Just about Game of Thrones in general

GUYS IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE SHOW DON’T GO BELOW but I tried to make it as much spoiler free as I could ( but it’s quite difficult)

It’s been two weeks.

Two weeks since Game of Thrones forever ended and I still can’t get over it. A part of me is relieved because season 8 ended (let’s all agree it wasn’t the best) or maybe our expectations were too high. But another part of me is depressed by the loss of such a great show that was loved by both the critics and the fans and inspired so much. I don’t know how you guys felt but I talked about it with Thelma quite a lot and our feelings after the finale were quite mixed.

the show provided as with so much emotions from the red wedding to Arya Stark’s vengeance, but the final episode left me with nearly nothing. Not because I didn’t like the ending but there are certain aspects that just didn’t make any sense AT ALL. Even though the acting and the cinematography was at its best, we can all agree that the writing was poor. The showrunners subverted the expectations so much that all the built up and evolution in previous seasons was thrown in the trash.

What I really want to talk about now is how Game of Thrones became what it is today, in pop culture and even culture in general and what it taught us( being one if not the best show in the world, it’s NOT debatable).

First, game of thrones since season 1 provided us with characters that aren’t the most common or start in a very low position. From Tyrion Lannister being a dwarf: being mocked and judged by everyone to Jon Snow being a bastard and being constantly reminded about his birth.We see those characters rise to power and that really gives hope and admiration, even in the harsh and cruel world in which the show is set.

One of the most important things is the place of women in the show and how they evolve through the seasons. Both Daenerys and Sansa start as two frightened girls with their heads full of hopes, but the reality breaks them and their dreams are shattered. The break of Sansa Stark really depicts the roughness of life as her dream was always to become a princess or a queen and is quite quickly cast away as she encounters monsters one worse than the other, from Joffrey to Ramsay Bolton. But in the end,she survives all the ones who hurted and abused her and grow and learn from them, and becomes the women she is today. Her character’s arc is one of the most interesting to me as she finally rises stronger than before, taking root and strength in her worst experiences. In result, even if it’s a fantasy show, the realism in it is much more important. Other women like Brienne of Tarth, Arya Stark or Daenerys Targaryen were always underestimated by men and had to play by their rules as Game of Thrones is mainly a patriarchal society, but those women tend to subvert that entirely by proving their worth and that they are even more worthy and better than those who undermine them. We are really inspired by such women, that despite the fact they live in medieval age they manage to achieve their dreams and rise politically and physically through a journey full of pitfalls.

The Historical and literary background of Game of thrones is also very rich and a lot of references to real history can be noticed. The War of the Roses that happened in England earlier in the 15th century is an inspiration for the conflict between the Starks and the Lannisters. And just like the infamous red wedding, people were also killed during a wedding feast.

The legend of King Arthur can be a reference to Jon Snow, a man whose real parents were a secret no one knew and which also made him the heir to the Iron Throne just like Arthur was the one to draw the sword Excalibur ( I’m not sure of the name).

The Iron Throne as the symbol of power, which thousands and thousands men covet and drive them mad can be seen as the ring in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. As many become crazy and do unimaginable things in order to get the taste of power.

Same with the High Sparrown taking the city in season 5 and establishing a sort of religious rule can also be seen in Spain during the great inquisition. finish up with something I’ve read on an article about Daenerys’ resemblance to leaders in our history even if I can’t say I totally agree with it. Her story is an inspiration since season 1, as she is truly driven by a good will of abolishing slavery and establishing a new and just world by breaking the so called « wheel ».

But in Season 8, we came face to face with her doom and the birth of the mad queen despite all her past actions and her being a kind of goddess or savior. The end of her rule is summarized by chaos and fire. She can be seen as an idealistic monster as her goal and beliefs were true and right in the past but got corrupted by her constant thirst of power and the loss of so many loved ones. Like Robespierre or Stalin whose intentions and ideals were good in the beginning but as they sunk deeper and deeper in control and power, they became tyrants. So Daenerys shows a kind of idealistic-tyranny, a person originally of pure motives and ideals who lost her way. On the contrary, Cersei Lannister whose evilness was predominant through the show can be see as a "bad" mafia boss, she despises the people she rules, all her actions were only for the benefit of herself and her family (that grew smaller and smaller as her children and father died). Whereas Daenerys was always selfless and her desire to bring justice was above her personnal intrest.

Anyway, there is so much to talk about in the universe of GOT, I really encourage you all who watched or will be watching to check out this youtube channel where the symbolism of every Game of Thrones noble house or certain character is explained, telling you who they are in the real « game for the thrones » and other very interesting ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY8-JHLY9yDOsbf8_E8bsagr3zeq1eOLb

Anyway I want to say thank you to one of the best shows in TV history and just because it’s over, It doesn't mean I will stop talking about it.

Let me know of what you think of the ending and the series in general.