Saturday, June 26, 2021

[SPOILERS]My Game of Thrones Alternate Ending

So now that Game of Thrones has ended and we’ve all had time to let the disappointment of the final season sink in I wanted to have a go at writing how I think the ending should have gone.

First of all I want to say that I think HBO did an incredible job at bringing the books to life on screen. The first 4 seasons of the show are the best television I’ve ever seen. Season 5 was still solid, but from season 6 onwards when they had well and truly past the books the quality really started to decrease.

As soon as HBO lost the quality writing of George Martin the plot became scattered and rushed. Complex, grey area characters who had previously been written so well became one dimensional and bland. Think of characters like Littlefinger and Varys; two of the biggest players in the game in the early seasons who were cunning and smart and always 2 steps ahead of everyone else, only to become near irrelevant and get killed off more for the shock value than to add to the plot.

Character development and friendships that were formed during long difficult journeys became non-existent as characters seemed to jump long distances between episodes or even scenes. Think of the journeys and friendships shared by Tyrion and Bronn, Jaime and Brienne or Arya and the Hound to name a few. Just imagine if these characters had simply appeared in a new place every time they had to be in an important scene; we’d have lost so many quality moments that made the show so special and interesting. This is exactly what happens in the later seasons. Characters move magically across the country seemingly instantly and with it we lose the opportunity to see them grow and change.

Perhaps the greatest thing the early seasons did was keep viewers on the edge of our seats because no character seemed safe. It was the first show ever to show that actions do have consequences and the good or main character is in as much danger as anyone else. Complex, grey area characters were put into difficult situations and weren’t given plot armour to escape every time. Think of Ned Stark’s beheading, the red wedding, Oberyn vs the Mountain and Jon Snow’s death. Shocking, gut wrenching scenes that were hard to believe (if you hadn’t read the books already).

But come to the later seasons and watch as all of the main characters now wear plot armour so strong that they can constantly be put into impossible to escape situations and be fine. Jon and Dany in particular face so many instances where they would logically be killed, only for the scene to cut away and for them to be fine when it comes back or for some ridiculous rubbish to come and save them at the very last second. All intensity is lost and the plot becomes second fiddle to huge budget CGI cinema photography (which was incredible, granted. But it doesn’t compensate for poor storytelling).

Ideally, the quality of writing from the earlier seasons remains and season 6, 7 and 8 retain 10 episodes each. Here are the major things I would have done:

Let’s bring it back to when Jon is named the King in the North. After being resurrected from the dead he gives justice to those who betrayed him, is freed from his duty in the Night’s Watch and retakes Winterfell. His story has so much potential at this point and I feel like this is a good place to start. In this version however, Jon is a changed man since being resurrected. He learns from his mistakes that got him murdered in the first place. He recognises that like Ned Stark before him, being too honourable was not the way to survive in this world.

From here I still have him going to Dragonstone to meet Dany. He needs the dragonglass and he is willing to take a risk because of the greater threat of the White walkers which is central to his story. Just like the show, Dany demands Jon bend the knee and Jon refuses, reasoning that they need each other and he will not betray his people. This time however, he does not give in and bend the knee randomly after Dany has agreed to help fight the White walkers. He is grateful for her help and is willing to support her claim for the Iron Throne while keeping the North an independent kingdom if they are to defeat the White Walkers. There is also no forced romance between them which in my opinion was not convincing at all.

Dany and her army return with Jon and the dragonglass to Winterfell to prepare for the White Walkers. The entire plot of capturing a White to take to Kings landing never happens as it was a ridiculous waste of time which really didn’t add anything to plot.

Some tension between the Northerners and Dany and her army can be some filler, but ultimately they get along well enough to face the army of the dead. Only this time they use a bit of logic and don’t go sending out most of their soldiers into certain death. Instead they completely surround the castle walls with fire and have all of the soldiers behind the walls ready to defend it (the way castles are supposed to be defended).

This episode can once again be an epic battle (but not so damn dark) in which the living manage to hold their own for a time but are eventually overpowered by the sheer weight of numbers in the army of the dead.

Jon decides to stay near Bran to protect him which seems more true to his character than letting a few iron born guard his brother. Dany does her best to battle the Wights on Drogon with Rhaegal unmanned, and has an epic battle with the Night King riding undead Viserion. Just when it seems that the 2 living dragons have the upper hand, the Night king summons a storm and ruins their vision, attacks and mortally injures Drogon who goes tumbling towards the ground with Dany on his back. Rhaegal flies down to check his mother, leaving the Night King free to fly into the castle towards Bran. At this point the other main White Walkers have entered Winterfell and have Bran, Jon and their support army surrounded. The Night King dismounts Viserion, draws his blade and walks towards Bran. Jon draws Longclaw and has a one on one sword fight with the Night King (it always felt like there was something personal between them since the battle of Hardhome). We have the epic fight we’ve always wanted to see and Jon manages to hold his own for a time but is clearly no match for the Night king who seems to be toying with him. Jon manages to lead him away from Bran as they fight, giving Theon the opportunity to move Bran back into safety.

We then cut to Dany, who survived the fall and is mourning the death of her favourite Dragon while Rhaegal stands beside them both, upset and protective of his mother. It is here that we see Rhaegal’s eyes roll into the back of his head before taking to the skies towards the battle again. We cut back to Bran who is clearly in his warging state, at long last controlling a dragon and fulfilling the foreshadowing from when he first met the Three Eyed Raven; ‘You will never walk again, but you will fly’.

Controlling Rhaegal, Bran launches fire across huge sections of Wights, giving much needed relief to those still fighting within the castle walls. He flies in to try and help Jon, but is unable to fire towards the Night King without also getting Jon. This continues for a bit, going back and forth between this battle where Jon is starting to struggle to survive more and more and scenes with other main characters struggling to stop the seemingly never ending attack from the Wights.

Dany enters the scene with some other big characters, they are able to see the battle with the Night king and Jon from a distance but are still too overwhelmed by Wights to get close enough to help.

In desperation, Jon yells ‘just do it’ meaning he is willing to sacrifice himself in order to kill the Night King. When it seems there is no other option, Bran breathes an enormous stream of flame over both the Night King and Jon Snow. We lose sight of both of them for a moment as the thick fire covers them both. When the fire disappears we are left with a slowly fading smog of smoke. We see the Night king alive and unharmed first, a look of shock on his face. We see Dany, Sam, Arya, Tyrion etc with the same look of pure shock before it returns to Jon Snow rising from the smoke, a flame covered sword in hand and eyes as red as fire. Azor Ahai reborn, wielding Lightbringer. He launches to his feet and attacks the Night King who is caught completely off guard. He manages to bring his ice blade up just in time to defend himself only for it to shatter to pieces upon impact. The flaming sword pierces the Night king through the heart, shattering him and his entire army to pieces.

While this is certainly more predictable than Arya being the one to kill the Night King, it does make a lot more sense. Jon’s whole story has been about stopping the White Walkers, not Arya’s. He was resurrected by the Red Lady on behalf of the Lord of Light for a purpose, which is ultimately not fulfilled or satisfying in the official version of the show. The Azor Ahai prophecy is also one of the biggest let downs in the show and I think this version manages to give it some justice.

We then spend some time at Winterfell dealing with the aftermath. It is during this time that Jon Snow can be revealed to be Aegon Targerian; which leads to a huge divide between him and Dany and their armies. Dany demands that he keep his promise to help her win the Iron Throne from Cersei since she helped to defeat the White Walkers. The northern lords and armies argue that Jon has the better claim, and if anything it should be Dany helping Jon to take the throne.

Jon however, insists that he doesn’t want the throne (just the once though, not every damn episode). He says that he has no problem with Dany pursuing the throne for herself, but he was done fighting and would not travel with her. Jon’s battle has always been about protecting the Kingdom from the big threat of the undead, he has never wanted power or responsibility yet time and time again it has been thrust upon him. He was murdered for doing what had to be done only to be brought back to life, and he was willing to sacrifice himself again to defeat the Night king. Now that the threat is over, Jon makes the decision himself to abandon his rights as King and join the Wildlings in returning North beyond The Wall. He is a free man who can start a family and enjoy a life without the responsibilities he has had to carry for so long.

He insists that Bran take his place as King in the North, as the last living true born son to Eddard Stark. Bran gives his classic can’t be this speech because I’m the Three Eyed Raven, but says he will support Sansa in her role as Queen of the North.

Dany feeling betrayed and angry, leaves Winterfell with the remaining Dothraki and Unsullied. She feels that Jon has betrayed her by not helping her take the throne after she sacrificed so much to help his cause. She is jealous of the way the Northerners admire him and support his claim over her own. She is amazed that he too was immune to fire and of course a Targaryian with a better claim to the throne than she has. She does not trust him, despite him saying that he has no interest in the throne and that he is going north to be a free man. She is paranoid that there is such a large threat to her out there and demands his execution. Jorah refuses and tries to convince Dany that Jon is not a threat, he is a good man who saved the realm. Tyrion concurs, strongly advising Dany not to do this. If not for Jon, then at least to keep peace with the Northerners. Dany unwilling to listen to reason, gets Grey Worm to double back to Winterfell and kill Jon in his sleep.

Tyrion outraged at Dany’s lack of humanity or reason, abandons her along the journey.

Jon spends his final night in Winterfell before departing north the next morning. Ghost sleeps on the floor beside him. Grey Worm enters the room quietly but still manages to awaken Ghost. In a fast sequence of events, Ghost growls and leaps towards Grey Worm, only for Grey Worm’s spear to meet him in the air and pierce him straight through his torso, coming out on the other side of him and turning him into a skewer. Jon wakes up suddenly, alarmed over the commotion. Grey Worm throws his spear with Ghost crying out in pain aside, grabs a knife from beside his waist and cuts Jon Snow’s throat open in one swift motion. Our favourite direwolf and one of the true heroes of the show bleed out together, innocent and unarmed thanks to Dany’s insane quest for power. The scene cuts away with Arya staring at Jon’s door from the outside, Grey Worm still inside.

Dany arrives at King’s Landing for the first time. Her army is far too small to be able to compete with Cersei’s which includes the Golden Company (who can actually be given more backstory and made to look fierce and awesome like in the books). If it was left to combat alone, Cersei would be assured victory. However Dany still has Rhaegal, which realistically gives her a massive advantage.

Cersei knows she is unlikely to be able to defeat a dragon, unless she is lucky enough for one of the Scorpions to hit it. But she is a smarter player than that and will not risk losing on that chance alone. Cersei’s whole story is about doing anything to stay in power. She has been the only one to play the game without caring about the lives of anybody else (besides her children, who are now all dead and Jaime who she doesn’t love the same way anymore). Cersei is smart and cunning, and she knows that her best chance of defeating Dany is to create a trap.

Cersei and Qyburn plan to allow Dany and her army easy access into the gates of King’s Landing. Most of Cersei’s forces, including the Scorpions are surrounding the Red Keep, making Dany hesitant to bring Rhaegal too close. They put minimal forces at the entrance and weaken the gates just enough for Dany’s army to make it through. By having more numbers of her army in some places and less in others, Dany and her army are unknowingly following a path chosen by Cersei and Qyburn, following a maze like mice.

Meanwhile, Jaime has found his way back to Cersei at the top of the Red Keep, watching the battle unfold. He tries to get her to leave with him, down the secret passage ways in the Red Keep to a boat waiting for them to escape. Though he doesn’t have the same feelings for her he once had, he ultimately wants to keep her safe and avoid as much damage happening to Kings’ Landing as possible.

Of course, Cersei refuses. She would rather die fighting than give up what she has had to work so hard to gain. But she seems confident. Jaime tries to convince her that there is no stopping the dragon. Cersei smirks and says ‘We’ll see about that.’ Jaime seems confused, and notices that Qyburn has a smirk on his face as well. Jaime asks them both what they have planned; they are both reluctant to answer him but he eventually deduces what it is. Cersei is well known for this move after all.

She confirms his suspicions. They have planted large amounts of wildfire throughout the city, particularly in the area they’re leading Dany and her army into. Jaime is mortified at the idea; there are still thousands of common people in the city. Many innocent lives would be taken in the explosion. Cersei argues that Dany’s dragon and her armies will kill just as many if they are left to do so; and that sacrifices have to be made in order to protect many people in the long run.

Dany and Cersei are similar in a lot of ways. They both consider the other one to be a crazy tyrant who in no good for the realm. Though Dany has been known to show kindness and compassion for others, she ultimately only does what is beneficial for her and will also do anything to win The Iron Throne.

Qyburn says that now is the time to give the signal if they wish to be successful. Jaime begs Cersei one last time not to do it. She looks him dead in the eyes with a cold hard face and whispers ‘burn them all’.

Jaime pulls his sword out, ready to do anything to protect the city. The whole scene mirrors that of the Mad King during Robert’s Rebellion. Jaime was forced to kill his King, forever tainting his honour and changing his own belief in whether or not he is a good man. Now he is forced to kill his Queen, his sister and the only person he has ever truly loved. Killing Cersei completes his character arc, from the man who tried to kill an innocent child in the first episode to a man willing to sacrifice everything to do what he thinks is right.

In true Game of Thrones fashion, our joy turns to ashes in our mouth as The Mountain blocks Jaime’s sword with his own, knocking it out of his weak left hand. Cersei and Qyburn swiftly leave the room while The Mountain decapitates Jaime in a swift and brutal swing of his giant sword. A single tear falls down Cersei’s otherwise emotionless face as she walks away.

We then get more scenes of the battle happening in the streets. We see the pure chaos of battle and the brutality of people being killed, something that the show has always been good at showing. We see the destruction of the city and the fear of the common people who are suffering for the wars of the powerful. Dany is on Rhaegal, flying overhead close to the buildings, doing her best to only kill those in Cersei’s army; though that is becoming more and more difficult as the fight goes on and the armies become mixed together and move further into the city and among the common people.

Dany and Rhaegal rise high into the sky as the view of the battle pans out, giving the viewer a great shot of the density of the fight and how it is primarily located within one area of the city. We see small amounts of green explosions from multiple areas, quickly moving inwards, followed by a sudden enormous explosion of wildfire, far bigger than when the sept was blown up in similar fashion. Tens of thousands of people are obliterated instantly, including almost all of Dany’s army and the Golden Company, a lot of the Lannister army and of course countless innocent people.

The distraction from Jaime was enough to delay and signal and allow Dany and Rhaegal to reach a safe height. Dany looks down in horror, unable to comprehend what has just happened. Cersei looks out from the Red Keep, drinking her wine with Qyburn beside her. They were supposed to get Dany and Rhaegal in the explosion too. Qyburn suggests that they retreat to safety.

Dany, having now lost all of her army decides there’s only one option left. She flies directly at the Red Keep, full of anger and willing to risk it all in one final attempt to kill Cersei and take the throne. The Scorpions fire arrows at her, but Rhaegal is quick and nimble and evades them all. He launches fire at the Scorpions, destroying them and killing the men arming them. He then turns his attention to the Red Keep itself, launching wave after wave of powerful fire, causing huge amounts of damage. The structure of the building begins to fail and the roof of the Iron Throne room collapses. Dany sees the Iron Throne in the corner of her eye and flies down towards it. Rhaegal lands in the middle of the throne room and lets off a mighty scream. Dany dismounts and Rhaegal takes off to the skies again, breathing fire voluptuously.

Dany walks towards the throne while ash floats through the air, pauses next to the throne, reaches out with her right hand and touches it, just as she does in the House of the Undying. Before she gets to sit down on it though, we hear ‘Khaleesi’ in a thick foreign accent. Dany turns around, shocked to see Grey Worm approaching her, spear in hand.

‘Grey Worm’ is all Dany can muster while she finds her thoughts. ‘How did you get here? The city…’

‘Quick as a snake, quiet as a shadow’ replies Grey Worm, who continues to approach her. This only makes Dany more confused, but she chooses to ignore it.

‘Jon Snow?’ she asks.

‘Dead.’ Replies Grey Worm simply. Dany nods in approval and turns to look once more at the Iron Throne. ‘So here we are’ continues Grey Worm’ ‘after everything, you have won your throne.’

‘Yes.’ replies Dany coldly, ‘but what did it cost me?’ She turns to look at him again. Grey Worm steps forward and thrusts his spear through Dany’s torso, instantly bringing her to her knees. She looks up at him, overcome with pain and confusion, coughing up blood. Grey Worm brings a hand to his face and pulls it off like a mask to reveal Arya Stark, cold and emotionless.

‘The North Remembers’ says Arya as she pulls out a blade and slices Dany’s throat open in one swift motion.

Arya avenges Jon (and Ghost), the person in her family that she always had a special connection with. She has mastered her training and truly become a faceless person.

Dany leaves this world and goes to be with her dead husband and unborn child in the afterlife, as foreshadowed in the House of the Undying.

We can then cut to 2 future scenes. In the North, Sansa sits at the head of the table of a Small Council meeting featuring Bran, Tyrion, Brienne, Samwell and Varys.

Sansa has faced one of the most difficult journeys and has managed to come out of it all on top. She has been used and manipulated by some horrible people but along the way has learnt to play the game as well as anyone. Queen in the North is a fitting end for her story, surrounded by people she knows and trusts.

I think it is safe to assume no one really saw Bran becoming king, and to be honest it was a massive let down considering how the throne has been the central focus of the entire series. Maybe in theory it could work with better writing and more time dedicated to that story, but for me Bran’s story – like Jon’s, has been about protecting the realm from the White Walkers. His moment of triumph was warging into a dragon and helping to defeat the Night King. I would like to include some more clarity about his abilities as the Three Eyed Raven and the history between him and the Night King, as that was all left pretty ambiguous. I think it is fitting that he does not take on the power as King in the North but is instead a trusted advisor to Sansa.

Tyrion I think finally finds what he thought he had found in Dany, a queen that he believes in. I feel like Tyrion has always had a soft spot for the Starks and for the North and will fit in well advising Sansa. The fact that he is still Cersei’s enemy after all this time seems fitting.

Brienne stays true to her oath made to Catelyn Stark. She will protect Sansa and offer her council where necessary. I did love Jaime knighting her and would love to have that included somewhere still, though I didn’t like the romance that followed as I always saw their relationship as platonic and respectful.

Samwell seems destined to be a Maester or even Grandmaester eventually, but that was extremely unrealistic how he was able to become one instantly in the show. It takes many years of training and studying to become qualified, and I’m sure he is happy to take his time, reading many books and raising baby Sam with Gilly.

Varys was without doubt one of the best characters on the show and deserved better than the ending he got. He obviously can’t go back to Cersei after all he has done but I like the idea of him still conspiring and manipulating people from the shadows. Supporting Sansa at this stage makes the most sense for him.

During this Small Council meeting someone can mention Arya going West on a ship. I think this was a satisfying ending for her character but her scene killing Dany is a better final screen moment to give to one of the most mysterious and bad-ass characters.

In King’s Landing, Cersei sits at the head of the table at a Small Council meeting featuring Qyburn, Littlefinger, the Mountain and Bronn.

‘When you play the game of thrones you win, or you die, there is no middle ground.’ – Cersei to Ned stark in season one. Throughout the show, Cersei is the only person who has truly understood the game and played it as ruthlessly as possible. She has not been weakened as others have by honour, love or duty. She deserves to sit the Iron Throne because she is willing to pay the price for it that nobody else has. Cersei has lost her children, who she loved more than anything in the world. Her father, who she respected and learned from. And her brother Jaime, who she came into the world with and loved like a woman loves her husband. She has been consumed by her quest for power and now that she has it she is destined to live a bitter life of loneliness, repairing the city and realm she has destroyed.

She surrounds herself not so much with people that she trusts but with people who fear her and use her power to their own advantage. Qyburn is an extremely interesting character, intelligent and level headed with no ethics and a huge amount of curiosity.

I was a bit torn on what to do with The Mountain as Cleganebowl was actually done really well and gave The Hound the ending he deserved. But I also really like the idea of Cersei constantly being followed by this mute zombie thing that shows no emotion or human characteristics – perfectly personifying her darkest side. He is also a constant reminder of Jaime, and the lengths she was willing to go for her own selfishness.

Bronn became a bit of a fan favourite thanks to his witty one liners and the interesting storylines he shared with Tyrion and Jaime. But ultimately I see Bronn as someone who only cares about himself. He is a talented fighter with questionable ethics who will do just about anything for money, it seems fitting that he serve Cersei who is able to provide just this.

I don’t think Cersei ever found out that Littlefinger was involved in killing Joffrey, so it seems plausible that he could wiggle his way back into power here. That whole storyline with him trying to divide Sansa and Arya was some of the worst writing the show has ever had. They killed him off purely for the twist which in my opinion was both cringe-worthy and disrespectful to one of the best characters in the show. While Varys schemes in The North, Littlefinger schemes in The South.

In real there is no ending to things. The show may stop but the game will always continue. I think this ending better represents the harsh reality of life that Game of Thrones was once so good at portraying while delivering more satisfying conclusions to the biggest characters and storylines.

‘If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention’



Submitted June 26, 2021 at 06:55AM by EchoMate34 https://ift.tt/3h7lSah

No comments:

Post a Comment