Game of Thrones Season 8 Review was it all that?
0The eighth and final season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones, produced by HBO, premiered on April 14, 2019 and concluded on May 19, 2019. Unlike seasons 1 through 6, which comprised ten episodes each, and season 7, which comprised seven episodes, season 8 comprises only six episodes.
The final season depicts the culmination of the series' two primary conflicts: the great battle at Winterfell against the Army of the Dead, and the final battle in King's Landing for control of the Iron Throne.
The season was filmed from October 2017 to July 2018 and largely consists of original content not found in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, while also incorporating material that Martin has revealed to showrunners about the upcoming novels in the series, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. The season was adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss.
Upon reaching Winterfell with their combined armies, Jon and Daenerys learn the Army of the Dead has breached the Wall, and the Night King commands the undead Viserion. The Northern lords and their allies rally around Winterfell, but distrust Daenerys and doubt Cersei's pledge. At King's Landing, Euron returns from Essos with the Golden Company and entices Cersei to consummate their union. On Cersei's orders, Qyburn hires Bronn to assassinate Tyrion and Jaime. Theon rescues Yara, who then sets out to retake the Iron Islands, while Theon returns to Winterfell. At Winterfell, Jon reunites with Bran and Arya, and later learns to ride Rhaegal. Sam meets Daenerys, who reveals that she executed his father and brother. After Sam and Jon are reunited, Sam reveals Jon's true identity is Aegon Targaryen, king and rightful heir to the Iron Throne. At House Umber's seat of Last Hearth, Tormund and Beric encounter Edd and other Night's Watch members. They find the castle's occupants dead and Ned Umber's body used as a gruesome message from the Night King. Jaime arrives at Winterfell where Bran is awaiting him.
After King's Landing is nearly destroyed, Grey Worm executes all captured soldiers on Daenerys' orders. Tyrion finds Jaime and Cersei dead in the Red Keep ruins. Daenerys rallies the Unsullied and Dothraki, declaring she will liberate the entire world. Denouncing Daenerys' tyranny, Tyrion resigns as Hand, then is imprisoned for treason to await execution. Fearing Daenerys may kill Jon and Sansa, Arya and Tyrion tell Jon that Westeros' fate lies with him. Jon confronts Daenerys, but unable to halt her destructive path, kills her. Drogon melts the Iron Throne and carries her body away. Tyrion is freed and proposes that future monarchs be chosen by Westerosi aristocrats, rather than through familial succession. Apart from Sansa asserting an independent North, the Westerosi leaders unanimously proclaim Bran Stark as Bran the Broken, Ruler of the Six Kingdoms. Bran appoints Tyrion as his Hand and sentences Jon to the Night's Watch to appease Daenerys' followers. Grey Worm and the Unsullied sail for Naath. Tyrion reorganizes the King's Small Council – Brienne, Bronn, Davos, and Sam – to rebuild King's Landing. Sansa is crowned Queen in the North. Arya sets sail to explore west of Westeros. At Castle Black, Jon rejoins Tormund and Ghost, accompanying the Wildlings going north of the Wall.
While the first three episodes were met with mostly positive feedback, "The Last of the Starks", "The Bells" and "The Iron Throne" were criticized for their rushed pacing, writing, and deviation from critical character development, with the last two being described as "anticlimactic" and "a huge letdown". On Rotten Tomatoes, "The Bells" is the worst-reviewed episode of the entire series, with an approval rating of 47%