Our Watch Has Ended: A Defense of the Game of Thrones Finale Nobody Asked For

Similarly enough to the characters on the greatest show of all time, there's an air of entitlement going around. They say it's a millennial trait — to which I completely disagree — but I'm currently seeing this energy travel through watchers of all ages. Something in the water is causing men and women to forget that life does not always give you what you want. Sometimes it gives you exactly what it's been telling you for nine years it was going to give you.

No one had to spend millions of dollars entertaining you for eight seasons. They did it anyway; and in my humble opinion, they did it well.

Similarly to our lives — which end when they end, not when we tell them to, and end how they end, not how we tell them to — we should find the connected pieces, how the puzzle aligned, and most of all... contentment at the end of the journey.

Finales aren't meant to answer every question, satisfy every longing, or tie up every loose end. They are meant to bring you to where the story led. And if you, like me, have seen every episode of Game of Thrones, nothing about this final season — nor the finale — should seem out of place.

Other than the coffee cup, of course.

"If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention."
— Ramsay Snow (Bolton), Season 3, Episode 6

On Cersei's death.

Let's start with the most "disappointing" part of this season. She died in the arms of her brother-lover, under a California king-sized bed of giant falling rocks, at the hands of a newly unhinged woman on a dragon.

First of all — you would not love to die like that. Those weren't pebbles; they were boulders. I doubt you'd try it.

Yes, she was one of the most ruthless characters on the show. But somehow people thought she was going to get the death she "deserved." Lest we forget this is the same show that beheaded the most honorable Eddard Stark, burned an innocent child alive, and made us witness Hodor hold the door.

Yes, it would have been satisfying to see Cersei get what Joffrey or Ramsay got. More than satisfying. But lest we also forget — were we not satisfied enough watching her lose not one, not two, but three of her children? Watching her Walk of Shame? Watching her beloved city burn to the ground in a way she never imagined it would?

Her death wasn't a gift. But she died. I doubt you'd try that either.

"Any man who must say 'I am the King' is no true King."
— Tywin Lannister, Season 3, Episode 10

On Daenerys going mad.

You remember Joffrey, right? If not, stop reading. That quote above was his grandfather Tywin — to him — in the middle of one of his tirades.

Introducing: Queen Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, Lady of Dragonstone, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons.

Queen. Queen. Queen. Queen. Queen. Queen. Queen.

This was long before she ever saw what the Iron Throne looked like. And no one saw it coming that the daughter of the Mad King — dragon rider, gods-flip-a-coin-when-a-Targaryen-is-born Daenerys — was going to lose it?

Sansa survived Cersei, Joffrey, Ramsay, and Littlefinger. She knows a dangerous person from miles away on a dragon. When she wasn't getting with Dany, that was the sign.

Daenerys' arc did not start great and end in disaster. She always had good intentions consistently wrapped in death and fire. Don't believe me?

"I am Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, of the blood of Old Valyria. I am the dragon's daughter, and I swear to you that those who would harm you will die screaming." — Season 1, Episode 10

"When my dragons are grown, we will take back what was stolen from me and destroy those who wronged me. We will lay waste to armies and burn cities to the ground." — Season 2, Episode 4

"I will take what is mine with fire and blood." — Season 2, Episode 6

"They can live in my new world, or they can die in their old one." — Season 7, Episode 4

"We both want to help people. We can only help them from a position of strength. Sometimes strength is terrible." — Season 7, Episode 5

I could go on. But I'll leave you with my personal favorite: Dracarys.

We got behind her when she was killing everyone to free slaves and break the wheel — but she was killing people then too, and we were with her then. It's hard to see our own twisted tendencies sometimes. Today is one of those days. It's okay.

Her going mad was not a writer's decision. It was her destiny. They told us from the beginning: anyone who wants this much power doesn't deserve it, won't get it, and won't keep it. I'm glad Jon killed her. It was necessary. I'm glad Drogon burned the Throne — it was the cause of her destruction. He probably took her back to Valyria or to wherever Drogo is still waiting. Either way... the end.

"Let me give you some advice, bastard: Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor and it can never be used to hurt you."
— Tyrion Lannister, Season 1, Episode 1

On Jon Snow going North.

In the pilot, we stare into Jon Snow's dreamy dark brown eyes and overhear his conversation with Tyrion. At that point we think Tyrion is a mean mess and Jon is just attractive. We later find out they are actually pure mastermind and full heart.

We also later discover that Jon has legitimate parents — a married Targaryen and a Stark — making him no bastard at all. But he is a bastard to this world. He always felt out of place because of his uncertain lineage; even after finding out the truth, his place in Westeros proper never quite fit. He is the most honorable person we've seen; just, fearless, resurrected from the dead. He's Aegon Targaryen — the first noble dragon to live in centuries.

Why would he be King of Westeros? And further... why would he stay?

Power was never his thing. He said it over and over and over again. What he actually wanted was what we all thought we wanted: peace. Beyond the Wall, that's what he got. It was the choice he made in Season 1, Episode 1; it was the ending he was still content with in Season 8, Episode 6.

Plus he's with Tormund. Nothing ever goes truly wrong with Tormund by your side.

"A man with no motives is a man no one suspects."
— Petyr Baelish, Season 4, Episode 4

On Bran being King.

Many people say they can't get into Game of Thrones because it's fantasy, it's medieval, it's bloody. Game of Thrones is a story. A great story. A story of men, women, power, struggle, family, life, death, and love — that just happens to have a few dragons.

In the words of Tyrion: "There's nothing in this world more powerful than a good story."

Bran holds the story — past, present, and future. He also represents a shift in Westeros' power structure. Since he cannot have children, kingship will no longer pass through lineage; it will simply be chosen by the rulers of the six kingdoms. Power is no longer about heritage; it's about putting authority in the hands of people proven to deserve it.

Sure, Bran has never ruled anything other than his wheelchair. But he has vision; he's levelheaded; he lacks the desire for power for his own sake. He knows the story of the world and wants what's best for it — without factoring himself into the equation. Absolutely unlike everyone else on the show.

Maybe it wasn't heavily foreshadowed. But it makes the most sense. There may not be elation... but there is contentment. There will be peace in the realm.

The final wrap-up.

A few more things that left me smiling:

Greyworm sailed to Missandei's home like he promised. He went quite nuts getting there — but that was sweet.

The New and Improved Small Council: Tyrion as Hand of the King (perfect); Ser Davos as Master of Ships (obviously); Ser Brienne as Kingsguard (naturally); Samwell as Grand Maester (of course); Bronn as Master of Coin (sure, why not).

"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives." — Sansa knew. If no one else was going to make it, she and her family would. Queen in the North.

"No one knows — it's where all the maps stop." — Arya, on her way West of Westeros. She's the one and no one. She told the god of death not today; she killed the Night King; now she wants to see what's left to conquer. She hasn't failed me yet. She didn't start last night.

I'm satisfied. Seriously.

Life gives its share of lemons; this was not one of those cases. The Game of Thrones cast, crew, writers, production, editors, stunt performers — all of them gave us cold, fresh, sweet lemonade on the hottest of days, year after year.

Except Season Five. We don't talk about Season Five.

We rarely get everything we want out of everything in this life. Very often we've seen horrible endings — on screen and in reality. But when a show delivers exactly what it's been foreshadowing for nine years... that's a pleasure we're not always accustomed to.

Maybe if we paid more attention to the background happenings in our own lives, we wouldn't be so shocked as things unfold either.