HBO hit, Game of Thrones season 8 ended with the epic finale episode of “The Iron Throne”, which ran for 1 hour and 18 minutes.
The most anticipated show that captivated us over the past decade ended with some slightly disappointing outcomes. Viewers criticized a few episodes with longer run times and weak plot lines. Usually, all Game of Thrones episodes are almost one hour long, but the final season contains the first two episodes being shorter and the remaining four being over 70 minutes.
The S8 Ep3 “The Long Night” (81 minutes) holds the record for the longest episode of the series and also has the second-lowest rating. Viewers complained that they could have fragmented it into two separate episodes. The fans even signed petitions to make an alternative ending to the show.
Game of Thrones season 8, finale episode 6 ended with some “bittersweet” aftermaths with Daenerys being stabbed and Iron Throne destroyed, Sansa being the independent Queen in the North, Arya setting sail on the west of Westeros, Bran Stark becoming the ruler of Six Kingdoms, Jon going back to the North of the Wall with the wildlings and the small council members getting all the essential roles that they deserve.
Brief Summary of the Season 8
Meanwhile, Cersei schemes her strategy to end Danaerys on King’s Landing. In the penultimate episode, “The Bells,” Danaerys’ army overpowers Cersei’s army. Danaerys should have resumed the war. But instead, she was so enraged and overwhelmed. And she burns the whole city of King’s landing with her Drogon.
The Unsullied slaughter every opposing army on their way by order of Danaerys. Jamie and her sister died in the rubble of th Red Keep. Jon and Tyrion found the whole disturbing scene of King’s Landing devastating. Arya barely escapes riding a white horse.
In the series finale, Tyrion resigns as the Hands of Queen. And they imprison him for treason. Tyrion warned Jon, and Arya cautioned Jon that Danaerys threatened everyone. Danaerys was in front of the Throne when Jon Snow confronted her. And finally, an agonized Jon Snow stabbed her to death.
Drogon was one of her last Dragons. Drogon realizes everything burns the Iron Throne instead of Jon Snow and flies away with Daenerys’s body. Weeks later, a small committee was arranged. In the meeting Tyrion proposed that all the elderly lords and ladies should choose it by vote instead of familial succession. Henceforth, all the main characters get the position that they deserve.
Based on the book The Song of Ice and Fire by George R R. Martin, Game of Thrones, a television show that kept us all captivated over the decade, ended up being a messy blunder in the last season, proving there is always a rise and fall in life. The HBO showrunners had to put their narratives and finishing in six episodes is just pressure because an adaptation doesn’t go the same way as it should be.
They had to end it because this book of Martin’s was not the end of the story. The show that gained so much love over the years and made fans binge it every Sunday shouldn’t be judged by a single episode. Likewise, there were some satisfying moments in the series finale, and some fan-favorite characters survived until the finale, which is more relieving.
Here in Details Everything you Should Know About the Series Finale of Game of Thrones–
Daenerys Targaryen and her Fate
Daenerys, who just rose from a downtrodden state to a very powerful position throughout the show. But she became power-hungry at the end. And ultimately, it’s the pride and yearning for power which killed her. Even her dragon realizes that the Iron Throne symbolizes lust and misery, bringing her downfall. Drogon burned it down to leave it to be just mere molten steel.
Daenerys knowing the truth about Snow’s parents and asking him to hide it until the end shows how self-centered she has become. Burning the city and innocent people and ordering the slaughter of the soldiers was just the opposite of what she had achieved so far. Watching the madness of Daenerys and disturbed view of innocent citizens dying made Jon agonize. And after Tyrion and Arya’s consideration, he stabbed her to death.
She met her destiny just like her father, the ‘Mad King’ who previously ordered the burning of the city of King’s Landing by wildfire. She burned the city but was stabbed to death just like her father, who was stabbed in the back. Drogon took the dead body of Daenerys and flew away, making the end to the mad Targaryen.
Lannisters and Their End
Cersei Lannister, the most merciless antagonist of the series, died without facing any struggle. On the other hand, Jamie Lannister, who got most character development through the show, died with her sister and lover Cersei, hand by hand in the Red Keep. Cersei, who tortured every major character in a way, should have gotten a merciless death too.
Her character showed what power should feel like. Like in her word “Power is power” in response to Littlefinger’s “Knowledge is Power”. We don’t know if she is right or wrong, but she did use it until she could prove the corrupted side of political power.
Some fans even urged that she should have been killed by Arya’s hands, satisfying Arya’s kill list. It might have happened, but it didn’t. From his title “Kingslayer” to shoving Bran from the window, Jamie Lannister was an antagonist in season 1.
He met his fate and learned his lesson, but in the end, he returned to her sister. Jamie should have a better ending, although positively enough, now Brienne has the right to write about his legacy. The finale episode starts with Tyrion finding his siblings dead under the rock, failing his plan to convince Cersei to stop the war and then fleeing them together.
Consequently, he became the only remaining Lannister who was kind from the beginning. He again became the King’s Hand, which Grey Worm objectified. Bran said it is his punishment as he must work again and pay the debt.
One interesting point of the episode about his life is that when he asked Sam and Varys about his representation in the A Song of Ice and Fire, Sam said he was not even mentioned in the book. Despite his quick thinking and scheming effort, he will not be mentioned in the history book and will forever be unappreciated, just like his past self. It also points out that “history is more about telling stories than telling the truth”.
“Bran the Broken”, the King of Six Kingdoms
After Daenerys’ death and Jon was took into prison by the Unsullied. Tyrion suggested it was upon the elders of Westeros to decide who would be the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Bran Stark was the only one that came to light. Again, Tyrion suggested that Bran, being a cripple, visited the North of the Wall and becoming Three-Eyed Raven is enough proof of him being legendary.
As Three-Eyed Raven, he can see the future and past and holds the stories of Westeros’ past, present and future. Although Bran has no interest in becoming the King, he knew his fate that he would be the ruler of the Six Kingdoms. In the end, it is Stark who becomes the ruler.
Sansa, Queen in the North
Sansa Stark, seen as weak, powerless, and clueless in season 1, slowly became the dark horse of the Game of Thrones. She suffered a lot in the opening few seasons, and throughout the show. However, she became so mature that her quick critical thinking made her a good player. Her rise as an Independent Queen is worth appreciating.
Although Sansa was opposing Bran being the ruler as he was a cripple and cannot produce a child. She gave her vote to Bran on one condition that the North would be an independent kingdom. As a result, Sansa was hailed as the Queen in the North.
Arya Stark, in Search of The West of Westeros
Arya became quite the show’s heroine when she killed the Night King. Like her sister, Arya was also powerless, but rather than doing nothing, she went on an adventure with the Faceless Men. She was hungry for revenge and even killed some people from her list.
But rather than being a Lady of Winterfell, she chose adventure, and after leaving Winterfell, she mentioned she was not coming back home. She even rejected Gendry’s proposal to become her lady by saying she is no lady. What a powerful presentation she has in the show despite being so young.
Jon Snow Returns to the North
After learning his family’s true identity, everyone thought Jon would lead the Seven Kingdoms as he was the most eligible heir. He was banned from Westeros and was sent to the Night’s Watch. He never wanted to be the King, and his return to Night’s Watch is like what he always wanted to do. With Wildlings, he will now head beyond the wall.
It’s not a punishment; it’s more like a homecoming. It is where he met the Wildlings and made them friends and was even killed and resurrected. Unlike any other character, he is the most benevolent. He has seen the most, done the most and suffered the most. He returned to the Night’s Watch and reunited with Tormund and his dire wolf Ghost.
Tyrion and The Small Council:
In the action-free last episode of Game of Thrones, Tyrion was seen presiding over the small Council to rebuild the city of Westeros. The Council contains some notable persons–Bronn as Lord of Highgarden and Master of Coin, Brienne as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Davos as Master of Ships and Sam as Grand Maester. They all survived until the last episode and earned the titles they deserved.
On the other hand, Podrick Payne became a newly appointed knight. Grey Worm and the Unsullied with Dothraki set sail to Naath, Missandei’s homeland, where he promised to go with Missandei when she was alive. Game of Thrones‘ final season ended with a “bittersweet” note, but it was not arguably bad.
The Stark family, whom we sympathized with from the first premiere of Season 1, earned what they deserve. From Bran thrown away from the window to Ned Stark’s execution to Sansa and Arya’s fateful misery to the murder of their remaining family in the Red Wedding, it was a dark period. And finally, Sansa and Bran ruling the kingdoms was really satisfying.
This action-less Games of Thrones finale episode at a point brought some humor, too. In the council meeting Edmure Tully requested to be the ruler of Westeros. But Sansa humiliates him by “uncle, please sit“. The series finale truly shows that the “Throne” is of Iron. And that familial succession was not a proper way to choose a ruler.
Power resides in the people and using it the wrong way brings only misery. Despite being the most upsetting season of Game of Thrones, HBO decided to bring a new series, a prequel, House of Dragon, which happens to be arriving in August 2022. Kit Harington might appear in this series.
The HBO series’s fans eagerly expect that this will bring some justice to the characters. Moreover, Martin’s books are to know the length of all the clan’s original stories.
Game of Thrones series finale cast includes- Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen, Kit Harington as Jon Snow, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Maisie Williams as Arya Stark, Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth, John Bradley as Samwell Tarly, Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark, Gwendoline Christie as Brienne, Conleth Hill as Varys, Jerome Flynn as Bronn, Joe Dempsie as Gendry, Jacob Anderson as Grey Worm and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Where to stream Game of Thrones?
You can stream all Game of Thrones episodes on Disney Plus Hotstar or Prime Video.
Q2. How many Kingdoms and Houses are there in Games of Thrones?
There are seven Kingdoms and about 300 noble houses. However, there are only nine Houses that are called Great Houses or Great Families, and others are called lesser noble.
Q3. Game of Thrones consists of how many episodes?
Game of Thrones has 8 seasons and a total of 73 episodes.
Season 1 consists of 10 episodes, Season 2 consists of 10 episodes, Season 3 consists of 10 episodes, Season 4 consists of 10 episodes, Season 5 consists of 10 episodes, Season 6 consists of 10 episodes, Season 7 consists of 7 episodes and Season 8 consists of 6 episodes.
