4 ways the writers could’ve saved the ending of Game of Thrones

1. Bran should’ve been playing the game for power

One of the major issues with the final season of Game of Thrones is the lack of foreshadowing regarding Bran’s ultimate character arc. His ending was one of the main reasons people were turned off by the show’s final season because it felt unearned. In writing, characters must undergo a journey and earn their conclusions through the story and in my opinion, Bran failed to do this.

A simple solution would have been to portray Bran as someone with aspirations to be a catalyst for change, without necessarily playing the game of thrones. This characterization would have made his rise to the throne feel more natural and given his role as king more significance.

What if someone else was the true mastermind, plotting to take over Bran’s body and playing the ultimate game for the Iron Throne? Brynden, a Targaryen bastard with a thirst for power, had the knowledge and the motive to manipulate events in his favor. By warging into Bran, he could have achieved his goal of gaining control over the Seven Kingdoms. This would have been a twist worthy of Game of Thrones, a show known for its unexpected turns and complex characters.

This would also have given a more satisfying conclusion to the Three-Eyed Raven’s story, making him the puppeteer pulling the strings all along. What if he warged into Dany’s dragon and burned down King’s Landing?

Picture this in the final scenes: After the council meeting, Bran rolls away to the privacy of his estate. The camera then pans around to his face, and he winks and smiles, subtly indicating that he was playing the game the entire time. This would reveal that it wasn’t Bran at all, but the Three-Eyed Raven, who had taken control of him. Such an ending would have left fans in awe, their jaws on the floor.

At least, it would be more interesting than the ending we got, right?

What changes would you make to the final season of Game of Thrones?