10 questions Game of Thrones season 8 needs to answer
By Corey Smith
Who is Azor Ahai and does it even matter?
This is a question I could actually do without Game of Thrones answering, but that we should bring up anyway: just who exactly is Azor Ahai? And why should we even care? The answer to the second question, at least for me, is that I don’t. I’d honestly prefer it not be Jon, Daenerys, or even Samwell Tarly. Azor Ahai is a legendary hero prophesied to defeat the White Walkers and save all of humanity, a reincarnation of a hero who once did the same thousands of years before. Sound cool? Eh.
One of the reasons Game of Thrones became the phenomenon it is is because it turned genre conventions on their head. The prince doesn’t always save the princess and the good guys don’t always win. Before the show wraps up, I would hate to see it pull a 180 and make this whole conflict about a hero discovering he or she has super powers just in time to save the day.
I’d prefer the series stay grounded, and that our heroes fight for what they believe in, right or wrong, based on their individual moral compasses. If Jon or Dany is simply “destined” to save humanity, it takes away from what they must sacrifice to do it. I for one hope HBO leaves this question unanswered. Let it be, GoT, and remain the genre-redefining drama you have always been.