and dense mythology could work on television (after it bombed out much faster with Twin Peaks). From Buffy the Vampire Slayer to HBO’s first golden age to today, the promise has been fulfilled.
Now we have another promise, that this really can be more than just tits and dragons.
In honor of Queen Cersei, first of her name, I am drinking out of my big-girl wine glass tonight. It even has a stem. (Has anyone else noticed that there hasn’t been much in the press this week about Cersei dying? Maybe she didn’t…)
Cheers everyone. Whatever happens, I’m going to enjoy every last minute.
Then I will come back here, and enjoy picking it apart with you all :-).
Omg I just got out of bed – look like a mess but oh well I’m gonna be a mess after this anyways
I don’t know what to say – THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THATS COME ALONG ON THIS JOURNEY WITH ME 😭😭😭😭😭😭
Indeed. We never saw them discuss his identity or what it meant for Ned never having betrayed their mother – or that Cat was unjustly vile to him for what transpired to be no reason at all. You’re right, he should have a final scene with them… hopefully not right before his death.
Rewatching end of 805 and all I keep thinking is our girl Arya deserves a spa retreat after everything she has been through these past few episodes!!
I’m also wondering how any of the Red Keep is still standing after the devastation. We see a shot of Drogon circling round the throne room decimating it and yet it still seems to be standing in the preview. Also, if the basements all collapsed, how is any of the castle standing?
Much love to everyone in the WotW community. It’s been a wild ride with you all!
One last time – what a journey this show has been!! I need a prequel. Or a book. Anything!
Valar Morghulis everyone, and thanks for the ride!
Happy viewing everyone. Hope everyone manages to find something (or lots of things preferably) wonderful and satisfying in the next 1.5 hours.
And now our watch has ended, for the last time.
Here it is.
The end of all things.
Enjoy this last one, everyone!!!
Ok guys, here teh end for ya:
Dany enters the Throne Room and reaches the Iron Throne as we see in the vision in the House of the Undying.
Then she leaves. Because, man, that place stinks.
She goes back to Dragonstone, her “true” home. Well, sorta.
Jon and company return to Winterfell.
Tyron, Grey Worm and the lefting unsullied and dothraki follows Daenerys to Dragonstone, Arya, Davos and the northmen/Knight of the Vale follow Jon.
In Dragonstone, Daenerys reveals to Tyrion she knows about his treason: he freed Jaime.
She orders him to write a letter to Jon and Sansa, asking them to surrender, go to Dragonstone and bend the knee.
If they’ll do so, Sansa will be granted the title of Lady Paramount of the North and Jon… well, he could keep his head first and then he could should must merry Dany so they can keep the realm united.
If they refuse… Winterfell will burn. Full stop.
Arya tells Jon Dany is mad. Sansa tells Jon Dany is mad. Davos tells Jon Dany is mad. Bran tells Jon Dany is Aerys with tits.
Dany also ask Gendry and Yara help against the stark but, big surprise, they stand with them (Gendry for Arya, Yara for Theon).
Robin Arryn sides the Vale with Sansa as always.
The Reach and the Westerlands follow suit.
The Stormlands as well (for Gendry? Not sure here).
The New Random Prince of Dorne also sides with Jon. Because plot say so.
Edmure is dusted off for a small cameo cause he need to say “Nay” to Dany too.
Sam is sent back to Winterfell by the Maesters of the Citadel.
They ask, no, they BEG Jon to take the crown and be Aegon VI of House Targaryen.
Jon do not refuse nor accept the crown yet, but he and Sansa refuse Dany’s offer.
Once heard of this, Daenerys rides to Winterfell with all her remaining host.
She ask again to surrender or they’ll all die.
Arya answer her word means nothing as she betrayed the citizens of King’s Landing already. She can’t be trusted.
Dany burns Tyrion in front of Jon, Sansa, Arya and Sam (Gilly too?)
She then rides Drogon on Winterfell and lays waste upon it.
As the wall and gates burns, everyone who tries to flee is butchered by Grey Worm, the Unsullied and Dothraki.
They enter Winterfell as well.
In the Burning, Pod is fatally wounded and he’s made Knight by Brienne on his death breath.
Davos dies by Grey Worm, protecting the scarred girl.
Jon (or Arya) kills Grey Worm.
Dany burns the Godswood and the weirwood tree as well.
Bran is there and dies.
On his last moment, he warg into Drogon and struggle with Daenerys.
In the end, she falls off and broke her body.
Jon reach her.
either he look at her doing nothing or he will mercifully stab her in the heart with Long Claw.
Jon is then made King of the Seven Kingdoms.
Sam is made Archmaester and Hand.
Arya merrys Gendry and is made Master of Wispers.
Gendry is made Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and lord of Storms’End.
Yara is made Lady of the Iron Islands and Lady Admiral of the Royal Fleet.
Sansa is made Master of Coin and later become Aegon’s second Hand.
Brienne become the Lady of Tarth and Lady Commander of the King’s Guard.
Aegon merrys Sansa (sorry, but with Dany gone there is no other way.)
Otherwise, upon Jon’s Death, Arya and Gendry becomes the new King and Queen of Westeros.
Jon also could just abdicate and go find Ghost up North and give him a good cuddle.
Also, Jon is revealed to be bisexual and marrys Tormund, they happily lives the rest of their lives with Ghost in a hut somewhere near Craster’s Keep.
Ok, Ok, I get it. Stop Tolking.
Thank you all profusely for all of these nights. Truly. This is one of the most special communities I’ve ever known, and definitely the weirdest and brainiest. I love you all.
And now our final watch begins.
See you in a few hours.
I am honored to be included with such a group. Thank you, I’m glad to have been able to say anything at all that made sense and resonated with any of you esteemed and valued posters. I’ve loved this show, but a large part of the enjoyment was finding this site and being able to work out answers and theories with so many funny, wise people in this way. I hope to see you all on this site, whatever they decide to cover. May your lives be examples of far, far more sweet than bitter. 🙂
I’m going to miss this, but I’m wondering if WotW is still going to have their season rehash, with favorite quotes, fav guest actor, etc. If so, this isn’t goodbye, it’s … see you soon.
Aaaaand HBO Now just crashed for me… Loading and loading…
Um…. NCW and Lena Headey??
NCW and L. Heady in the opening credits?
LOL, apparently Cersei and Jaime would have survived if they’d just stood slightly to the left.
Go Tyrion!
Jon, I am going to have to hold out hope here that you at some point GROW A BACKBONE (or hell, find the one you used to have) and stop calling Dany you’re f-ing queen!!!! You are killing me here!!!
Already ugly cried at Tyrion finding Cersei and Jaime. Damn Peter is such an amazing actor.
Was I the only one half expecting her head to come off during that close up?
Jon Snow. You really do know nothing.
Ffs, Jaime and Cersei would be liquid. I almost laughed (is this how they get their last episode paycheque?). Poor Tyrion though.
Dragon wings were amazing.
And Greyworm teleports.
PLEASE get better from here!!! ☹
I feel like i’m Watching Jon’s character assassination
Ok, never mind. 🤦♀️
Ditto on my previous comment!
“I feel like I’m watching Jon’s character assassination.”
Never mind!
My jaw was dropped for like the last ten minutes.
And how, exactly, is Grey Worm supposed to start a house, Davos? Do they have adoption agencies in Westeros?
Hell yes Drogon. Please everyone allow me to be obnoxious, but I fucking knew it. People thought I was reading too much into the S8 GoT poster, but nope. Called it. Balerion forged the Iron Throne and Drogon destroyed it. Drinking to Drogon, the Stallion who Mounts the World.
Apollo,
Ok. He finally learned to lie.
Lots of really emotional, character driven scenes. I’m satisfied so far.
So Dany isn’t necessarily mad, but she deluded and is a narcissist. She needs to be loved and adored by the masses- many of whom are blinded by her appeal. I see you, HBO.. I see what you’re doing..
How is Jon going to sneak past the thousands of unsullied and Dothraki I wonder… maybe Arya can like slip him under her arm and her stealth cover can work on him too.
I know. This is just bad.
Gotta say, Drogon’s acting is ace, though!
Well, the Unsullied seem to be able to vastly regenerate somehow….
Also, am I the only one super happy to see Edmure?????
He destroyed Tatgaryens. He is nothing. He knows nothing nad he is nothing. Not A stark. Not A targaryen. The most.boring nad stupid character of all got universe.
Bran was the first character we saw (after the prologue). It’s kind of fitting he’s how it ends.
I love how they’re still making him a joke 😂
Many unsullied are uncut boys Dany “liberated”
So far I am thoroughly enjoying this finale. My theories may have been wrong last week, but gosh dayum at least my theories for the end are actually happening!!! So Bran basically has a mobile throne right? Like a pope-mobile 😂
Hopefully in 20 years we will see a new version of the show, with a proper ending.
It’s far fetched but they didn’t actually kill off Ellaria Sand. If they rescue her from the dungeons she might be the new queen of Dorne.
Well, think we can safely say that NO bugger saw that coming. How the toxic element of the fandom will howl. Love it 😋
PS. RIP Dany.. the Dany we had until the Battle of Winterfell.
Pigeon,
I believe she meant the opposite of what you think. “never mind” meaning Jon Snow redeemed himself by doing what needed to be done.
So unless we’re about to see it at the end, what was the point in showing Bran can alter the past?
So there we have it. Jon was indeed Azor Ahai, and lightbringer was freedom and democracy for Westeros.
Rip his throat out, Ghost!
Excuse me while I continue banging my head into the wall until I look like Jaime and Cersei should have. Arrrrgh.
Thank God for Ghost.
This episode has been leaked for weeks/months. And Bran as King has been leading on the betting sites for over a year. The toxic fandom was just hoping that they were wrong about the end.
He’s like the Mace Tyrell of his time. 😆
Sooooo. Was Bran the ULTIMATE player of the Game of Thrones? 🤨 👑
ghost,
No, we won’t, get the fuck over it and stop whining like a bitch
Any reports of people coming out of their homes and setting fire to their GoT DVDs/merch on their driveways? 😬
The story has now become one of the most nihilistic things I’ve ever seen. The whole thing now seems like story steeped in existential nihilism. These characters are insignificant in the grand scheme of things and it seems as if this story was actually a story of a never-ending dystopia all along.
Probably all intentional by Martin. Artistic, I guess…rewatch value not very high though I don’t think.
Given the circumstances going into the finale, that ended about as happily as it could have.
I. Fucking. Hated. It.
Yep.
SANSA STARK. THE QUEEN IN THE NORTH!
LONG MAY SHE REIGN!
That was so, so very dumb. Any claim this series had to be about a drama about politics and power went out the window about fourteen different times there.
And that’s without going into the incredible hit-job on Jon’s character.
D&D continue their love affair with Sansa. That shit passed all logic long ago. So the North gets to be independent so Sansa can be Queen but every other Kingdom has to fall in line??? I’m team Stark but that’s stupid as fuck. Why would Dorne or the Iron Islands allow the Starks to rule both Kingdoms??? If this is truly GRRM’s ending then he might as well move onto something else because this ending is a joke. Why not 7 independent kingdoms?
Fin.
I guess I’m fine with it. Yay, humor. ’nuff said.
Oh wow. I don;t know what to say about this ending… 🙁
It’s… it’s… 🙁
Havent read the comments yet just wanted to give a thumbs up to this last episode. I think they are forgiven. The very last section was rather slow but it did tie up everything – except what happened to Gendry?
Definetly bittersweet. A lot happier ending that I was prepared for. I lost it when Brienne was filling out Jamie’s pages.
I took from that that Jon Snow has no Night’s Watch to join. He is going with the Free Folk. Screw those Southerners.
And yes, a Ghost + Jon reunion.
All hail Bran the Broken. And all hail to all of us. It was fun.
And now… now bring on The Wheel of Time, please and thank-you.
It’s got a better ending 🙂
Aaarrggha!
They Frodoed Arya!
Fair play D&D really nailed the finale which was always going to be hard to do. If I am nit picking it’s allowing Greyworm to live but I can let that slide.
Also I am seeing an overwhelming amount of praise on social media very little criticism which is most welcome.
Everything makes sense now ..well done Bran Stark..you knew what will happen with the reveal of Jon’s parentage and you went ahead with it ..
Never knew bitter sweet was supposed to be bitter for only one character while others get to have almost what they wanted their while life..
If you would have told me 5 years ago that the series ends with Jon Snow leaving for a camping trip with the wildlings I wouldn’t have believed you.
Jack Nabble,
Could you, please curb your enthusiasm a bit?
Yup. So the character went back to where he was in season 1. Haizzz…. 🙁
At least we saw him pet Ghost.
Well, at least I understand why George’s original title for the last book was “A Time for Wolves” LOL. The Starks literally get it all. King Beyond The Wall (Jon), Queen in the North (Sansa) and King in the South (Bran).
Can someone please help me. Bran becoming king was the third twist ?
They’re just weird about Sansa, I don’t know wtf to think of it. Always have been. Kinda doubt it will turn out that way in the books, but who really knows now. I was actually hoping she’d die if any remaining Stark had to, but I never expected to have my happy ending. 😜
I’m sorry for whoever hated this episode, but THIS is what I wanted to see when I started reading the books 17 years ago.
A Time for Wolves.
Once again, I’m sorry if you didn’t like it, but this is it. Hate it, scream at it, do what you please, it’s a free world and you’ve got the right. This is t
I love it. No amount of hate (deserved or not) will change that.
Thanks to all involved. Thanks.
Oh, I didn’t realize it until I read this. You’re right. And the way he said to Jon “you were exactly where you were supposed to be”. Ha!
Whatever.
Steel_Wind,
Yes it looks that way and I was thrilled we got our Jon and Ghost moment. And drogon lives. I don’t think I could have taken another animal dying in this series. Perhaps in the books Jon will marry Val after all. No one would know he married and had a family and the Wildlings don’t care about the south so there would be no threat of his kids wanting to rule down there. His life up to now has been about duty and now he’s free to live life on his own terms.
We spend FIVE MINUTES on a character that’s been with us since episode one.
Sansa gets to be Queen of the North while Jon has to go live in the fucking wilderness, though I guess the spring of green showing means it’s gonna thaw up there and he’ll eventually be able to be a normal human who doesn’t have to wear eight layers?
Bronn on the small council?????
Fuck. Off.
I’ll watch the scene with Brienne writing in the White Book 10 years from now when I’ve had sufficient time to prepare myself for it emotionally.
It’s clear from Bran’s statements in this episode that Bran KNEW he was going to be King and that all his actions were, in fact, guided by this knowledge. If George ever provides the Bran POV chapters for A Dream of Spring they should be very interesting indeed.
INSERT GUN INTO MOUTH
Don’t forget The Pirate Queen
We can almost ask many questions and you will never get the answer to those things..
Why dany didn’t kill tyrion then and there..
Why did Unsullied and Dothraki kill jon then and there …
I can understand Drogon not killing him but the Dothraki’s and Unsullied now way going to stand that .
Sansa asks for freedom and other lords just sit there and do nothing..
LOL at North being offered freedom by Bran Stark of all people..
At the end of the series you end up asking What’s The Point??? What’s the point to any of the things we have seen..
I have said this before in previous seasons that the writers tend to go with what’s speculated in the fandom rather than in the books and at the end of the day it’s how I end up feeling..
Is there anyone else that feel the same way..
Was his family not threatened? Was the world not threatened?
Would Ned have done differently? Debatable.
You are entitled to your opinion; but that’s GRRM’s ending for his character. I think he would know if that was “character assassination” or not.
The only character to be assassinated in #73 was Daenerys. And that is in the literal sense of the dagger in heart use of the term.
Apollo,
Absofuckenlutely!
Personally, I loved it. My Starks survived.
Outstanding acting. Kit and Maisie brought me to tears. Gwen and Peter gave me such feelz. EC was stunning.
Ghost!
Sure, I had some other preferences but for the most part, I am good.
Flora Linden,
Ah, ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,hahhhh LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
I was just gathering my shit up to sell, but I really want to burn it- and may have to, as I cannot imagine anyone being stupid enough to desire it-when I read your comment and laughed enough tears to quench a bonfire.
The absolute worst episode ever. Garbage! Pure filth! Schlock!
Poor Dany!!! They turned you into Maleficent, but you really looked lovely in all that black leather.
Hhahahaa! Me too.
Bronn may or may not be there at the end because the character has been altered from the books, but the rest? It checked every book theory I’ve heard in almost 20 years lol.
Jon’s smile when he and Ghost are reunited…oddly enough, I think he will now be as happy as he ever could be. Done with games and conflicting loyalties. Not quite as depressing a Jon ending as I’d feared.
Emilia acted her heart out, so proud of her. Drogon made me tear up. Good boy.
We got our scene with Brienne and the book. I expect she wrote “FUCKBOI” in large font. 😉 Nah. I was glad.
A little confused with Tyrion this episode, but glad he didn’t die.
DAVOS LIVES AND I CANNOT BE HAPPIER ABOUT THAT. OH MY GOD.
Apollo,
Yes. That’s why he came south. Funny how life works. Played everyone he did. Good for him. Now he’s also getting a dragon that he maybe warg(?)… but we know absolute power corrupts absolutely.
So did they choose the right king? Ask me in 10 yrs…
I loved the finale!!! Exactly what i wanted, even down to Greyworm heading to Naath. Ever since the end of A Feast for Crows, I only wanted two things: The destruction of the Iron Throne and for the next ruler to be elected in some way. FANTASTIC! 😭😭😭
Yes this is exactly why George was going to call it A Time for Wolves. A Stark ends up ruling every inch of Westeros. (I took the implication that Jon is a De Facto King Beyond The Wall.)
Bran is not a greenseer in the books. The green dreams are Jojen’s, not Bran’s.
You’ll be looking a long time for that in ADoS (assuming we ever get it, which I hope we do).
Ghost got pets. Edmure was Edmure. The rest was absolute fertilizer.
The ‘Bran wakes up from a dream’ ending would have been an improvement.
I thought it was fine, made up for some awkwardness in Ep 4 and Ep 5.
Didn’t undercut my expectation about Dany, so that’s disappointment.
They did figure a way to defuse what I thought would be a knot, so that was surprising.
So the whole deal with Tom Wlaschiha and Faye Marsay was a fake spoiler? I am not happy with that.
I kept hoping Drogon would arrive back in Meereen with Dany’s body, just a min. with Daario Naharis , not happy that did not happen.
No Hot Pie
No Nymeria
A lot they could have done with an extra 10 min.
Ok. This is my spoiler free comment. I’ll do spoilers tomorrow. Let me put it this way: D & DB are now working for the folks at Disney. They are specificallly working for the folks at Disney on Star Wars stuff. Now what is the one thing that Star Wars and the House of Mouse have in common? It starts with an “s” and ends with an “s”.
As for me, as of tomorrow I will no longer be among the Unsullied. I found a place that sells trade editions of the novels. Tomorrow I’ll be reading.
Do we know when Dave and D.B. found out the ending. It was a few seasons into the tv show right?
Oh to have been a fly on the wall for that meeting.
But more importantly, I’m wondering if we can go back and see a change in Daenerys’ character portrayal from that point forward.
If they need one, he would be it. But they don’t need one, so, perhaps not. Your point is still valid though.
I hope Jon finds a nice wildling girl and a cave for the both of them to sneak off to. Hail to the King!
Cheers.
It was after Season 3.
Che,
Lots of dropped storylines I believe. What was book Sam took from behind the gate at the Citadel that showed planets
Jack Hamm,
Ah Jack, I’m glad my bad joke could make you laugh at least. I’m with you – still can’t believe that’s how it ended.
orange,
T
Dear lord, we are all insignificant in the grand scheme of things. We cannot individually save the world but we can save our small corner of it. Think that is what is meant here. Perhaps its a dystopia to you, but I’d live there (once they fix the sewer system of course)
a few notes:
Someone else mentioned how the walls could still be standing – wondered that myself but not for too long.
Tyrion mourning over his family and Drogon mourning over his mother had me in tears.
Was that supposed to be Edmure, the guy who thought he should be king? He had fish on his collar
The rest of the characters were all, as Bran says, where they should be. May we all.
Sam,
That isn’t even what I was referring to, it’s the utterly insulting depiction of him as having to be slow-walked through that Dany is bad now. He even defends the destruction of the city.
D&D just destroyed this character.
And that’s without even getting into the absolute nonsense of what happened afterward.
First, Drogon not killing Jon right then and there, but instead venting all his flames at the throne for some reason (that feels like an image they were given, but the translation to the screen makes no sense). And then the Unsullied and the Dothraki for some reason don’t kill Jon immediately, even though they clearly want to and nobody could stop them, and instead hang around for weeks/months while a council of people Dany hated is convened. Grey Worm would have executed Jon right then and there, if this was still the show it was in Season 1.
Also, if this was still the show it was in Season 1, Tyrion’s speech at the great council would have gotten the same reception as Sam’s.*
* I do think it’s funny that Tyrion makes a big deal about how the end of hereditary rule is “breaking the wheel”, after which Sansa immediately announces that the Stark dynasty will continue its hereditary rule of the North as a separate kingdom. Sansa’s so powerful she can even defeat the overarching moral of the series.
Three years ago I had a health crisis. It wasn’t clear how it would turn out. I told my doctor at the time that I had to live long enough to see the Game of Thrones finale. It was a joke, but not really. I wanted to see how it ended!
Even today, healthy and long since fully recovered, before the episode started I said a quick prayer that I wouldn’t get in some random car accident or something. I didn’t want to jinx it. So I made it, it’s over, and I’m happy.
Was the episode everything I wanted? No. And I’ll post more of my thoughts later.
But for this brief moment, I’m grateful for this journey, for all the incredible work of the cast and crew, for the cinematography, for the music, for the characters brought to life by talented actors, and for this epic experience.
And for Watchers on the Wall for giving me a place to go to discuss and debate it all.
Jon refused to be King so many times…Well, there you have it: not King!
Bran: Yes please!
You know nothing Jon Snow!
Well, maybe I’m in the minority but I bloody LOVED that. After last week, they really reined it back. I’m so happy that I’m content with how it ended and have made my peace with stuff I wasn’t so happy with.. sorry to those who don’t feel the same (and I feel bad for you if you don’t feel it ended well).
And now their watch has ended. 💖
No respect for the fans on this one. Pitiful hodgepodge of scenes to end the series. It barely even fit together. I take back what I said 10 years ago about Lost being the worst series finale in TV history.
Oh man, I just realised something as well- Aemon Targaryen abdicated the crown and chose the Wall instead of becoming King, and Jon was forced to go the Wall despite his being the heir. Thus endeth the Targaryen line.
Oh one thing I did not like – Bronn surviving all of this. But oh well, I’ll take it.
^^^^^^^^^SO. MUCH. THIS.^^^^^^
I honestly wanted to throw something, when Tyrion literally had to CONVINCE Jon that Dany his UberAunt couldn’t be allowed to contine her super special wheel breaking….. After Jon just walked through a city full of burned up children. WTH???
Did you not read the next comment from me, a couple down from that one? Where I said “never mind”? You just thought you’d jump on that comment without realising that was at the point where he was still “my queening” at Tyrion in the cell? If you are going to read back through a live chat, you are going to have to realise the comments refer to what was going on at that exact moment in the show.
I was happy so far but this ending… Everything after Dany’s death was crap… It’s a shame…
Everything I am seeing on social media suggests an overwhelmingly positive reception even some of the loudest critics are giving it praise. I hope it continues.
When Jon started defending Daenerys I was pretty close to just stopping watching but I just paused and paced around a bit foaming at the mouth and then carried on. It was satisfactory after that.
The dragon was more rational than the dragon queen about his loss. Drogon is also smarter than all the people, other than Sam. Get rid of the stupid throne that just leads to destruction.
I’m a little miffed at the way the show mocks Edmure. In the books Edmure is one of the only lords who actually cares about his people and it wasn’t his fault Robb didn’t tell him what his plans were. But whatever.
Well, if we believe the books/series end will be the same, technically GRRM “destroyed” it.
Anyone who wasn’t moved by Brienne writing in the White Book, Jon saying goodbye to the Starks, Sansa becoming queen, Arya sailing west, Jon reuniting with Ghost and Tormund, Tyrion crying over his siblings dead bodies, and Drogon burning the throne and carrying Dany away is dead inside. Seriously, how jaded has the world become? It seems like everyone is more miserable than ever.
I loved it. I dont know what else people wanted. Anyone who didn’t like it should be required to explicitly lay out how they wanted it to end, character by character, so we can hear your version and see if anyone likes it better. But no one will do that, because it’s easier to say “hated it” and then go eat nachos or something.
Sorry, but that was the shittiest ending ever! Bran as King does not make sense. Jon being banished to the Wall does not make sense. Jon defending Dany to Tyrion does not make sense. Bran being elected King does not make sense.
Tbh, I’m heartbroken that this was the end. It was shit.
Now watch George pull the ultimate troll move by changing the ending in the books and pinning all of this on D&D.
People whined about Jon not being the PTWP. Now he is. They’re still whining.
Jesus fucking Christ, you people. Whining, whining, whining.
This is the only online fandom I’ve ever participated in. Are they all this toxic and disgusting? Or is this one special?
I thought it was a great ending. Jon pet Ghost again and fulfilled the PTWP prophecy in a way that was unexpected. Sansa is queen in the north. Not loving the Arya sailing off west thing that much, but it makes enough sense. As does Tyrion being doomed to be Hand whether he likes it or not. All fitting and bittersweet as was promised. I would have liked to see a blue eye opening in far north though. Just to truly bring everything full circle.
I really don’t know what else you people wanted.
Oh well. This show is going to stand the test of time as one of the greats. When I’m 80 and I look back at my life, GOT will be one of the defining features of my 30’s. It started when I was 30. I’ll be 39 on Wednesday. I don’t think I’ll miss the fandom too much (although let’s face it, I’ll be back here for the prequel when it starts), but I’ll miss the show. I wish every success to the cast and crew. Especially Bryan Cogman, Maisie and Alfie.
This could bode well for the Jon/Val shippers.
I liked it – thought it all landed pretty well and sad it’s over. I felt bad for Jon’s ending at first – no gratitude from anyone (Sansa for BoB, everyone for organizing defence vs. AoD and then everyone again for getting rid of Dany) but I guess he’ll be happiest where he is.
I would have loved it if Drogon had appeared at the wall to stay with th last Targaryen…
Honestly? Don’t. Don’t merely read them.
Consume them? Yes. To be sure. Every word.
The audiobooks to A Song of Ice and Fire are the purest, best way to enjoy the series. They are brilliantly done. Sign up for Audible and get the first for free. You will not regret it.
Absolutely gutted. Awful awful writing. A sloppy thrown together mess, particularly the jump from Jon killing Dany to suddenly everyone being in the courtyard discussing the future. No sense or flair or justice for the story which came before.
Happy for Sansa and Arya, sad for Jon, but he and Ghost are together.
Overall okay, but why and how is Bran setup for King ?
Sansa’s outfit and crown was beautiful.
I’m saying Arya finds a new land and calls it Aryamerica.
And Bran? Whatevs. First we get Dany who supposedly went crazy in the span of two episodes. Now Bran – who barely speaks by the way, and has spent the entire season acting like the 3ER is the highest calling ever, and can’t be bothered to interact with humans is made king? Star Wars franchise is cruising for a bruising with these dullards as the new show runners.
No, I know what she meant – I agree with her. 🙂
The clear implication in the books, specially after he Drinks Jojen Paste, is that he’ll become one.
Jon did the hardest thing. He killed Dany before the Iron Throne after one last kiss. So very, very sad. Drogon then torched the Iron Throne before gently carrying Dany’s body away in one of his talons back to Essos.
Brann the Broken now the reluctant king of the Six Kingdoms by election. The next king will also be chosen by election. The character who, as a quite grown boy, suckled Lyanna Arryn’s teats and asked his mother to make the Little Man fly through the Moon Door, was part of the election and cast his vote for Brann. A silly speech by Edmure Tully seeking the position. Tryion reminded all that it is stories, above all, which unite humanity.
Tryion, Bran’s Hand. Bronn, Master of High Garden, Master of Coin. Ser Davos, Master of Ships. Sam, Arch-Maester. Brienne, Kingsguard leader? Looking for a Master of War and a Master of Whispers.
A debate about whether ships or brothels are more pressing issues for the realm. Hmmm. Brienne sensibly insisted that ships are more important.
Jon back to the Night’s Watch, but quickly moving past the Wall with Tormund, Ghost and the Wildings to reclaim the North and go live in its purity.
Arya off to explore what’s west of Westeros on a ship with Stark sigil sails.
Grey Worm to the Isle of Naath with the Unsullied. The Dothraki also returning to Essos apparently.
Sansa now queen of the north.
So sad that Dany couldn’t rise above her limitations.
It will stick with me horribly that Jon had to kill her.
No-one should ever have to attack one that they have loved.
I wouldn’t redo any of it.
The storytellers and the actors did their work and did it well.
Sansa is going to have to marry, because every freaking person ended up alone! Even Sam becomes a Meister? He was Lord and a father at a great estate!
There’s meat for a continuing story. Dany whipped away quickly to some life restoring waters in Valyria…. West of Westeros…. Going north meant Jon left the rule of Westeros. He’s a free man and can father children.
My heart goes out for Emilia Clarke and Daenerys Targaryen..
She should have stayed in Slavers Bay..
No matter what happened She will always be my Queen
No, I didn’t. Sorry. My apologies.
LOL. Oh, the hypocrisy!
They couldn’t throw in some dying words for Dany? I would have taken that over tnr ridiculous bumbling Edmure or Bronn taking again about brothels. We get it, dude. You’re a broseph that likes to screw hookers, har har….
God, what a fucking mess. If this is how it ends fine, but JESUS CHRIST almost the entirety of the episode was clunky and tone deaf. Full of stupid, silly moments.
Oh, and if I ever die from a ceiling crashing on me, I hope my face survives as well as Jamie’s and Cersei’s. And I somehow end up on TOP of all the rubble.
Hi,
The series will follow some bullet points. Stuff like Jon’s characterization is all on the writers of the show; this is not the book Jon, at all.
An ending that makes sense. The plot mechanics of this were preposterous, even if you accept everything that happened in the preceding episodes.
Zero point to Bran getting Sam to tell Jon about his parents in that whole “it’s time” way. Irrelevant to the wars and aftermath.
Apollo,
I loved it too.
Ghostgirl,
There was no one else at Castle Black expect for the Wildlings, those other 2 guys were just there to escort him. Jon is free, he’s gone beyond the ‘wall’ now with the Wildlings into their land. The wall will melt once Spring and Summer return to that area – now that the NK is dead. Remember when he was created, that area was lush and green. I’m choosing to believe Bran set him free.
Did anyone notice the green plant sticking out the snow as Jon and company rode by? ‘A dream of Spring’.
That was…oddly satisfying ❤️ Sansa as QitN, Arya free to roam the world, that Small Council (I’d pay to watch a sitcom based on their meetings), and Jon free in the best and only way for him, building a new world with the Freefolk. Going to sleep quite content indeed.
Tessa rose Davidson,
Moon Door…..
There are a lot of parts I loved about this episode and a lot of parts I really didn’t like. I will have to watch again to see if I feel the same.
I am not happy that it took Tyrion to talk Jon into turning on Dany. This is the man who has spent most of this series fighting for what is right, for what he believes in, for people’s right to live – yet here he was, stepping over the burnt corpses of children and still he needed to be talked into turning on Dany. It felt so painful to watch. I am glad he did it in the end as Dany was, sadly, sounding terrifying in her desire to cleanse the world and make it her own and I was also glad Drogon knew he was a Targ and didn’t burn him. It was beautiful and it almost makes up for him being so utterly hopeless for most of this season – almost, but not quite. I feel this has been a terrible season for Jon.
The ending is probably going to make him the happiest – he’s free among friends and he can go off and get married and father children all he likes. When they banished him to the wall, I felt so desperately upset for him. He saved the world – twice over and this was his reward? Banished to the wall for eternity. But seeing him ride out and turning his back on the wall, going with his people, that felt like that was his chance at happiness.
I still feel he’d have made a great king, but he never would have been happy as king, so this is probably a better ending for him.
I look forward to discussing tomorrow, but right now it’s nearly 4am and I am exhausted!!
We loved it. Sadly, Dany had turned tyrant; even the set decoration was very Nazi-like. Jon stabbing her was understandable. I wonder if Sansa and Tyrion hadn’t planned the Dragon Pit council. And Edmure made an ass of himself again. Tyrion didn’t turn heel, Gwen is Kingsguard commander and filled Jaime’s White Book page. And all our Starks got their heart’s desire. Jon loved the freedom of the far North, Sansa to be queen, Arya the freedom to explore, and Bran to be 3ER while running the world with knowledge. BTW, I’m relieved Arya did not go after Dany…she’s over the vengeance thing. Poor Gendry. And as usual the music and the cinematography were awesome.
I didn’t take that as the “clear” implication at all. I took it as a necessary eating of sap and blood in order to be able to warg into a weirwood tree.
It may prove to be as you say; it may not. However, I think it is anything but “clear”.
Jon Snowed,
Good, because no matter how divisive the eighth season will forever be, that was a pitch-perfect series finale. I was a mess of tears, sobs, and joyful, incomprehensible outbursts for 83 minutes.
I…
Our watch is ended.
ThisGirlHasNoName,
Glad you’re well now! To health!
So Jon was brought back to life to kill Daenerys and go back to the Night’s Watch? Seriously? Bran who ‘can’t be lord of anything’ and ‘lives mostly in the past’ becomes king! No wonder Isaac was the onl;y one happy with the end.
I saw the spoilers and I have had a week to try and make sense of it. I still can’t. I’m beyond pissed.
I loved it. It was quiet, reflective, and overall beautifully done. Considering how darkly things were positioned at the end of last week, this is about as hopeful of an ending as I could have asked for.
I love that Arya is going west of Westeros (I was certain that was her endgame ever since she mentioned it back in Season 6). I love that Sansa is finally Queen in the North … although it’s somewhat bittersweet for her with all of her family dispersed. And Jon’s end is also quite perfect. I like to believe that he’s heading back to the real North to stay with the Free Folk – with the White Walkers gone, there’s no true need for the Night’s Watch (I thought that was more of a way to definitively assert that he had renounced his claim to the Iron Throne).
Bran as King makes sense – Tyrion gave good reasoning why he was the best choice, especially at this point in time. I thought Dany’s end was heartbreaking … but that’s part of the tragedy of her character. I also loved that small grace note of Brienne finishing Jaime’s entry in the White Book of the Kingsguard. “Died protecting his Queen” … perfect.
And Ser Podrick Payne … hell yes.
So, overall, a beautiful, reflective – dare I say bittersweet? – end to an all-time great show. I honestly don’t believe that I will ever love another show as much as I love this one. It was truly a once in a lifetime thing. So thank you, Game of Thrones. Thank you for everything!
(Also, the direction and cinematography in this episode? Fucking gorgeous. That shot of Dany with Drogon’s wings behind her and everything in the destroyed throne room … astonishing. My deepest respects to David and Dan … they did great!)
I haven’t watched it yet, but don’t mind spoilers… so, bearing in mind that Bran is ‘broken’, who succeeds him when he dies? Does everyone go back to fighting, or are we in for a Malaysian style autocracy where the leaders of each ‘state’ vote one of their own each time?
When the camera panned on from Brianne writing in the book I was hoping it said “Jamie Lannister is a skank whore. Do not trust that fugly slut.” Hahhahah!
Burn book style.
Oh, I think Jon’s ending clearly implies that’s definitely happening (IF George ever finishes, that is.)
kathy,
Caught that!
Hell yes! Excellent ending. Tyrion said it best and I’m paraphrasing…the best compromise has everyone unhappy. D&D has ZERO chance of making everyone happy. Episodes were either too slow or too fast or didn’t keep up with prophecies or Cersei didn’t die gruesome enough or whatever. Meh. My wife HATED Bran being King. I loved it and it made the most obvious sense.
Loved the Tyrion / Jon scene at beginning. Story needed a little breathing. Peter D was excellent the entire episode.
That Arya / Jon farewell had me tearing up. Good stuff man.
I would have loved to see Grey Worm in Naath but knowing he was going there was enough for me.
The mini Kingsmoot did have me confused a bit with who was initially standing but fairly minor.
That ending of Arya, San and Jon was awesome. Loved the filming and music.
Straight forward and finally some damn humor. Not everything needs to be realism and bitterness.
Sigh. The journey has ended. For some of you it’s a relief with the anger and divisiveness. I am sad beyond words. Only bourbon will help.
I liked it. I haven’t been happy this season at how rushed things were, and I particularly did not like the penultimate episode, but I accepted this for what it was and in that, enjoyed it. If GRRM ever finishes the books, I look forward to seeing a more coherent version of the plot to get to the ending point, but I’m glad to know how it ended.
I’m also glad Tyrion lived; thought for certain he was a goner.
And, I would totally watch a show about Arya in Beyond Westeros.
Jon may have struck the killing blow, but it wasn’t him that destroyed Dany. It was the all consuming desire for the Iron Throne that destroyed her.
Dragons are not like typical pets. They’re very intelligent. They have minds of their own. This is pretty well established, particularly in the books, but the show too. Drogon venting his rage at the Iron Throne instead of Jon makes perfect sense to me.
No. I think the entire resolution of the Others, the prophecies, Azoh Ahai and all of the much deeper lore — and magic — that GRRM built into the tale has been lost in the TV series.
But no, Jon was not brought back from the grave to kill Daenerys. The gods do not care about such things. The Others and the End of All Things™? That’s a different matter.
NCW and LH only get their million dollars if they’re recognizable in the episode, right? 😆😆😆 Much as I felt for Tyrion, I was yelling “THEY WOULD BE LANNISTER JAM, DAMMIT!” at my screen. Then when Tyrion started smashing the brick I had a horrible moment of wondering if he was hitting THEM. Khu khu khu!!!
Ok it was fine I guess – but very checkbox-y. It definitely felt like I was watching GRRM’s outline, the abbreviated version. I can accept basically everything that happened, and I’m mostly just feeling relief that Jon was not king after killing Dany.
Downside… I felt very little emotion throughout, even when Dany died. Her last speech was good, though. This is very unlike the last 2 episodes where I alternated between tense, surprised, and devastated. That is while I was less angry about what happened, I also cared a lot less? So I think that means it wasn’t as good?
I dunno.
I’ve been reading the articles and comments on Watchers for a couple of years now and have never posted. So, I’d like to thank all of the writers and administrators of the site, and all of the readers and commenters for their passionate takes on the drama presented to us.
I agree with many that the last two seasons have been a bit too compressed, but I’ve still enjoyed my Sunday evenings watching the amazing creative and technical skills of the cast and crew.
So, when does Arya’s spinoff show start? I’m going to call it, “A Wolf in the West.” Bring it on. 🙂
Tony,
Agreed 100%.
I like to think he’s king of his people, his true people. He saved them, respects and encourages their way of life, and is now leading them to a better future – what could be more kingly?
From the iron throne to a wheel chair… pretty much sums up the story arch this season.
They’ll vote, Kingsmoot style.
Not that they really know at this time that Bran doesn’t really have a normal lifespan anymore, though.
I wonder how many people that wanted a democracy or didn’t want tyranny will speak about how the lords of Westeros simply mocked the idea of Sam wanting to have every one’ reaction..
When over a decade ago and I heard that George RR Martin’s extraordinary cycle of novels, “A Song Of Ice And Fire” were being optioned to HBO for TV series, I was happy, apprehensive, doubtful and all manner of other emotions and thoughts. I also found this community of fans, then on the old WinterIsComing website . Lucky for me. Then it all moved here to WatchersOnTheWall. This community has been my guide, repository of knowledge and a shared experience like none other.
In the years after, I followed the ebb and flow of the show’s development until in 2011 when it all came together was suddenly here…reality…seeing the first scene at The Wall with the gate opening and our first view of the North (the real North as Thormund would say).
And so began a love-affair, appreciation and deep gratitude with and towards “Game Of Thrones”. And now the end has come and how fitting that the last shot is of the Wall again, the North and the hopeful but uncertain tomorrow.
To call this show a masterpiece would not do it justice. For my part, I love it, live it and feel it. It is seared in my memory and part of my soul now. I am just glad to have been along for the ride and been afforded the chance to be part of this fandom.
A deep, deep thank you to George RR Martin, David Benioff and DB Weiss, the extraordinary cast and amazing crew who worked soo tirelessly in front and behind the camera to bring it all to life for us all.
The end, now that it is upon us, was sad, bittersweet, funny, depressing, uncertain, unresolved, hopeful, loving, exhilarating, hurtful and all the things that make life what is. A never ending story which continues long after our songs have been sung. It ended as is should have and needed to.
I am sorry to see that some of the division and bitterness which has split soo much of the world has seeped even amongst us here. The ” A Song Of Ice And Fire” novels and the show “Game Of Thrones” can be a case study, a primer and a guide as to what happens to such a world and how hard we have to fight to keep it all together.
I wish everybody here good fortune in the years to come. And we will definitely continue to hear about many events to come now that, at least one other series (and probably more), set in our beloved Ice and Fire universe is slowly inching it’s way to our screens in the near future. May it be all we want and hope it to be, a worthy addition to an already amazing story.
But at least for now I will say it one more time: OUR WATCH IS ENDED.
Why in the fuck would anybody listen to Tyrion??? He hasn’t been right about shit in like 3 seasons and yet everybody just does wha he says… And someone please explain to me why the North gets to be an independent kingdom but not the rest??? That scene just contradicted everything Tyrion had just said in his speech… I need to hear from GRRM that this is indeed his ending because if so he can keep Winds & Dream locked away. Just release another Dunk & Egg.
Stark RAven’ Rad,
Haha!! Oh crap that was Edmure!!! I’m so damn slow on the uptake. My bad. Oye.
All bitter, no sweet for me. I’m sorry for wasting so many years. At least we got an ending, grrm will never finish.
Hard to say as they were working closely with GRRM for first four seasons, but they had a dedicated session to plan the series beyond the books around season 3/4. We know they were given access to st least some stuff from the Winds of Winter draft material and they stated they knew the ending and arcs for all main characters but how they get there may differ from the books as they only had the broad strokes of the how.
George,
You do realize that at that moment they are doing Lord of the Rings and Arya “diminishing to the West” is also a non-starter.
I loved it! I simply loved it! Many things to say, already others are saying it better, so I’ll think a bit and post later, ditto some posts, and enjoy reading the comments.
So happy Jon is back in the real North with Ghost!
Hounds_Bitch,
From now on, according to Tyrion, the ruler of the six kingdoms will be chosen by the lords paramount. So supposedly the wheel has been broken. Think I’d go North to Canada like Jon Snow. Hope a red headed girl steals him from the watch.
I loved the finale but of course wanted more. But I also want to throw thanks out to HBO and D&D for bringing some really high quality and seriously written and produced fantasy to the screen. In an era where SCI-fi and fantasy last maybe one year on TV before being cancelled, GOT has been a God send for this fan of fantasy writing.
I think it’s pretty clear now that Jon will kill Dany in the books (Treason for Love) except that it will probably be tied in the context of The Others, Azor Ahai and Nissa Nissa.
That’s a lovely way to interpret Bran’s ruling on Jon. He can now live his life as a free man with Ghost and his buddy, Tormund,
It’s taking me awhile to process the end after all this time but I liked it.
Glad the UnSullied got to go to Naath. Glad Jon and Ghost said F*ck You to the Night’s Watch and wandered off into the North. Glad Drogon took Dany East.
Wish Drogon had burned everyone in the Dragonpit except for Brienne, Davos, and Yara after the nobles laughed off Sam’s idea about a general election for King. HATE that the nobles get to choose the Kings of Westeros. Hope the people in the North start questioning and rebelling against Sansa’s authority. Hope the remainder of the inhabitants of the other 6 kingdoms do the same for their rulers.
Bran as the “memory” of the world…..does not make sense to me on several levels. They didn’t use this knowledge of the past during their fight against the AotD nor against Cersei after the Long Night. Did no one question why Bran was okay with how things worked out enabling him to be the new king of the 6 kingdoms. Bronn as Master of Coin…..GTFOH. They’re essentially rebuilding the same power structure. No mention of citizens councils, devolving more power to the common people, etc.
REALLY wish Theon had chosen to go with Yara after he rescued her. REALLY wish there had been some acknowlegement that although Arya was going to explore what’s ‘west of westeros’ that there likely are plenty of people already in those lands that she’s heading toward…..
I firmly believe what Pilou Asbaek (Euron’s actor) said about the series ending as a whole: that in the end, it would stand the test of time. The final two seasons obviously could have benefited from more episodes, but the story as a whole will gain new respect as time goes on, after people get over the initial shock or disappointment of their predictions being wrong and certain character’s actions.
I hated this and I’ve been the one that has been so positive about it with no expectations. Why did Bran get the crown hes thrown his cousin under the bus. If this is the ending GRRM Martin has said he wants I am not surprised he hasn’t written them. It makes no sense that his family hasn’t pardoned him when grey worm left. Also Sam as a maester hes got kids? loved Sansas ending. Arya I get. Hated Jon’s. I never got invested in Brans character. this is shite.
All I can say is I am angry that it is over and how it ended…
I dunno, in Fire and Blood there is a character very much like Arya who does precisely that, sail into the West.
I don’t really know what to say about this final episode. It was disappointing in many ways, it still had many writing problems: the screwed up seasons, the funky timeline in the episode, the Dothraki leaving in peace, the Unsullied going to Naath to die, Bran becoming voted king, Jon not getting killed, etc. Luckily it also had some good parts: Arya sailing West, Jon petting Ghost, Brienne writing Jaime’s story, Sam giving Tyrion the ASoIaF book, etc.
I think my main issue with this episode is that it was not a massive, gripping conclusion to an epic story. It played out slow, with some cheesy melodrama (Dany & Jon) and ended on a whimper.
I just hope the novels end in a much better fashion. Peace out!
Iceman240857,
Glad to see him make a reprisal and equally glad nobody wanted to listen to his attempted speech. Was the kid who played sweet robin the same too?
I agree these last seasons have been rushed, too straight-to-the-point, yadda yadda. I agree the books will fill in the gaps and tell a more fleshed version of the story. Hell, I can agree it could have been done better.
But c’mon, I read most of what happened today in a MySpace blog (gods, I’m so old XD). Blame the pace, the rhythm, the dialogue, whatever you want. The story? Besides Bran (You. Freaking. Troll.), I checked every square in my theories’ bingo card.
Tony,
Well said my friend. Future generations will binge this show and see the brilliance. There are errors of course. I binged The Sapranos and hated some of it but as a whole…amazing
Same with GoT.
weirwoodtreehugger,
Plus Drogon knew jon was Targaryen; he wasn’t going to burn him
I had a few quibbles with the kumbaya ending, tho actually approved of it.. Everyone got what they wanted. And whats going to happen when Bran dies? I guess another council vote.
First thing I would is move the capitol. Let KL be like Valyria. Rebuild anew.
BTW interesting that Robin turned out to be seminormal; at least thats what it looks like.
I knew jon was pretending to be loyal to dany even with ‘Tyrion – who knows if someone is listening to their convresations. Wasn’t surprised he pulled a knife
People are saying Jon was banished to the wall – no, that is exactlly where he wanted to be.
Anyway, I would have made the last episode a bit less dark, and this one a bit less disney. but it worked, and lets face it, it could have been a heck of a lot worse
I’m still absorbing it all, but I have to say seeing Jon back with ghost petting him and Brienne filling up the pages of the book with Jaime’s deeds was the highlight of the night. It was a great night for the Starks all around. Sansa’s dress was absolutely amazing! I’m not a fashion geek, but even I couldn’t help be impressed by her new threads. I figured Arya would end up going West of Westeros, but I was hoping for at least one more heroic act in the finale. At least she did get to say goodbye to Jon. I guess killing the NK was enough for one season for her, and I’m fine with her getting back her humanity.
I have a few criticisms, and maybe it will be better after my second watch. I felt a lack of tension. Once Jon got past Drogon and Dany was there reliving her vision in the throne room, I figured Jon would do the deed. Her vision was both ash and snow on the iron throne.
The only thing that’s bugging me about the story is how Jon managed to live after leaving the throne room. Why did the unsullied just arrest him? I could see if he announced strongly he was the new king, perhaps they would respect his strength, but I don’t think that happened. Also, I guess Varys never sent out any of those scrolls, since no one seemed to be aware of Jon’s heritage. So I’m a bit confused on what happened from the time Jon killed Dany to when Tyrion shows up at the dragon pit.
Overall, I couldn’t think of a better ending for Jon. I’m not sure if he’s permanently a ranger helping the wildlings resettle? But at least he was happy. The Lord of Light didn’t decide he had served his purpose and let him die. I’m not sure why, but I’m glad the LOL left the building and maybe he forgot about Jon.
Hey everyone! I have not watched the episode yet, and might not be able to until tomorrow. I scrolled down to the bottom of the Comments so as not to spoil anything for myself.
But how was it? On a scale of 1 to ASNAWP, how would you rate it?
Yes, all these things you mentioned didn’t make sense. That scene where GW had to ask permission from the lords/ladies as to what to do with Tyrion and Jon was ridiculous. Why was he listening to them? Kill Tyrion and Jon! That’s what GW would do.
One other thing, Jon was not even acknowledged by anyone for “saving” the realm from a would-be tyrant, who just burned down an entire city. He’s simply taken as a criminal, even by his own family. He went back to being a “bastard”, basically. And the “heir to the throne” argument was just thrown out of the window.
In the end, a life he didn’t choose was forced on him. Again. It would have been a better character development if he escaped and he himself chose to live beyond the wall with the free folk.
SciFiFanfan,
Yeah looked like it. Seems a bit normal as well. Not all weirdy and Littlefinger-creepy like.
Why did anybody ever think this was leading to that? No character on the series ever expressed any desire to alter Westeros’ government in that manner, and the common people have been all but invisible.
My girl Arya is still as awesome as ever!!! 🙂
Jon, Sansa, Arya, Davos, Tormund and Sam made it. Brienne, Pod and Bronn were icing on the cake. Even happy Bran made it, although I thought he would go into a permanent trance up north. And Tyrion made it; I was sure he’d be a goner. I’m happy. Acting was breathtaking, on all parts, especially Emilia.
Wish there had been more of Bran’s powers, but I guess what we were shown of them served Bran well enough. What was his line? “Why do you think I came South?”
Toward the end, I kept feeling like I’d be happy to see any of those stories continue. I’d watch Jon and Tormund in the North, I’d follow Arya on her journey in a millisecond, I’d watch Tyrion and gang and any antics, I’d be happy to watch Sansa being queen.
Uh are you saying the tiny dagger he stabbed her to death with is Lightbringer?
Nah mate there’s no Azor Ahai. Or it was Dany, reborn amid salt and smoke, to wake dragons from stone.
Shite.
Poor pacing. No drama. No magic. No logic. Utterly ruinous.
A pisspoor finale to one of the greatest stories to ever bless television. Piss. Poor.
Loved:
-Jon reuniting with Ghost. At least this time he got a pat on the head.
-Tyrion in general, I thought he was wonderful this episode.
-Drogon torching the throne and flying away with Dany. I was sobbing.
-Music and cinematography.
The okay:
-Arya heading west of Westeros. On one hand I loved this, on the other I thought it was too easy. Also I was disappointed that Jaqen didn’t make an appearance. There were rumors that Tom Wlaschiha was spotted near the dragonpit filming site, and I had high hopes he’d be in this episode.
The bad:
-I’m okay with Bran being king, but the set-up wasn’t quite there. Didn’t D&D say that Bran was more human this season? Sorry, 90% of the time he was a robot. And he played a small part this season, especially when his role could have been so much more interesting at the Battle of Winterfell.
– I thought the jump from Jon killing Dany to the court of Lords was cheap. I guess they couldn’t think of a way for Jon to tell everyone Dany was dead, or couldn’t figure out how to avoid Grayworm executing him.
The ridiculous
-Jon trying to defend Dany to Tyrion. What? It was indefensible. I can see him being tortured and conflicted about how to respond to the slaughter, but not defending her.
-The soap opera scene with Jon kissing Dany and then stabbing her. It felt like Days of Our Lives. “You will always be my queen” BARF. Was also too repetitive – same way Ramsey killed Roose? Have we run out of ideas on how to kill someone? It’s not like there was any divine justice.
– During the “who will be King” meeting, there was no serious discussion over the RIGHTFUL KING being king? No mention of Aegon Targaryan and Jon’s true parentage?
– Also, was Jon killing Dany really a crime? She was a usurper and a pretender. Not to mention war criminal. C’mon Yara.
– Sansa insisting the North had to be independent, either though her brother was just named King. It’s just not believable. I felt like D&D just wanted a scene with people yelling “Queen of the North”.
-Jon going to the wall. Bran could have just pardoned him the minute the Unsullied were gone.
Just a few insta-thoughts.
Ten Bears,
ASNAWPTWP (did I get all those letters right?) I loved it! Hope you do too!
Er….Only Greenseers can “warg” Weirwoods? A mere warg only “wargs” animals?
Folks, I hope you enjoyed it. I know I did.
If you didn’t, that’s really too bad, because this is GRRM’s ending. I have absolutely no doubt that this is his ending.
That was Edmure Tully. He has aged a bit but in the story he had some time in a cell as a captive.
Sean C.,
They have been invisible except at the time they want us to think bad about dany..
Because they didn’t want to be. Did you miss the part where Sam suggested independent kingdoms and they laughed at him?
Yep. I felt at times that the title of the episode was “George’s outline for the ending” LOL.
The leaders of the six kingdoms elect the next king/Queen which makes a lot of sense to me.
Yes! I thought the same. A couple of lines of dialogue is all it would have taken. “hey Tormund, let’s get out of here. I know I’m supposed to stay at the Wall, but let’s go build a new life up north, away from those crazy people.”
I’m cracking up at how people are pissed off at the ending when we’ve known for some time that it matches with the ending GRRM plans for the main characters. People are gonna be in denial about this shit until like 25 years from now when ADOS finally comes out.
One of my predictions was if the Starks survive they have a shot 4 kingdoms headed by a Stark: Bran or Sansa north; Sansa and Arya RL and or Eyrie Jon Throne.
A Stark in KL and a Stark in Winterfell works, but they didn’t setup Bran for KL.
Sansa was setup ; butttt Brannn ! don’t hate it just wanted more exposition .
That’s what I keep saying to those around me: if you’re waiting for the books to have a different ending, I’ve got bad news for ya XD
MTE…
Poor Brienne.
The new security guard.
They could have made her leave for Tarth.
Jaime is dead there is no point writing anything in a book. Pathetic end for her.
onefromaway,
Yeah I just realized that after I typed the comment and deleted that part. You caught me LOL! I knew he looked familiar but it’s been so long.
He was at the council in the dragon pit and said, “aye” for Bran to be king.
I liked it. Same feel as the end of LotR. Bittersweet indeed.
Well imho, that was a bit ridiculous. I sure didn’t expect such a happy ending. Didn’t feel bittersweet to me at all.
It seems the leaders of Westeros pulled the wool over the eyes of GW? What sort of “life” sentence is the Nights Watch when they no longer have any ties to Kings Landing and the 6 kingdoms? Nor is there any more need for a wall. Not in the show version of the story anyway.
Sansa has the power she craved as Queen in the North and Jon can go his merry way and father all the children he’d like. Does Sansa consider Jon a threat to her power? Since she rules the north was it her idea to send him to the wall for an alleged life sentence, father no children, etc? He can father all the kids he wants north of the wall.
If not, he’s free to visit his sister/cousin anytime. The North doesn’t answer to Kings Landing or the Unsullied. Jon is a free man in the North, whether he’s north or south of the wall. Great to see he and Ghost reunite. Loved that.
And Bronn is back. LMFAO.
Colin Dougherty,
I doubt King Bran needs a master of whisperers when he can see all.
My guess is D&D couldn’t figure out a seamless way to make that transition in a logical way, so they just skipped it.
“If you think this has a happy ending…then you haven’t been paying attention…” Ramsay Bolton.
Yep. Apparently many haven’t.
Now lets talk about the Major 6 characters and So called Bitter sweet ending shall we..
Arya gets to explore..sweet
Sansa gets to be QITN…sweet
Bran gets to be KO6K…sweet
Tyrion gets to be HOTK..sweet( don’t tell me it was not sweet with the whole musical chairs thing and gets to live with Bronn and Davos and Sam)
Jon gets to live with the freefolk and ghost and where he is most happy and belongs ..beyond the wall .. Bitter sweet
Dany gets to die in the hands of the one she loved with just one stab not even having a Final Word.. will be remembered as the Big Bad and all her good deeds forgotten.. Bitter with No sweat..
weirwoodtreehugger,
I hated it because it sucked.
I anticipated an ending that would disappoint the fanbois, I never thought there would be an ending that disappointed the anti-fanbois too.
9/10 my friend hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
There was no “Night’s Watch”. The two men escorting Jon — and Jon and I suppose Sam in KL — were the remainder.
Near as I could tell, everyone at Castle Black was a wildling. Which makes sense. Jon called all of the NW back to Winterfell in S8 E1.
I suppose someone had to be in Castle Black to lower the gate. Must be the two blokes who brought Jon north. I suppose it might be that Jon will go back to Castle Black after escorting the wildlings north. But I prefer to think not.
I hope George isn’t influenced at all by fan opinion of the show and stays true to himself and writes the story the way he wanted to write it. It’s such a crazy situation when you think about it, an author watching a non-canon version of his story play out in full before he himself is finished writing the real version. It would be hard not to be influenced at all, but I hope he writes the story the way he’s imagined it for years, opinions be damned.
Haven’t been able to watch it yet but I see the spoilers were correct for the finale as they were for all the episodes. I’m just glad I read them! Better to be prepared by having hopes dashed slowly than to be shocked and devastated all at once. It’s certainly been a fun ride. Though the last leg of the journey and the destination were not what I’d hoped. All the theories and speculation that filled my thoughts as I drifted off to sleep, I wonder what will replace them, if anything can, as now many imaginations have not been rewarded but seemingly punished.
I fully agree. Don’t understand the love this episode is getting on here. I thought GRRM said in an interview once his one knock on Lord of the Rings was the ending didn’t do the rest of the story justice and once Jon killed her, that’s what we got, the ending to LOTR. Been defending this entire season from the haters but i’m seriously disappointed in this conclusion to the story.
ThisGirlHasNoName,
Oh, it was odd because I went back to look at your post again and that sentence was gone! I must have quoted it while the edit timer was still going. But by the point my comment edit timer was done so… oops, it stayed! He did look different and thank goodness Sansa cut him off with “Uncle…”
Mango,
This is the perfect end for her. Jaime is toast both in books and series, what’s left for her after that? Honoring him one last time and carrying on with her life: commander of the kingsguard and member of the council.
Long live Brandon the Broken!!!
Mango,
I know right? She should have returned home to rule Tarth. And honestly, Jaime didn’t do anything worth writing in the book anyway.
Er…She’s Lord Commander of the King’s Guard and has a position in the Small Council? There’s literally no higher post for a knight in Westeros?
Yes, he told Missandei his people would protect her people. No one will take someone from Naath as a slave again.
I could be wrong but I think it was meant to come off as Jon being in denial about Dany and absolutely not wanting to be the one to kill her, but deep down, I think he knew Tyrion and Arya are right. Jon seemed to understand when he recited Aemon’s “love is the death of duty” but I don’t think it should have taken that much to wake Jon up to who Daenerys has become, especially when he is so horrified by what she did and opposed to it. That felt… weird. Some odd character choices for Jon this season. I did like the death scene though, I thought it was fittingly tragic.
I think there was a bittersweet tone to it — Arya being free to explore the unknown but leaving her family, Sansa being QITN but being alone, Jon having to kill a loved one but getting to live in the place he wants to be the most. But I also found it odd there were no farewell scenes with Davos/Jon or even another one with Sam/Jon. I did like the good-bye with his siblings though.
But why’s Bronn on the council though?!?
Tyrion had the easy way out. Bran’s assertion that being hand is punishment in itself.. of course not! No matter what he says, Tyrion loves it.
When Sansa asked for independence, I thought everyone else would do the same (why wouldn’t they?) and there will again be 7 different kingdoms. But no one dared do it. At the very least, I expected it from the prince of Dorne, since they were the last ones to bend the knee to the Targaryens. Oh well. Clearly, the show had to have that ending for Sansa and they had no other way to do it?.
I believe there’s an interview before this season where GRRM said the ending for major characters will be the same but the route to the ending may be different. So yes, Bran will be king, Tyrion will be HotK, Jon will go back to the NW, etc.
Thank you for reminding us all how quickly people forget that you’ve helped them enormously in their time of need. Dany saved the North from the Undead then goes on to get rid of Cersei….all at great loss to her own army and loved ones and dragon children. And the thanks she receives….is a dagger in her heart as THE NORTH FORGETS what she’s done for them. How I’d love to have seen the walkers rip Sansa to shreds. Jon was made to look like a pathetic weakling falling for Tyrion’s words. Yay for Bran I guess…the only Stark that didn’t seem to want Dany taken out. Arya comes to king’s landing for one reason…to kill Cersei….and Dany did the job for her. Zero thanks there either. Grey Worm is apparently the only one who understands loyalty and appreciation.
George has literally said in multiple interviews that his ending is based on the LOTR ending?
Poor Brienne? She got the life she always wanted. The first time we meet her, she wants to be in Renly’s kingsguard. Now she is Lord Commander.
GRRM has whatever time he has left to think about it. It’s not like somebody guessing the ending and reacting to it. He’ll have YEARS (I hope) to reflect and work it on out. The broad strokes may be the same, but George strikes me as a man who likes a twist.
There will be several, I’m sure.
Tyrion and Bronn (Master of Coin🙄) don’t give a fuck about that Iron Bank debt lol.
Jymion,
If they were going to make flipping BRAN of all people KING at the end why in the heck did these writers sideline his character so much????? Missing a full season even. Nobody cares about Bran. He’s not EVEN Bran anymore. I read the spoilers and could not believe the sh*t show was coming. Haven’t watched the ep yet as little ones were visiting but was about to turn it on now I don’t even want to.
Jon had to have been in prison for a while, looked like his beard was at least an inch longer.
The entries in The White Book are almost always written posthumously. The White Book is the Kingsguard’s Official History. She didn’t write it for Jaime, she wrote it for posterity and to honour an honourable man. Yes, who she loved.
I actually fell asleep before the episode and woke up 40 minutes in. !! I had to start watching on my phone!! I never missed first airing even once during the entire series until the finale. Crazy!
So, first thought… Jon had to go to the Wall because Grey Worm and the Unsullied wouldn’t allow a pardon? Besides who gives a shit what they want, they fuckin’ left anyway!! Go do whatever you want!
All I wanted to see was Gendry on Arya’s ship. I expected to see him as they panned away from her, but nope. 😕
Where the hell did Drogon go with Daenerys’ body??
So who came out if the story better than starting it or what they would have without anything abnormal happening?
LoL @ Jon/ Dany fanboy/girls nerd raging about their endings. Jon, once again, proves he knows nothing while Dany followed in both her brothers foot steps at being a self-entitled brat. Both their POVs were the least interesting in the books as well.
While Bran’s POV has always been one of my favourites so it will interesting to read his POVs in ADoS.
Clob,
And they left the Dothraki hanging out to dry. Are we to believe they peacefully integrated into Westerosi society and culture?
It’s the Scouring of The Shire, people. Martin has said 41527683 times before he loved that part of the LOTR books and his end wil be based on that.
I can’t imagine what’s in GRRM’s head now. If this is HIS end, then he’s f*ck*d because it seems most people hate it (not me, though). Should he stick to it or change it because of the backlash? I hope not.
She is the heir to her house.
And as King Robert and Tywin repeatedly said – that job is a glorified body guard.
Mango said that, not me.
Steel_Wind,
As I said before, he may fill on the gaps and flesh the story up, but the big strokes are there. If he changes the end now because of the backlash, then THAT will be disappointing. His story, not mine though,
Before this season I thought to myself I wouldn’t read his last 2 books (if they ever come out) since I’d know the ending already. But now, I find myself hoping he’d finish writing those books to see how he’d tie it all up.
Just wanted to say I loved the finale. Wasn’t really sure what to expect, but it really hit most of the notes for me and I loved the ending. It’s been a pleasure my friends. I wish you all good fortune in the shows to come.
He has also said that art is not a democracy. This is his story, not yours, not mine and not anyone else’s.
I don’t know how anyone can say that most people hated it. There would no way to know whether or not that was true. It’s like the media making a big deal out if that stupid petition this week. 1 million people singed, woo hoo. That is roughly 5% or less of the GOT first run audience.
Brienne was emotionally attached to Renly and serving him may have been itself a happy task.
I do not think in S1 – S7 that I have seen her exchange a single word with Bran.
As for the council, I think Tyrion asked about her genitalia in that scene with Bran, did he not? Hmmm.
Would have been cool if she’d accused him of wanting the Throne for himself. Or saying she wished with all her heart she wasn’t his aunt. or expressing regret for killing the children, or even saying she was pregnant. Something other than just…dying.
It was during Robert’s time, but the Kingsguard’s commanders were very important under other kings.
Barristan Selmy was heir to his house as well, but cast it aside to be a knight.
I expected carnage. This just felt too clean and too happy.
What did Brienne write on Jaime’s page in the book of knights? Aside from him fighting with the north in the battle of Winterfell? Saved her? Pushed the “King” out a window? Meh.
I didn’t hate it but it felt way to clean cut. The council is hilarious. The north being independent is just weird. They’re special but the rest you turds have to bow before Bran. It’s just felt cheesy.
Arya and Jon’s goodbye was great! Davos lives! Do they really have to make Edmure look like a hapless turd? Bronn is awesome but he should be dead. Glad Tyrion lived but in the end he proved to be pretty incompetent. It felt very CW tween drama. Lots to love and lots that didn’t fit with the feel of the show.
Glad I spent the seasons drinking it in even when it kind of let me down. Oh well…still lots of fun.
Uh, guys? Jon wasn’t pardoned or hailed as a hero because the Iron Islands and Dorne (and who the fuck was that Dornish guy anyway?) were still loyal to Dany and the Unsullied were still kicking around town. They need to make peace. It was right there in the episode. Literally spelled out.
Personally, I think Jon stayed loyal until it was clear he couldn’t because he felt guilty about the part of him that wanted to be king. In the books, he feels bad about envying Robb and dreaming about being a highborn ruler. It’s too bad this wasn’t conveyed in the show, but I think it’s what’ll happen in the books.
Anyway, Jon mirroring Aemon Targaryen and giving up politics to stay in the north was perfect.
It is a waste of her time. Bran is already the repository of all memory.
Steel_Wind,
I did love that scene, but wondered, with all of the destruction, how did any books escape the flame?
many are comenting about jon being ‘banished’ by GW. GW does not know that sending jon to the wall i not punishment (ever hear of the Briar Patch story?) There is no wall, no need for nightwatch (well, until a thousand years from now when the NK appears again) Jon is just where he wanted to be, and GW leaves town, happy with the thought that he sent a traitor to his death.
This WAS the way George imagined it, silly.
He died in alley serving a mass murderer. Well, I suppose after not even showing discomfort when Rhaella was raped by her husband, right?
He really should have served his house instead.
Brienne is an only child. Selmy may have had siblings.
I’ve loved most of this season, lol. Many fans, media and critics seem to (harshly and some wrongly) hate it, that’s what I meant.
He can do whatever he wants to with his story, of course. I address that in one of my post:
I would be disappointed if he’d changed it because of all this (he’s human after all), but eventually it’s HIS story and we’ll have to deal with it.
Lord of Highgarden :).
Cronyism.
I have no doubt he’s already at work funneling the royal treasury into his own pockets.
ThisGirlHasNoName,
I agree with all of these.
Music and cinematography were superb. Thank God they saved enough money for Ghost. 🙂 That in itself saved the episode for me.
And we wonder how real people in our world can go on supporting tyrants, despots, and war criminals.
There’s your answer, folks.
Mango,
Nope, he had a cousin who inherited his heirloom (and bride), as I suppose Brienne may have.
No matter what’s left for House Tarth, she chose the life of knighthood long ago, just as her great-whateverwaysheisrelatedtohim Dunk did. I respect that you don’t like the outcome, but this was one of the many foreshadowed ends for her.
Steel_Wind,
I saw a ginger girl among the wildlings giving Jon a long forlorn look over, taking his clothes off with her eyes and then smiling at him. If Lady Leslie spotted it, some extra is gonna get a polite rebuttal in Her Majesties Mail delivery.
I quite enjoyed it, but…the part with Bran was all D&D, George knows that in our Medieval era the Lords and Ladies would never select a cripple for a king. Therefore the writers were being PC and picking the special needs creepy starefest Bran, who is absolutely useless. I see this setup lasting 10 years, once the other Kingdoms shore up, it’s all for one, themselves. Edmure will be the first domino.
George,
Maybe so. But the scenes in GOT seemed more of a possible opening (is that woman pregnant? What adventures will Arya encounter?) than a melancholy and uplifting end to a story cycle.
Let me say that thanks to the corporate powers that be (and the silly author) GOT was reduced from an interesting set of novels to a franchise. This is the same problem I had with the Dune novels. As Herbert was dying he decided to leave a nest egg for his offspring and instead of bringing closure to his novels he opened the Dune world up and left them to the mercies of maudlin shlock writers.
What do you have at the end of GOT? A maybe (my idea) pregnant Amazon with a legitimate heir to Westeros. Arya off to do Lewis and Clark in the New World. A weak ruler who cannot rule without the help of power hungry men (really you don’t think so?) A power hungry woman who suddenly decides to put peace over her brother and legitimate ruler? A frozen wasteland where warmth is returning and plants are beginning to grow? Will the dragon return with little bros? HOW MANY FRANCHISES CAN YOU COUNT?
Finally, I will anger everyone and comment on the incredibly poor end season performance of the Queen of Dragons. This actress was adequate for the linear story line at the beginning of the series (good Mother) but failed miserably to project either physically or aurally the complex emotions that where transforming her (young Glenn Close anyone?) I wished Cersei could have done both parts! Everyone else including Arya showed what a professional actor could do with almost less than nothing.
Yes, it was always a possible outcome. It is also a pathetic thing to happen to her.
JSchmeh,
Right. There. Oh, right there with ya.
( My party guests were all pointing at me ’cause I was so worried we wouldn’t get that. And Ser Podrick, too! )
Apollo,
Seems like a real life person in a great position of power right now.
Hmm so I thought it was clear that Tyrion didn’t believe him when he was trying to defend it, and that Jon didn’t really believe it either.
6. 🙂
JasonLong,
If you’re gonna single out Emilia for poor acting, you’ve got to include Sophie in there. She’s easily the weakest acting link the show has produced. Easily.
May I ask why do you think is it pathetic? She gets what she wanted: respect as a knight and as a woman. She’s the highest knight in all 7K. She’s the only woman having a word at the Small Council. She wouldn’t get that being the Lady of Tarth, which is quite an average title and not what she craved.
I don’t know, just trying to see your point. I’m a Brienne fan and couldn’t be more satisfied.
Stark RAven’ Rad,
Jon loved the freedom of the far North
Did he though? I’ve seen many people say this but I can’t remember any times that was portrayed in the show. Can anyone give an example? Thanks!
I agree the part that in the show (and probably books – haven’t read it yet on purpose), but I don’t get why he obeyed Dany when she/they burnt King’s Landing…
I’m just glad Sandor wasn’t alive to have to endure that nonsense.
Che,
From what I remember watching all these years, it’s been DAENERYS saving everyone’s ass twice over, not Jon.
They really destroyed one of the most glorious and beautiful characters of our generations in two episodes. Disgrace of an ending.
ygritte,
I remember him saying he was going South after the mutiny & his murder. Yet he gets sent back to the dreary Wall & Castle Black… Why in the hell would he want to go back there? Why not let him & Arya leave together to go explore west of Westeros? I’d have been happier with that.
I’m wondering if Maesters are now allowed to have spouses and children? Or did Sam just abandon Gilly, little Sam and I don’t know how long the time jump is. The fetus or baby?
I think Bronn on the small council was a show only invention. It just didn’t seem to fit to me.
These are my only real nitpicks of the episode.
I’m glad the Sansa haters are crying impotent tears though. Those that predicted she’d be an Elizabeth I type figure were right! From pawn to player indeed.
I think it was implied in the end that he left the NW as his own choice. He was the only man in black who joined the exodus. What I didn’t like was that he was forced to join the NW in the first place as punishment. So Westeros took Jon for a criminal instead of their “savior”. Bran/Sansa could have easily reversed the sentence once the Unsullied and Dothraki left, but they just went with it. That doesn’t seem to make sense?
Your handle is literally “Ygritte” and you somehow totally missed the fact that his time with Ygritte and the Free Folk was the happiest we’ve ever seen Jon?
Color me perplexed.
She lives out her life as a security guard. It is a job that both King (Bobby) and Hand of the King (Tywin) ridiculed as they both had no real respect for it.
Even with a small house, she has more autonomy and discretion. She has an opportunity to work with smallfolk. She can love and have children if she wishes. A lot of Brienne’s dreams in the book imply that she wanted to marry.
Worse, Bran. Working with Bran. Ughh!
Aegon the IceDragon,
Yes but would he? He seemed quite content to be there, and out of the politics of the country.
Well, I thought the ending was horrendous. I might be in the minority on this site, but not sure I am overall. That felt like I wasted my time investing in this the last 10 years. I don’t see much rewatch value to this anymore either.
I don’t think this series will age well either. It could have been top 3 all time. I think it was going into season 8. I doubt it is anymore.
Hi,
He’s always maintained he won’t change the ending he has planned due to the show’s reception.
Also, it seems, at least to me, that people aren’t necessarily hating the ending, but how the ending came about. That’s my personal feeling. I’ve wanted Dany to go mad since season 3. I just wanted it to happen over multiple seasons, not two episodes. If there had been scenes like with the Tarlys, where instead of giving them a choice to bend the knee or burn, she had simply burned all of them without a choice, her decline would’ve felt more gradual. Everything just seemed rushed here.
The books can fix that. GRRM can still end the books roughly the same way, but with a better build up to the same endings it will all feel more earned than the show.
Mango,
How on earth would you know what working with bran would be like? Geesh
Aegon the IceDragon,
Too true. They were the weakest. Oh for a Melissandre! I did not mention Hempstead because the poor actor’s role is to look cryptic and all-knowing.
People don’t have to love the episode. And people don’t have to hate it. I liked some parts, didn’t like others, and it had nothing to do with what I predicted. Because I have never bothered predicting the ending. My thought was always that what might seem likely to happen either would , wouldn’t, or somewhere in between.
I have no holier-than-thou attitude towards other people’s opinions, though. It’s kind of sad that some seem to. Why? Do you win something? 🙂
I thought Jon’s last scene was beautiful, bittersweet stuff for sure, but after being treated like an insignificant character for most of season 8, I didn’t know what I was supposed to do with it. I found myself trying hard to feel something. Sigh. Same thing with Daenerys dying or Bran becoming king. The endpoints were fine, how the characters got there wasn’t really.
I have been very quiet with my criticism as to the last season, but I don’t see how anyone can defend tonight’s episode or claim that in anyway it was good. From the seemingly long time of characters just walking around silently, to the very cheesy dialogue, to the lack of any decent music (in the finale albeit) to the incredible leaps in logic.
It is now apparent, why George RR Martin never finished the books. It turns out that most of the characters that we have been following were pointless in the end. I think the writers outsmarted themselves by trying to get too cute.
Least favorite parts include –
– the horrible scene between Dany and Jon near the Iron Throne in which it seemed like a YA or children’s author wrote the dialogue. We were laughing at how cheesy it was, until Jon stabbed Dany. After that Jon just walked away and was merely arrested by the head of the guard that just slit Lannister throats? And somehow they kept him alive for who knows how long until everybody else shows up?
– Bran, a character that they have butchered in the show and to a large extent minimized, and who has not been a part of the majority of the show, seemingly ends up on the throne?
– Tyrion is made hand of the king after being a horrible hand of the queen for both Cerisi and Dany? He is forgiven of all crimes by everyone including the unsullied, but yet somehow Jon must pay?
– Extremely cheesy scene at the dragon pit. Bringing Edmure for a quick gag?
– Sansa’s part at the dragon pit, seemed poorly executed. She tells her brother she is going off on her own and he is like “okay”? What would make the other lords want to go along?
– Jon’s family preaches sticking together all season, and they are quick to discard him to the wall. Not only do they send him, despite keeping Tyrion around, he greets them on his way out and doesn’t seem to mind them not protecting him despite the fact that his cousin is King and his sister got away with telling the kingdom that she doesn’t want to be a part of it?
– How do you waste the talents of Ramin Djawadi on the last episode of the series? I’m sure it wasn’t hit fault, as there were way too many silent scenes of characters just wandering around, but why not give the guy another chance to shine and use one of your better assets
It is a shame that the series had to end the way that it did. For a series that was supposed to be different, it ended up being cliche.
I’m starting to think the people that petitioned to redo the last season are on to something. I guess the good news is that George RR Martin will see the nearly universal negative reaction to the end of the series and because he has been so deliberate to finish the books, he will have time to rethink things.
ThisGirlHasNoName,
Ah, yes!! Right! Forgot that bit! Thanks!
We have seen Bran for S1-S8. What do I think it would be like? I never got a sense of his warm personality, his sense of humour, his ability to engage his staff. Would he have interesting guests, travel to interesting places, etc.
The manner in which he spoke and he ended his “use” of Meera suggests that he may not be that great with persons (another woman) that work to protect him. Or do you think Meera was treated well?
Looper,
This. I have not problem with how it ended (well, minor nits like Sansa insisting on independence from her own brother-king). I don’t mind Jaime running back to Cersei or the mad queen or Jon retiring to the north or Arya going west of Westeros or Bran being king.
But I think we could have gotten to this place in a much more logical and emotionally satisfying way.
Sean C.,
Yeah. But I’ve got to hope against hope that maybe this time, he’ll… not?
Terrible is an understatement. And no, I didn’t want him to be the king in the end. That would be too much like The Return of the King. I actually liked that in the end he went with the free folk. So now he’s an escaped criminal. Yey!
But I agree with your sentiments. He’s poorly written this season (and last season too). Before the war with the AotD, his dialogue mostly was a variation of “the dead is coming!”. After the long night, his dialogue consisted mainly of “I don’t want to be king” and “you’re my queen”. Ugh. And yes, Jon of early seasons wouldn’t have needed to be talked into doing something about Dany after seeing the destruction/mass murder she committed.
So, basically, the Starks rule almost the whole continent. Jon has the Far North, Sansa the North, Bran is King of the rest of it. Yet, for all intents and purposes, it looks like Tyrion is king, because, the way I took it, Bran is going to spend a lot of time “finding Drogon,” and such sights. Could be the title of a book, Finding Drogon. My attempt at a joke.
Dany for sure would have had Sansa killed. She was jealous of Sansa from the beginning, then Sansa told Jon’s secret plus she was annoyed when Sansa insisted on knowing what would happen with the North. Jon wasn’t going to let that happen, no matter what.
Sansa must have had the armies marching immediately. Good thing. She’ll be a good Queen. Gray Worm was trying to be loyal to Dany, and I am surprised he didn’t go ahead and kill Jon, but about half-way through listening to all the “most powerful people in Westeros ” he must have thought of Missandei and decided “fuck it, I’m going to Naath.”
Bran saying “Why do you think I came all this way?” was the surprise of the whole thing for me.
Speaking of the “powerful people” who was that sitting next to Sam and who was the guy at the very end of the line? Didn’t recognize either of them.
Overall, good finale.
Till Drogon leaves with Dany, almost perfect. From then on, well…
Didn’t like the lighthearted tone in the dragons pit summit, nor in the Hand’s council. Not a single bit of It Feels out of place, given what just happened, given the issues they are discussing.
On Bran as King: makes certain sense on a characters level decisión, but is incoherent with what has been said to us by Bran himself about him.
The logical political outcome, once the North proclaims secession from the realm (Jon bended the knee) was immediate similar pronouncements by other territories (significantly by Ironborns and Dornish), or strong protest by the loyal realms, which are going to lose sovereignty, having to pay tribute to the crown,etc.
Also It does not seem a very good King one that gets half the territories of his realm wiped out in his very first minute of ruling (even before!!)
Mango,
Brienne is finishing Jaime‘s bio in the White Book of the Kingsguard. While he was alive he was embarrassed that his entry was so short, especially compared to the other Kingsguards, and that his major listed accomplishment was killing his previous king. Since Brienne was at the Small Council meeting, that means she is the commander of Bran’s Kingsguard. As such it is her duty, and an act of affection and friendship, to finish Jaime’s entry for him.
Ash,
He didn’t look content to me. He looked downtrodden & despondent. Castle Black looked frozen & dreary. Looked like it reminded him of the scene of his murder. He perked up a little (very little) when he saw Tormund & Ghost but he still looked miserable to me. Seeing how there’s no Val (wildling princess in the books) or direct topic to Jon being named King Beyond the Wall, then his banishment looked like a punishment and Jon wouldn’t find any happiness beyond the Wall nor politics. If you’re not gonna let him rule, send him with Arya & Ghost & Nymeria.
Mango,
Bobby and Tywin ridiculed everyone who wasn’t like them or remind them of their weaknesses. Besides, Bobby B never ridiculed Barristan. Heck, he admired him enough to save his life at the Trident and make him his Commander. He did despised Jaime, no wonder why though. And they were the exception, as I said many kings had their commanders in high esteem.
Brienne thinks of what would have become of her if she had married and have children, but as a “what if” scenario. The idea may have crossed her mind, but everything she’s done has taken her down the Knight’s path. I don’t see the Maid of Tarth coming back home to settle with a big guy and raise lots of giant kids in the books. As Arya would say, that’s not her. If Martin decides to do it, so it be, of course.
About working with Bran, we don’t know what will be of his reign. He may become the best king ever, helping the smallfolk and so. Or maybe another tyrant. We’ll have to wait for ASOIAF 2: Die with a Revenge to know lol.
As said before, I respect your opinion. It’s just that this is one of the most obvious ends you could find in this story, both in books and TV series. I suspected that, would Brienne survive the war, she’ll be a knight her whole life. Maybe it will be different in the books, but right now I’m happy with it.
I loved Brienne completing Jaime’s entry in The White Book. Bronn got his castle. Now he gets to work for it. 🙂 Ser Pod! Get in line, ladies! Sam coming up with the title. Nice nod. Edmure! Sweetrobin may’ve had some backbone and sense put into him.
I thought the entire sequence with Jon being in extreme denial through his realization that, no matter her dream, the result to achieve it would actually make slaves of them all. Drogon being a character through the end. His choice to burn it. I understand the question, then why doesn’t he stop her after the battle, but his having intelligent will doesn’t mean he was against her wishes. Does he burn the throne because wanting it led his mother west? Does he burn it because no one else should get to take it? A mix of both?
Sansa, first of her name. Queen in the North. A little sad she won’t have Brienne and Arya in her queensguard, but not to the point that I’d change how their stories wrap. I literally, do mean literally, bent the knee during her coronation. I can’t wait for the Game of Threads breakdown of that dress.
Now I know why George can’t finish the books. Bran is 9/10 years old and still living in a tree. And he thinks he can get from that to Bran being “elected” king in 2 books? I’m disappointed by this ending. Bran? Really? He better not turn into an emotionless computer in the books.
Oh well. It will be easier to move on now. Jon is back in the North, resettling the lands beyond the Wall. Hopefully he bumps into Val.
Jaime is dead. It is irrelevant regarding his embarrassment. He cannot now feel better. He has no children to care what his reputation was like, it does not matter.
Plus Bran is already the repository of memory.
If everyone in the country was going to support Jon against Daenerys, why didn’t they support him afterwards? (especially with the Unsullied sailing away) Was Sansa scheming so well that Daenerys thought it was true, even though it wasn’t?
But, Jon is free, and at least chosen by all his people.
And, finally Ghost! Bittersweet after all.
I’m also not sure Bran is a good choice for a king, if he steered everyone to get exactly this outcome…
LoL ..I can say how wrong it is but I guess it doesn’t matter now..
What an utter shit show. Well saves me from wasting my money on the rest of the books. First of all, Dany was right. What we now get is medieval Germany, and what a great place that was. Sansa, utter treasonous cunt that she was gets to rule, really? Arya, who has never given an inkling of being and explorer goes all Christopher Columbus? Would have been better if she went back to Braavos or joined Jon. And Jon, where to begin with the utter pointlessness of Jon Snow. Starting with the most idiotic name ever, Aegon, really? What about all the stupid prophecies about him, nothing? And getting stabbed and he doesn’t get smarter at all? This is the worst lack of character development since Harry Potter 7! And where the heck was Melisandre before she came back north? Jamie going back to Cersei? What about the valonquar prophecy? Oops, sorry? Honestly HBO shouldn’t even bother with more Thrones, I am not even remotely interested anymore. What a waste of 8 years. And Disney should seriously reconsider their hiring. Sure, they already managed to mangle the franchise even more than Lucas did with Episode 1-3 (that takes real talent) but D&D can sure screw it up even more!
Hi,
Well, I am glad you like it.
After the manner in which Bran treated Meera, I am sorry for Brienne.
For me, this is possibly the worse or one of the worse endings for her. Yara, Sansa are both ruling their houses. Arya is off on adventures. Brienne is serving Bran…
In the end, Tyrion became the ruler of the remaining Kingdoms. The dwarf who cast a long shadow:
“When he opened the door, the light from within threw his shadow clear across the yard, and for just a moment Tyrion Lannister stood tall as a king.”
Sure, Bran wears the title but Tyrion is the one that rules with Bran’s complete approval. I am ok with Tyrion ruling. If a King needed to be had and Jon was out of the running then Tyrion was the only other choice. Bran simply facilitated it.
Jon was my favorite character from the very beginning. Most Jon fans knew that we could not expect a happy ending for him, everything in his life had always been manipulated by others. While being exiled felt unfair to the character given all the crap he had already put up with, I am grateful that Jon remain a consistent character. He made many mistakes, he was not smartest or cunning but what he always was, what made him stand out was his decency and selflessness. He is a character that was more often than not led by heart and he never allowed his experiences to taint his soul. He did not come from Ned Stark’s seed but he was the most like him.
I did love that in the end, Jon seemed to finally decide to take his life in his own hands. He left the Wall, he left with people he understood, with people who appreciated him. The boy who was born King, the boy who everyone should have knelt to, became a member of those who do not kneel. He became free – from the burden of his birth, his name, the legacies of both his families. In the novels, he may even have a happy ending with Val. I am going to miss Jon immensely.
Caligula,
No, he knew Jon would tell Daenerys, who would get crazy, burn King’s Landing, force Jon to kill her before Tyrion would be executed, and knew Tyrion would choose him to be their king. But, in this case, Bran is responsible for 1M deaths…
I think Bran skipped the lifespan od 3ER’s in his talk with Tyrion.
Mango,
It was important for Brienne. It made HER feel better. She did it because she needed to close that chapter of her life, honor her one true love, whatever it meant for her.
Dead Jaime or future generations couldn’t care less about what was written on that book, but she did. It’s just that 😉
Mango,
I’m sorry you didn’t, but eh, to each one their own 🙂
I was unknowingly spoiled months ago when it was reported an offshore gambling site had Bran as the odds on favorite to be king. When Tyrion brought him up, I sighed big time. I wonder when D&D learned of this ending? It could explain them wanting to end things sooner. It’s so completely out of left field.
I’m sorry to be terse. They rushed three of these episodes, including the finale. I was certain that this episode was fake, there was some sort of practical joke. That’s actually how I viewed it. And that’s NOT because of the story itself, or the acting, which was superb as always, or George R. R. Martin’s vision. The editing, the adaptation, the pace and rhythm of this whole season was rushed, and sloppy. A full 10 episodes, properly edited, and loved the way it should have been, was simply absent. D & D were in a hurry because of the promise of $$$ and the chance to write for Star Wars. They sold out, and this season suffered because of it.
But, if GW was being true to his character, he would have killed Jon as soon as he learned Jon killed his queen – the queen he loved and was most loyal to. Didn’t he just execute soldiers because they were enemies and his queen told him to kill all her enemies? Isn’t the one who killed her her foremost “enemy”? But for some reason, he just imprisoned Jon…
Steel_Wind,
Wheel of time seconded 🙂
Danny,
That is a beautiful interpretation!! +1! <3
Regarding Jon, one of my favorite characters: he’s never been the most cunning or the coldest guy. Many times in the books/series he’s been driven by his heart, re: deserting the NW to join Robb’s army, and he almost chose Ygritte/the Free Folk over the NW. The things we do for love, love is the death of duty, etc.
Having this in mind, he may have been in denial with Dany because he was madly in love with her, until duty called him back and reality stroke him hard in the face. We’ll see it better in the books because we’ll have access to his thoughts. That’s something the series never had or should have done better.
I heard a rumor that Bloodraven actually warged into Bran during the “Hold the Door” incident. So he basically took over control of Bran’s body. Now if that were true then Bran becoming King makes a lot more sense. Bloodraven (a Targ bastard) was a known schemer who had no problem doing evil things to get what he wanted. Now picture him steering Dany to madness & Jon to killing her thus clearing the way for him, a secret Targaryen, taking the Throne. Maybe we’ll still get something like that in the books. I just find it hard to believe a 12 year old crippled boy will be elected King unless Bloodraven is pulling some serious strings & manipulating things.
Mango,
Give Bran a break. Think about it for a second. The former Three Eye Raven, Brynden Rivers, was an older and hardened man when he was burden with his new job and what it entailed. I am sure Brynden had a lot more time to become the Three Eye Raven and this is why he retained much of his personality even as he became this demi god.
Bran, however was only 11 years old when Brynden came calling. He was only 15/16 when he officially began his Three Eye Raven training and on top of that his training was incomplete and rush due to the imminent attack of the Others. What took Bryden Rivers years to absorb, Bran had to absorb in matter of days and hours. The amount of information that went into his brain pushed Bran Stark to the sunken place, so much so that what you often got was Bran Stark’s body with the memory of deity. What happened to Bran was what happened to Hodor whenever Bran warged him. His treatment of Meera was indeed horrible but it wasn’t Bran who treated her so. Not the Bran she initially met.
I do wonder, and I think the show showed hints of this, if given more time to process and understand, a little bit of Bran comes back into the Three Eye Raven and he is able to regain some of the empathy that was often the mark of the young Stark. Because that is how Bran was always described by Catelyn, the Bran the sweet one.
Well, there ya go folks – No problem for me with the finale 🙂
I thought Jon would end up topping Dany simply from his reactions in Ep5. He could see her madness when she said she would continue and not only to rule Westeros, but the rest of world! Very much like Napoleon or Hitler wanted to achieve.
Never thought Bran would end up as king of the SIX kingdoms, but not surprised Sansa wanted the North to be independent and becoming Queen of the North. As for Arya, she always said she wanted to see what was west of Westeros, so that didn’t surprise me either.
Was nice to see Jon finally got to meet up with Tormund and Ghost again and petted him. Didn’t understand the last scenes with Jon and the Wildlings going north of the wall? Thought they would have stayed at Castle Black.
The small council meeting was interesting. Looked like Sam finally become an arch-maester wearing a chain with a few rings on it? Was good to see Bronn content now he has Highgarden and master of coin. I had a chuckle when he said some money should be allocated on rebuilding/reopening the brothels 😉
I reckon pretty much all the loose ends were tied up? Grey Worm and the Unsullied sailing to the Island of Naath (as he promised he would do for Missandei to protect her people) and presume the Dothraki were going back to Essos?
I’m sure there will be a lot of fans unhappy with the ending, but GRRM said the books (if he ever completes them) will arrive at the same ending… As the Dothraki say, “It is known!” 🙂
This! It was, first and foremost, a punishment to him. Some here were saying it wasn’t but it was to him. He was forced to go back to the place of his murder (although in the books he was murdered outside, right? I can’t remember anymore). Anyway, CB held painful and traumatic memories for him. After his death, he declared “his watch is ended” and then now he’s asked to go start another watch again. But my interpretation of the very last scene was that he escaped with the free folk. At least that’s what I’d like to believe because his character ending exactly where he didn’t want to be anymore is such a bitter ending.
lmao
Unimaginative and copied! Dany addresses her troops looked like same shot of The New Order from the latest lame Star Wars series. The shot of wings behind Daenerys was lifted from Sleepy Hallow and about a million Dracula movies. Way to say a smart determined woman/girl – against all odds, rises up and then snaps because she can’t handle it? Thats what I loved about Cersei always trying to prove she was as smart or something more than her father. Daenerys set the former Slavers Bay cities up to rule themselves…she would have done the same in Westeros. Sansa says the North won’t kneel…but they do to her? Chanting King of the North to Rob, then Jon, now Queen of the North…silly!!! So every. Single. Stark. Kid. Except Arya gets a crack at royalty? And Arya could have married a legitimized Baratheon. The finale wasn’t as bad as I feared but was just such a let down continued from these last 2 seasons.. Will be cancelling HBO in the morning since I have no desire to rewatch the series… all the plot holes never filled and all the nutty or dull arcs.
Martin spoke about Aragorn, but what are then Bran’s tax policies? The series at least, didn’t provide any answer to this. And what was the point of Aegon and Daenerys lerning how to rule if both were not going to anyway? Misleading? Seams very stretched for this.
ash,
Thank you, ash! It’s been an amazing journey, and it’s been an honor to share it with you. We really couldn’t ask for a better community to celebrate this epic story together, could we? I’m so glad that we get to toast the end of this show together, and hopefully to keep the conversation going in the weeks, months, and years to come!
Yup. Some here are saying people are sad/angry/disappointed because 1) their theories didn’t come true or 2) their favorite characters didn’t have a good ending. Nope. Most people I know who are disappointed feel so because of how poorly stories were set up, not because of the ending. So many things not making sense… mostly because of the lack of build-up.
I myself am in an unfamiliar territory as I used to defend this show no matter what… until episode 4. I can’t help but feel like wanting for more? Anyway, I still consider GOT among my top 3 favorite tv series. Nothing can change that.
Hi,
My favourite part of the episode:
Ser Jaime Lannister
Squired for Barriston Selmy against the Kingswood Outlaws. Kinighted and named to the Kingsguard in his sixteenth year for valour in the field: At the sack of Kings Landing, murdered his King Aerys the second at the foot of the Iron Throne:
Pardoned by King Robert Baratheon:
Thereafter known as the Kingslayer:
After the murder of King Joffrey I Baratheon by Tyrion Lannister served under King Tommen I:
Captured in the field at the Whispering Wood: Set free by Lady Catelyn Stark in return for an oath to find and return her two daughters: Lost his hand
Took Riverrun from the Tullys without loss of life:
Lured the Unsullied into attacking Casterly Rock, sacrificing his childhood home in service to a greater strategy.
Outwitted the Targaryen forces to seize Highgarden. Fought at the Battle of the Goldroad bravely, narrowly escaping death by dragon fire.
Pledged himself to the forces of men and rode north to join them at Winterfell, alone. Escaped imprisonment and rode south in an attempt to save the capital from destruction.
Died protecting his Queen.
Ten Bears,
Speaking purely on how it resonated with me emotionally (not taking much analysis into account just yet), 9/10 for me. Almost an ASNAWP, but not quite. 🙂
I loved a lot about the ending, but I think my true feelings will fluctuate and morph the more I think about it.
I’m just so.. saddened by the fact that there is no more Game of Thrones. Whatever faults the series has had in its past and in this season, there will be nothing else like it. This show means the world to me as do its characters, so right now I can only say I loved it and leave it at that until I can formulate more coherent thoughts. 🙂
Took Riverrum from the Tully rebels without loss of life. Lured the Unsulled into attacking Casterly Rock, sacrificing his childhood home in service to a greater strategy.
Outwitted the Targaryen forces to seize Highgarden. Fought at the Battle of the (couldn’t read it) bravely, narrowly escaping death by dragonfire.
Pledged himself to the forces of men and rode north to join them at Winterfell, alone. Faced the Army of the Dead and defended the castle against impossible odds until the death of the Night King. Escaped imprisonment and rode south in an attempt to save the capital from destruction
Died protecting his Queen.
She forgave him for leaving, feeling that she would have been a burden to his spirit, or something like that. Sad that she felt quite so little of herself, but that’s how it goes with some talented women.
You got the whole thing, from both pages. Good. I liked that part very much as well.
You are definitely not the only one who thought that the ending was horrendous (apt description btw).
Bronn as Master of Coin? Bran as King of Westeros???!!! LMFAO
Yeah, I’m glad that I never purchased the DVDs (as I was waiting for the series to finish). And I am glad that I only spent one year on this instead of many years like some fans have.
However, on a positive note, I am genuinely happy that the ending is what some fans were hoping for. 🙂 After all, it was impossible to please everyone.
Also, I thank and respect all of the actors who worked very hard this season, and it shows! I will always cherish certain scenes and character interactions. Thank goodness for YouTube!
Can I tell you when I wipe away the tears, stop checking my fridge every 5 minutes for something sweet to eat, and stop pacing around saying “Thank the gods, at least _____ is alive.”? Bittersweet indeed, Ten Bears, very bittersweet, BUT at least there WAS some sweetness.
The Queen we Chose,
agreed i will be signing the change.org petition to ask for new writers. not that i expect it to happen but want to add a voice to the protest of this. sad for starwars future too. thanks wow and goodbye
I dont understand your frustration. Like most here Ive been invested in this show for years and I thought this was a great ending. I didn’t like Jon defending Dany to Tyrion but he calls her out strongly before he kills her.
I was satisfied with how it all played out even though I wanted Jon to rule. Bran was the obvious choice with the council.
People pissed need to reevaluate themselves.
Pissed-off Drogon, rising to his full height over Dany’s body, bellowing in pain and anger, was a bit of perfection. Must say.
Agree.
Tyjon,
You’re wrong, of course. The Christian King of Jerusalem was a leper and a cripple, and he was chosen. And we’re seeing the dawn of a new age, which is likely modeled on a post-medieval era.
Sam,
Just finished my rewatch and I agree that he escaped with the freefolk just as Tormund foreshadowed in an earlier episode. There was a direct call back to the very first episode opening scene of season 1 as the gates opened. Lots I loved about the sweet part of the ending. I still have trouble with how they skip right to Tyrion and the dragonpit and it really doesn’t make sense that GW would let Jon live. I think they missed an opportunity to have Jon have a huge fight with GW and beat GW. Why not have a little drama in the finale? Anyway I will ponder what could have been with a few stories but overall it was a nice ending. More sweet than bitter unless you were a Dany follower. Danys mistake (besides burning them all) was she still held out hope Jon would be with her. I thought she gave up on that idea but she seemed to want him with her again this episode. If she was playing the game she would have had him executed. Cersei would have. Guess that is all for tonight.
UltimateShipper,
Here’s my take – the point of Daenerys and Jon “learning” how to rule is that one did and one didn’t. Daenerys for all the practice she was set up with, never learned how to rule. She knew how to conquer but the ruling part escaped her. In the end, this was her undoing. Daenerys was completely aware of her advantages over those she wanted to subjugate and she figured her numbers and particular weapons would be enough to cower all into submission. She thought as a conqueror. A good ruler would have understood that compromises, even bitter ones, could have assured her of a true victory.
Jon, didn’t end up King of any of the kingdoms but where it not for his knowledge of ruling, he would have never secured the alliances that allow the living to withstood the Others. Jon didn’t win the fight against the others but his actions as ruler ensured that the fight was won. Part of being a good ruler is doing the right thing, no matter what:
Aemon: If the day should ever come when your lord father was forced to choose between honor on the one hand and those he loves on the other, what would he do?
Jon: He would do whatever was right, no matter what.
Aemon: Then Lord Stark is one man in 10,000.
Lord Snow was indeed one man in 10,000.
Tron79,
One other thing. I loved when Arya just appeared next to Jon out of nowhere. (Just like in the godswood) She does have that sneaking up thing down pat.
Just got done watching. I admit, enjoyed it more than I thought I would after reading the bullet points in print. No matter how it ended we’d always be sad to some degree for sure. Jon Snow King beyond the wall. Did not see that coming. I think he’s happy. I hope he is. I noticed a slight smile on his face at the end. I love you Jon and so glad you are still among the living! His petting Ghost looked so fake though. Now we know why they didn’t have the two interact much. How can they make dragon and the petting thereof look so real but CGI don’t work on a dog? LOL. Off to read some comments of other Watchers.
Ned doesn’t do that though, does he? He totally chooses the wellbeing of Sansa (and Arya? Can’t remember) over honor when he agrees to say that false confession and go to the Night’s Watch all the way back at the end of Season One. Not a criticism, just an observation!
The Queen we Chose,
Of course they kneel to Sansa. You do understand that the Starks were the Kings in the North for 8,000 years before Aegon the Conqueror decided to take over Westeros, right? Thorren Stark only bent the knee to spare his people destruction by dragons. The Northern lords with the exception of the Boltons always favored the Starks, they were content to be ruled by Starks. They would kneel to Robb, Jon, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon because Stark blood runs through their veins. They knelt to Sansa because she was the Stark in Winterfell, Sansa even mentions this to Jon – they would have still had him as King, with her full approval, knowing his true heritage, if not for the compromises made at the council.
J,
Right, but I included the quote because that is what Jon believed the most honorable man he ever met would do. Jon believed that that was the correct course of action, doing what was right no matter what. And in the end, despite the personal cost, despite the ripping of his soul, Jon Snow, the truly most honorable main character in the series did what he thought an honorable man would do – the right thing.
And thus ends what promised to be the greatest TV show of all time, betrayed and raped by the very creators who started it. Good luck for HBO with its spin-offs after what they did here. And long may WoTW reign with the spin-offs. I am done with GoT forever. My watch has ended.
Danny,
Yeah, pretty much as you said.
Still don’t like Bran as the King though.
And we still lack any policy about Bran’s rule.
At least that one was a book promise, not series’s.
But Howland Reed absence feels reaaaaly bad. Also Meera. And Nymeria. And Hot Pie. I don’t get why Bronn but no Hot Pie. He needs to be made Royal Cook ASAP!!!
Jack Nabble,
TO THE MODERATORS:
YOU CENSORED MY COMMENT IN RESPOND TO THIS MOTHERFUCKER (which I understand), BUT DIDN’T REMOVE HIS COMMENT??????????
FUCK YOU ALL
TO THE MODERATORS:
YOU CENSORED MY COMMENT IN RESPOND TO THIS MOTHERFUCKER (which I understand), BUT DIDN’T REMOVE HIS COMMENT??????????
FUCK YOU ALL
Bah. Feel free to love the episode or hate it, but don’t dismiss people’s right to their own opinion or the validity of it. That tactic is the last resort of trolls who have no arrows left in their quiver.
On a lighter note –
‘Game Of Thrones’ Viewers Reeling After Finale Unexpectedly Kills Off Fan
https://entertainment.theonion.com/game-of-thrones-viewers-reeling-after-finale-unexpect-1819580245
HotPie2112,
I think your response and others who have expressed the same sentiment is an ignorant and uninformed cop out. If you think Dan and Dave simply a sold out and threw the season away you are a fool. There was no way they were going to end this story and make everyone happy. Unless they come out in 6 months or year and say “yes we just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible and we half assed our way through it” then I refuse to accept that as an answer.
Aside from a few things here and there regarding pacing I honestly thoroughly enjoyed the season and I thought the ending was well put together all things considered.
Oh spare me. People bitching for the sake of bitching arent above being called out. Im the troll? That’s rich…
Lol! NOOOOO not Spencer!!!!
Well at least I did saw Jaime one last time..I had hope.
overall I like the episode but I would have wish for something less visual and more like episode 2 with a lot of talk and hanging around with people that like each other. D&D choose a more visual story-ending, and knew the music will serve it well but somehow I wished a bit more.. maybe because it is goodbye with the characters.
I guess we just need to wait for the book to know more…that could be a long night coming 🙁
Who would have though of Bran?!
but at the hand it maybe make some sense, as he doesn’t want anymore so he can only make wise decision? Why do I get the feeling that when Bran ‘punishes’ Tyrion and Jon, it is not a punishment. I think he knows who they are and give to them what they deserve. Tyrion was not a good hand for Daenarys but when he replaced Tywin, Varys was praising his work. I think Bran knows that Tyrion can be a good hand, which is almost like being king. Which might explain the amount of screen time he got on the last episode. Acting was amazing as usual for Peter. I just love the scene with the chairs before the council meeting to remind us of another time.
Jon go to the Night watch, or maybe not.., he can do what he wants, nobody is there to check on him, so he goes North of the Wall, very happy about that I think the only time we have seen Jon smile was behind the wall (s2-3) or when he was with his family. Ghost is back!! yes, thanks for that. and it is very discreet but when the door of the wall finally closed Jon is smiling. So I think Bran helped his brother to be where he belongs. I just wish we could have had a big hug from Tormund or a nice joke. And both man and Tormund could see the North in Jon.
Sansa is queen!, not very surprising, I just wish for the final episode that they could have make her more warm by giving her more dialogs. but this season she had beautiful moments and I love the development and the way the actress portrayed it in season8.
Arya, we knew where a girl wanted to go since season 5(?) so no surprise.. also I was thinking Gendry could have been with her. Love that she is embracing her Stark roots and the departure with Jon was very moving, what a great actress too.
Brienne, brilliant she is the Lord commander, on her plaster there is a crow, it reminded me of the cover of the dvd of season 4. I love that we saw her completing the page of Jaime, a very honourable knight.
Bronn did got his castle and a few other things 😉 well the debt is paid.
very funny to see Sam staying at KL, I did not know what to expect for his ending. I suspect he will rewrite the book to include Tyrion storyline 😀
I guess the surprising part was that no more lords wanted their kingdoms-region free. but as previous saison Lord Bolton explained the North is very big wide region so maybe it makes sense and the North sacrificed a lot…I get I can accept that.
I still think an extra episode with nice dialogs would have help to see the new life being build and make us say a proper good bye to the characters and actors.
Not sure if I should say that now our watch begins to wait to read the last books? 😉
Sam,
I agree with you, I always like Jon character a lot, but I feel like this season they gave him less (good) dialogs, I guess we know why now that the season is complete, they need the ‘time’ to develop the others characters (that is why Cercei get less screen time too) but nevertheless I feel disappointed not by his ending but more by the journey. The writers make him sounds like a puppet following his queen, it will be nice to read the book to get the inside mind of the character, but I think the actor was left we only very small chance to display by body language what was going on. which he did well.
So, now apparently fans have spotted forgotten water bottles on the ground during the dragonpit scene (lurking behind people’s feet and chairs).
Like no one thought to pick them up before shooting?
One coffee cup was (mostly) understandable and easy to look past, but again? Sloppy.
Jon Snowed,
Oh, I just cried into my Scotch.
Thank you. I cannot express in words what all of you, what this world, are to me.
mariamb,
Well, you certainly called THAT one!!!
Danny,
As Jon said, the House words don’t imply who someone is. Similarly, it’s very much fantasy cliche to believe that a drop of the “Stark blood” would lead to better rulers.
Rodent,
💜💜💜
Probably the most disappointing aspect of this show to me is how that spoiled little bitch Sansa gets away with being ruler of the North. I always hated her even more than Catelyn. Remember the one who had no problem selling her least favorite !prepubescent! child to the Freys who would have destroyed her. The one who along with her idiot airhead of a daughter started the whole war. That one…
Sansa was worse than Cersei who only wanted Tyrion dead because of Prophecy (let‘s recall that Kevan gets killed by Varys in Canon). Sansa on the other hand had no problem contemplating to have Arya killed to preserve her power, gave up Rickon for dead without even trying and was willing sacrifice Jon so she could swoop in like a hero with the knights of the Vale. Brandon would have gotten his in some way as well I am sure. Now all those pesky siblings are out of the way and she can rule supreme. That‘s probably the most disgusting aspect of the show… aside from the fact Dany was right. Unless all the damn „nobles“ are wiped out the people can never be free…
ash,
💕
I miss ACME!!! I hope she’s doing well.
Jared,
You are one of my favorite commenters here—so thoughtful, intelligent, and positive. If you’re st Con, I look forward to meeting you.
Ser Brocolli McBrocolliface,
Am I the only one here who thinks maybe Jon said those things because he was afraid of who might be ease dropping? Also why are people stuck on his ‘punishment’? GW may have thought it was, but like the rabbit in the briar patch, Jon was right where he wanted to be.
After a few hours of letting it all settle, I am satisfied with the ending, even tho all I could think was milquetoast the last 20 minutes or so.. They tied up loose ends but the ends themselves were rather lame and week. BTW why was there no Jon/Sam goodbye? And why did Sam sound like he was back with his father, afraid to speak? He killed a white walker, he is now lord of his family’s castle. He should have come across as confident and sure. Also, no Gilly or little sam? Ah well, its done, its over. D&;D can go back to their lives. And the show is still one of the best in all of tv history, and the books are still among my fav lifetime reads. I am very grateful for all of the people involved in its making. I plan to spend time rewatching it all again, and perhaps a reread this summer.
Thronetender,
His nudging her body….I could almost hear him say, mom, mom, wake up, you have to get up…..
Bran! Great finale!
It was fine. Maybe 7,5. She didn’t dominate like she did in Eps 3 and 5, but had good moments, some emotional, including a few scenes with Jon. She had more screentime than Sansa, You could tell she was no longer the assassin, but a sober, mature, commanding version of young Arya: fiercely protective of family, perceptive, and hopeful for the future. She sure put Yara in her place. A montage at the end showed our four Starks moving forward, metaphorically AND literally, into a future they embraced. She is now ASNAWP the Explorer, and she is sailing west ike Queen Nymeria, but on her own Stark ship with her own crew-pack. Ned, Syrio, Beric, Jaqen and especially Sandor would be proud.
Side note: She and Gendry did not talk, but sadly you realised that he was not worthy of her. He has his lordship to keep him warm. Oh, and take a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZVuY7qXNoI
Does anyone think Sam’s suggestion about democracy and the response from the other lords a quip on fan’s wanting a different ending?
Jon was kind of Dopey all season, wasn’t he?
Why would he need help deciding to take Dany’s life after what he saw with his own eyes? Then just tell everyone and stand around to get captured? I mean, where’d all his self-survival skills go? He just waited around to be caught and tried and executed?
No. If I wrote the ending, he would never admitted to killing her. Then he’d have claimed the throne (as the right thing to do after killing her!). Which fits the story arcs and prophecies quite a bit better.
And if D&D wanted Sam to end up as maester all along, they shouldn’t have already married him to Gilly and have children… nor have wiped out his brother. Geesh! Because leaving his castle and family to serve KL as maester is also not a move Sam would do.
Thronetender,
I believe they mentioned a 3 week time span
I would imagine he could face legal action if he changed the story dramatically given he sold the rights to HBO. I am sure some of the details will differ though.
ash,
Reminded me of Littlefoot and his mom from Land Before Time 🙁
From what I have seen the response from critics and fans has been overwhelmingly positive so you appear to be in a small minority of the fandom. I feel sad you didn’t enjoy it because there is unlikely to be a bigger or better TV show for many years. I also rate it ahead of Sopranos and breaking bad as the greatest of all time.
This site had an article where Bran was shown as favourite for the throne something must have leaked yet there were no spoilers coming out from what I am aware at least until the season aired.
It was all over the Internet that Bran would become King. Even I knew that – and I am never well informed about TV.
The entire details of the last episodes were on the Internet for quite some time. I noticed as I paid attention to the death of Jaime. The only thing unclear was the fate of Brienne – so at least I had that to find out.
Jon Snowed,
Maybe people that knew by working with GOT were betting. They may not have disclosed the end but they were trying to make s bit of money. Then informed observers in the market saw the direction of these bets and told their friends to bet the same way.
Danny,
Jon’s ability to judge people was so bad that he joined a mass murderer in attacking a city. He and Tyrion should have been executed by the citizens of Westeros.
Chilli,
Are you a writer for the show? d.b.weiss maybe? everything you wrote came to pass
I deliberately tried to avoid all spoilers this season so I wasn’t aware of that. From what I knew from friends the only spoilers came from episodes leaking early although I did see Friki Doctor claiming on twitter he knew filmed at the dragon pit scenes.
Agree I wonder if bookies will pay out larger bets because of this though? In the UK bookies have been known to not pay out in similar circumstances.
BericD,
Great post.
If this is Martin’s basic ending, this makes for terrible television. This makes viewers feel like their investment in watching doesn’t mean anything. Benioff and Weiss should have taken more time developing this ending, or wrote an unique ending just for the TV universe and let Martin do what he wants in his future books.
I thought Lion King with his dad…
Jon Snowed,
I didn’t know it either since it wasn’t mentioned here on WOTW and neither in all the press articles that I read.
Direcat,
That definitely works as well. All the feels…
Jon was the only man in black in the whole damned Castle Black. Everyone who was at Castle Black were from the Free Folk. The camera shows us this as Jon arrives. What was left of the Night’s Watch left the Wall to return to Winterfell before the final battle. Jon orders them to do so at the beginning of S8E1.
The two men who brought Jon to Castle Black were the two who closed the gate behind them. There is no “Night’s Watch” anymore. Nor, if this ending is to be believed, any reason the “Six” Kingdoms would bother to send criminal north to the Wall. And no good reason the “Six” Kingdoms would pay to feed them anymore, either.
Direcat,
me too.
Raenarys,
and that one too…
The dragon CGI was magical, tho I know it took much more work than that. To see this animated creature mourn and act as any human would was heart breaking, and for a moment made me forget he wasn’t real. Incredible. Thanks to whoever was involved in making this possible.
But why did Jon tell Arya she could come see him at CB? It was implied that the NW “still exists” as a place for “bastards and broken men”, as Tyrion said. So, they could always send new men there – such as criminals like Jon. Tyrion also implied he maybe would visit him in CB someday? I don’t know, maybe I interpreted the scenes and dialogues incorrectly.
The free folk were there temporarily. Tormund told Jon when they said goodbyes in e4 that he’d bring his people to CB to ride out the winter and then they would all go back to the real north.
Anyway, my take of Jon’s ending was that he was indeed sent to serve the NW again as punishment. (Sansa told him she wished there was another way.) Tyrion was clear about what that meant – no title, no land, no wife, no children, and he genuinely looked sad and sorry for Jon in that scene. Jon looked unhappy about it (he left that damn place because he was murdered there!) but accepted his fate. The last scene I hope meant he decided never to come back, making him choose his own fate for once. I’d be happy if that’s the case. A fugitive Jon, abandoning his duty in the end.
Olli,
But that completely ignores who he is as a character. Jon Snow has been the most consistent of characters in the entire series. He begins the series by sacrificing himself – there are five pups, you have five true born children. They were meant to have them- for the benefit of his siblings. Bran acknowledges this in his POV, he says that the only reason why his lord father allowed them to keep the pups was because of Jon’s self sacrifice.
Then at the Wall – Jon admits to sleeping with a wildling when he didn’t have to. He owns his “sins” and “crimes.” Again at the Wall, Jon is willing to sacrifice himself in order to kill Mance.
Jon truly loved Dany, he didn’t want to kill her. He tried and tried to give her an out, to reach out, to reason with her. But then Dany, blinded by her own vision, only confirmed Tyrion’s trepidation and then Jon understood he needed to do what was right. But for someone as honorable as Jon, the right thing was also to admit to his actions and face the consequences. The way I see it is that Jon was the King the kingdoms needed but not the one they deserved.
Well this at least is a good piece of news to ponder. Though the writers didn’t clear it up, this means that Bran knew he was consigning Jon to the fate he wanted the most, life beyond the wall and away from the politics. The Unsullied and Dothraki would not have known, and were fooled into thinking Jon was banished and punished. He actually was rewarded with what he wanted.
I could see writing a continuance of the stories. Jon is called back to Westeros when he’s older, wiser and learned some powerful magic (and long since acquitted of crimes and now a legend of epic hero myth. He was saved by LOL and that becomes finally relevant! Bran has passed and the land is in turmoil once again with conniving lords. Arya returns with news that maps further west and stories to share, only to find she is needed to defend her homeland. Unsullied build up a large military on Naarth and have begun to spread to Essos, threatening stability. Dothraki are closing in from their grasslands, still allies with Unsullied.
I’m writing it in my head and now I’m happier with the present ending. Thanks for that piece about Jon being sent to where Bran knew there’s actually no night’s watch!
He also knew he was the rightful king and the kingdom needed a king. He could not have foreseen Bran being anointed and with the land in crises, he would have needed to claim the throne to protect the people… immediately, same as he served to protect Mance for the good of the land. Because his death for her death should have ended in disaster, with the slaughter of the remaining Westerosi by the Unsullied and Dothraki.
That was more realistic than the council meeting and armies leaving peacefully without avenging their queen. GW was the commander of all armies, he was on the warpath. Jon would have seen all that as it was the state of affairs in the moment he killed Dany. And then acted quickly to claim throne to save his people. That’s the sacrifice more logical, in my mind, for Jon to make. Keeping his guilt to himself and then sharing with advisors later. No one saw him kill her. He should have freed Tyrion and got his advise on how to clean it up.
Sure we got the storybook ending with a council meeting and Unsullied being ok. It’s just didn’t fit the current crises.
And now our watch is ended.
This is funny, exactly what I was thinking, a rolling throne a-la pope mobile.
Sam,
You got it wrong.
Jon was smiling as the gate closed behind him knowing he is where he belongs. He packed all his belongings and goes out to live with Tormund, Ghost and the rest of the Wildings. He choose at the Castle Black where he wants to be and that echoes what Tormund said to him. No reason to ride out with Wildlings, Tormund, and Ghost unless he’s joining them.
Gates closing behind him is very symbolic and goes back to S01E01 opening scene.
Ummmmmm- no. I’m saying lightbringer is peace and democracy itself. It never was a sword.
The only question I have is, what do we do now?
OBVIOUSLY a few years down the line, Jon Snow will be pardoned and invited back to the North. Not sure he would want to. but he will for sure be pardoned.
you speak from my heart. another comment mentioned the lack of respect to the fans this ending showed. let me quote an expert on this:
“fuck the fans!” (Sandor Clegane, expert)
by now, a million of fans might have signed the dumbest petition of all times: “remake it, remake it, remake it the way we like it! everything before was fan service and dumber than we are…”
i don’t even want to think about how many people have signed (anyway useless) petitions on important issues. things that really matter like, gun control, separation of church and state, minority rights, climate change and and and…
i’m afraid the FoW, the Farts of Whining, will dominate the internet for a while. and this says something about our culture and what has become of it. it says nothing good.
i’m also one of those old boring farts who grew up with non-interactive stories. if i didn’t like a story, i had to re-read it in order to find points i missed. if i watched a movie and wasn’t ok with the ending – well fuck, the movie told another story than i wished it would be telling.
stories are supposed to make us use our brains. that’s why glorious homo sapien invented them. we don’t understand something in a story? fuck, let’s send our brains to work. how else could more than three people have ever been reading more than three words of James Joyce’s “Ulysses”? and how else could Homer’s epos from back then even have become an inspiration for Joyce’s avalanche of words?
it seems to me that today’s reception of art tends to be even more consume-oriented than ever. “give me a brilliant story, thrill the living shit out of me, and make sure i don’t have to invest second or even third thoughts after the final credits!” something like this. and of course the most important one, the reigning champion of whinings: “bring it to an end from where on i don’t need to invest too much imagination. cause there’s a bunch of other stories on tv right now i have to follow!”
people don’t focus on stories anymore, it seems. like in “discussions” on facebook, people don’t argue into the depth – they what-about a field as large as possible. the flood of predictions, certain proofs of blabla and other dumbness this wonderful show made the dumbnet come around with are just a display of lots of people not being able to get a story told to them.
and that’s homo sapien losing one of their basic skills.
And thank you Jared for your always positive, serene and well-thought posts.
I loved this episode, I loved this season, I love GoT. I don’t think I’ll love another show as much as GoT either.
Thank you Sue and the WoW team, I hope you keep this site / community running with the prequel.
<3 from France
Hopefully in the books, if GRRM ever finishes them, Bran will play a larger role in the outcome, making him worthy of the role he wins in the end.
Omg I loved this ending!!! My Starks all survived and it was all about the Starks in the end!!! Woooooooooow
I just watched it so I need time to write proper thoughts. Bitter sweet was exactly what it was.
Olli,
“Arya returns with news that maps further west and stories to share, only to find she is needed to defend her homeland.”
______
Arya found a map shop?
Just to make sure I get your argument right, you are saying that people don’t think enough about art, but “F%ck” the fans that thought that the art form was sloppy, rushed, illogical and nonsensical? I totally get that some fans enjoyed the ending, but some people liked Momma Mia 2. I think the problem that most people had with the last season was that it was poorly written and executed. It felt like the writers were trying to rush to make a blockbuster type ending that would please people instead of staying true to the story. And by the way, because you are into evaluating art, what exactly did you take from the 9 plus years of the show that was original or unique?
let me put my “fuck the fans!” into the context i meant it to have:
>>you speak from my heart. another comment mentioned the lack of respect to the fans this ending showed. let me quote an expert on this:
“fuck the fans!” (Sandor Clegane, expert)
by now, a million of fans might have signed the dumbest petition of all times: “remake it, remake it, remake it the way we like it! everything before was fan service and dumber than we are…”<<
i did not give a middlefinger to fans who don’t like the outcome or certain characters were treated. criticism of a show or any other creative output is a good thing. it can show that people go deep into the story and think about. most criticism on WotW is that way and i loved following so many interesting debates that resulted from that.
but the attitudes i highlighted above have nothing to do with in depth criticism. they have more to do with what you (if i understand right) feel about the way D&D wrapped it: “It felt like the writers were trying to rush to make a blockbuster type ending that would please people (…)”
that would have been exactly what the petitioners and “respect the fans”-folks would like, and i may be completely wrong about this…
i saw lots of logic bloopers in the story, but also the story had lots of logic others had to rub my nose in. what i loved more and more throughout the years is that making even the dumbest mistakes is part of the persona of the characters. and hell, do heroes and villains make some dumb mistakes throughout the show. i think most of the character developments were brought over pretty good.
“you learn fast.” (Sandor Clegane to Arya)
“i’m a slow learner.” (Sansa to Littlefinger)
“you know nothing.” (everyone to Jon)
“i’ll wait with the learning until the final episodes.” (Jon)
the last one is of course made up, but it’s expressing why i love even the characters who made many people facepalm and headdesk so many times: they needed to get the bloody tragedy they were in explained to them by someone with an outside view. that makes them so much all of us, i think. some of them finally listen and understand, some don’t.
from this back to my pissing the legs of petitioners: what the hell is to rewrite there? which mistakes of which characters should the witers have sailed around? and how boring would a show full of perfect characters be?
i hope i could clarify my point a bit. so here, besides the actual sensation the series was in most episodes, here’s the one i take away from it as the actual jewel: Drogon melting the throne, the source of all this evil. this opens a completely new game, and the winner is a broken man on a throne with wheels. i really loved this!
Here is the future of Westeros. This is pretty cool. Apparently this fan trailer came out in 2017 but it’s well done. It’s a trailer for a series called Westeros that takes place in some future time. The speech is given by Prime Minister Lannister. LOL!!! Sign me up for this show.
Gator5000e,
I saw this a while back as well. I loved it!
I take issue with all the people that says the finale was rushed. How much more set-up do you need? They spent seven seasons getting all the people to where they were at the end. It was not like they could open new story arcs that could last for multiple episodes. No they had to wrap things up and show what finally happens at the culmination of everything that went before.
To me the only disappointment was that the series had to end at all. If the show runners did not want to continue then why not just get new show runners? Surely there could not have been a shortage of talented people willing to take it on. Did D&D have some kind of exclusive rights to the material?
As for spin offs they had better be beware there is no guarantee that they will be successful. Lots of shows are just able to hit on the right cast like GoT and people love it. Get another cast and you never know.
It’s not just about the show runners though. All of the actors would have to continue reprising the same roles year after year, which is almost impossible to expect or to make happen. Especially with how many other doors have opened up for them because of GoT.
As you said, “get another cast and you never know”. I would hate to see GoT continue with different actors. Can you imagine someone else playing Tyrion or someone else playing Jon Snow?