As I’m writing this, I’m still in disbelief that Game of Thrones is done. Unlike previous seasons where it took over two months to finish (sometimes even more because of mid-season breaks), season 8 felt like it literally breezed by the past six weeks.
Frankly, the final season isn’t in my top favorite GOT seasons. (Still think the first one was the best, but that sounds like cheating.) But surprisingly, the finale had more hits than misses. If the season (or the show in general) had been longer, the pay-off would’ve been more satisfying.
That’s the quick no-spoiler review. Let’s move on to the next part of this article: ranking the best to “total bummer” endings for the relevant characters and Houses in the Seven—er, Six Kingdoms. Let us know your personal favorites as well.
Total bummer: Edmure Tully
The last time we saw Edmure Tully, who is the Stark kids’ uncle on their mom’s side, was in season 6. Many already forgot about him, to be honest. Which is why it’s hilarious to see him bomb so hard during his seconds-long campaign to be king.
Edmure’s speech was already embarrassing: “My lords and ladies, I suppose this is the most important moment of our lives. What we decide today will reverberate through the annals of history. I stand before you as one of the senior lords in the country. A veteran of two wars. And I like to think my experience has led to some small skill in statecraft…”
Even more embarrassing was Sansa Stark telling him to sit down, and Edmure seeing everyone trying not to laugh. Yikes, better luck next GOT sea—oh, wait.
Sad… but it was okay?: Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, and Drogon
It was a tough time for the Targaryens during the finale. Daenerys finally won the Iron Throne after torching the citizens of King’s Landing, while Cersei Lannister was buried under The Red Keep. Despite claiming to be a queen who will free slaves and “break the wheel,” she was ready to go to every city and kill all the evil men. Also, her “create a perfect world” outlook is very Thanos-esque, don’t you think?
Anyway, after realizing that Daenerys’ isn’t the queen everyone wanted and needed, Jon murders her and practically saves the entire country. He later gets imprisoned by The Unsullied and, instead of getting executed, he will spend the rest of his days at the Night’s Watch.
I’m not mad about this development, though. At least a tyrant like Daenerys won’t rule over the land, and Jon wasn’t necessarily rewarded for murdering the queen. Plus, the latter was never interested in the throne and he did a great job at the Night’s Watch in previous seasons.
As for the lone dragon, Drogon, he mourned his mother and destroyed the Iron Throne. Some fans theorize that he knew this symbol of power was what drove Daenerys into madness and her eventual death. Who knew a dragon would be one of the most sensible creatures in this show?
https://twitter.com/hxruIe/status/1130467138676899840
But it was sad to see Drogon carrying Daenerys’ dead body and flying off with her. Again, fans speculated that he’s going east to bring her home to Valyria, aka the Targaryens’ ancestral land.
Deserves more screen time: Brienne of Tarth
Brienne’s season 8 run had been my favorite, minus the part where she practically begged Jaime Lannister to stay with her. She was the first woman in the Seven Kingdoms to be knighted, and became a Kingsguard in the finale. She also wrote about Jaime’s achievements as a knight, proving that he’s more than his “Kingslayer” moniker.
I just wish that she had more screen time in the finale, and not just seen doing a favor for a man. At the same time, the strength she had to hold her tears and write “Died for his queen” was heartbreaking. (Somebody give Gwendoline Christie an award!)
Lukewarm: The Unsullied
Since The Unsullied doesn’t have a queen to protect or follow anymore, they were told to go build their own city. Grey Worm, after much convincing from Tyrion Lannister and probably the Starks, agrees and sets sail to the Isle of Naath. Good for them.
It was fine: Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion Lannister has always been one of the wisest men in the Seven Kingdoms, so it was frustrating to see him take the wrong side this season. Fortunately, he managed to redeem himself by telling Daenerys off, talking some sense into Jon, and convincing the heads of the kingdoms to do a democratic vote on the new king. He was also named Hand of the King under the new rule.
Underwhelming in Tyrion standards, but at least Drogon didn’t burn him alive for “betraying the queen.”
Biggest win: The Starks
And the surprise of the finale is Bran, now known as “Bran the Broken,” is the new king of all the kingdoms. Meanwhile, Sansa successfully requested to make Winterfell a fully independent territory, making her the queen of the North.
As for Arya, she decided to sail west of Westeros, which is unknown territory for everyone in the land. It’s also an unexpected turn for her considering that she trained to be an assassin all her life. But it’s also “very Arya” of her to explore and not have to answer to any royal (especially now that her siblings are king and queen).
arya stark: queen of the new world.
sansa stark: queen in the north.
bran stark: king of the 6 kingdoms.
jon snow: king beyond the wall.
this is house stark.#GameOfThrones #thefinalepisode pic.twitter.com/sCshc8TPLE
— 𝙖 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙮𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙠 (@mariiizrandom) May 20, 2019
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What did you think of the Game of Thrones finale?
Art by Tricia Guevara
Photos courtesy of SKY Cable
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