Game Of Thrones
After reforging the landscape of telecasting , Game of Thronesseason 8 odd fans frustrated and confused — and was , by most accounts , a lackluster ending to the epic series . George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice & Firebooks always enjoyed cult popularity , but the stories reached immense mainstream succeeder through the HBO adaptation . Game of Throneswas deeply political , visually groundbreaking ceremony , and featured an impressive cast of characters . However , when the show arrived at its shortened but extremely anticipated conclusion , Game of Thronesseason 8 allow a passel of buff down .
The story of Westeros start out bigger with eachseason and as much asGame of Thronesappeared invincible in the ratings , the serial was also critically untouchable for much of its run . There was an unprecedented level of expectation leading up to season 8 , and with Martin ’s rule book incomplete , the ending ofGame of Throneswas a intimately guard secret . biz of Thronesseason 8 faced the unimaginable task of satisfying consultation completely , but no one expect the closing to fail quite as spectacularly as it did . Looking back , a variety of ingredient led to the flawed final season ofGame of Thrones .
Game of Thrones season 8 was divisive , but David Benioff and D.B. Weiss ' original plan for how to finish the HBO show would ’ve been much worse .
Game Of Thrones Needed More Seasons
The Frantic Pace Of Season 8 Devastated Many Storylines
There are several problems withGame of Thronesseason 8 , but the majority delineate back to one unarguable trueness : the series needed much more time to arrive at a natural finish . The finish ofGame of Throneswas announced well in approach , with check coming while time of year 6 was still on the gentle wind . After audiences discovered only two season of Westeros action stay , they by and by learned those last season would also comprise a shorter installment reckoning , and this make concern since there was so much ground yet to cover at the clip .
With the acclaim of season 6 , many cave in Benioff and Weiss the welfare of the incertitude , but those initial apprehension try out justified . Since its launching time of year , Game of Throneshad been a ho-hum build , spending time cautiously craft characters , interweaving their narratives , and exploring dissimilar parts of Martin ’s illusion world . While this measured pace could sometimes be frustrating , it was actually one of the show’sgreatest strengths , giving the tale and the colorfulcast ofGame of Thronescharactersroom to mature organically .
… the breakneck pacing took off the deepness that help makeGame of Thronesso successful
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By line , Game of Thronesseason 8 felt like a mad rush to the polish line . Drastically upping the step , main histrion zoom around the function in record time , while the gripping character interactionsGame of Throneswas once renowned for were curtailed to make room for plot .
Not only is the gear chemise incredibly jarring , but the breakneck tempo took away the depth that helped makeGame of Thronesso successful , substitute it with trivial scenes geared alone towards report the narration priming coat . George R.R. Martin himself has even admitted surprisal thatGame of Thronesended when it did , claiming he expect the serial would need to function far longer .
The Game Of Thrones TV Series Overtook The Books
The Lack Of Source Material Became A Problem Before Season 8
Even beforeGame of Thronesseason 8 , the show was start to stumble . There ’s aclear correlational statistics betweenGame of Thrones ' pearl in quality and the moment the HBO series overtook its source material . Benioff and Weiss never sought to adapt Martin ’s books direct . Even in the early seasons , there are moments , characters , and storylines that deviate considerably . However , Game of Thronesfollows each major part of the Quran and retains Martin ’s graphic symbol delineate . It accept an incredibly elaborate and widespread series of novel and load it into a cohesive , but still rich , TV story .
alas , the duo was less successful when left to their own equipment in finishing the tarradiddle . It ’s impossible not to comment the point where Martin ’s storytelling ends . The shocking narrative twists of earlier seasons give way to awkward try at debauch expectation , such as the minute whenArya shoot down the Night King . destruction that provoked months of discussion became I that lacked emotional impact .
The intricate plotting became more direct , with season 8 moving from level A to point B without subtlety or good will . Game of Thronesseason 8 took the brunt of the antiaircraft gun , but the show ’s declination can actually be trace back further . The more original cloth that seeped into the scripts , the more flaw embark on to come out .
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
Characters Stopped Acting Like Themselves
The Rush Time And Lack Of Source Material Added To The Misused Characters
One massive trouble audience had withGame of Thronesseason 8 waswhen their pet characters all of a sudden stopped acting like their favorite characters . The most frequently cited exercise of such repugnance isDany ’s decimation of King ’s Landing .
While the Mother of Dragons had always harbor an inner wickedness bubbling beneath the surface , she continue a staunch admirer in time of year 8 , and her conclusion to glow innocent people alive seemed to come out of nowhere . The combined triggers of a frail ego , a lust for power , and genetic destiny were all present but certainly did n’t add up to the level of carnage Dany unleashed , allow many to outcry foul .
Jon Snow went from being one of the most compelling chassis on television set to an nonoperational characterwho simply watched the events of the final time of year unfold and did nothing to lead until the moment he shoot down Daenerys in the final instalment . Game of Thrones ' Jon Snow had many standout moment throughout the series , but it ’s severalize that none of them are in the final season , which should have been his time of resplendence .
Cersei and Jaime ’s destruction also turn up in particular divisive among viewers , with the general consensus take that neither engender the end they deserved and neither move in a way their various arcs had been build towards . When the level writing pen is reach from one to another , there are switching in reference , and the lack of books to guide the TV serial publication made the mentally ill characterisation prominent . The need to wrap thing up within two season play a considerable part in this .
The termination ofGame of Thrones , with Jon Snow vote out Daenerys and Bran sit down on the toilet , is n’t problematic in itself , it just had n’t been sufficiently build up towards . With more episodes , Dany ’s nefarious turn and Bran ’s royal rise could ’ve been develop gradually and betoken carefully , making the eventual liberal minute less confusing and contrive .
Game Of Thrones Season 8 Made Needless Mistakes
Small Errors Added To The Messy Feel Of The Final Season
Some of theGame of Thronesseason 8 problems were not easygoing to avoid . More seasons would ’ve been influenced by budget constraint , talent contract , and non - creative factors . The government issue of depleted source material also ca n’t be repose at the threshold of Benioff and Weiss . Even old age after the series ended , theupdates onThe Winds of Winterhave suggest the book serial publication will not continue anytime before long . It would ’ve been unrealistic to hesitate the television series until Martin resign more books , so the decision to move into original content was a necessary , if ultimately prejudicial , one .
Visual faux pas can be found throughoutGame of Thrones , but these seemed more frequent than before , contributing to a general sense of soupiness compare to past seasons .
The Battle of Winterfell , which should have been the proficient engagement inGame of Thrones , was disappointing to many rooter who complain the darkness of the episode mean they could n’t see what was happening . There is alsothe ill-famed Starbucks coffee cup seen in one season 8 scene . While not a huge flaw , it became a symbol of season 8 ’s messy execution .
optical gaffe can be found throughoutGame of Thrones , but these seemed more frequent than before , contributing to a ecumenical good sense of sloppiness compared to past time of year . As for the story and patch , the chronological succession of events in theGame of Thronesfinale feel haphazard and poorly planned .
Major Plot Points Never Paid Off
The Show Abandoned Key Storylines After Years Of Build-Up
When modern TV audiences utter about the succeeder or otherwise of a finale , they do n’t quantify in terms of spectacle , dramatic event , or excitement , but in satisfaction . Long - running series are an investment of fourth dimension and emotion on the part of an audience , and ifthat effort is n’t paid off by the end , the intact journeying can feel like a senseless exercise . By this measurement , Game of Thronesseason 8 was certainly a failure , as so many once - important plot points fell by the wayside .
The gravid victim of this was the long - run mystery of Jon Snow ’s parentage . Among book readers , the R+L = J theory was central to the series for year , with Jon ’s Targaryen heritage easily the biggest point of discussion at the oddment of each time of year . Sadly , Jon being a Targaryenhad no encroachment on theGame of Thronesending . The heroic illegitimate of Winterfell retain to be deny his birthright , and even after Daenerys died , Jon go North to live out his days far from King ’s landing place — an ending that would ’ve played out the same regardless of his parent .
The grandness of the Night King and his fall back symbol was fleetly dealt with in a exclusive episode . Bran and the Three - Eyed Raven remained a sizable unknown , many of the series ' prophecies went unrealised , the entire Dorne tale was abandoned , the mysterious cloak Quaith in season 2 was n’t expand upon , and the fate of Daenerys ' settlements in Essos stay ambiguous .
Game of Thronesending lose spate of the show ’s historyfor a reactive approach , ticking off what it could and discount the rest , and this leave a large chunk of the hearing feeling like the questions they ’d been meditate for 8 time of year had all been for zilch .
The Game of Thrones ending was get together with scandalization from devotee and critics , yet there are still large scenes in season 7 and 8 that merit praise .
Season 8 Made Earlier Seasons Of Game Of Thrones Worse
It Makes Rewatching The Show A Chore
A large exit withGame of Thronesseason 8 is not just that it was a disappointing finish for the beloved series , but that it retroactively ruined previous season . Therushed and nonsensical plot destroyed other established storylinessuch as Jon Snow ’s faceoff with the Night King . The Night King proved himself a threat in the agonising Hardhome attack and the final moment of him and Jon gaze each other down promised an epical showdown . Arya ’s attainment made her a scourge but her story was more tied to kill Cersei rather than the Night King/
Among the main characters inGame of Thronesseason 8 , Jon Snow make out the bad . Once the unquestioned hero of the series , he ended up aimless . He spent much of the final season learn thing occur instead of taking part in them , which madeJon ’s previous Resurrection of Christ inGame of Thronesseason 6 finger all the more nonmeaningful .
The fake - out decease of who many felt was the main character of the show feel gimmicky at the time , but fans hoped it would at least have a significant impact on Jon ’s story going forward . The net season prove what many rooter feared ; that the show did n’t have a good reason for bringing Jon back .
The arc that was the most atrocious to see become undone was that of Jaime Lannister . The show pulled off something over-the-top with Jaime who was the most hated character on the show from the first episode . The more that was revealed about him , the more complex he became , seen as a mankind who made plenitude of mistakes but was on a path to save his reputation and prove himself a rightful knight .
The most of import pace in that journeying was finally admitting Cersei was evil and leaving her which he did at the conclusion of season 7 . The fact thatGame of Thronesseason 8 send him back to her to die suggests they never understood his character .
How House Of The Dragon Sidesteps Game Of Thrones S8’s Problems
The Prequel Series Adapts One Of Martin’s Completed Books
House of the Dragonseems poised to avoid the military issue withGame of Thronesseason 8 ending for a few reasons . Unlike its predecessor show , House of the Dragonis based on a book that Martin already finish — 2018’sFire and Blood . This mean that regardless of how long the show end up running for and how many bulk ofFire and Bloodit adapts , the series will never have to invent original material to accomplish a complete ending .
This does n’t mean it wo n’t take creative liberty , but the fatal flaw ofGame of Thronesseason 8 throw up its own write up in stead of waitress for Martin can be avoid . Another significant issue with theGame of Thronesfinale — the step on it pace , discrepant travel speeds , and extremely mirky metre jumps — wo n’t be as big an issue withHouse of the Dragon , sinceFire and Bloodalready accounts for such leaps as part of its story .
Because the show follow many generation of Targaryen successors , zeroing in onthe Targaryen civil war , it ’s inherently large-minded in scope thanGame of Thrones , which imply that big story stroke are woven into its fabric from the beginning . This has help oneself the pacing delay reproducible throughout and quash theGame of Thronespitfall of get up too much into the ending .
HotD Is Retroactively Adding Weight To GoT Moments
The Prequel Shed New Light On Controversial Ideas
Some ofGame of Thrones’weird moment have been expounded upon byHouse of the Dragon , further pulling audiences into the lore and talkative macrocosm that George R.R. Martin has make . House of the Dragonhas almost all reframed its parent series , tot a new perspective to crucial function of Westerosi history such as the Targaryen family , their reign before the events ofGoT , and , especially , what the Seven Kingdoms were like when dragons rule the skies in larger numbers . One path the two serial publication are connected overall is through Aegon ’s dream , aka " A Song of Ice and Fire . "
Game of Thronesstory is foreshadowed when King Viserys gives Rhaenyra the catspaw dagger that almost obliterate Bran Stark , and explain she must keep the realm together to confront the upcoming threat from the far north , the White Walkers . Thecatspaw dagger and Aegon ’s dreamare the thread that hold the series together , make a solid connection betweenGame of ThronesandHouse of the Dragon .
Another here and now reframed byHouse of the Dragonis when Jon Snow is spared by Drogon , even after call for Daenerys Targaryen ’s life . Game of Thronesscratched the control surface with dragon lore and barely touched upon the connective that dragons have with their rider . House of the Dragonexpands upon dragon lore , featuring 16 dragons , with most of them having a passenger . Daenerys ' connectedness to her firedrake makes sense in the context ofHotD , specially with prospect like Laena Velaryon attempt to force Vhagar to kill her .
The prequel serial publication explains dragons are more well-informed and nuanced than they are shown to be inGoT , pretend Drogon ’s mercifulness towards Jon Snow less absurd . Daenerys Targaryen ’s heritage is also reframed byHouse of the Dragon . When she is usher in , her brother ’s diatribes about the former glory of their house sound like the grumble of a maniac — butHotDproves how prolific their reign was .
Rhaenyra says that Targaryens are closer to gods than to men , and their control over the dragon prove this bold statement . Viserys ' ramblings inGame of Thronesand his sister ’s doggedness to put her family name back on the Iron Throne make much more sense in light ofHouse of the Dragon .
The Targaryens had quite a successful time ruling Westeros for many generations , and Daenerys ' readiness to put the Targaryens back in charge may find more support from consultation upon a rewatch . So , despiteGame of Thronesseason 8 being a huge letdown , at leastHouse of the Dragonis making some of those strange moments more digestible .
Game of Thrones time of year 8 was controversial , but HBO ’s programme for House of the Dragon season 2 and beyond could make the enfranchisement large than ever .
George RR Martin Had Little Input On Season 8
While the complaint that David Benioff and Dan " D.B. " Weiss had no source stuff forGame of Thronesseason 8 , some might marvel why they did n’t verbalize more to George RR Martin about the upcoming episodes and where the story was heading . Surely , they need to keep the mind from the author in head when finishing his story on HBO . However , it release out they did n’t inconvenience oneself as Martin said he was " out of the loop " by the close ( viaNew York Times ) .
When asked , George RR Martin said he wasnot involved much preceding time of year 5 . In the final two season , he was whole out of the depiction . It also was n’t by pick , asMartin said if anyone wanted to know why he had no idea , they would " have to ask Dan and David . "
This has all changed withHouse of the Dragon , where Martin has a topographic point at the planning board , reading scripts , sitting in on meeting , and previewing early cuts . If anyone need to see what the shows would look like with Martin involve , HotDwill give them a lot good look than the end ofGame of Thrones .
What David Benioff & D.B. Weiss Said About Game Of Thrones Season 8
The GoT Showrunners Are Well Aware Of The Finale’s Backlash
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss were the creative core of HBO’sGame of Thrones , being the showrunners from season ’s 1 to 8 and working intimately with George R.R. Martin to insure the Seven Kingdoms made it to the small screenland without losing what make up theA Song Of Ice And Firenovels so democratic . While it has n’t been a hinderance to either of their careers in the time since , it ’s also clear thatGame of Thronesseason 8 was far from a highlighting in their filmography .
While it took several years , in 2024 the duo finally spoke out on the immense repercussion toGame of Thronesseason 8 and pass on their perspective and thoughts and the final season . Speaking toTHR , David Benioff revealed that , for a long prison term , he was fabulously troubled at one point by the negative reaction to the final season ofGame of Thrones :
“ You always desire everyone ’s choke to screw anything you do and it would ’ve been great if 100 percent of masses loved it , but they did n’t . you could get so bogged down in public opinion that you pass your whole life googling things and trying to see hoi polloi who felt one room or the other way . ”
However , D.B. Weiss did append that , despite the online backlash , fans in real life story have been nothing but supportive . The pair have gratefully never get anything that echoes the on-line perniciousness when meeting devotee offline and discussingGame of Thronesseason 8 :
" There ’s an rudimentary decency when people recognize you as a person and vice versa . There ’s something that happen in the changeover from human interaction to online that crowd thing in a specifically aggro direction . ”
In the time sinceGame of Thrones , David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have gone on to create display like Netflix’s3 Body Problem . The net season distinctly did n’t hamper their careers , and it also , thankfully , does n’t seem to have led to any hard real - world confrontation . However , the twosome are also acutely aware of the online literary criticism , and it ’s incredibly likely the sub - par response to the last season ofGame of Throneswill always be a consideration when creating conclusion for succeeding undertaking .
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Based on George R. R. Martin ’s on-going A Song of Ice and Fire novel serial , Game of Thrones is a phantasy drama set in the fictional Continent of Westeros and Essos . It follows imposing family like the Starks , Lannisters , and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead predominate in the North . The serial received significant critical succeeder and pile up a loyal fan base due to its high yield values , sprawling sets , iconic quality , and shocking twists .
