Game of Thrones series finale reactions and surprises

Ashley Weyler

Photo Credit: HBO

For the final time ever, Game of Thrones spoilers ahead!

Game of Thrones is officially over.

After 73 episodes, eight seasons, over 70 hours, three dragons, hundreds of theories, and thousands of deaths, the biggest fantasy drama has come to an end.

Final episodes are tricky because someone is bound to be disappointed at the outcome. Game of Thrones has garnered so much water-cooler talk over the years, gained new watchers with every season, and literally shocked us to our core—it has cemented itself in pop culture forever.

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The finale, “The Iron Throne,” wasn’t everything I expected and at times found myself bummed out. My biggest issues with were that it should have been broken into two episodes. Episode six should have slipped back into that slow burn that it was so good at in the beginning and built up Jon’s inner struggle. The episode should have ended with Jon killing Daenerys, Drogon melting of the Iron Throne, then flying off with Dany’s body.

Then, the final episode could have been the wind-down, the aftermath. I have so many questions:

How did they find out Jon had killed Dany? How did Grey Worm get so much say? How did Uncle Edmure get back in the mix of things, and where the heck was he during the Battle of Winterfell? How did Sam become Grand Maester without completing the maester program? How is Brann going to get around the Red Keep without ramps? How did they clean up the Red Keep so quickly?

Those are just a few of my questions. Now, here are the things that surprised me.

Photo Credit: HBO

Surprises of the week

1. Bran the Broken becomes the King of the Six Kingdoms.

So, I don’t gamble, and I don’t read spoilers, so this one came out of left field for me. I understand now that it makes sense. One of Daenerys’ shining qualities as Queen was wanting to break the cycle of bloodshed over a throne. She may have meant she wants to “break the wheel” with her being Queen. But those left to decide the next head honcho agreed with her sentiment and chose someone who is unable to bear children or marry and who knows more than anyone else on the face of the earth. He’s not my pick, but I guess he’s the right pick.

Photo Credit: HBO

2. Grey Worm has a lot of say.

I guess it can be argued that he was following orders. But, Grey Worm was in a very dark place those last few episodes. He had no business holding anyone prisoner. Yet, this small council of Lords and Ladies all agreed to ship the last Targaryen off to the Wall (does it even have a purpose anymore?) to never marry or have children. That’s it. The Targaryen bloodline will die with him. Thanks for holding a grudge, Grey Worm.

3. Iron Throne no more.

I never saw the melting of the Iron Throne coming. It actually upset me more than I thought it would. The entire objective was for someone to sit on it in the end. And now it’s gone. Again, I get it, but it doesn’t make it any less sucky to watch.

4. Uncle Edmure makes his grand re-entrance.

As of March 2018, the actor who portrayed Edmure Tully, Tobias Menzies,talked to CinemaBlend about whether or not he’d be back for the final season. He said:

"“The honest answer is, I have no idea. He’s obviously somewhere in a prison; he’s still around alive somewhere. They’re pretty stingy with their information, and I’ve not heard anything from them. I feel like they have so many stories to tie up, whether that’s a story they’ll want to go back to, I don’t know.”"

So, I didn’t expect to see him at all. And then he wants to be king. Always great for a comic relief, Edmure.

5. Robin Arryn returns, too.

Not only does the peculiar little Lord of the Eyrie return, but he also seemed to have gone through the “Neville Longbottom” effect. I was shocked to see how much older he had gotten and seemed to have grown into a handsome young man. Maybe Sansa will reconsider marrying him?

Photo Credit: HBO

Not surprised

1. The North breaks from the other six kingdoms.

The show continually showed how the North had a hankering for declaring their own kings and queens. So it was no surprise, now that a Stark was King of the Six Kingdoms, that he would allow the North to break free officially and that Sansa would become the Queen. It was a gorgeous scene, right down to the weirwood tree stitching on her dress, and I couldn’t be happier for her.

2. Jon kills Daenerys and is the “Prince who was Promised.”

Especially after “The Bells,” it became abundantly clear that Daenerys had to go. I knew it would either be Jon or Arya to do it. I went with Jon because Arya had already killed the Night King. I don’t think the show would have done that if she was also going to kill the next biggest threat to a peaceful realm. Also, I believe that Jon fulfills the “Prince who was Promised” prophecy. In the original prophecy, the Lightbringer (Jon) was to defeat the darkness (Daenerys), and the hero stabs his beloved with a sword.

3. Tyrion convinces Jon to kill Daenerys.

It was a Hail Mary pass, Tyrion convincing Jon to betray his Queen. If anyone was going to get through that stubborn noggin of Jon’s it was Tyrion. The conversation reminds Jon of one he had with Maester Aemon back in season two, where he says, “love is the death of duty.” Tyrion breaks through Jon’s love for her by convincing him he has a duty to the innocent, to his family, and to his family name.

4. Arya travels west of Westeros.

During a conversation with Lady Crane back in season six, Arya tells her that she wants to go where the map ends. So, it was no surprise that Arya set sail for whatever was west of Westeros. I still wish she would have married Gendry, but that’s not her.

5. Bronn gets his castle.

Did you really think this sneaky sellsword wouldn’t get his bloody castle? Remember, a Lannister always pays his debts.

Photo Credit: HBO

Things you might have missed

1. One last change in the opening credits

Like every other episode this season, the opening credits showed some changes. The map room showed the same crack through the floor as it did in “real life.” And the lion symbol that hung above the Iron Throne had been removed with the death of Queen Cersei.

2. Daenerys’ speech to the Dothraki

More from Game of Thrones

As you read the common-tongue translation during Daenerys’ final speech to her blood warriors, did it sound familiar? Way back in season one, it echoed what Khal Drogo promised their unborn son. They kept their promises. They killed her enemies in their iron suits. They tore down their stone houses. They gave her the Seven Kingdoms.

3. Grey Worm goes to Naath

Grey Worm takes his fleet to Naath, Missandei’s home country. Before the Battle of Winterfell, she expressed how badly she wanted to go home, and he will now go without his beloved.

4. Brienne writes Jaime’s history

Though many memes today say otherwise, Brienne, now the Commander of the King’s Guard (GET IT GIRL!), finishes Ser Jaime Lannister’s legacy in the Book of Brothers, now called the White Book. On an earlier episode, Jaime told her that it is the job of the Commander of the King’s Guard to do so. Read what she wrote in this report from Thrillist.

5. Song of Ice and Fire

In season seven, Archmaester Marwyn tells Sam he is writing “The Chronicles of War after King Robert Baratheon.” Sam doesn’t like the title and suggests something more poetic. The “A Song of Ice and Fire” saga is born.

Well, that’s all she wrote for Game of Thrones recaps. I know you could very well be reading this and disappointed by the ending. Of course, there are things I would change. But, I thank Game of Thrones for giving me so much enjoyment over the last five or six years. It’s still the best show ever made!

ICYMI: Read last week’s recap.

What did you think of the end of Game of Thrones? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Ashley Weyler

Ashley Weyler, or simply Smash as her friends call her, is a freelance writer from Philly. She spends most of her time writing, watching movies and TV, singing karaoke, and cheering on her beloved Philly sports teams.