Game of Thrones: The Real Ending
This post contains Game of Thrones spoilers, Erica. If you're not done with the show:
I'm a recap girl. Any time I start bingeing a new show, I love to find a funny blogger who's recapped said show and then read each episode's recap immediately after watching the episode.
It all started when I watched Gilmore Girls and came across Last Ditch Effort. Her recaps seriously had me cracking up, and I actually started to look forward to them even more than the actual episodes.
"Oh man, I can't wait to see what Jen has to say about this," I'd think to myself as I shoveled popcorn down my throat in a dark room with the blinds drawn on a beautiful day.
I continued my recap-reading tradition through The Affair, A Handmaid's Tale, The Act, You -- oh, wow. I am into some messed up shows, huh? -- and, most recently, Game of Thrones.
I'll admit, toward the beginning, I was more reading the GOT recaps because I was so. damn. confused. But once I got a grip of the characters and their weird names -- as well as their history, family politics, incestuous relationships, etc. -- I read the recaps for pleasure because there were always funny little nuggets to break up the violence and horror of the show.
But this blog post isn't called "Recaps."
When my GOT recapper started mentioning that people were worried Dany would become mad (I believe this was around season 4 or 5), I didn't get it. He didn't either, to be fair. He said he found it far-fetched and unlikely. So when it started happening in season 8, I was shocked and so sad because Dany is my girl.
I was all, "WHAAAAT? She becomes mad??? The girl who has spent the past few years burning people alive, crucifying them, locking them in vaults to starve to dea--oh. Yeah, I guess that makes sense."
You just didn't see it coming! Because all the people she was doing these things to were bad people! As Tyrion said, we all cheered her on through it all without stopping to think, "How is this person we all think is so wonderful and fit to rule Westeros capable of such horrifying acts?"
No, we were like, "Yeah, girl! Dracarys! Kill 'em all!"
So, yeah, I totally see it now. I can see how she was capable of such destruction. "BUT SHE HAD NEVER HARMED INNOCENTS." Shhh, shh, it's ok. I know. But here she is after years of training and fighting and proving herself time and time again all in the name of the iron throne, and as soon as she gets to Westeros she's faced with how alone she truly is. And it's only magnified by how loved and adored Jon Snow is.
She said it herself: A ruler needs to be loved or feared. She knew she wasn't loved here like she was by the people she had freed back in Slavers Bay or Dragons Bay or whatever it's called now.
"Let it be fear then."
You can see the devastation in her face when the bells start ringing. Homegirl needed a release, and unfortunately she chose to dracarys her way to it. (I am not in any way condoning what she did, but I think we can all agree that Emilia Clarke is a fantastic actor who portrayed Dany's emotions perfectly in this scene - and throughout the entire series. How can you not love Dany when she's played by Emilia?)
Let us also not forget that at this point, she has lost two of her dragons, at least half of her army and three of her most trusted advisors. With a lot of these losses resulting from the war with the dead that never would have been won without her, but EVERYONE WAS BOWING DOWN TO JON AFTERWARDS, NOT HER.
(Dragons? "War with the dead?" This show sounds so ridiculous, but it's so awesome.)
On top of everything I've already mentioned, she had also just learned that Jon was a Targaryen and technically the rightful heir to the throne. Now I ask you, would you not go a little mad if you had just found out that the one thing you had been fighting for pretty much your entire life was about to be taken away from you because you don't have a penis?
No, wait. Better question: Would you not go a little crazy if you found out your boyfriend was actually your nephew?
I stand with Dany (and also, I really appreciate her teaching me "dracarys" because now I have a way of properly expressing my feelings when someone cuts me off in traffic or takes too long to order their Pub Sub). I will not let my queen be killed off.
I present to you, the real final episode of Game of Thrones:
We pick up where Jon has approached Dany right as she's about to sit on the throne.
Jon Snow lashes out at Dany for, you know, slaughtering a city. She has him executed for treason and, you know, technically being the rightful heir to the throne.
Arya is pissed and wants revenge but remembers her conversation with The Hound and decides instead to sail west. (I liked her story arc and don't feel the need to change it.)
Sansa is also pissed and also wants revenge but has learned a thing or two from Littlefinger about keeping your enemies close. She chooses to bend the knee instead and convinces Dany to make Bran her Hand of the Queen since he is all-knowing. This will make it easier for her to manipulate Dany.
Gendry joins Sansa on her journey back to Winterfell.
Tyrion knows Kings Landing better than anyone, and he's able to escape imprisonment. He is over it all and decides to head north to be with the Wildlings and the free folk (and Ghost). Maybe he scoops up Brienne on his way so that they can have a reunion with Tormund and bond over some giant milk.
Sam, Gilly, Little Sam and Little Gilly also head north to reconnect with Gilly's roots.
Sorry, but I don't care enough about Bronn to give him any attention.
The episode ends with an aerial shot of a destroyed Kings Landing. As swooping drone footage flies in, we see Drogon feeding on Ser Pounce. The camera swoops in closer to land on Dany taking her seat on the throne in an empty room with a mad look in her eye. We know that Gendry and Sansa are about to start a rebellion, and we're essentially right back where we started: a mad Targaryen in charge, and a Baratheon/Stark rebellion on its way.
I think people would have been really mad about this ending too, but I think it's the one that makes the most sense. Game of Thrones ended with a pretty bow on it, and it was never supposed to be that kind of show.
I can't believe I wrote this blog post. I used to be so much cooler than this. I blame Sean.