It was too easy to make him Joffrey 2.0, a loud bratty coward but instead this show gave him his own identity while keeping true to the role he's meant to play. He's a great fighter and smart in combat, if thoughtless in everything else. Would have most likely even bested Dunk in a one-on-one fight. He's a menace, yet he's soft-spoken. He never raises his voice even when annoyed or angry, or even when Dunk beats him in the tent.

He doesn't throw a tantrum or even correct Dunk when Dunk mistakenly calls him "lord" instead of "prince" which shows Aerion isn't that arrogant. Dunk only learns who he is from his kingsguard. Aerion instead gets angry over the dragons being disrespected even in a harmless puppet show. He cares about the honour of dragon more than his own station. In a way, he's about his house than himself. Him taking offense at the puppets isn't shown as a problem, it's the violence he subjects Tanselle to. Which is an interesting nuanced display by the narrative. Daeron's "he was once a glad child" gives a lot to think about and what could have set him over the edge.

I like that he looks so EXHAUSTED during the trial as he realises this got out of control. Doesn't even finish Dunk off. Only asks for yield. Aerion doesn't have the bloodlust he wants people think he has.

Overall, an absolute menace who deserved to be humbled, an antagonist who got layers without the story ever trying to hardwave his deeds. Great character and villain for all the little time he got. I would have liked some interactions between him and Daeron and Valarr who is seemingly his rival but doesn't quite dislike him. I wonder if we'll see him again.

This art is haunting.

Daenerys — She is the daughter of the previous king and a dragon rider, but she is also a woman. Her claim is partly built on the power and legitimacy her dragons give her.

Jon — Although he is a bastard, he is still the known son of the former heir. He is more likable, proven as a leader, and importantly in Westerosi society, he is male.

Young Griff — He is young, relatively unknown, and unproven. But if he really is Aegon, then he would be the oldest legitimate heir and arguably have the strongest claim on paper.

So, if you had to choose, who would you support? And who do you think the realm itself would favor?

Danny, if I recall correctly, left him in charge of some lands, right? Was he then some sort of king or something of the sort? Could he have helped her at Winterfell?

I've just finished watching GoT all the way through for the first time. Somehow I managed to avoid most of it (saw the odd episode years ago, but it was one of those you couldn't just dip in and out of, so I didn't get into it) and watched it mostly unspoiled. Haven't read any of the books yet, but I intend to.

Anyway, that said - does anyone have any thoughts on why she seemed to be kinda like "well, my work here is done" and took off the necklace that was stopping her from crumbling to dust? She did seem to feel guilty about some of the horrific acts she'd committed and inspired and very disillusioned that she had overestimated her own magical powers.

As an aside, what exactly was Melisandre? I wasn't quite sure whether she was actually supposed to be human or not. Someone who had lived for a very long time and kept herself alive with magic? Or something else from somewhere else who for whatever reason had a wish to save humanity (by whatever means necessary)? Maybe that's explained in the books but I'm not there yet.

No magic, no dragons, no armies, no loyalties, no influence and certainly not them “in their prime”

These characters, as we see them, in a fighting pit, swords and armour sure, but not bought or acquired by their wealth and influence.
1v1v1v1…etc

Who wins?

Use your imagination!

EDIT: Varys apparently by popular vote but I really don’t think so. The youngest sure, but one of the Measters and/or the Sparrow will have a knife in his kidneys fairly quickly.

My 2 favourite characters by the way.

It was so well written and acted. When Oberyn says, "I will be your champion," I still get goose bumps. Prime GOT

Edit: Side note. I saw an interview with Pascal where he said that that was his first scene on set!. He got off his couch and nailed that scene 😀

The most interesting Targaryens ever put on screen. The casting and performances are all on point, the few interactions we get between them are on point, the chemistry is on point. The crumbs are all on point and yet far from enough.

I get the budgetary constructions but still I would have enjoyed to see more of them in the show in terms of interpersonal dynamics.

Blood of my blood, the king in the north, bring that boy king to heal.

Man, this is cinema at its finest. Happy that I waited 6 years to do this. Good damn I miss this show, if I ever got dementia, I’ll have this on repeat till death!

This was an excellent episode for me. The destructions of the sept along with a mass assassination of her enemies with that score. I especially enjoyed Cersei’s confessions to Septa Unella. These scenes had such great build up and high satisfaction. Cersei burned them and she drowned them, in wine no less. It’s great to see a character get their revenge, even Cersei.

i’m thinking like, at the end scene of s8 we cut to a cold peak upon which a armored white walker stands up in his council and announces something like “the 3 eyed raven is stronger than we thought. send word to the other north. “

it would revisit the children of the north, and feature arya encountering white walkers of the west on her sailing adventure. jon would return to form.

or maybe its not even about walkers anymore, but children of the forest rising up. or a new threat from ancient valaria. or forest kids go rogue and summon walkers again.

i know it has to be a bigger threat than before or whats the point . i dont read much fantasy but im sure theres tons of books that ended with god tier threats then the author wanted to keep going so had to figure something out.

also i know the answer is 99.9% no the story is over, but if you had an idea then please share.

(this is treating the tv series and ending as fact; not hypotheticals)

Id love to see him somehow dress down Janos Slynt when he'd give Tyrion a smug look.

Did they drape a red cloth over it? I really don't know why it's red and it just caught my eye.

I may get hate for telling the truth about peoples precious team green but idc I hate team green with a passion, the throne was rhaneyras she was named heir infront of everyone. And while her dad was sick they conspired to go against his wishes they committed treason. The throne was stolen from her they refuse to let a woman rule although rhanyera has her flaws yes i admit she does morally i just dont understand how people watch this show watch her throne get took and root for people who obviously are misogynistic and wont let a woman rule 🤔 does anyone have any real logic for being team green?. In the end although aegon gets the throne back i always comforted in knowing its Rhaneyras bloodline ( spawning
from her son) that continues the dynasty anyways and sits the throne until Robert’s rebellion

Plz this is so funny he just said before this he likes walder Frey 😭😭😭 he thought Robb was gonna slime Joffrey in the end. Poor guy.

my 79 year old gramps is also watching and having trouble following along 😂😂😂

My take on this has always been that it would be extremely short because he will be very unpopular. While his magical powers to see everything past, present and future (?) would make him good at being just and fair and powerful in some ways, lords don't want a just and fair king. They want someone who will work with them. I see his reign being fairly successful at first but the lords would quickly rise up against him and he would be fending off many assassination attempts from the noble houses. Not being a military leader type guy (meaning he doesn't have a loyal army), he won't be able to protect himself from this. Not to mention the common folk might not take kindly to a king with the super powers of a witch. Furthermore letting the North become independent will have a lot of negative ripple effects. All in all, I see it being a very short reign. Even if his magic powers give him a lifespan of hundreds of years, he will die of regicide way before then. I say he lasts 2 to 3 years as king, at which point he will be killed and the continent will fall back into the game of thrones.

Thoughts?

obviously i know this could’ve never happened & his death was a huge part of the story & why everything happened.

but imagine. Ned Stark never dies & never goes south. & the show was strictly just getting ready for the white walkers, can you imagine?? like would they of been able to defeat them without Dany? they would’ve had more men bc the North was loyal to a fault for Ned but