Why Fans Really Hated The ‘Game of Thrones’ Series Finale
Winter has come…and gone. The Game of Thrones series finale has finally made its way to HBO, but despite the long-awaited wrap-up, many people have been left disappointed. After committing eight long years to the show, it’s expected that fans would become extremely invested in the characters as well as the storyline.
But it’s more than just a little bickering about small mishaps. It’s full out war among the masses in regard to how George R.R Martin allowed the series to come to a close. How bad is it? There’s a petition going around to have the entire season stripped from the canon and rewritten. So without further ado, here’s why the most beloved series has become the most hated in the blink of an eye.
What was wrong with the ‘Game of Thrones’ finale?
Game of Thrones was an amazing adventure to read, so when fans found out their favorite bloodthirsty families would be premiering on HBO, they were ecstatic. With the insane amounts of beautifully written lore, the show was bound to be something special. For about six or so seasons, it was. Game of Thrones promised a unique experience for viewers. Something different where tragedy was ingrained into its very being. Forget falling in love with characters; they came and went like the wind!
The show built up beautifully, but when it came time for the final moments, it all fell apart. The world that fans came to know and love was nowhere to be found in the 80 minutes that made up The Iron Throne.
Did Daenerys Targaryen sit on the Iron Throne?
Daenerys has worked really hard at building her army of supporters. She’s got people on her side and they are ready to see her as the queen on the throne. Then, she absolutely loses whatever grain of conscious she may have had and destroyed all of King’s Landing. This sudden turn of events blindsided viewers. The previous episodes were not leading up to Dany, turning into a mass murderer, but here we are.
Of course, this leaves many of her supporters shook. What are they supposed to do now? Tyrion is absolutely devastated, and forget about Jon — he’s a mess. How could his aunt/lover murder so many people, including children? Daenerys’ crew even took out some Lannister soldiers who had surrendered just because they “used” to serve Cersei. Absolute madness.
Push obviously came to shove to Jon had to take her out. It’s awful because he burst in just as she’s about to finally sit on the throne she’s been pining after for years. Jon even tries to talk some sense into her, but that doesn’t work at all. There’s not a shred of reason or remorse left in the Mother of Dragons. All that’s left is this giddiness and greed surrounding finally acquiring the Iron Throne.
What could be worse than all of that? Daenerys even ends up begging Jon to rekindle the romance with her. This is gross considering its a crazy ex-girlfriend spin that doesn’t fit her character in the slightest. After kissing her one last time, he stabs her. The poor woman never even got to “enjoy” the bloody fruits of her labor.
Furthermore, while Jon seems like the perfect and weirdly romantic choice for this role, Arya also seemed to be in the running based on the previous week’s episode. Perhaps that would have been better. Perhaps fans would have gotten a death worthy of the Queen of Dragons. One that wasn’t anticlimactic and cliché.
What happened to the physical Iron Throne?
Drogon makes an appearance right after his mama breathes her last breath. It’s the most emotional moment in the entire episode, and a tear jerker to boot. After realizing she’s no longer of this earth he lets out a mighty roar. Fans wait with bated breath to see if perhaps Jon will die right after his lover. Nope, the dragon instead releases his hellfire and melts the Iron Throne.
Now, this makes sense to some degree. Drogon is smart and he’s pieced together that it was the greed for the throne that resulted in Dany taking a hit. Still and all, burning Jon to a crisp for wielding the blade may have been just as shocking and more satisfying than this “cryptic” end to an era.
Was Bran the right person to be king?
King Bran? That doesn’t even sound great. It sounds like some retired 90s cereal that failed at pleasing kids on a global scale. After the queen is dethroned permanently, those left standing are now facing a conundrum. Who will fill the mad queen’s shoes? Needless to say, the remaining Daenerys supporters are pissed off. They’re seeking to take Jon and Tyrion’s lives, but without someone to make the order their desires go unfulfilled.
Instead, those who are left — Arya, Bran, Brienne, Edmure, Gendry, Robin, Royce, Sansa, Sam, and some other random people — have to figure out the next move. Tyrion suggests the remaining folk just pick a king or queen. Who do they decide on? Bran. Bran has been one of the least helpful characters in the show and his storyline was spotty at best. Why the sudden surge into importance?
Ultimately everyone agrees and Bran graciously accepts the pitch. Sansa gives them an ultimatum though: she wants the land to the North for herself which she gets, no questions asked. It goes without saying that both Arya and Sansa had amazing journeys and would have been great options for queen.
What happened at the end of ‘Game of Thrones’?
Daenerys is dead, as is basically all of King’s Landing. Bran is King with Tyrion as his Hand. Jon goes right on back to the Night’s Watch guarding who knows what. Grey Worm leads the Unsullied to Naath. Sansa gets crowned queen in the north and Arya randomly decides to check out what’s to the west of Westeros.
We also have Sam (Grand Maester), Brienne (Lord Commander of the Kingsguard), Bronn (Lord of Highgarden + Master of Coin), Podrick Payne gets to join the Kingsguard and Davos becomes Master of Ships. Everyone here ended up exactly where they wanted to be. Talk about a sweet deal for a show that’s been built off of unfairness and tragedies.
As one YouTube user commented, “Arya went west, Jon went North, Drogon went east and the show went south.” Ladies and gentleman welcome to one of the most confusing and anger-inducing finales in modern TV history.
