Game of Thrones quickly transformed from a cult-favorite into a highly disappointing show. This transition took place from seventh season onwards, courtesy of poor writing, illogical narration and odd character introductions (looking at you Euron Greyjoy). Season 8 was a major bummer as millions of fans called for the season to be redone. That, of course, was an impossible thing to ask for.
All of the show’s intrigue kind of died as soon as season 7 arrived. Game of Thrones may have caused heartbreaks and angst, but there are some positive developments in the show too. If you look harder, you will find Game of Thrones managed to wrap some plotlines decently, whilst others - not so much
Perfectly: Sansa As Queen Of The North
Sansa Stark was given a new role by the end of the series. She may not have moved an inch in the Battle of Winterfell. She may have hidden in the crypts, but that didn’t stop the writers from making her de-facto Queen in the North. Sansa asked for independence for the North by stating tens of thousands of Northmen fell in the great war defending all of Westeros. Those who survived have seen too much to ever kneel again to someone who wasn’t one of their own. All those years of growing under Cersei, Olenna and Baelish’s shadow taught Sansa well.
Imperfectly: Daenerys’s Wheel
Speaking of a Queen, what happened to Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen? All she wanted to do was break the wheel. Why? According to her, it crushed those on the ground. Although by the end of the series, the wheel was broken. But it wasn’t Daenerys who broke it. Burning down King’s Landing certainly wasn’t the way anyone would have preferred she do this.
Mad Queen Daenerys wasn’t flying. Within a span of the mere two episodes, Daenerys’s transition from benevolence into madness made no sense at all. What of all the moments of Mhysa, breaker of chains, freeing the enslaved of Astapor, Yunkai, and Meereen, pledging herself to save the North and then breaking the wheel? Hers was paranoia-fueled by anger yet it was incredibly rushed.
Perfectly: Davos Seaworth As Master Of Ships
Davos Seaworth has a better story than main characters like Bran. He was a low-born smuggler who aided Stannis Baratheon at Storm’s End during Robert’s Rebellion. Until Lord Eddard Stark broke the siege, Davos smuggled onion and food to help Stannis and his armies survive. Hence the nickname “Onion Knight.” Davos rose from the flea-bottom to become an important player.
After Stannis was defeated, Davos joined Jon Snow’s followers at Castle Black. He became the chief of those who persuaded Melisandre to resurrect Jon Snow. Davos played a key role in the Battle of Bastards. Eventually, he saw himself as Jon Snow’s right-hand man. In the end, Davos found himself a place in the small council as Master of Ships.
Imperfectly: Cersei Lannister’s Death
You would think Cersei deserved a better death than to be a victim of rocks and rubble. Wasn’t Arya out to kill the Queen in King’s Landing in “The Bells?” What about the Ed Sheeran scene in “Dragonstone” where she boldly said she was going to kill the Queen? Daenerys also made it known that she wanted to free Westeros from the Cersei Lannisters of the world. For all that Cersei brought about since the beginning, she didn’t deserve such a clean ending. Getting killed by rocks on your passageway out? Lame.
Perfectly: Tormund Giantsbane’s Rebound
Tormund stepped into Mance Rayder’s shoes, rallying the wildlings in the Battle of the Bastards. His level of self-confidence remained unrattled throughout the show.
One moment he was sharing his heartbreak stories to the Hound. The next moment he was off with a Northern girl to drown his sorrows. In the conclusion of Game of Thrones, Tormund headed north of The Wall with Jon Snow and the Free Folk. Tormund and Jon rode side by side. It’s something Tormund always wanted. Not once did he look back like Jon did. Nothing beats the way Tormund rebounded from Brienne of Tarth going off with Jaime. Jon could definitely use that lesson.
Imperfectly: Daario Naharis’s Fate
Daario Naharis was last seen in “The Winds Of Winter” as a peacekeeper. There finally was peace in Mereen and Daenerys chose Dario to maintain that until people chose their own leaders. Daario stayed back with the second sons in Mereen. Specific orders were left for him regarding the welfare of Mereen and the Bay of Dragons. That was the last time anyone heard from him.
After Jorah Mormont gave away his life protecting Daenerys in “The Long Night,” Dany felt isolated and weak from within. One by one, all her close aids were betraying her. Shouldn’t she have called for Daario Naharis at this critical juncture? The one who begged to fight for her? Instead, she descended into madness by thinking about who had betrayed her in “The Bells.”
Perfectly: Cleganebowl
Cleganebowl was definitely worth the wait and the hype created around it. It happened in “The Bells” when Sandor Clegane finally clashed with his elder brother Ser Gregor Clegane. Gregor, also known as the Mountain, had burnt his younger brother’s face because the latter played with his discarded toy. He had held his head into a brazier, hence, the Hound was born. In “The Dragon and the Wolf,” it was foreshadowed that the two would fight to the death to finish the remaining part of their story. Sandor walked up to his older brother in the Dragon Pit to utter the following words, “Remember me? Yeah, you do. You’re even f***ing uglier than I am now. What did they do to you? It doesn’t matter. That’s not how it ends for you, brother. You know who’s coming for you. You’ve always known.” The two brothers clashed and Sandor tackled Gregor into hell below the Red Keep.
Imperfectly: Craster’s Sons
The sons of the wildling Craster were gifted by him to the Night King as appeasement. As shown in the “Oathkeeper,” a baby boy was abandoned in the Haunted Forest. A White Walker took him to the Lands of Always Winter. The Night King picked up the boy, put a finger to his face and the baby’s eyes turned blue, akin to those of the White Walkers.
Audiences would have liked a little more of a peek into what happened to all of these infants. The fate of the sons was unclear by “The Long Night.” Did they strengthen his army? Had they matured into White Walkers? We’ll never know.
Perfectly: Gendry, Lord Of Storm’s End
In her final moments, Queen Daenerys legitimized the only surviving son of Robert Baratheon, Gendry Rivers. Storm’s End is the ancestral seat of House Baratheon. After the Battle of Winterfell, it was heartening to see Daenerys make Gendry as the lawful son of Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm’s End, and head of House Baratheon. The “Onion Knight” was the first one to raise him a toast! Titles, money, and power - not too shabby for Gendry Rivers.
Imperfectly: His Name Is Aegon Targaryen
“His name is Aegon Targaryen. You have to protect him. Promise me, Ned.” What of Jon Snow’s Targaryen heritage? What of the “Prince That Was Promised?” It played out like an insidious joke at the climax of Game of Thrones. The fact that showrunners foreshadowed his heritage, ranted about the “Prince That Was Promised” and let it all slide was lame. The build-up to his heritage only mattered when it came to passing the sentence and plunging a dagger into Daenerys’s heart. Why did the Lord of Light resurrect him, after all? Jon was as secondary as any northerner in the Battle of Winterfell. Surely the Lord of Light did better with Beric Dondarrion.
“There’s still a Night’s Watch?” asked Jon after learning of his fate.