Breaking the Wheel... why the Game of Thrones finale was uniquely ingenious

The Dragon Queen (Emilia Clarke) in the series finale of Game of Thrones. Photo Credit: Quora

This wasn't the ending Game of Thrones fans hoped for, but in time, most will realize that it's the ending they needed (shades of the Dark Knight). It might have actually been the perfect finish to a series that was close to that, perfection, if they had spread it out into normal length seasons in 7 & 8. I won't get bogged down by that though, because we always knew it would be abbreviated, HBO told us it would be. If you can get past that detail and look at the series as a whole from start to finish, and I mean truly look at its themes and characters, the finale could not have made more sense. Let me explain...

At its heart, Thrones is a tale of greed, corruption, lust for power, jealousy, war, and eventual loss. It's a tale of sin and imperfection, played out by flawed characters who are more relatable to us in their mistakes than their triumphs. The kingdom bleeds from the moment Robert Baratheon dies, until the Great Council reconciles in last night's episode. Villages are pillaged, families are butchered, lands dry with famine, disease and sickness spread, war scorches the realm, billions become casualties, and nothing ever improves. The lesson should be clear for the people of this world, but time and time again it seems lost on them as they squabble over who has birthright to the throne and who will save the realm, until the conclusion. There were only three ways for this all to end; darkness (the Night King wins and mankind is defeated, which seems almost deserved but is unsatisfying), insanity (you know that expression of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result? Well that's what would have happened if the wheel of the Seven Kingdoms kept spinning), or a learned humility and a decision to be better. George RR Martin and our HBO team chose optimism for once, and they hope that lesson isn't lost on us as well, although from the widespread criticism I'm guessing it was for most. Unity, peace, kindness. Strive to leave this world better than you found it (as Dany often said before she lost her way). These ideas have been deemed impossible in the modern age, but what makes them so unattainable? "The world we need is a world of mercy, it has to be," says Jon in the finale. I'm no fool, I understand Westeros isn't some utopia by the end of Thrones, but they have made progress, and the country bleeds no longer. World peace is not as simple as Jon or the writers make it sound, we know this, but their intentions were noble in the end, and I will not fault them for that.

Let's get more into the series, focusing on our character's journeys, rather than the finale... I'll start with Daenerys Targaryen, who was a complex and in some ways tragic individual. First off, bravo to Emilia Clarke. We could not have asked for a better performance from our entire GoT cast throughout the epic, but hers was near the top of the list. The Dragon Queen was dynamic in every way, and should be a character that is lauded for years to come, despite the outcome. Dany started as a timid girl who was sold off and used by her brother in attempt to reclaim the crown. Over the course of the show, she stole many a fan's affection as she became a leader, liberator, queen, and heroin through acts of bravery, mercy, and defiance. Everywhere she went, people loved her and joined her cause without question. She wanted to change the world by introducing a new normal, based on a higher standard of command. The goal was admirable, and ended up coming to fruition, only she wasn't the one to achieve it. That is the great tragedy and irony in her character. For her dream to come true, she had to die, because she in fact stood in the way of it. Why though? Why did she have this sudden change in personality? (many have asked) The truth is, it wasn't sudden. She was ripped from her home as a baby. Her family was murdered by rebel usurpers. Her brother mistreated her throughout childhood and used her as a sex slave the minute she was old enough. She was raped and enslaved, beaten and insulted. Daenerys never forgot these things. There was an expression from the books that Viserys commonly used, and then Dany adopted it later on, 'don't wake the dragon.' Well as she and her dragons grew older, the dragon inside her grew as well. I won't pretend for a second that I predicted any of this, but as a student of the show, her character arc almost seemed obvious once it became clear. She killed many 'evil men,' as Tyrion told Jon in the final episode. The tidbit I have come to realize was that she always enjoyed it. Whenever Jon killed another person or fought in a battle, he hated it, it's what made him so different from everyone else, even his sisters. Dany lived to conquer, like the Targaryens before her. No one ever sees themselves become the villain in fiction or in real life, until it's too late, but sometimes your mind can become so warped and your ego so juiced that you lose your moral code. This happened to Daenerys long before she came to Westeros. All she needed was a few life-shattering events to wake the dragon (Olenna Tyrell didn't help by telling her to be a dragon). Deaths to one husband, two children, and three close friends among others, (not to mention an infuriating enemy) all pushed her over the edge of no return. The evil she once sought to expunge, with mostly pure intentions, was swallowed whole by hatred and rage. By the end, she had become a dictator herself, with more similarities to Cersei than Rhaegar or Ser Barristan (figures she had mirrored herself off of). The scene pictured above (as Jon rises the steps to stand beside the Monarch) was chilling. Her army clearly resembled that of Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia (in structure, but also as men that do not feel human compassion), and her tyrannic speech coupled with her all black outfit made her look like a combination of Sith Lord and Hitler incarnate. Don't forget the giant black Drogon spreading its wings behind her like one single being. The symbolism was clear, and don't blame the HBO writers for tainting Dany's story, because we saw her vision of the future way back in season 2, only what we mistook for snow falling down on a ruin of the Iron Throne was actually ash, as seen in the finale. This was always the plan, whether you like it or not, and this dramatic change (while unfortunate) transforms Daenerys Targaryen from your above-average protagonist to one of the most riveting roles I've ever witnessed. She never does sit atop the Iron Throne by the way, a nice touch.

The Lord Commander... er, King in the NORTH... er bastard... er, rightful King of the Andals... screw it let's just go with Queenslayer, is next. Jon Snow, who still knows nothing on his own, is another tragic character. His fate is less cruel than Dany's of course, but the reluctant hero has lived a life of pain and anguish in his own right. In one of his first encounters with Daenerys on Dragonstone, she poses the question, 'don't we all enjoy the things we're good at?' (when discussing Tyrion's ability to talk, and subliminally her need to rule), only Jon responds that he doesn't. Whether he's referring to ruling as well, or more likely fighting and killing, this remains one of the most important lines of the series in understanding his persona. Jon is an outcast. He grew up part of a great house, but was shunned by a mother who could never bring herself to love him, and left in the dark by a father who was too honorable to admit the truth. Granted, these weren't his real parents, but this upbringing and the title of Snow (rather than Stark) molded him. He craved acceptance, not worship. Jon constantly says he doesn't want to be King, and can you blame him? As a man of the Knight's Watch he dreamed of brotherhood, but was hated for his background and potential. As Lord Commander he was turned on and murdered, for making a difficult decision. As King in the North he was questioned, and his intentions were doubted. The only people he ever felt accepted by were the wildlings in truth, and his duty forced himself to deceive them. Jon took his vows as seriously as Ned Stark, and gained our respect in the process. He helped lead the war against the Night King by bringing together fire and ice. He died in an attempt to save the lives beyond the wall. So why should we expect anything less than him being the one asked to make the sacrifice he does not wish to make (yet again)? Clearly, he loves Dany, he also loved Ygritte. The only difference this time is that he was the only one who could plunge the dagger through her heart. His Targaryen blood allowed safe passage past Drogon and into the throne room. The task seemed agonizing for Jon, and he fought with himself against it up until the final moments, but Dany's rhetoric sealed her fate after Jon makes one last appeal to her former self. "What about everyone else?" he asks (when referring to others understanding what is good). Her reply, "they don't get to choose." This is where Jon realizes what he must do for the greater good, and once Jon comes to those conclusions throughout the series, he never waivers. In the end, the half-Stark half-Targaryen will be viewed and remembered by some as a traitorous murderer (as Jaime was, a title neither deserved), but those truly involved will know what really happened. There is a light at the end of Jon's tunnel however, in what is meant to be a penalty, Jon is sent back to the wall. Little do Grey Worm and his captors realize, but this is exactly what Jon wanted all along. We see him ranging North of the wall in the final moments with Tormund and his loyal direwolf, Ghost, a crow living in acceptance amongst the free folk, just like Mance Rayder before him.

For Tyrion Lannister, the road was no different in its amount of near-death experiences and unfathomable loss. The clever but ofttimes loudmouth dwarf has talked himself into and out of trouble many times throughout GoT. After all, he drinks and he knows things! We all knew he would have a major role to play, and what better way than to convince a man who struggles making decisions to make the right one (or so they think). Tyrion ends up persuading Jon to challenge Daenerys. Before this, he also makes a very important moral stand against her, even though he knows it means his imminent demise. This scene had the drama that made this show king of television for many years, and Dinklage provided a large part of that, as usual. Like Clarke, Dinklage has been applauded for his acting throughout this journey. Tyrion also nominates Brandon Stark as new King of the Seven, shocking the world (anyone else think he was going to stick with Jon Snow?). It was a little bizarre that they all immediately listened to a prisoner, especially Grey Worm, but his thoughts were forged in wisdom and backed by truth. Bran is the right choice, he is the only person who can accomplish what Daenerys strove to become. He does not feel pride or greed, he cannot father a dynasty, he cannot be corrupted or seduced, and his sight gives him the power to learn from the mistakes of histories past. Tyrion himself is made Hand of the King, a position he's grown accustomed to. It is a satisfactory prize and a fresh start for a man who had pretty much given up on life... multiple times.

Arya Stark gets my favorite finale of all. She wonders what's West of Westeros and East of Essos in an earlier season. Well now the war-hero assassin will live out her days as an explorer and finally figure all that out. I was very pleased to find out that the white horse theory about her being dead (explained in my previous article) was an internet falsehood. I was also pleased that Arya didn't finish off Dany like many fans wanted. This never seemed realistic to me, it also didn't make much sense. The two had no connection, and while that didn't matter between her and the Night King, this death had to be much more personal. The Hound was able to teach Arya that killing isn't the way to live out her life, and she actually listened, unlike many others. Can anyone else picture an Arya spin-off?? Normally I'd be against this sort of thing but I have often wondered about the lands beyond the map that Euron Greyjoy mentions in passing. This is the only spin-off that would venture into uncharted territory, which makes it the most viable option (well besides the adventures of the Unsullied in Naath! haha, just kidding... I hope).

Sansa Stark got the title that was expected, and deserved. As I've previously mentioned, she has become as mentally strong as any person in Westeros, overcoming countless hardships and merciless acts on her person. Married continuously to the worst scum of the GRRM Earth (excluding Tyrion), raped, abused, and tormented most of the series, we have now seen a hardened Sansa emerge. Although she was similar to Dany in many ways, she was able to mildly control her lust for power. Sansa frees the North and becomes the first Queen in Winterfell.

We know what happened with Bran, the least sexy pick for winner of the Iron Throne. I know, I know, the thought of it gives a blah feeling, but as stated above, it is the only choice that makes sense. I feel it was mapped out this way by GRRM with careful strategy and planning, but I guess we won't know for sure until the books return. Samwell Tarly (who we assume is still with Gilly and Little Sam) has come South as well. He will serve as Maester at the Capital, with a seat on the small council. The whole mention of the the book being written by the Citadel in the show seemed unnecessary and cliche, but sometimes these writers can't help themselves. Brienne of Tarth is seen in the Lord Commander's tower of the Kingsguard (or some restructured version of it) with shiny armor and a well-suited position. Luckily, the history of the Kingsguard was not destroyed in the firestorm (I'm not surprised, you see the size of that thing?). In book three, Jaime Lannister fills in his pages with some details about the Whispering Wood and Brienne's protection. Embarrassed by his life, he then notes that his story is not yet finished, vowing to make good on what years he has left. In the show, Joffrey insults his 'Uncle' for his lack of achievement. Brienne puts aside their breakup and writes of Ser Jaime's later feats of bravery, tears in her eyes. With a heavy heart, she closes the book on her ex-lover and good friend. Ser Davos Seaworth is given the title, Master of Ships, perfect for an ex-smuggler who knows the sea better than most. He will serve as another honorable voice on the small council to accompany Sam and Brienne. Finally, the dishonorable, Ser Bronn of the Blackwater wins out after all. For a moment there I worried he would fall by the wayside, but thankfully my number one character in the series was not forgotten. Bronn is now Master of Coin (a purposeful irony), Lord of Highgarden, and Protector of the Reach. His final scenes end with some tongue-and-cheek, as expected. He squabbles with Davos, Sam, and Brienne over the importance of brothels over ships. Who said Sansa was the only one who learned from Littlefinger? Podrick Payne is also donning the armor of the Kingsguard, while Grey Worm elects to sail the Unsullied to Naath (a heart-melting tribute to Missandei, who said she would like to sail there after the war, and before her death). One complaint of the finale would be that Grey Worm never seemed as upset about the death of his Queen as he should have been, but reasons like a Northern army surrounding him and time passing by could be used as excuses. Also, what happened to the Dothraki this time (who were supposedly wiped out in the Battle of Winterfell only to help win the war in the South)? Drogon is on the loose after symbolically melting the Iron Throne (aka the root of all evil... psh, the dragon was able to figure it out), Ghost is reunited with Jon (keeping alive the theory of the direwolves' connection to their owners... both were sent to the North where they belong... PS, this embrace saved the finale for my girlfriend and many other dog lovers out there), and many other forgotten slash useless Lords and Ladies of Westeros are still alive and kicking (Yara Greyjoy, Robin Arryn, Edmure Tully, Yohn Royce, Gendry Baratheon, and the new Prince of Dorne among them). No appearances by Daario Naharis or Jaqen H'ghar in the finale, which was probably for the best, and I never did figure out what Tyrion wanted Davos to smuggle last episode (the dingy? his brother? aah! oh well).

EDIT: One major thing I would have changed in the final season, the Jaime Lannister story arc ending. I would of started by having either Brienne sacrifice herself and save Jaime during the Long Night (which would have added another surprising death), or had Jaime save Brienne if you want them to still hook up as a couple, but I didn't need all that. Either way, the new events of the Battle of Winterfell would have locked Jaime to the Stark-Targaryen cause for good this time. Later, Tyrion wouldn't need to save Jaime and the Imp's defiance of Dany on the steps would come as more of a shock to Dany, not something out of necessity. Back to Jaime, they could of still had him fight and kill Euron in another scenario if they wanted, but I didn't really think that battle made a whole lot of sense to begin with. I would of brainstormed a different way for Euron to perish, or perhaps he escapes? That ending would fit his character more, someone who looks out for himself and runs when the battle seems lost. Cersei would instead die alone under the Red Keep, a more fitting end, and Jaime would finally allow himself to let her go. In doing this, his character would be freed and his arc would be complete... well almost. I thought the ultimate completion would be that he then serve as Bran's Lord Commander, retaking his place on the Kingsguard alongside his brother and best friend. The rest of his life would be spent devoted to protecting the life of the boy he once tossed from a tower window (see, all full circle). Whether Brienne serves with him or dies in Winterfell makes no difference to me, but I prefer Jaime as a lone wol--- lion, a lone lion, living out his days under a king he ironically respects for once with two loves lost (showing his growth, but also providing punishment for his sins). Brienne is the only casualty in my version but I feel it would have been more dramatic if she die before proclaiming her love for Jaime, rather than the Degrassi type couple they forced into our lives earlier in the final season.

Anyway, a dark tale of blood and death ends in joy and hope, as the four surviving Starks embark on their new chapters. While I know much of the world will never be satisfied, I urge all GoT fans to see the larger picture here. There was the unexpected, the drama, the completion of character arcs, many wise messages along the way, and some optimism for once. Thrones proclaims loudly and boldly that war and conflict are not the answers, there are better ways. The series may have taught us Valar Morghulis, all men must die, but it is how we choose to live that matters most.