As the dust settles on the much-debated final season of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” the conversation about its creative decisions continues to ignite discussions among fans and cast members alike. Emilia Clarke, who portrayed the dragon queen Daenerys Targaryen, has defended the series’ conclusion amidst ongoing backlash. However, not all were ready to embrace the ending with the same conviction.
When I got to the [Dragonpit scene] in the last episode and they’re like, ‘What about Bran?’ I had to get up and pace around the room. I genuinely thought it was a joke script and that [showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss] sent to everyone a script with their own character ends up on the Iron Throne.
His reaction mirrors a portion of the fandom’s feelings, highlighting the unexpected and, for many, unsatisfactory climax of the saga.
Fan Favorites Fall Short: The Shifting Dynamics of Power
The final twists of “Game of Thrones” saw significant departures from what many viewers anticipated. Fan theories often placed either Jon Snow or Daenerys Targaryen on the Iron Throne. Instead, the series finale delivered shock and dismay: Jon kills Daenerys, and her last surviving dragon, Drogon, destroys the Iron Throne in a fiery outburst of grief and rage.
Wright shared his mixed feelings about Bran, the all-knowing Three-Eyed Raven, being crowned the king of the now six kingdoms, despite his largely passive role in the preceding power struggles. The leadership in Westeros took an unexpected turn by choosing Bran as the ruler, granting independence to the North, which crowned Sansa Stark as Queen. Tyrion Lannister was appointed as the Hand of the King, decisions that continue to divide fan opinion.
Emilia Clarke: Standing by Daenerys to the End
Despite the uproar, Emilia Clarke has stood by the writers’ decisions, understanding the inevitability of controversy. She noted in interviews that regardless of the direction the finale took, disappointment was inevitable given the series’ massive following.
I stood by Daenerys. I stood by her through everything.
Her loyalty to her character’s journey showcases the depth of her connection to the role and her understanding of the narrative’s complexities.
Isaac Hempstead Wright also acknowledged the impossibility of satisfying everyone with the series conclusion.
Not everyone will be happy. It’s so difficult to finish a series as popular as this without pissing some people off.
The ending, designed to be unpredictable and ‘bittersweet,’ as author George R.R. Martin intended, left the fanbase polarized.
Reflecting on what might have been, Wright even expressed a desire for a more dramatic conclusion to Bran’s story.
I kind of hoped for a good death scene for Bran, with a gruesome exploding head scene or something,
he humorously remarked. This sentiment suggests an alternative ending that could have swayed public opinion differently, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of storytelling in epic sagas.
“Game of Thrones” remains a monumental part of modern television, its finale serving as a testament to the challenges of concluding a widely beloved epic. Available for streaming on Max and HBO, the series continues to be a topic of debate, study, and admiration, securing its place in the annals of TV history.