MANILA, Philippines – Game of Thrones aired its last-ever episode on May 20 (May 19, US time), and fans are still reeling from the end of their beloved show – especially because many of them were not satisfied with how it all went down.
The season 8 finale, “The Iron Throne,” has polarized viewers – with many saying it was disappointing at best and downright sh*tty at worst, others defending the program to the end, and some falling somewhere in between – that is, ready to laugh at the memes that poke fun at the episode, while not being entirely dissatisfied with it. (READ: Who won the ‘Game of Thrones’: Questions the finale resolved, opened, and raised)
However you feel about that last episode, one thing perhaps can be agreed upon: the visuals were, as always, stunning. And here are the stills to prove it.
Whether you want to relive the magic, drive the disappointment deeper, dive into the visual details, or simply make memes, check out new images from the show’s last-ever episode below.
** SPOILERS BELOW, OBVIOUSLY **
In one of the earliest scenes in the episode, Tyrion walks through the rubble of King’s Landing and finds the corpses of his siblings Jamie and Cersei wrapped in an embrace, clearly confirming that the twins died as they were born: together.
Also going through the ruins (that she herself created) was Daenerys Targaryen, the Unburnt, Breaker of Chains, looking upon the Iron Throne, the very seat she had fought – and turned mad for – all her life.
As she looks upon the Iron Throne, her lover/nephew/contender Jon Snow finds her. She runs to him, tells him about the stories her tyrant father told her about the throne, urges him to rule alongside her, and manages to lock him in a final kiss and embrace.
And then of course, Jon does a smart thing in possibly the worst way ever (as he who Knows Nothing does), and stabs Daenerys just as he pulls her close.
Daenerys’ last remaining dragon Drogon senses his mother’s death and rushes to her aid – but too late. And the poor dragon – who has had to suffer the deaths of his brothers throughout the season, as well as go through the trauma of battle twice – unleashed his fury. But not at Jon – rather, on the Iron Throne.
Perhaps Drogon knew something we didn’t – because as it turned out, the next ruler of Westeros comes built in with his own seat.
After a deliberation by a council of the country’s heads of house (which includes a smoldering Gendry and a glown-up Robyn Arryn aka Milky Boy, and, strangely enough, Arya), Bran Stark is named the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms minus one, because Sansa, true bad-ass that she is, asked for the independence of Winterfell.
On King Bran the Broken’s new small council: Bronn, Lord of Highgarden, as the Master of Coin; Davos Seaworth as Master of Ships, Ser Brienne of Tarth as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Grand Maester Samwell Tarly, and of course, Tyrion Lannister as the Hand of the King.
As Daenerys’ killer (but ultimately, the kingdom’s deliverer), Jon is sentenced to a lifetime at Castle Black as a Brother of the Night’s Watch.
Before he heads off, he and his siblings say goodbye.
At this point, Arya reveals that she doesn’t plan on staying in Westeros. After killing the Night’s King and saving the realm, our girl Arya decides she’s going to travel the world – and she deserves her adventure.
Of course, Jon makes sure to bend the knee to his brother-now-King.
In a way, the Stark children – who fans loved from the show’s very first episode back in 2011 – all had happy endings – at least, as happy as it can be in the GoT universe. (READ: Here’s what happened to the Starks in ‘The Iron Throne’)
Jon is back at the wall and back in the black – which is always where he was most at home anyway. He also reunites with Tormund, the wildlings, and, most importantly, Ghost (sadly, not in photos), who really should have been crowned the Goodest Boi in the realm.
Arya is off to who knows where, with a hopeful glint in her eyes. Her ship has sailed (but sadly, our Gendrya ship has not).
And Sansa, in what might be the most satisfying story arc for the entire show, is crowned Queen in the North. A true triumph for a true queen.
Want more photos from the finale? Check them out here. – Rappler.com
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