Over two weeks have passed since the series finale of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” I started watching GoT around the time season 2 aired, went back and caught up with season 1, and had followed it since. I hadn’t read George R.R. Martin’s books so my viewership was one more of casual interest rather than intense devotion as some people out there hold.

I did enjoy the character development and the world of the show. Yet, season 6 onward, problems emerged that eventually popped into the mess that was season 8. I will list my reasons for why I think GoT’s finale was lackluster at best and a floating turd at the worst.

All told, what infuriated me was how I had dedicated a significant amount of time with this show and then be disappointed. It’s like you’re eating this great meal and then the waiter brings you a stale pop tart for dessert.

Before Season 8:

• The show has suffered, since season 6, from a long, drawn-out build-up to the last few episodes of those seasons. Episodes 1 – 8ish tend to go in circles with plot and then end with nothing unresolved and a cliffhanger that leaves one more unsatisfied than wanting more.
• The showrunners relied heavily on George R.R. Martin and his narrative. Once they splintered off, the writing suffered. We lost good character scenes and appropriate sequences of development. Seasons 1 through 5 had good complications and strong midpoints.

Season 8:

• Surprises masquerade as coincidences and deus ex machina
  • The sudden scorpion arrow attack of one of the dragons…
  • And then all of a sudden Dany is a Top Gun pilot at King’s Landing
  • Dany going all genocidal on King’s Landing, just to showcase a lot of CGI
  • The convenience of killing Missandei, death of the dragons, and Jon’s entitlement to the throne make it convenient after-thoughts for Dany go torch King’s Landing at the end
• Much ado about nothing / Unnecessary information
  • Jon Snow being Aegon Targaryen, the true heir, is a useless piece of information because it’s not used. This is screenwriting 101. You use every piece of information introduced in the story. Otherwise, what’s the point?
  • Arya doing a sudden 180 at King’s Landing. Not kill Cersei? Then why come all this way?
  • Why did that dragon torch that throne? I will tell you. It’s unmotivated and useless. It’s just a cool piece of imagery to use.
• What were they thinking?
  • Where were the defense strategists for Winterfell?
  • Why didn’t Cersei just kill everyone when Dany and everyone tried to broker a peace at the walls of King’s Landing? “Loose!”
  • Bran!? Really!? The throne belongs to Bran? It’s interesting how the most powerful character is also the most completely useless. “I know everything.”
  • Cersei dying under fallen rubble with Jamie is A) totally unsatisfying and B) such a cheap metaphor for “everything is crumbling down over her.”
• Breaking their own rules (mainly deals with character)
  • Jamie leaving to be with Cersei. He’s changed significantly. All of sudden he wants to go back and be with her?
  • Varys not being Varys. He’s more cunning and secretive and would play his thoughts close to the chest. He would never openly discuss killing Dany, even if he did trust Tyrion completely.
  • Dany torching King’s Landing. This links back to the surprises. The entire show was set up so Dany would be the “Breaker of Chains” and all those all titles.
• And many, many more…

Final Remarks

• It’s tough writing something well. I get that. But these offenses were too egregious to merit any ounce of defense.
• Don’t sacrifice character for spectacle.
• While GoT made its name with “no character is safe,” don’t make it so a character’s death is rushed, illogical, or inappropriate. Inappropriate in the sense of story. There is a logic to the consequences of a character’s actions.
• The show will be marred by this finale for years to come. I don’t think it will find a place in the esteemed halls of, say, “The Sopranos” or “Breaking Bad.”