Game of ThronesEnding: Here’s Who Got to Rule Westeros — and Why Fans Were Shocked

Mar. 15, 2025

Maisie Williams, Isaac Hempstead Wright and Sophie Turner in season 8 of ‘Game of Thrones.'.Photo:Macall B. Polay/HBO

Macall B. Polay/HBO

Warning:Game of ThronesSpoilers ahead!

Game of Thronesis regarded as one of the best shows of all time, but the fantasy series’ controversial endingleft fans with a mixed reaction.

After a legendary run that earned the show 59 Primetime Emmy Awards — the most ever for a drama series — its conclusion was less well-received. Many viewers expectedJon SnoworDaenerys Targaryento become king or queen of Westeros, but whenBran Starkwas named the next ruler, questions ensued.

The 2019 finale, titled “The Iron Throne,” ended up as the lowest-rated episode of the critically acclaimed series. A group of fans were so outraged with the episode as well as the final season’s abbreviated runtime and episode count — consisting of six episodes compared to the usual 10 —thatthey began a petitionto remakeGame of Thrones’entire final season, which received over 1.8 million signatures.

“I think we knew it would be controversial. I think we hoped that it would be a little more 50/50,” series co-creatorDavid Benioffsaid onHappy Sad Confusedin 2024. “I think you hope for a better proportion of [reactions] … definitely didn’t want it to be quite so much hate. [We were] prepared for some of it.”

Of course, the show wouldn’t have received such a polarizing reaction if it weren’t so beloved in the first place and not everyone had an issue with the season 8 finale. Despite the passionate fan response and mixed critical reception, it was the most Emmy-nominated season of any show in history. Shortly after, the show’s cast shared their thoughts on the matter, and they had different perspectives.

“It was a surprising level… the absurdity of the online petition,”Nikolaj Coster-Waldausaid at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con. “Every season we had huge controversies. From Ned Stark being killed and then there was the Red Wedding … So obviously when it comes to the end it’s gonna piss you off no matter what, because it’s the end.”

Here’s everything to know about the controversial conclusion ofGame of Thrones.

How didGame of Thronesend?

Courtesy of HBO

InGame of Thrones’ penultimate episode, Daenerys follows her father Aerys II Targaryen’s footsteps as she burns down King’s Landing to take the Iron Throne, despite QueenCersei Lannistersurrendering. Although Jon previously pledged his fealty to Daenerys after learning of her many noble conquests — including freeing slaves in Meereen — he realizes that she not only murdered many innocent civilians in the fire but will continue to do so in her quest to “liberate” Westeros.

When Jon sees Daenerys after she takes the Iron Throne, he understands the lengths she’ll go to and kills her while they kiss. Afterward, a council of the remaining members of the great houses of Westeros debated who should rule the Seven Kingdoms.

WhenTyrion Lannisteris asked for his opinion, he presents his case for Bran having the best story in all of Westeros, saying that great stories unite people as there is nothing more powerful. The rest of the council votes and agrees that Bran is the best choice, but his sisterSansa Starkrequests that the North — where they grew up — become an independent kingdom with Sansa as the Queen of the North.

Bran agrees and becomes ruler of the now-Six Kingdoms of Westeros while choosing Tyrion as his hand. Tyrion proclaims that Daenerys’ famous intent of “breaking the wheel” was to stop the great houses from constantly ruling in a cycle and that the high council should choose rulers, replacing the monarchy with democracy.

Meanwhile,Arya Starkdecides to explore beyond where the maps stop and discover “what’s west of Westeros” as she embarks out to sea with a full crew on her ship. As for Jon, he’s banished to the Night’s Watch beyond the wall for killing Daenerys but ends up reuniting with the Wildlings, where his character always felt most free.

Why was Bran Stark chosen to rule Westeros?

Isaac Hempstead Wright in season 8 of ‘Game of Thrones’.Helen Sloan/HBO

Helen Sloan/HBO

Although viewers thought Jon would end up on the Iron Throne or as the king consort with Daenerys as queen, Bran was named the new ruler.

After Tyrion was brought before a council in Westeros, he said there should be a vote, but his choice would be Bran because of his narrative and special skills.

“Who has a better story than Bran the Broken?” he said. “The boy who fell from a high tower and lived. He knew he’d never walk again, so he learned to fly. He crossed beyond the Wall, a crippled boy, and became the Three-eyed Raven. He is our memory, the keeper of all our stories. The wars, weddings, births, massacres, famines, our triumphs, our defeats, our past. Who better to lead us into the future?”

While Bran was missing for nearly a season, and other characters appeared more frequently with complex character arcs, Martin himself originally proposed the youngest Stark take over as king.

During an interview withEntertainment Weeklyin 2019,Isaac Hempstead Wright— the actor who portrayed Bran — shared that the series’ co-creators told him such.

“[Creators] David [Benioff] and Dan [Weiss] told me there were two things [author] George R.R. Martin had planned for Bran, and that was the Hodor revelation and that he would be king,” Wright said. “So that’s pretty special to be directly involved in something that is part of George’s vision. It was a really nice way to wrap it up.”

According toEntertainment Weekly, Martin discussed the ending with Benioff and Weiss years before the finale, but the show took undiscussed narrative detours.

What were the cast’s reactions to their characters’ fates?

Kit Harington in season 8 of ‘Game of Thrones’.Helen Sloan/HBO

Most ofGame of Thrones’ actors were satisfied with their characters' endings, while some found it a tough pill to swallow when their plot lines were abruptly cut.

Maisie Williams, who played the vengeful, strategic and determined Arya, was particularly thrilled thather character had a happy ending, where she would get to explore Westeros and stop having to fight.

“We had such a blast. We loved it. I was so happy with my ending, and it was just a beautiful end to a decade of my life,” Williams said. “I couldn’t be happier with it, honestly.”

Meanwhile, there were hints that Jon could become the King of Westeros or rule alongside Daenerys as king consort to her queen, but when neither came to fruition, fans were upset. However,Kit Haringtonloved the ending chosen for his character and felt Jon was finally free, returning to the place where his character began the series.

“Seeing him go beyond the Wall back to something true, something honest, something pure with these people he was always told he belongs with — the Free Folk — it felt to me like he was finally free,” Harington toldThe Hollywood Reporter. “It was a really sweet ending. As much as he had done a horrible thing [in killing Daenerys], as much as he had felt that pain, the actual ending for him was finally being released.”

Five years after the finale,she reflected on the seriesin an even more grateful and less conflicted manner during an interview with PEOPLE.

Are there anyGame of Thronesspinoffs?

Elliot Grihault, Harry Collett, Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith and Phoebe Campbell in ‘House of the Dragon’.Liam Daniel/ HBO

Liam Daniel/ HBO

Game of Thronesfans have plenty more to look forward to as aplethora of spinoffsare in production and development.

The first spinoff toGame of ThronesisHouse of the Dragon. The show is focused on the Targaryen civil war entitled the Dance of the Dragons from Martin’s bookFire and Blood.

There was a sequel series in development about Jon Snow, but Harington toldScreen Rantthat his character’s future on-screen hadbeen shelved for the time being.

“Currently, it’s off the table, because we all couldn’t find the right story to tell that we were all excited about enough,” the actor said. “So, we decided to lay down tools with it for the time being.”

AnotherGame of Thronesspinoff isA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, based on Martin’s series of novellasTales of Dunk and Egg.The series is set to premiere in 2025 and takes place 90 years before the events ofGame of Thrones.

It will tell the story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk), a squire who pretends to be a knight and his young squire Aegon V Targaryen (Egg), who eventually becomes king.

Other shows in development includeAegon’s Conquest, focusing on Aegon Targaryen conquering — and subsequently becoming — the first king of Westeros, perThe Hollywood Reporter.

The Sea Snakeis another project being developed based onHouse of the Dragon’s Lord Corlys Verlaryon’s past adventures at sea before becoming Lord of the Tides.

source: people.com