And Now Our Watch Has Ended (Until I Binge Watch From Season 1 Again!)
Game of Thrones, arguably one of the biggest shows that has ever been made, has come to an end. No other show of this genre has become a part of the social zeitgeist in the way Game of Thrones has (or truly divided opinion on how a show of this caliber could end). I personally thought the final episode was perfect!
In my opinion, the best way to watch Game of Thrones is not watching it as seasons but watching it as a whole entity. A month before the show’s final season, I rewatched from season one as a reminder of the story that brought us to where we were today. What struck me most, the more you watch it, the more you learn of the complex and (at times) complicated arcs of the many amazing characters that have been explored throughout. One of the ‘shocking twists’ of the final season is that of Danaerys Targaryen. We’ve been led to believe, as an audience, that Dany was the show’s heroine- the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. But the genius of the show is that rather than watching the rise of a hero, we’ve been watching the rise of a villain. Yet that statement in itself is complicated. Even after watching Dany torch King’s Landing and the thousands of innocents who lived there, there’s still a sense of sadness when Jon kills her. Dany believed she was always doing good. In her eyes, she was Westeros’ liberator. Benioff and Weiss are true masters of the “Easter egg” and they left hints throughout the show of Dany’s questionable actions. I’m sure, now that the show is over, going back and watching again will unveil many more subtext for not only Dany but also the entire cast of characters.
The further genius of the show comes from the ability to tell a story without ever telling the story. Characters can come and go, and as an audience, we’re able to fill in the backstory. Now that the show is over, we’re left to imagine the future of this incredible cast of characters. I imagine Sansa ruling the North and being the beloved Queen she’d hoped to be. I imagine Tyrion leading the small council while drinking wine and putting the world to rights. I imagine Arya discovering the new world and finally finding her place in it. And Jon beyond the wall. He never wanted to be a Lord or King. He is free from his name, his houses. He can start anew as Jon Snow because his name all along was an indication of where he felt most at home.
The final episode was also a beautiful piece of cinematography- a master class of imagery. From the shot of Dany, Mother of Dragons, with the dragon wings behind her (EPIC!) to the final montage of the Starks (the focus on each of the items that had defined the Stark children throughout the show- Arya’s needle, John’s sword, Sansa’s regalia). They were the first family we met in Game of Thrones so it’s fitting the finale ended with a focus on the Stark family- “the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.” I’m not ashamed to say I wept uncontrollably (and if you didn’t jump up and scream with delight when the Northmen chanted, “Queen of the North,” we’ve been watching a different show).
The greatest takeaway from the finale is Tyrion’s speech on storytelling. “There’s nothing more powerful than a good story”, is not only true for the characters within Game of Thrones, but to our experience as an audience. With this speech, we’re reminded that Game of Thrones has been an epic exploration of storytelling.
