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 The last episode of the medieval fantasy based on the novels of
George R.R. Martin ran roughly an hour and 20 minutes to
conclude the storyline of more than a dozen characters and
intertwining plots.
The fierce competition for the fictional Iron Throne - the seat
for the show's ruler, made of hundreds of swords - ended with a
death and an unexpected choice to rule the fictional kingdom of
Westeros.
The series had become the cornerstone of HBO's primetime
offerings, but its final season was also its most divisive, with
both fans and critics finding specific plot twists, particularly
the handling of one primary character, troubling.
HBO says the record-breaking final season drew 43 million
viewers on average for each episode in the United States alone,
an increase of 10 million over Season 7 in 2017.
Most notable in fans' criticism was the malevolent turn by
Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen, the "Dragon Queen," who used
her dragon to lay waste to the show's fictional capital after
her enemies had surrendered.
The move angered fans, as the episode, titled "The Bells," now
garners the weakest ratings of all episodes in the eight-season
run on Rottentomatoes.com, which aggregates critics' reviews.
Brutal acts by Clarke's character in previous seasons were
similar to those of other leaders, but many viewers saw the
decision to kill tens of thousands of innocent people as too
drastic, based on her previous actions.
The final episode features her death at the hands of Jon Snow,
her lover (and nephew, among numerous incestuous relationships
portrayed), played by Kit Harington, who kills her, fearing her
tyranny merely mirrors that of predecessors.
Her last living dragon then burns the Iron Throne, melting it
down with his fiery breath.
Without a ruler, numerous members of the show's noble houses
eventually make an unexpected choice of king, settling on
Brandon Stark, played by Isaac Hempstead Wright.
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In the premiere episode in 2011, Brandon was pushed from a high
tower, crippling him, but awakening mystical powers that eventually
allowed him to see the past and the future.
Some critics viewed the Sunday episode's choice as odd, since
Stark's abilities implied he foresaw the events, including the
deaths of thousands, that would leave him ruler.
"He's got the whole history of Westeros stockpiled in his head, so
how is he going to be able to concentrate on running a kingdom?"
wrote Rebecca Patton on Bustle.com.
From its ragged beginnings - its original pilot was never aired,
instead undergoing substantial re-shoots and recasting of several
characters - the series became a cultural phenomenon.
Its budgets grew, with the last season's cost running as high as $15
million per episode, Variety says. It also won numerous primetime
television Emmy Awards, including three for "Best Drama."
It became known for unexpected, nerve-wracking moments, including
the first season's death of Eddard Stark, the nobleman played by
Sean Bean, highlighted in a marketing campaign, and Season 3's "Red
Wedding," a massacre in fictional wars that author Martin based on
medieval Scottish history.
HBO, owned by AT&T's WarnerMedia, is already planning a prequel
series, set thousands of years earlier, while creators Dan Weiss and
David Benioff are scheduled to make the next series of "Star Wars"
films.
(Reporting by David Gaffen; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence
Fernandez)
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