Game of Thrones Recap: One Last Character Was Murdered in the Series Finale

[Warning: The following contains spoilers for the series finale episode of Game of Thrones.]

Given that Game of Thrones spent a lot of time and dragon money investing in Daenerys' (Emilia Clarke) quest to amass an army, travel to Westeros, and reclaim her birthright, you might have figured she'd be the one sitting on the Iron Throne when the series finally came to an end. And, of course, you'd be wrong.

When all was said and done, Jon (Kit Harington) ended up killing his lover (and aunt) after realizing that even after decimating King's Landing and killing thousands of innocent people, Dany planned to continue slaughtering innocents until she ruled over everyone. Knowing he could not let her amass more power, Jon stabbed her as they shared their final kiss and watched her bleed out in front of the Iron Throne. In a twist that was almost equally surprising, Drogon burned the Iron Throne down after finding his mother dead but left Jon alive, flying off with Daenerys' body clutched in his talons.

Game of Thrones Season 8 Finale Complete Coverage

The surviving Lords and Ladies of Westeros congregated to decide what to do without a monarch, and Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) was at the ready with a solution. When monarchy fails, why not go with something closer to democracy? (Though it's really more of an oligarchy, since everyone made fun of Sam's suggestion of letting everyone vote.) Knowing they needed someone who would take the duty seriously and whose story would unite the kingdoms, Tyrion suggested Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright). Everyone voted in Bran's favor, and Bran accepted the position, making Tyrion his Hand so that he could spend the rest of his life making up for his failures.

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Bran also granted the North independence at Sansa's (Sophie Turner) request, effectively making her Queen in the North. As for Arya (Maisie Williams), she decided to find out what was west of Westeros, bidding farewell to Jon and the rest of her family, probably for good. If that's not the spin-off we all deserve at this point, then we don't know what is.

Rather than executing Jon as the Unsullied wanted, Bran chose to send him back to the Night's Watch to take the black as punishment for his crime. Jon willingly accepted his punishment, including the part about fathering no children, effectively ending the Targaryen line forever. Once there, Jon marched beyond the Wall with the Wildlings, returning them to their lands, which were now safe from the Night King and his army of undead. At least Jon finally gave Ghost the snuggle he deserved when they reunited at Castle Black?

And thus ends A Song of Fire and Ice.

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PHOTOS: Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 5