This is the end.
The end of watching the Starks, Targaryens, and Lannisters.
The end of journeying to Winterfell, King’s Landing, and Castle Black.
The end of dragons and direwolves; schemes and ravens and trials by combat.
This is the end ofGame of Thrones.
It might not be the end you wanted.
So let’s break down what actually happens in the final episode ofGame of Thrones.
The two halves are like death and rebirth;The Winds of WinterandA Dream of Spring.
If you felt the twist was earned, then everything that happens in this finale flows logically from that.
Perhaps even this litmus test is too simple.
Because theGame of Thronesfinale is really a bunch of different character endings rolled into one.
Martin has been saying all these years.
In the streets, Grey Worm is executing prisoners on Daenerys' orders.
Outside, Daenerys gives a victory speech in Dothraki.
The fascistic, dictatorial imagery is clear.
Everything about this sequence is rivetingly well done with a very ominous score by Ramin Djawadi.
Jon doesn’t understand Dothraki, by the way.
Its first stop Westeros, next stop the world, and everything in it.
But Dany’s always gone about her power plays in a less heavy-handed fashion, to say the least.
Tyrion listens to this speech and knows he backed the wrong candidate.
He takes off his Hand pin to resign.
Dany brands him a traitor and has him imprisoned.
Jon:Jon visits Tyrion, who admits Varys was right all along.
Tyrion walks us through Dany’s murderous history like so many of us re-examined after episode 5.
Tyrion tells Jon he’s the realm’s only hope to stop her.
“She believes her destiny is to build a better world, she believed that.
If you believe that, wouldn’t you kill whoever stood between you and paradise?
…You are the shield that guards the realms of men.
Who is the greatest threat to the people now?”
Kit Harington is fantastic as well.
And Tyrion is his unofficially his Hand.
Throne Room:And here we go.
Jon approaches the ruins of the throne room and is blocked by Drogon emerging from a pile of snow.
(The dragon moments this season have been the best of the series.)
At first, we think Dany’s dragon isn’t going to let him pass, but he does.
In the throne room, we see Dany fulfilling her prophetic vision from season 2.
In her original vision, Daenerys didn’t touch the Iron Throne.
This time shedoestouch it.
She turns around and she isjust… about … to sit down…
And Jon enters.
The two have a heated conversation.
Jon is practically screaming.
She’s murdered children.
She’s killing prisoners.
Jon is looking for a reason to not do what he’s thinking of doing.
He’s looking for some degree of mercy in Daenerys, some measure of sanity.
Dany makes the case that the only people that really matter are herself and Jon.
Remember who used to say this?
“I know what is good and so do you,” she says.
“What about all the other people who think they know what’s good?”
“They don’t get to choose,” she says.
And that, I think, is what does it.
We hear a stab.
We don’t know for sure.
Dany, for sure, never expected it.
All these years, striving for one thing, and she’s so close.
And the great love of her life plunges in the knife.
Daenerys Targaryen dies in Jon Snow’s arms.
She’s wide-eyed, shocked, and fearful.
She looks like a girl who would never harm anyone.
Drogon knows what’s up and enters.
We think he’s going to annihilate Jon.
Once again, Drogon seems to know a bit more than everybody else.
How does, exactly, Drogon know to nuke the throne?
Why doesn’t he blast Jon?
Drogon knows Jon is a Targaryen and doesn’t consider him an enemy.
So Drogon instinctively picked up that this spiky chair is not a good thing.
Drogon sadly nuzzles his mother, and then flies away with her.
I suppose Jon could have lied (“Hey that dragon just flew off with Daenerys!").
Dragonpit:A time jump has occurred.
A few weeks at least, according to Tyrion.
We return to the summit spot from season 6.
The location is fitting.
The group debates who should be king.
But what would that look like in the finale, dramatically speaking?
A montage of a months-long election process with Flea Bottom citizens casting votes?
“From now on rulers will not be born, they will be chosen,” Tyrion declares.
“That is the wheel our queen wanted to break.”
As viewers, our head tilts when Tyrion claims Bran has the best story.Really?
But Tyrion would advocate for Bran.
Remember the book that Tyrion gave Joffrey at his ill-fated wedding?
Well, Bran knows all the knowledge of all the kings.
Is the BranBot 9000 actually developing a sense of humor?
Granted, Bran is not an inspirational choice.
He would give the dullest speeches (“Hi.
I’m the Three-Eyed Raven.
I mostly live in the past….").
One gets the impression such crowdwork isn’t really part of leading Westeros anyway.
There’s also something pretty boldly anti-fan service about picking Bran.
Make no mistake: TheGoTwriters fully realize many don’t like the character.
And the question of “Who will end up on the Iron Throne?”
has been part of the show’s storyline and marketing for years.
Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was Martin’s vision too.
Granted, the showrunners could have put whoever they wanted on the throne in the HBO version.
But the first chapter in Martin’s debutA Song of Ice and Firebook was from the perspective of Bran.
Fans speculated this meant Gendry (who has wielded a hammer-like weapon).
Subjects are supposed to kneel before kings and then can stand with permission.
Sansa refuses to vote for Bran.
It’s not entirely clear in the episode if Sansa wanted the Iron Throne or could have gotten it.
The group also has to decide what to do with Jon Snow.
Instead, Jon killed Daenerys.
Does this mean Jon Snow is Azor Ahai?
The Prince Who Was Promised who would stab his lover in the heart?
Grey Worm insists Jon must be punished.
They decide to send Jon to Castle Black to rejoin the Night’s Watch.
“No one is very happy which means it’s a good compromise I suppose,” Tyrion says.
“Was it right what we did?
It doesn’t feel right.”
And, of course, it shouldn’t.
Drogon:One dragon survivedGame of Thrones.
Drogon has wisely decided to fly off to do his own thing.
Small Council:The order of business of the realm continues.
Martin’s name for his saga of novels.
The book is a history of, well, this show (somehow leaving out Tyrion).
For Tyrion, this is the third time he’s been appointed the Hand.
We hope he’s learned his lessons.
We’re told he must make up for all his tragic makes over a lifetime of service.
We’re confident he will do so.
Her chronicle then concludes: “Died protecting his queen.”
you’re free to see the silent pain on Jaime’s face.
Arya:The Starks say goodbye at the docks.
The last time we’ll see them all together.
They are four lone wolves, once again.
Arya asks, “What’s west of Westeros?”
She wants to go explore.
Love the shot of her optimistically looking toward her future on the ship.
She’s a young girl who will travel the unknown world all by herself.
And we know Arya will be just fine.
Grey Worm:The Unsullied commander took a grim turn in the finale stretch.
He’s honoring the dream he and Missandei had together, only he has to do this without her.
One of them, at least, became truly free.
Sansa: We get a cool shot of a crown going on Sansa’s red hair in Winterfell.
Queen in the North!
Queen in the North!
Long may she reign.
“I suspect this will be many fan’s favorite moment of the finale.
We’ve seen so many characters crowned and then commit fatal missteps.
But Sansa has learned everything she needs to know to rule.
Her mother would be very proud.
Castle Black:Jon arrives at The Wall.
Direwolf schnuggies at last.
Jon going to The Wall brings him full circle.
In the end, Jon walks off with Wildlings.
How much this is punishment, exactly, seems to be a subject of debate.
How much punishment he deserves is another.
Knowing Jon Snow, he’ll probably punish himself plenty.
Westeros is in good hands.
Clarke is candid, hilarious, insightful, and heartbreaking.
It’s my favorite season 8 interview andyou can read it in full here.
Bran Stark speaks:Isaac Hempstead-Wright discusses the finale: “I’m king motherfkers!”
Also, delayed from last week and largely covering episode 5:Nikolaj Coster-Waldau explains Jaime Lannister’sfatefulGame of Thronesdecisions.
On our series finale podcast,Darren Franich and I discuss “The Iron Throne.”
We also have more to come tonight, Monday, and beyond.
Tweet the answer #sweepstakes and #EWGOTFINALE to @EW.
