Been drinkin' and thinkin' about Game of Thrones' finale. I loved it. Here's why.

[ancianita]

Just thought I'd put this out there, for better or worse...

Game of Thrones' ending is what life actually is -- not everyone gets exactly what they want for all their suffering, but everyone gets equality of free will and peace through compromise.

Expecting storybook ending, or one of "blood, drama and tears" is a child's view of story endings. Life isn't neatly wrapped up as are stories for children, and neither is the future. Adults realize that the best stories help them cope with life.

GOT's ending shows that the Game of Thrones was one of blood revenge for previous wrongs, crimes and betrayals, and Loyalty as the highest good. GOT showed the morality of old world kingdoms, even of those who wanted to "liberate" good people who'd follow them.

Drogon melted the symbol of all that.

The finale made sure the following were resolved from old testament-style "justice" to new testament-style mercy and forgiveness:

1. What Danaerys' told Jon Snow of the future -- her idea of "liberation" by death for "good people" who "don't get to choose" -- her destruction of Kings' Landing was the 'tell.'

2. The deaths of all the revenge driven leaders, who lived by the "Game" ended their game.

3. The decision that no more leaders existed by accident of birth but by the free will decisions of representatives of The People created a transition away from 'the game.'

4. Tyrion's claim that powerful stories never die, and that Bran had the best story and knowledge of the kingdoms, reassured that visionary leadership can guide power.

It was Bran who knew that free will had to rule at the end. Because Bran knew freedom across the kingdoms would have to be based on that, my interpretation stands that this ending was best.

The finale made sure to show that the story, "Game of..." history wasn't just old history, or the end of history, but the beginning of a new world herstory of rule by respect for everyone's free will and equality.

Bran's assent to Sansa and Grey Worm was given out of respect their free wills, and a model of keeping peace through compromise. So was Jon Snow's compromise.

The whole "wheel is broken" thing, along with Tyrions's speech about the power of story, were the two keys to understanding how the morality of free will, mercy and forgiveness are better than the "game" morality of force and revenge.

This story, going forward -- of a new, "broken" king who transitions six kingdoms away from the old morality of 'born' leadership -- is a great ending. The real drama of life is governing oneself wisely, not dramatically.

I thought GOT was emotional, powerful, and thoughtful -- Game of Thrones itself was part and parcel of Tyrion's speech about the power of story.

Humans really prefer stories -- lies that tell the truth -- over straight truth. This is what Game of Thrones did.

It's up to the followers of that story to finally "get it."

[Catamount]

1. Thank you

So good to see your opinion and I am totally with you!

K&R

[ancianita]

3. Hey there! I got kinda sick of the moaning/groaning the last coupla days.

[PoliticAverse]

4. Well...

Jon Snow's story was much, much better than Bran's (which is why his character got so much more screen time).

Bran is "The Three Eyed Raven" = all seeing and all knowing - big brother is king.

P.S. The books will likely have a somewhat different ending.

[ancianita]

5. But he's really not. Bran, one or two episodes ago, explicitly said he could not see the future.

People, I think, need to get that fact check.

I'll elaborate, if you like.

[PoliticAverse]

6. "Why do you think I came all this way?" - Bran.

[ancianita]

7. I hear you. I prefer the interpretation that he told the truth.

That last line is the Big Bone of Contention about Bran.

I'm not going to interpret him as dishonest, since he would never have suffered as much as he did to just be the Three-Eyed Raven. You have to look back at the evidence.

My take is that we'll really never know whether or not he was lying all along. But more evidence points to the opposite than to your claim.

Bran revealed key history that changed Jon Snow and the family. But Bran never said one thing about the future to anyone. We all have glimpses of the future, but there aren't enough for us to control whether, when or if it even happens. In past episodes we only see what Bran was seeing while it was happening.

He could stay calm because knowing everything that's happening is knowing that it's supposed to happen. Knowing is seeing what's real. The futures of men are guided by their free will decisions and how they move forward or backward with them.

I prefer the interpretation that he told the truth, AND what he said to Tyrion was a function of his Being totally in the Now, so that, as a brother to the Stark women, he'd, of course, come all that way to be there. As did they all. Note that his last words to Jon Snow's apology was that Snow was "exactly where he was supposed to be."

[PoliticAverse]

8. We won't really know until such time as the books are released (if ever). n/t

[ancianita]

9. What? His Fire and Ice series was published back in 1991. Not sure I get your meaning.

Benioff and Weiss bought the rights to develop plots beyond the first book of the series.

Are you saying they'd have book versions of their TV series? It wouldn't be a first, but I'd be surprised if they did it, if that's what you're referring to.

[PoliticAverse]

10. They've been working closely with GRRM and he's guided them as to "where things were going"

in the final 2 books. This doesn't mean the books and the TV series will exactly track, but I do suspect the books
will give us more insight. Here's Martin's latest comments on the books vs TV series: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/george-rr-martin-writes-real-035902307.html

[ancianita]

11. I see. Thanks. If anything, series like this encourage more reading, like other movie and TV works.

[happybird]

12. I've been mulling it over

Didn't love or hate the last episode and have been trying to sort out how I really feel. Conclusion: I'm okay with it.

At first I was underwhelmed by everything being tied up in a neat bow and had a strong feeling of "that's it?!" A few days later, I am feeling:

I love the Starks and am glad they all got happy endings. Even Jon did. I think he'll ultimately be happier north of the Wall. He was happy there before, he's got Tormond and Ghost with him, they'll be able make a good, simple life up there. And I will speculate that after a few years pass, the half who are angry with him will settle down and Jon will probably be able to quietly visit his people in Winterfell.

I think what bothered me was how short season 8 was. It felt like we were rushed to the conclusion. But I am happy with the ending and being able to imagine the lives they will go on to lead.

[ancianita]

13. Short season, but don't forget, every episode was the length of a short feature film. There's that.

I also like how you envision the future for Jon Snow.