The finale of Game of Thrones remains one of the most infamous in television history, sparking debates and controversies that continue to divide fans. The series concluded with the destruction of the Iron Throne, the dissolution of the traditional monarchy, and significant shifts in the power structures of Westeros.

Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) became the King of Westeros, while Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) ruled the independent North. Jon Snow (Kit Harington) was exiled beyond the Wall, rejoining the wildlings, and Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) set off on a journey to explore new lands west of Westeros.

What fans once dreamed of—a joint reign between Jon and Daenerys (Emilia Clarke)—did not materialize. Instead, the finale carried a “bittersweet” tone, with many fan-favorite characters meeting their fates in ways that left fans polarized. The show’s creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, faced the daunting task of concluding an epic story in just six episodes. While years have passed since the finale aired, debates about the ending persist, with some fans focusing on its successes, while others highlight what went wrong.

Game of Thrones may have been a cultural phenomenon, but its final season is widely regarded as one of the most divisive. What went wrong, and where did the finale succeed?

The ending of Game of Thrones came full circle with the fall of Daenerys Targaryen. The show began with a pivotal moment—the assassination of the Mad King, Aerys II, by Jaime Lannister. This act set into motion the political upheavals that would dominate Westeros for generations. Daenerys, in the end, was fated to mirror her father’s tragic downfall. Her descent into madness culminated in her destruction of King’s Landing, an event that, much like her father’s actions, led to her being betrayed by those closest to her.

Jon Snow’s reluctant role in her death mirrored the “Kingslayer” act that set the original plot in motion, with Jon taking the throne’s burden onto his conscience. Daenerys’ demise was controversial, especially given how her arc seemed to rush toward madness. However, her death ultimately symbolized the end of the Targaryen dynasty. Drogon’s final act—melting the Iron Throne in his grief—was a powerful symbol that the era of Targaryen rule had truly come to an end.

Jon’s punishment for killing Daenerys was exile to the Night’s Watch, a seemingly fitting end for someone who had never desired power. With Daenerys and Jon’s deaths, the Targaryen legacy was wiped from Westeros.

The Stark Family’s Rise to Power

For many fans, the most satisfying part of the Game of Thrones finale was the resurgence of House Stark. After enduring years of tragedy, betrayal, and loss, the Starks finally saw their hard-fought victories. The idea that Jon Snow—whose true Targaryen heritage gave him a legitimate claim to the throne—would end up as king seemed likely, but the final episodes saw the lords of Westeros choose Bran Stark as their ruler.

Bran’s appointment to the throne wasn’t based on bloodline, but on his unique role as the Three-Eyed Raven, the keeper of Westeros’ collective memory. Though Bran himself didn’t want the throne, he ultimately accepted the responsibility. His rule marked the beginning of a new era for the Seven Kingdoms.

Meanwhile, Sansa Stark claimed her own victory as Queen in the North. She had long advocated for the North’s independence, and when she voted for Bran to be king, she did so with the condition that the North would remain free from the rule of the Iron Throne. The independence of the North felt like a fitting end for a family that had endured so much. With Sansa ruling the North and Bran the rest of Westeros, the Starks’ long-awaited rise to power was complete.

Jon Snow’s Final Journey: Full Circle

Jon Snow’s arc was one of the most intriguing in the series, and his ending was equally complex. After being revealed as a Targaryen and killing Daenerys, Jon was exiled once again to the Night’s Watch—a fate that seemed anticlimactic to some, but was deeply symbolic for his character. Jon had spent much of the series struggling with his identity, torn between his Stark upbringing and his Targaryen blood.

By the end, Jon’s departure to the North felt like a return to his roots. The journey beyond the Wall, alongside the wildlings, allowed him to find peace—finally embracing his place among the people he had long fought beside. The image of Jon Snow walking away from Westeros into the wilds beyond mirrored his journey from the very beginning of the series, where his decision to join the Night’s Watch began the story.

Tyrion Lannister, once the sharp-witted, oft-maligned Hand of the King, was given a chance at redemption in the finale. As the last surviving Lannister, he was appointed Hand once again—this time to King Bran. His journey throughout the show had been fraught with betrayal and tragedy, and he was left to reckon with his actions and their consequences.

The new small council, led by Tyrion, offered hope for the rebuilding of Westeros. It was a group of experienced yet morally sound individuals, including Ser Davos (Master of Ships), Brienne of Tarth (Commander of the Kingsguard), and Samwell Tarly (Grand Maester). While the absence of a Master of Whisperers or a Master of War seemed notable, the council’s makeup represented a departure from the deceitful and corrupt figures that had once held power in the capital.

The Game of Thrones finale may not have satisfied every fan, but it concluded the epic saga with a mix of tragedy, triumph, and reflection. The Starks, whose story had begun with so much pain, saw a hard-earned victory, while other characters, like Jon Snow and Daenerys, were left to grapple with the consequences of their choices.

In the end, the legacy of Westeros was shaped not by bloodlines or traditional claims to power, but by the choices each character made to break free from the past and carve out a new future.

Arya Stark and the Open Sea: An Adventure Beyond Westeros

Arya Stark’s journey in Game of Thrones has always been one of rejection and reinvention, and her decision to sail west at the end of the series was the ultimate symbol of her unyielding desire for freedom. From the moment she left Winterfell with Sandor Clegane, Arya made it clear that she wasn’t bound by the conventional expectations of her noble heritage.

When Brienne of Tarth attempted to pull her back to a life of safety, Arya rejected the idea, opting instead to pursue the dangerous and thrilling path of self-discovery. Her time in Essos, training with the Faceless Men, marked her transformation from a young girl seeking vengeance to a skilled, unpredictable assassin.

Arya had outgrown Winterfell long before she was crowned the deadliest assassin in the Seven Kingdoms. Her role in defeating the Night King, a single, precise strike that ended the long winter, solidified her status as someone beyond the traditional expectations of the Stark family. Even when Gendry offered her the prospect of a quiet life as his wife—uniting the houses of Stark and Baratheon—she declined, claiming that she was no lady.

At the end of the series, Arya’s final journey away from Westeros had profound implications. Her sailing west, beyond the known world, is not just a personal quest but an extension of the Stark legacy. Arya’s voyage recalls the story of King Brandon the Shipwright, an ancestor of House Stark who sailed across the Sunset Sea thousands of years ago and was never heard from again.

While his journey may have ended tragically, Arya’s departure suggests that she may encounter new lands and possibly even distant Stark relatives. In a world full of uncertainty, Arya’s departure represented a glimmer of hope for the future, a future untethered by tradition.

The Unsullied, once enslaved soldiers under Daenerys’ command, evolved into one of the most formidable armies in Westeros. Their loyalty to Daenerys was unwavering, and yet, before the final battle at Winterfell, Grey Worm and Missandei dreamed of a peaceful life after the war. Missandei, having endured a life of suffering, longed to return to Naath, her homeland, where she had once known peace. Grey Worm, motivated by his love for Missandei, vowed to accompany her there.

Though Missandei was tragically executed by Cersei, Grey Worm held fast to his promise. In the final moments of Game of Thrones, he leads the Unsullied to Naath. It’s unclear whether Grey Worm intends to become a protector, keeping Naath safe from the threat of slavers, or if he will allow his people to live in peace after the bloodshed. Regardless, his decision is a poignant reminder of Daenerys’ legacy—freedom from oppression and the possibility of a world without violence.

The Real Meaning Behind the Ending: Breaking the Chains of Tradition

The finale of Game of Thrones brought a significant revelation: the idea of a “rightful” ruler was the very thing that had caused the turmoil in Westeros for generations. The series began with Ned Stark’s obsession over the illegitimacy of Cersei’s children, a secret that ultimately led to his demise. Throughout the show, characters like Viserys, Gendry, and even Daenerys, each fought to secure their birthright, which in turn created bloodshed and tragedy.

In the end, power is revealed to be a construct, something that exists only as long as people believe in it. Tyrion’s words echoed this when he pointed out that the lords of Westeros could decide who would rule, for they held the power. The Iron Throne, once a symbol of divine right, was nothing more than a cold, uncomfortable chair. Drogon’s destruction of the Iron Throne symbolized the death of that belief and the beginning of something new.

The idea of monarchy, of ruling by bloodline, had crumbled, and in its place, a new path forward emerged. Westeros, for the first time, could forge its future without the shackles of a rigid, inherited system of power.

Another theme that emerged from the Game of Thrones finale was the nature of history itself. Throughout the series, we saw how the truth was shaped by those in power. Varys once told Tyrion, “Power resides where men believe it resides, no more and no less,” and this idea permeated the entire narrative.

As Sam presented the final version of A Song of Ice and Fire, Tyrion learned that his own contributions were omitted from the history books. This reflected a central theme of the show: history is often written by the victors, and those who shape it control the narrative.

Characters like Jaime Lannister, whose actions were misunderstood by history, and Arya, whose journey was far more complex than Bran’s, were likely to be forgotten in the annals of time. But Bran’s rise to power was a reminder that history is cyclical, and those who change the course of events may find themselves in the record, even if they don’t deserve to be.

The Future of the Game of Thrones Legacy: Spinoffs and New Beginnings

The Game of Thrones series may have ended, but the world it created is far from finished. Spinoffs like House of the Dragon offer new insights into the Targaryen dynasty and the political intrigue that once defined Westeros. The show, set 200 years before Game of Thrones, delves into the history that shaped the world Jon Snow, Daenerys, and the others knew. The events of the prequel add depth to the Game of Thrones finale, highlighting the Targaryen’s tragic instability and the consequences of unchecked power.

House of the Dragon also introduces a pivotal shift in how power is transferred in Westeros. With Bran’s ascension, the notion of kingship seems more fragile than ever. The Targaryens, once seen as the ultimate rulers, were undone by their own internal conflicts, leaving a power vacuum that Bran could fill. This transition, however, may not be as smooth as it seems. The prequel hints at a constant struggle for control that will continue to reverberate through the generations.

As for the books, George R. R. Martin has promised a different conclusion, one that will take more time to develop. While some elements will likely remain the same—such as Jon Snow’s role and the fall of Daenerys—Martin’s slower, more deliberate storytelling offers fans a chance to experience the journey in a different light. The exploration of prophecies, the “valonqar” prophecy concerning Cersei, and the deeper political machinations of Westeros may shift the final outcome in unexpected ways.

The Game of Thrones series may have left some fans disappointed, but the potential for redemption lies in the future. With the House of the Dragon spinoff and the promise of more stories to come, there is still hope that the ending will be reshaped in a way that honors the legacy of the world that captured our imaginations for so many years.