What I Watched: Game of Thrones, S8E6

This is how it ends, friends.

And you know what? I am okay with it. I am ready to let go.

Going into the last episode of the series, I expected to be disappointed. Already, season 8 provided plenty of disappointment with its insistence on abandoning good story-telling in favour of breakneck speed and empty spectacle. I had read the spoilers/leaks, which confirmed that the show would not be ending in any one of the ways I had imagined, and that its ending was very much in line with the rest of the season; it required a lot more build-up to feel authentic than the show was willing to invest.

As a result, I watched episode 6 with a lot of detachment. The only times I felt emotionally engaged were watching Drogon mourn his mom (RIP, Dany) and Ghost reuniting with his dad (and finally getting his much-deserved petting). But, funny thing. The more I think about the ending, and try to imagine how GRRM himself might have arrived at it, the less I hate it. Don’t get me wrong; the show did a sh*t job of selling it and the writers deserve all the outraged reactions they’re getting. But I am starting to see how it maybe makes sense in the context of the world that GRRM built. Written properly, this might actually have been the beautiful, bittersweet story we were all promised.

But that is not the story we currently have, so for now let’s talk about what we did get … and how little sense it all made.

• I covered my distaste for the Dany-goes-mad plot line last week. The finale did nothing to bolster this story, so it still feels like the show did a complete character assassination in 3 episodes. Yes, there was always foreshadowing that this might be Dany’s ultimate path; but until about 3 episodes ago, she was presented to us as a heroine, as someone for whom to root. Can you blame those fans who did, and continue to root for her? It doesn’t make them toxic fans; to me, it means that the writers failed to make their writing emotionally connect. It’s legitimate to say: look, just because Dany is a woman doesn’t mean that she can’t be a tyrant. But you have to show us that; you have to make us believe it, in our hearts. The fact that you have to rely, at the eleventh hour, on a bunch of (male) characters explaining to us how mad she is … well, it means that you haven’t done your job properly.
• Jon acted completely out of character. Again, the only context we had for his decision was a short conversation with Tyrion and an even briefer one with Arya. And, bam, he’s ready to kill the supposed love of his life. Just like that. Show me 2 seasons of Dany slowly succumbing to blood lust, and Jon agonizing over his divided loyalties. Make me believe he’s in love with her AND afraid of her. Make me believe he’s feeling something, anything.
• The aftermath of Dany’s murder makes no sense. Dany was a queen by lineage (arguably) but mostly by conquest. Jon has a better claim to the throne by lineage; having killed the conqueror, he should automatically have been king. No?! Am I taking crazy pills? The Unsullied have no authority in Westeros except whatever authority Dany gave them. I suppose Grey Worm could have killed Jon as a matter of personal revenge, but to arrest him?! WTF? I can understand getting to the eventual council-to-decide-the-next-king plot line via Jon refusing to accept the throne but this was just dumb. Also dumb was the exile-to-the-Night-Watch business. First, this was unnecessary. If the issue was appeasing the Unsullied long enough to get them out of Westeros, then the order could have been rescinded immediately upon their departure; it’s not like they’re coming back, right? Second, the Night Watch has no purpose anymore, so if it still exists let’s just call it what it is: a gulag for undesirables. I’m actually not mad that Jon ended up going North; it’s where he can be happiest, I think, and that’s fine. The last scene made it look like he’s going north of the Wall with the wildlings – abandoning his post?!? – which is even better. Maybe he’ll run into another feisty redhead while he’s there.
• Bran as king is … sure, whatever. In principle, the idea that the kings of Westeros are now going to be selected by committee (of nobles, of course) is kind of interesting. It’s like a cross between an oligarchy and a very embryonic form of representative government. Baby steps. But has the show established just how long Bran-not-Bran is going to live? The last Three Eyed Raven was centuries old, no? Is Bran going to be king forever?
• The independent North is cool and all but I can’t believe that no one objected. Both Dorne and the Iron Islands have a history of not wanting to bend the knee, but they didn’t say a peep when Sansa was all “love you brother, but I’m outies”. I also have to wonder whether Sansa will go all Elizabeth I (as the visuals of her coronation would suggest) or whether she will take steps to continue the Stark dynasty of the north. Speaking of which, little Robin Arryn was all *surprise!* grown up and glowed-up, no?
• Don’t get me started on Bronn as Lord of Highgarden/Master of Coin. No, seriously, please don’t.
• On the other hand, Brienne as head of the Kingsguard and Davos as Master of Ships warmed my heart. And Pod is Ser Podrick now! All of this is fan servicey as hell, but I’ll take it.

Overall, the theme of the show – if there is one – seems to have been: plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. The game of thrones goes on.