Game of Thrones, “The Iron Throne”, Review!

The Battle of King’s Landing is over, but it was ended by Daenerys Targaryen and her dragon Drogon.  The madness of the Targaryen line was established very early on with the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen overthrown by Robert Baratheon, Daenerys is his daughter.  Then, he had Viserys Targaryen and we know his fate.  The seeds of her madness was shown, her lack of mercy with the Tarlys, and also her threat to Tyrion Lannister not to betray her.  We might think oh yeah, the Tarlys were a threat to her, and maybe Dany was not serious about Tyrion, but you have to go back to Viserys and his threat not to not “wake the dragon”, Cersei had done so with Missendei, the turn and look in Daenerys’ face, she woke the dragon.  Unthinking, unreasonable, pure rage, this is the legacy of the Targaryen.  The point of the series is to defy expectations so nothing is safe.  This is the end of Game of Thrones after eight seasons.  The finale is written and directed by the series creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.  

GAME OF THRONES -- “The Iron Throne” -- MAISIE WILLIAMS, ISAAC HEMPSTEAD WRIGHT, SOPHIE TURNER -- Macall B. Polay/HBO. 

Tyrion is walking in the devastation of the former King’s Landing small fires still burn, but it is a war zone.  He walks past a man covered in soot.  Tyrion sees the symbol of the horse left by the child, also Jon Snow, and Davos Seaworth are there.  He wants to go by himself into the ruins of the Red Keep.  Grey Worm condemns the remaining soldiers to die, but Jon and Davos want to spare them as prisoners.  Jon holds Grey Worms arm and it is a stand off.  Davos and Jon go to talk with Daenerys as Grey Worm slits the throats of the soldiers.  Tyrion walks the map floor covered with rubble.  He takes a torch down steps and sees the passageway sealed.  Tyrion walks on a pile of stone and sees the gold hand of his brother.  He removes stones and sees the face of Jaime Lannister and cries as he takes away the stones.  Jaime’s body is over that of Cersei Lannister’s corpse.  

Arya Stark is in the city and sees the gathering of horses ridden by the victorious army.  Jon walks through them solemnly, up to a hallway with the Targaryen banner.  The Unsullied are at attention and Jon sees Grey Worm as Drogon flies overhead.  He walks up the steps and sees Daenerys Targaryen, Drogon unfolds his wings and flies off, so she truly looks like the dragon queen in black.  Queen Daenerys walks to see the cheers of the Dothraki riders cheering for her and the Unsullied quietly waiting.  She thanks them and Drogon roars.  Daenerys makes Grey Worm her commander and Master of War.  She is smiling, enjoying it, and then goes to thank the Unsullied.  They stomp their spears in response.  She wants to bring the entire world under her rule.  Arya watches her from below. 

Tyrion sees this with a dark look.  He leaves Jon and walks towards Daenerys.  She says that he has freed Jaime and he says she slaughtered King’s Landing.  He throws away his Hand pin.  Daenerys orders Tyrion taken away.  He eyes Jon as he passes him.  Daenerys passes Jon silently.  Then, Arya is by his side.  She tells him that Jon is a threat to Daenerys because of his true heritage.  Jon puts aside his sword and sees Tyrion.  Jon is told that Tyrion would betray her again and says that the war is not over.  He admits that Varys was right.  Tyrion says Cersei and his father Tywin’s casulaties doesn’t equal Daenery’s kills.  His words seem to reach Jon and he sits down confronted with the burden Tyrion has given him.  Jon reaffirms his loyalty to the queen.  Then, Tyrion mentions his sisters, and forces Jon to make a choice.  Jon walks away and a what appears to be a snow hill is really Drogon who shrugs the snow away and rests.  Jon walks into a hall and all is darkness.  

GAME OF THRONES -- “The Iron Throne” -- KIT HARINGTON -- Helen Sloan/HBO. 

Daenerys walks out of the darkness to see the ruins of the Red Keep and the Iron Throne open to the air and snow.  She walks towards it and is entranced by the legacy made by Aegon I Targaryen out of the swords that opposed him in uniting the Seven Kingdoms.  This was in the recent Fire & Blood novel.  Jon sees her there and Daenerys tells the story told by Viserys and the  thousand swords.  He is angry about the innocent lives.  She tells him about the people used by Cersei and he tries to have her show mercy on Tyrion and others.  Daenerys thinks this all for a “good world” that she knows will happen.  Jon says she is his queen and kisses her.  There is a stabbing and Daenerys falls.  His dagger is in her chest and Jon cries over her body.  Daenerys is able to touch the Iron Throne, but never sits upon it.  

Drogon roars and appears behind Jon.  He steps back from Drogon over Daenerys’ body.  He screeches and roars unfolding his wings then breathes fire in rage.  It melts the Iron Throne!  The things and traditions of the past are gone and the world needs to be rebuilt for peace.  Drogon lowers his head and Jon sees the remains of the Iron Throne.  Jon sees Drogon fly away with Daenerys’ body into the stormy skies.  This reminds me of Genghis Khan, since Dothraki remind me of his Mongols, his body was hidden like Daenerys.  Darkness.  We see Tyrion’s face, contemplating, he rises up to be taken away by Grey Worm and the Unsullied in chains.  He is taken to the arena, there is Arya, Bran, Sansa, Brienne, and Davos sitting before him.  I think this is Bran's first time at King's Landing.  

Sansa wants to know where is Jon and Grey Worm says he is their prisoner.  Also there is Yara Greyjoy who says Daenerys freed them from a tyrant and Jon killed her.  Arya threatens Yara.  Davos tries to calm things down.  He says The Reach is a good place for the Unsullied.  Tyrion tries to speak to Grey Worm.  He wants the assembled to choose a king or queen.  Grey Worm says that they can choose.  The first to speak is Edmure Tully (Tobias Menzies) and Sansa says he should sit.  Samwell eyes the insult.  He brings up that it shouldn’t be the Great Houses.  The others laugh at his suggestion.  No democracy here.  Davos asks Tyrion’s choice.  Tyrion says it is stories that unite nations and he says it is Bran since he knows all histories.  

Of course, they all know that Jon Snow is Aegon Targaryen, son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, but his placement on the throne would be disruptive with the Unsullied in power.  Sansa says he cannot have children and Tyrion says that this is good.  He wants a ruler chosen by the Westros lords and ladies.  The wheel that Daenerys wanted to break.  He goes to Bran and asks him if he will take the crown.  Bran says, “Why do you think I came all this way?”  Tyrion seconds it.  No one answers.  Samwell nods, then other lords say, “Aye”, Gendry, Davos, Brienne, and then it is Sansa.  She declares that the North will be independent.  Bran nods.  Arya smiles.  Tyrion says, “All hail Bran the Broken.”  This is a great moment and everyone assembles proclaims him.  What will be his throne?   Bran says Tyrion will be his Hand.  Tyrion says he was misguided and unwise.  Bran says Tyrion will spend his life fixing his mistakes.  

GAME OF THRONES -- “The Iron Throne” -- PETER DINKLAGE -- Macall B. Polay/HBO. 

Jon is told by Tyrion that is to be sent to the Night’s Watch.  Grey Worm accepts the sentence.  Jon feels remorse about his decision.  Tyrion says, “Ask me again in ten years.”  This repeats the scene from their leaving from Winterfell.  Jon steps out in this cloak.  The black-sailed ships start to leave King’s Landing.  He passes Grey Worm on his ship.  Grey Worm sets the destination for the Isle of Naath which was the former home of Missandei.  It is a sad ending for Grey Worm who lives with hate, but maybe he can find peace there.  Jon sees Sansa who tries to apologize with Arya and Bran there.  She hugs her brother.  He tells Arya to go to Castle Black.  She says she is headed to the unknown west of Westeros.  Interesting, her violence might be tamed out sailing the seas so everyone who is a killer is dead, in exile, or exploring away from Westeros.  Jon asks if she has Needle and then hugs her.  

Then, he bends the knee before King Bran, and tries to apologize.  Jon heads to the boat to take him to the Night’s Watch.  Darkness, it moves to a room where Ser Brienne looks over a book until she sees Ser Jaime Lannister.  She finishes his story with “Died protecting his Queen” and closes the book.  Tyrion walks up to the chair of the Hand.  He sits in it and sees the empty chairs which turns to face each other.  A door opens and Tyrion takes his chair again.  Bronn, Davos, and Samwell presents Tyrion with a book, A Song of Ice and Fire.  Samwell says Tyrion is not in the book.  He moves away the book as King Bran is brought in by Ser Brienne.  He says that there are positions to fill.  

Samwell says that Drogon was headed east.  Bran says he thinks he can find Drogon.  Ser Poderick, now Kingsguard, is about to take him away and there are hails by the assembled.  Tyrion asks Bronn, Master of Coin, for help feeding the people and Davos to help rebuild.  Tyrion asks of the clean water from the Grand Maester, Samwell.  Bronn and Samwell argue over the reconstruction of brothels.  I love the twist of having sensibility with the Small Council, not conspiring members, but advisors who work for the good of the people.  The Wall, a horn is sounded, Jon rides up and gates of Castle Black open.  Inside is Tormund Giantsbane who watches Jon’s entry.  The gates close.  Swords are given to Arya and maps unrolled.  She walks to the top deck while Jon sees the assembled Night’s Watch and the Wildings.  There is interesting shifts to each of the Starks.  

Sansa walks to the bowed heads.  Arya passes sailors.  There is Ghost, not a great part, but at least he is there.  The wolf head masthead of Arya’s ship passes as we see her look out to the sea.  Sansa is given her crown and takes her throne.  The Queen of the North is hailed with swords.  Arya’s ship passes with the Stark banner on its sail.  Jon goes riding out with Ghost and Tormund.  There is a green plant as the Wildings follow them.  The gate closes behind them.  Jon rides on as we hear a choral version of the theme song.  The Wildings head into the forest.  After all of the wars, it is almost a hopeful ending, but bittersweet.  I'm interested in how George R.R. Martin will finish A Song of Fire and Ice. 

Five Shards of Dragonglass out of Five! 

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