Game Over

After eight seasons, the epic TV show, Game of Thrones, is over. On tenterhooks I watched the series finale, eager to see how it would conclude.

After Ned Stark’s beheading, The Red Wedding, The Battle of the Bastards, and many other superbly unexpected plot twists, I knew I was in for a bittersweet treat.

For days, my family and I hypothesized many final scenarios for the remaining characters. Several of my predictions came true.

  1. After sharing a tender moment with Daenerys, Jon would kill her. It seemed logical that he would be the only one with a moral compass to get close enough to her to do it.
  2. Arya would sail West of Westeros. She told Lady Crane she wanted to go there in Season 6.
  3. No one would sit on the Iron Throne after Cersei Lannister.
  4. Jon would somehow push Drogon into melting the Iron Throne. It didn’t happen the way I imagined but nonetheless the throne was liquefied.
  5. The Kingship/Queenship would no longer be inherited through a bloodline. I was a little off on this one. I was more in sync with Sam’s thought process. I thought the people would be given the choice to install their own rulers through an appointed council.
  6. Jon would end up in the true north with the Wildlings.

When the episode ended, I was unsatisfied and much like an Ironborn denied their plunder, I’m feeling a little salty about it.

As an author, I know about artistic privilege. Of course, the creators can write their story and end it the way they want, but as a fan I’m so disappointed.


One of the biggest let downs for me was the way Jon Snow behaved toward Daenerys.

After initially refusing to bend the knee to her, breaking with The Night Watch‘s traditions as Lord Commander, dying for the Wildlings after saving them, leaving Ygritte to be faithful to his vows for the Watch, and fighting for the living against the Night King, I felt his unwavering devotion for the Dragon Queen was a little out of character.

It also confused me that Daenerys let Tyrion live instead of burning him on the spot. She and Drogon had just burned King’s Landing to the ground. In the scheme of things, what was one more life, especially one who had betrayed her?

Another thing that bewildered me was Daenerys’ warm response to Jon when he entered the throne room. Their previous encounter in Episode 5 ended in heartache and anger. Why was she suddenly willing to share the leadership role with him?

I’m sad that it’s over but even more so at the way it ended. As an author, I know composing satisfying endings is a challenge.

Game Of Thrones didn’t just set the bar high, it created its own iron stake that rose higher and higher each season. In an effort to shoot for the stars the creators rushed the process and missed their mark.