Game of Thrones: 8.06 The Iron Throne

[ctg]

Following the series finale of Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen actor Emilia Clarke has broken her silence about the shocking actions and fate of her character. As it turns out, she experienced similar feelings to what much of the show's massive audience seems to be exhibiting.

Dany's turn to villainy in Episode 8x05 which saw her losses adding up to a mental breakdown which launched an assault on all of King's Landing's people, essentially leveling and burning the city, left many members of the audience asking, "What?" "Why?" and "How?" As it turns out, Clarke was asking similar questions.

“What, what, what, WHAT!?” Clarke tells EW of the shocking twist. “Because it comes out of f—king nowhere. I’m flabbergasted. Absolutely never saw that coming.” The actress had been traveling at the Heathrow airport when she received the final scripts, which prompted a good bit of excitement and a race home to find out how it would all come to an end.

“I got myself situated,” she says. “I got my cup of tea. I had to physically prepare the space and then begin reading them.”

Then came the disbelief, reading not only that Daenerys would slaughter the people of King's Landing but also be slain by her lover Jon Snow for her actions. “I cried,” Clarke says. “And I went for a walk. I walked out of the house and took my keys and phone and walked back with blisters on my feet. I didn’t come back for five hours. I’m like, ‘How am I going to do this?’”

When it came time to read the script with the cast as table read, Jon Snow actor Kit Harington's first time experiencing the plot, the disbelief was shared as Clarke had to “watch him compute all of this.”

This was before reading their final scene, when Harington says, “I looked at Emilia and there was a moment of me realizing, ‘No, no…’” She responded sadly, "Yes."

“He was crying,” Clarke said. “And then it was kind of great him not having read it.”

Clarke does admit, the showrunners seemed to have Dany's turn to madness in mind all along. “There’s a number of times I’ve been like: ‘Why are you giving me that note?’” Clarke recalls, often trying to give Daenerys a more heroic story and character along the way. “So yes, this has made me look back at all the notes I’ve ever had.”

“She genuinely starts with the best intentions and truly hopes there isn’t going to be something scuttling her greatest plans,” she says. “The problem is [the Starks] don’t like her and she sees it. She goes, ‘Okay, one chance.’ She gives them that chance and it doesn’t work and she’s too far to turn around. She’s made her bed, she’s laying in it. It’s done. And that’s the thing. I don’t think she realizes until it happens — the real effect of their reactions on her is: ‘I don’t give a s—t.’ This is my whole existence. Since birth! She literally was brought into this world going, ‘Run!’ These f—kers have f—ked everything up, and now it’s, ‘You’re our only hope.’ There’s so much she’s taken on in her duty in life to rectify, so much she’s seen and witnessed and been through and lost and suffered and hurt. Suddenly these people are turning around and saying, ‘We don’t accept you.’ But she’s too far down the line. She’s killed so many people already. I can’t turn this ship around. It’s too much. One by one, you see all these strings being cut. And there’s just this last thread she’s holding onto: There’s this boy. And she thinks, ‘He loves me, and I think that’s enough.’ But is it enough? Is it? And it’s just that hope and wishing that finally there is someone who accepts her for everything she is and … he f—king doesn’t.”

Still, amongst the many bodies in Game of Thrones' wake, Clarke always expected her character's.

“I thought she was going to die,” she continues. “I feel very taken care of as a character in that sense. It’s a very beautiful and touching ending. Hopefully, what you’ll see in that last moment as she’s dying is: There’s the vulnerability — there’s the little girl you met in season 1. See? She’s right there. And now, she’s not there anymore…”

In the end, she tries to give a nod of being proud of the series and, ultimately, her character's role in it. “But having said all of the things I’ve just said…” Clarke says. “I stand by Daenerys. I stand by her! I can’t not.”

Game Of Thrones: Emilia Clarke Breaks Silence On Shocking Finale Fate For Daenerys Targaryen

 

[Judderman]

If they'll ever do the spring book, they should do it in ten years, giving enough of time to GRRM to finish his Magnum Opus.

That season was the equivalent of A Dream of Spring already. Winds of Winter has to catch up with some events at the end of season 6 and then 7.

 

[Judderman]

Dany was killed off so they made people happy by giving the remaining Starks each what they wanted, showing a bit of democracy, giving Tyrion power, and even making cheeky Bronn happy. So the Hollywood ending. Where was the bittersweet?

Koopa makes a lot of good points. The jump from John killing Dany to just being prisoner, and all the lords, plus some advisors, sat around reasonably having a vote? Greyworm not having attacked John. Chiefly how many of them had much reason to see Brann as more than an idiot?? He had done what? IF at the end some of those Lords were shown to be conspiring against him it would have been a bit more interesting.
Also would the Northerners not want to follow the ruling Stark male?

It appears Bronn was allowed Highgarden and a lot of power.

But some people would say the ending of “Lost” is good as it wrapped up things for the characters in a pleasant way. It didn’t make sense either. Just the simplest way to wrap up and ignore plot knots. Similar thing here with a simple route to nice end for the heroes.

Interesting that Brann was put as betting favourite to be leader last year.

 

[Judderman]

Some more positive than others. But seems generally unimpressed is the norm. Particularly with the logic of the Bran choice.

Game of Thrones finale: Twitter reacts to 'The Iron Throne' with memes, fire and rage

Can we just start over?

www.google.ca

Game of Thrones series finale review: A self-indulgent send-off that tries, and fails, to convince audiences of its own brilliance - The Globe and Mail

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss’s swan song to Westeros was not just an accidental explosion of self-defensiveness, but a conscious and true effort in expounding their own genius to an audience that has every right to now feel corrupted and betrayed

www.google.ca

 

[Jo Zebedee]

There was loads of bittersweet in it for me - Brienne writing in Jaime’s entry; Jon and Ghost reunited; Jon’s last line to Dany. Honestly it’s not worth all this furore.

 

[Susan Boulton]

Honestly it’s not worth all this furore.

No it isn't. It is a TV series for goodness sake. Sometimes I wish people cared the same for real world problems. Sorry, but I have never been able to understand all the angst, and upset folk put themselves through over the fate of make believe characters.

 

[Judderman]

Quite amusing that there were water bottles left by feet in the lords and ladies discussion scene. Hard to notice but I wonder if it was some assistants not doing their job.

Anger on social media is over the top for a show, but it is great for it to generate some discussion.

 

[Koopa]

i don't see why i can't discuss about a show i have watched for 8 seasons. Why bother watching it, if i can't have thoughts about it. Sorry for being a normal human being who isn't constantly thinking about changing the world for the better, but quiet often simply focus on my life, on the things that interest me and the people around me.

My biggest gripe is how they treated Jon in the end. He was clearly no longer the man that made the NW oath so long ago when Robb went south. He might not care about wealth and power, but he was even more than before a family man who in my mind wanted a family. It's why i like to think that last shot was him leaving alongside the wildlings to live with them, instead of staying in castle black with the brothers. That life just doesn't seem enough for him anymore. Especially since all that is left to defend from are grumpkins. Sad thing is, the only reason the NW still exists is to fight against the wildlings now. Cause they don't follow westerosi law. Do you see Jon fighting the wildlings? Maybe there will be peace between them for his lifetime. But that is about the best we can hope for. peace for a couple of generations between wildlings and the north, unless certain more admittedly barbaric customs are changed.

 

[Susan Boulton]

i don't wee why i can't discuss about a show i have watched for 8 seasons. Why bother watching it, if i can't have thoughts about it. My biggest gripe is how they treated Jon in the end. He was clearly no longer the man that made the NW oath so long ago when Robb went south. He might not care about wealth and power, but he was even more than before a family man who in my mind wanted a family. It's why i like to think that last shot was him leaving alongside the wildlings to live with them, instead of staying in castle black with the brothers. That life just doesn't seem enough for him anymore. Especially since all that is left to defend from are grumpkins. Sad thing is, the only reason the NW still exists is to fight against the wildlings now. Cause they don't follow westerosi law.

There is a bit difference between discussing story-lines, characters, and what you feel the path of development for such could be different, and all this rending of garments, and moaning that seems to be happening on social media because folks don't like the direction the story has gone.

 

[Koopa]

it's where they let of their thoughts. Do i think some of it is exaggerated like starting a poll to re-shoot and rewrite the whole season. Hell yeah. Do some people take things to far with stuff. hell yeah. but mostly it is just people venting their thoughts on somethings that interests them.

 

[zmunkz]

Fantasy is a rare opportunity to not worry about the real world problems for once. The rest of my life I’m battered by politics and finances and everything else real, so I like to occasionally invest some emotion into things like fantasy. And when that trust and investment is mishandled, I think a reaction is reasonable.

 

[REBerg]

all that is left to defend from are grumpkins. Sad thing is, the only reason the NW still exists is to fight against the wildlings now. Cause they don't follow westerosi law. Do you see Jon fighting the wildlings? Maybe there will be peace between them for his lifetime.

Looks like there will be no need to plug the North Wall Passage opened by the Night King for his Army of the Dead.
Westeros survivors will be free to turn their resources toward repairing the war-torn infrastructure. I can see forming an Unsullied Construction Battalion to speed the process. Those vets will be needing jobs in the civilian sector.

 

[Anthoney]

I had begun to see Drogon as an evil beast, but his anguished reaction to Dany’s death was touching.

That was the saddest part all season.

 

[Judderman]

A lot of shows running longer than two seasons go through some decline as writers run out of new or interesting ideas. While this is one where you felt you were always looking towards a planned end. But perhaps not in a way as it wasn’t properly written yet.

I was watching part of some Hollywood gossip type show this morning. They actually had a couple of decent points on the shows characters.

One was about Brienne. Would a woman, who just lost her virginity to a man who then went back to his former lover the next day, then write some great comments about him in history?
Most wouldn’t, maybe it works for Brienne. Or she forgave as he had died.

Also for Brann-He had said he didn’t want to be king before. Also he will have foreseen the slaughter. And he did little. Was he just planning to take over for himself along? Sneaky.

Makes me wonder if the Night King had possessed him after all! They should have shown his eyes at the end.

 

[Venusian Broon]

Also for Brann-He had said he didn’t want to be king before. Also he will have foreseen the slaughter. And he did little. Was he just planning to take over for himself along? Sneaky.

Maybe this was the only way he could become king, by pushing Dani into becoming a mass murderer/Tyrant. So perhaps it really was all his fault .

 

[ctg]

Greyworm not having attacked John. Chiefly how many of them had much reason to see Brann as more than an idiot?? He had done what?

That's why they backed their gear and head out to a beach vacation. Mojitas all day round until no eyeballs are moving.

One was about Brienne. Would a woman, who just lost her virginity to a man who then went back to his former lover the next day, then write some great comments about him in history?
Most wouldn’t, maybe it works for Brienne. Or she forgave as he had died.

It was her knightly duty. That's how I read it. There was no words about her, the night, knighting or anything else.

 

[Koopa]

Just curious, am I the only one that feels the latter seasons are plagued by politics? What i mean by that, is that the first couple of seasons followed the story of the books. The latter seasons when they went beyond the books seemed to feel the need to weave current political ideas into the tale. Like feminism, like democracry. I feel they allowed such modern day topics to influence the tale in a bad way.

And cause i don't want to get stuck in one of those debates: i am not being critical of feminism or democracy.

 

[The Big Peat]

Just curious, am I the only one that feels the latter seasons are plagued by politics? What i mean by that, is that the first couple of seasons followed the story of the books. The latter seasons when they went beyond the books seemed to feel the need to weave current political ideas into the tale. Like feminism, like democracry. I feel they allowed such modern day topics to influence the tale in a bad way.

And cause i don't want to get stuck in one of those debates: i am not being critical of feminism or democracy.

Personally I believe those themes have always been there; the victimisation and power of women was right there in the arcs of Sansa, Dany and Cersei. Democracy less so but it is a savage indictment of autocracy from the get go and Jon Snow's experiences are pro-democracy.

It might have got less subtle but for me it was always part. For me, great art is something more if you want it but just a story if you want it

 

[Mr Orange]

so, Game of Thrones is done then...

first half was great, second half so so, i'm about half-satisfied. I almost believed Jon was convinced by Dany in the throne room. as mentioned before, there's no way Jon should have lived. my armchair director's cut would have him being burnt alive by Drogon or a quick spear through the back by Greyworm, a cut to Greyworm on the KL battlements looking out over the advancing armies/lords, then a cut to him dragging Tyrion out of the cells. the rest of the episode would have worked perfectly without Jon. plus Greyworm killing Jon would have been another good reason for him and the unsullied to bugger off to Narth.

I liked the whole "let's do democracy" from sam that was laughed out of the room by everyone else. I was beginning to cringe thinking they were actually going to go there. and good on Sansa for creating a kingdom in the north - bit surprised Yara or Dorne didn't follow suit. Tyrion's speech was bit lame and I doubt they would have elected Bran as king. plus, it looks like he's going to be rubbish, off warging all the time whilst his small council rules. and the small council scene was a bit naff. how did sam go from being Lord Tarly to a grand maester so quickly?

regarding the politics, I agree that's always been there.

overall it wasn't a bad ending but suffered, like the rest of this season, with not having long enough screen time to tell the story. still, better ending than Lost.

oh and I guess the NK was just a grumpkin after all, as was the Lord of Light.

 

[Koopa]

You're not wrong (about the politics always being tehre to a certain degree), but i feel the emphasis was just a lot more pronounced in the latter seasons. especially the democracy part. As if the writers wanted to shoehorn it in. Maybe i'm just overthinking it. Cause i'm trying to find were it all went from great to good to currently mediocre for the last episode. It remained visually stunning and some things like the destruction of king's landing is something that will stick with me. But there were too many inconsistencies overall at the end. Which is a real shame.