How It Should Have Ended Game Of Thrones

How It Should Have Ended Game of Thrones

Alright, let’s talk about it. We all loved Game of Thrones, right? The epic battles, the dragons, the scheming – it was amazing! But that ending? Well, let’s just say it left a lot of us feeling like we’d been served a cold bowl of disappointment. Instead of dragons and a powerful queen, we got… Bran the Broken? So, let’s dive into how the show could have, and arguably should have, ended. We’re not talking about small tweaks here; we’re talking about a full-on rewrite of the final season, focusing on making it all make sense and leave us satisfied.

The Problem With Season 8

Before we can fix it, we need to understand what went wrong. Season 8 felt rushed, characters made choices that didn’t fit with their established personalities, and plot threads that were carefully woven for years were suddenly dropped or tied up in unsatisfying ways. Let’s break down some key issues:

Daenerys’s Descent into Madness

One of the biggest criticisms is how quickly Daenerys Targaryen went from a (mostly) benevolent leader to a tyrant who burned down King’s Landing. It felt like her character did a complete 180 with little to no buildup. The show tried to convince us she was losing it, but they didn’t give us enough reasons to believe it. Instead of a carefully crafted slow burn, it was more like someone flipped a switch. This made her actions feel out of character and made her arc feel incredibly rushed.

The Night King’s Anti-Climactic Defeat

Remember all the years we spent dreading the White Walkers and the Night King? The ancient evil that threatened to wipe out all of humanity? He got taken down by Arya Stark with a single leap and a dagger to the chest. That’s it? After all that build-up? This felt like a massive letdown and made all the previous episodes focused on the White Walkers seem almost pointless. The battle felt too short, and the resolution was far too simple for such a significant threat.

Bran The Broken on the Iron Throne

Let’s be honest, Bran becoming king was baffling. He spent the last few seasons being the Three-Eyed Raven, mostly zoning out and delivering cryptic messages. He didn’t campaign for the job, he didn’t want it, and he certainly wasn’t the most engaging character. Having him rule Westeros made very little sense given his lack of interest and leadership abilities. It’s like choosing a librarian to lead a cavalry charge. He was a fascinating mystical character, but not a great choice for king.

Lack of Logical Character Arcs

Many characters’ storylines simply didn’t add up. Jaime Lannister going back to Cersei after all his development felt like a major betrayal of his growth. Jon Snow, the rightful heir to the throne, ends up back at the Wall – almost as if the show writers couldn’t think of anything else to do with him. These decisions left many viewers scratching their heads and feeling like the showrunners had forgotten all the character development that happened before.

A Better Path for Daenerys

Instead of having Daenerys suddenly become a villain, let’s imagine a more nuanced approach. She could still be driven by ambition and her desire to break the wheel, but with a more carefully developed descent. It could be that the stress of her position, the betrayals she faces, and the loss of her loved ones gradually push her toward extreme measures.

Gradual Shift, Not Sudden Breakdown

Daenerys could slowly become more ruthless over time. Perhaps she begins to favor force over diplomacy. Instead of burning King’s Landing to the ground, she could issue harsh rulings or order executions of perceived enemies. We would still see the potential for her to go too far, but her descent would come across as more believable, more earned. We could see the lines between her justice and cruelty blur, making her actions more tragic and less random.

The Weight of Leadership

The show could spend more time depicting the actual challenges of leading Westeros. The constant rebellions, political infighting, and the sheer weight of responsibility could wear her down and push her to make difficult choices. Imagine episodes that explored the logistics of feeding the population, dealing with trade, and managing various conflicts, instead of just having people blindly follow her because she has dragons. These pressures could reasonably change someone and allow us to believe her change, and still keep her from being a one-dimensional villain.

Compelling Internal Conflicts

Show us Daenerys grappling with her own morality. The show could delve into her internal conflicts about her family history and her sense of duty versus her desire for power. This approach would be so much better than just letting her suddenly go from hero to villain. We could see her battling her own inner demons and struggling with the darkness of her past, making her character arc more profound and poignant.

A More Epic Night King Battle

The Night King was built up for years as the ultimate threat, so his defeat should have been more substantial and significant. Let’s make his demise a more involved process instead of a single stab in the chest.

A Multi-Front War

The battle against the White Walkers shouldn’t have been confined to Winterfell. Instead, imagine a war spanning multiple locations, with different armies engaging the wights on different fronts. This would showcase the scope of the threat and make the victory feel more significant. We could see smaller battles across the land, emphasizing how this was not just a problem for one area of Westeros.

A Deeper Lore

The show could have delved more into the lore surrounding the Night King and the White Walkers, giving the audience a better understanding of their motivations and weaknesses. Perhaps a forgotten piece of history, or an ancient artifact, is needed to defeat them. This could also bring in other storylines, giving more value to the world that was built up around Game of Thrones. Maybe we could see a deeper connection between Bran and the Night King’s origins, giving his storyline more of a purpose beyond just being a mystical know-it-all.

A Hard-Won Victory

Instead of a simple kill, the defeat of the Night King could be a multi-stage process, requiring a combination of strategies and sacrifices. Perhaps a powerful magical weapon needs to be created, requiring a joint effort from all the surviving factions of Westeros. Maybe they need to combine Valyrian steel with the power of the dragons. The battle should be a real struggle, and not just over in a few minutes. The hard-won victory would feel more rewarding and give the heroes more legitimacy.

A Throne With a Worthier Heir

Let’s be honest, Bran as king made no sense. There were many other options that would have been more compelling and satisfying.

Jon Snow: The Reluctant Leader

Jon Snow had more claim to the throne, both by birthright and by his proven leadership throughout the series. He could be reluctant to take the throne, but he would make a much more compelling leader than Bran. Jon could have a much more interesting journey as king. He could balance the power of different houses and create a lasting peace. Imagine a situation where the show builds up his leadership qualities, so his ascension to the throne feels natural and earned.

Sansa Stark: A Ruler by Experience

Sansa Stark, who had proven her political skills as the Lady of Winterfell, would have been another logical choice. She had gone through the most development of any character, having learned to survive through political maneuvering. Her leadership experience and her connection with the North could make her a smart choice to lead Westeros, not just the North. A more reasonable ending could be her rule over the entire realm.

Tyrion: The Wise Hand

Tyrion could have been a more ideal character to guide the ruler of Westeros as a Hand of the King. He had a knack for navigating tricky situations and his moral compass is always strong. He had always been trying to do the right thing, and the show could make him the primary voice behind a more compassionate ruler who listens to what Tyrion has to say. It would be far more appropriate for him to serve as the main advisor and a constant voice of reason to the ruler.

Character Arcs That Make Sense

The final season didn’t just rush the main plot points; it also did some of our favorite characters dirty. Let’s look at how some of these important arcs could have been handled better.

Jaime Lannister: Staying True to His Growth

Jaime’s journey to becoming a good man was one of the most satisfying things about the series. His return to Cersei in the last season was a disservice to everything he had worked toward. He should have stayed true to his path, or he could have been killed fighting for the good of Westeros, instead of dying with Cersei. The show completely undid his character growth, and that could have been avoided.

Jon Snow: The Path Forward

Jon’s fate of going back to the Night’s Watch is another frustrating point. He had saved Westeros, was the rightful king, and the hero of the story. Sending him to the wall felt like a waste. There could have been more than one logical path for him: he could become king of the North, take on a role as a respected leader, or even find peace. The only reason for him going back to the wall is that the showrunners didn’t know what else to do with him.

Arya Stark: Her Own Destiny

Arya had evolved into a great warrior, and her killing of the Night King was a monumental achievement. Instead of having her “discover” Westeros, they should have put a plan in place to develop a new purpose for her. Her path should have built upon her skills and her character growth, so that her ending felt meaningful and true to who she had become.

Cersei: A More Fitting End

Cersei’s demise under the Red Keep felt incredibly anti-climatic, especially considering her character’s ruthlessness. Instead of just crumbling under some random stones, Cersei deserved a more suitable end. Perhaps she could have met her end at the hands of her enemies, or through a final act of defiance. The ending she got was incredibly weak for a character of her power.

The Final Outcome

So, what would a satisfying ending look like? Imagine a Westeros with a leader who was chosen for their experience and abilities, not just because it was unexpected. A world with a balanced government, where different regions are given a voice. A land free from the threat of the White Walkers and finally at peace. The idea was that the show would leave us feeling satisfied and hopeful.

A New Era of Peace

Instead of the haphazard ending, imagine a final season that actually builds on the themes of leadership, power, and responsibility that were established throughout the show. We could see the characters establishing a fair and effective system of governing, ensuring a lasting peace and prosperity for Westeros. That is something that the viewers would actually want to see. The ending should have been about making Westeros a better place, instead of simply ending the story and moving on.

Characters with Purpose

Our favorite characters deserved a good send off. Instead of simply giving each character some last-minute task, they should have shown each of them going through meaningful and appropriate conclusions to their storylines. Each character should be able to move on to a path that feels true to the journeys they had taken, not just some afterthought. They should have each been given an ending that was both satisfying and true to their character.

A Legacy That Endures

The final scene should leave us feeling like the story has ended, not just stopped. The viewers should be able to walk away feeling satisfied with the results of the final season, instead of being disappointed by the missed potential. The goal was to create a legacy that continues to capture the imagination of viewers for years to come. We all wanted a conclusion that would stay with us and not one that we’d rather forget.

In short, the final season of Game of Thrones could have been so much better. By focusing on logical character development, more impactful battles, and a more fitting end for Westeros, we could have had an ending that would have left us all happy, instead of just confused and frustrated. While the show is over, it’s fun to imagine what could have been and how the story could have reached a more satisfying conclusion. It should have been an ending that we all could talk about for years to come, for the right reasons.