I don’t know how many of you have watched the series but, being a major entertainment event, I have to talk about “Game of Thrones”. Even though the series finale aired weeks ago, stories are still appearing in my news feed regarding the meaning of its ending. Realizing I can’t let go, I can’t stop myself from reading.
From the get-go this was a hit. It already had a fanatical following from the books and it would now extend to those who prefer the Cliffnotes. Like a large portion of the population, I was hooked. It was much more than I anticipated. It had unlikely heroes in a bastard son and a dwarf. There was intrigue, double-crossing, witty banter, dragons, magic and a Whitman’s Sampler of villains. People you loved to hate and it was okay to hate because they were utterly
horrible (Ramsey! Sparrow!). We were subjected to a bloody visual of their reign of tyranny, to be rewarded when they got their comeuppance. Their deaths were usually fitting for their atrocities (Ramsey yes, Sparrow no, but the Sparrow’s assistant, Septa Unella got hers in her endless date with the Mountain).
Storytelling was turned sideways with the murder of each main character that filled the “hero’s” shoes (Ned, Robb, WHO ELSE???). You didn’t want to root for anyone in particular for fear it meant their imminent death (JON IS GONE, Yay! He’s back). Characters that began with minor roles turned into major roles (Brienne!). There were multiple arcs to follow with both major and minor characters. Not only did an episode need to be dissected, it provided fertile ground for countless theories as to the next plot twist. Many office hours were wasted theorizing of what would or could happen.
As we neared the end of the series, there were two pressing questions. How was it going to end and would they screw it up? This might be the most important factor for any show to consider. With what kind of taste are you going to leave your audience? The sour, face-puckering taste of leaving with more questions than answers and not properly wrapping-up storylines (the soggy “Seinfeld” finale??), the bitterness of seeing characters hardships go unrewarded, the blandness of a story that goes nowhere or the full-flavored spicy zing that leaves the characters where you had hoped to ease the pain of saying goodbye. The correct recipe to leave your audience satisfied is difficult to master. There are many ingredients to balance and it can easily go wrong.
My fifth car commuter recommended a show called “Justified”. He said it begins and ends perfectly. Six seasons – a tall order. I was curious and skeptical, I had to watch. I won’t give any spoilers away, but by the series finale, I had to agree with him. A modern western, it lured me in with a hot cowboy lawman named Raylan (even his name is cool); good with a gun, questionable judgment, willing to blur the lines of right and wrong. The dialogue is witty and fun, especially when it comes to the exchanges with Boyd, his childhood friend turned murderous villain. They didn’t over-play or under-play storylines and the entire season was a steady build-up to the final scenes. I didn’t realize what a treat it was to finally watch a show with smart dialogue.
Unfortunately, the final season of Thrones gave none of that. One comment that I repeatedly read: it felt like a college student pulling an all-nighter to finish a barely adequate final paper. Rushed, no real thought as to the story or characters. That analogy was on target.
As to all the fan theories of how it should end, my fifth car commuter had a great one. Having guessed many twists correctly, I hoped his theory would prove right. His version of the final episode would have given us Clegane vs Clegane, champion vs champion. In a grueling battle, the Hound would kill the Mountain, being mortally wounded himself in the process. The Hound would die then re-awaken holding the flaming sword, courtesy of the Lord of Light passing on the legacy to him. To the Hound’s complete and utter dismay realizing the Lord of Light brought him back to life he would say, in true Hound fashion “Oh, <expletive>!”.
I then amended, that the dragon would heat Cersi just enough for her to know death was imminent. Daenerys would kick her off the iron throne. As Cersi tumbled off she would watch Dani claim the seat of power. Jamie or Tyrionne would then swiftly cut off her head in an act of mercy. Cersi would understand that karma does exist, prophecies fulfilled, end scene and series. That is how we believe the series should have ended. Not with Jamie and Cersi preserved like ice statues in the rubble.
I would like to hear your thoughts, if liked how it ended or how you would have ended it. And what other series that got right or wrong?