The final season of Game of Thrones has a terrible reputation, for good reason. Between the lack of book canon to draw on, the absence of key characters from the books, and writers who were ready to move onto their next project, it had many critical issues. The pacing is incredibly rushed, making otherwise valid plotlines seem to come out of nowhere, and characters conveniently 'forget' vital information that they absolutely should be aware of.
But plenty has already been said about those failings in other places. What hasn't been discussed as thoroughly are the good ideas that simply got overshadowed by all the bad ones. Some of these were genuinely effective scenes surrounded by chaos, while others were brilliant ideas that were just written very poorly. Either way, they're moments that fans can latch onto in imagining how the book series will end (whether or not George R. R. Martin actually puts out the last two novels).
The following are 15 of the strongest scenes and concepts in season 8 of Game of Thrones, along with a discussion of why each was a good idea and what it brought to the story as a whole.
The visual parallel between the first episode and "Winterfell"
The season begins with a callback to the very first episode of Game of Thrones that is genuinely brilliant. We get a young boy running between people, trying to get a better vantage point to see from, and eventually climbing up a tree to get a view of the approaching royal party. This is a wonderful homage to both Arya and Bran's behaviors in "Winter is Coming" when Robert Baratheon and his family came to the North. Meanwhile, the same musical theme plays in the background of both scenes.
It's a brilliant decision because it simultaneously reminds fans of where they came from and shows how history repeats itself, with new children springing up at Winterfell even after all the chaos. Similar themes emerge in both scenes (like Sansa seeing something both awe-inspiring and incredibly dangerous), prompting useful comparisons between Daenerys and Jon's respective flaws and those of Cersei and Robert.
Long-awaited character reunions
There are an overwhelming number of important reunions in the first few episodes of the final season, and while the quantity lessens the amount of time and emotional impact for each, it would be hard to deny how nice it is to see characters interact again after so much time has passed. There are too many in the first two episodes to list all of them, but some examples include Jon meeting a grown-up and thoroughly changed Bran, Theon saving Yara, Arya reuniting with Gendry and the Hound, and Jaime's many reunions (which will be discussed in a later section).
A series this complex means that practically every character has some connection to the others, but these are characters who dramatically changed each others' paths, and it's powerful to see them meet once again. For example, Sansa is a completely different person than she was when she last saw both Tyrion and the Hound, which makes their season 8 encounters so fascinating to watch. While the pacing could be a lot better, putting all the players together was necessary for an effective ending.
Sansa and Jon's conflicting perspectives on leadership
Sansa and Jon probably have the most interesting familial bonds by this point in the story. While he was always on good terms with Arya and Bran, Jon and Sansa never really had much of a relationship until she escaped Ramsay in season 6. Since then, however, she has been one of his most valiant defenders and valuable advisors. While he became a leader and a mythic figure, she became a political force. They love each other, but clashing opinions were inevitable.
Having the two of them struggle over what is best for the North from the first episode makes a lot of sense. Sansa has always been part of the political arc of the show, so that's what defines her decisions. On the other hand, Jon was fighting the supernatural battle for most of his arc. The conflict between them is a representation of the conflict in the writing between the allure of the political drama and the life-or-death stakes of the supernatural apocalypse. Unfortunately, the writers decided to have them re-enact the same argument repeatedly, undermining the legitimate clashing between two beloved characters' ideologies.
Sam being introduced to the worst of Dany's actions
In another genre, the first meeting between Jon's lover and his best friend might have been a comedic filler scene, but season 8 actually made it quite profound. While trying to praise him for saving Jorah, Daenerys has to awkwardly admit to Sam that she killed his family in one of the most brutal ways possible. This scene is emotionally similar to when Drogon killed a child in Meereen, but it also gives a person with a dangerous secret a reason to share it.
If the writers were committed to sending Daenerys down the Mad Queen arc, her first interaction with Sam is actually a brilliant way to foreshadow it. Most of her cruelest actions in the past were justified by the narrative, but showing Sam crumble upon realizing that he will never have a chance to repair things with his father and brother is a good transition scene for her morality. It shows audiences that a character they love and trust doesn't want Daenerys to be queen, which primes them to agree. Had other characters' reactions to her behavior and Jon's identity been done as successfully, the season might have been better received overall.
Jaime's reception at Winterfell
While many character reunions were touching, one of the most loaded interactions in the final season comes when Jaime arrives at Winterfell to fight against the army of the dead. Daenerys has no reason to trust him, either from his past or from her own interactions with Cersei—but Tyrion vouches for him. Likewise, Sansa has every reason to hate him, despite not knowing what he did to Bran, but she is willing to allow him to stay because of Brienne's advocacy.
That debate is the culmination of so many of Jaime's plotlines. While Jon's opinion is largely that they need any man they can get, the political dynamics and personal hurt the Lannisters caused still matters. He earned Sansa and Daenerys's hatred, but he also earned Tyrion and Brienne's respect. His fate relies on the relationships he built, both good and bad, which feels satisfying to fans who watched him grow and change for nearly a decade.
Theon choosing to fight for Winterfell
There are many irredeemable characters in Game of Thrones, but Theon got one of the show's fullest redemption arcs. After betraying the Starks, many fans wanted him dead, but his true fate was arguably worse. But while some might have considered his help in Sansa's escape to be enough, having him choose to fight for Winterfell—with his sister's blessing—was unquestionably the right choice for honoring his journey.
This allows Theon to truly earn his place as both Greyjoy and Stark, honoring each living Stark in whatever way he can. He fights for Jon's cause, serves Sansa faithfully, guards Bran during the Long Night, and (unknowingly) buys Arya the time she needs to reach the Night King. Redemption comes from true attonement, making it right in whatever way you can, and Theon puts in the work to do that. While his actual death scene was a bit weak, his trajectory as a whole was enjoyable, ending with him choosing to defend his home, at any cost.
Plans failing against the army of the dead
After seven and a half seasons of build-up, the worst thing that could have happened in the battle against the dead would be for everything to go according to plan, which the writers were thankfully smart enough not to do.
From the chilling destruction of the Dothraki and their flaming arakhs to the failure of dragonfire to harm the Night King, the episode was better for all the failed plans within it. By showing archers running out of arrows and non-fighters having no choice, the rest of the battle feels more believable.
The problem, as many fans have pointed out, is that several elements of the fight should have been expected, such as the Night King weaponizing the fallen warriors and the crypts. While that makes some characters seem less intelligent than usual, each clever plan that fails (flaming arrows can't light the trenches) heightens the stakes and proves why each character (Melisandre, in this case) needed to be there. With a little more time and clearer connections, it could have been a strong argument that each character was sculpted into exactly the person they needed to be for the survival of Westeros.
Arya, the Hound, and Beric Dondarrion
While much of "The Long Night" is a muddled mess, the dynamic between Arya, the Hound, and Beric Dondarrion is surprisingly compelling. This battle is the most literal version of Arya's catchphrase of telling Death "Not today," and that philosophy inspires those who care for her. Sandor Clegane had reminded Arya in the previous episode that he'd once fought for her, and this episode shows him fighting because of her. He has a panic attack in the midst of the battle, a reasonable response even without his pyrophobia, but Beric is able to break him out of it by pointing him toward the 5'1" girl bravely facing an unbeatable force.
Whether you liked Arya's eventual killing of the Night King or not, these exchanges are powerful bits of character work in a chaotic episode, grounded in both the characters' overall arcs and their history together. This odd trio all have reasons to hate each other, but they likewise have reasons to respect each other. When Beric sacrifices his final life for Arya, it is almost an apology for what he'd done to Gendry. He found something worth dying for.
On the other side of the trio, Clegane has found something to live for, setting him up for his final journey with Arya to King's Landing and his appeal that she not turn into him. Those later interactions are less effective, but only work at all because of the work put in during this episode.
Gendry's almost happily-ever-after
Gendry was a fan-favorite character early on in Game of Thrones, despite disappearing for several seasons. While his dynamic with Jon in season 7 was a wonderful parallel to Ned and Robert's friendship, he finally got what many fans wanted for him in the last season. He and Arya controversially sleep together before the Long Night, and Daenerys officially names him the head of House Baratheon. But while some fans were disappointed when Arya later rejects him romantically, it was actually the best choice that the writers could have made.
Between his journey beyond the Wall and his service at Winterfell, Gendry truly deserves to become Lord Gendry Baratheon. But as Arya told him repeatedly, she is not a lady, and that was never going to be the right place for her. For them to be together, one of them would have to give up the lives they'd earned, and that would have undermined their individual arcs.
While it doesn't make much sense for Arya to end the series sailing off into the unknown, it is still far more satisfying than if she'd become the wife of a High Lord, running his castle and bearing his children, as Ned had once told her she must.
Varys's motive for betraying Daenerys
Varys is a controversial figure, especially in the books, but the show version of the character always swore that his foremost priority was to build the best world for the realm as a whole. That goal allowed him to betray good men, even his friends, but it was also what led him to serve Daenerys. Thus, it makes perfect sense that his downfall would come when he chooses to "act in their interest, no matter the personal cost."
Unlike so many of the drastic character changes in the final season, Varys's about-face makes sense. It still feels rushed, since he'd served Dany for multiple seasons at that point, but it is a choice that lines up with his stated goals. He initially chose Daenerys as the best option, but he turns to Jon when given enough information to see him as the better prospect.
Between his established leadership in Westeros and his honorable nature, Varys has every reason to believe Jon would be a more stable king, especially as Daenerys becomes more aggressive. While he loses his life for it, the concept that "the best ruler might be someone who doesn't want to rule" is part of what inspires Tyrion to nominate Bran, fulfilling his ultimate goal, even if he wasn't alive to witness it.
Showcasing the innocents in King's Landing
One of the biggest things that the show struggled with, compared to the books, was showing the same events from different perspectives. We get a few different third-person limited-esque POVs, but not the personal reflections offered by the book. However, focusing in on a few recognizable innocents in King's Landing gives the audience the chance to see the destruction of the city beyond the context the main characters have.
It is chaos. Parents try to rescue their children. Some people try to help each other; others just run. We see Jon's horror when Daenerys doesn't stop the attack, and we see Arya suffering in the city, but the best shots really are the ones that show ordinary people just trying to survive. Arya only survives with the help of an unknown peasant, which gives her the strength to try to save others. Seeing that same woman sacrifice herself so her child could live, and seeing that the child dies anyway, really drives home the horror Daenerys wrought on the city. It would be a stronger episode with more focus on the smallfolk, but the moments that are included are some of the most impactful.
Cersei being delusional until the last minute
After everything she put Daenerys through, Cersei is a complete fool to believe that she could somehow win—and that fits her character perfectly. When Qyburn comes to warn her that the Iron Fleet and Golden Company are failing, she insists that, "They will defend their queen to the last man."
But when the time comes, the soldiers surrender. The people surrender. Even her zombie servant abandons her. And while we might scream at the TV screen that, of course, that was going to happen, it makes perfect sense that Cersei doesn't believe it.
Tywin once told his daughter that he didn't trust her because she isn't as smart as she thinks she is, and this set-up perfectly illustrates that. She is completely delusional about her chances, because every other time she has been threatened, cruelty (and luck) let her win. It's somewhat satisfying to see her predictions fail so spectacularly, but it's also tragic, because she truly believes she is going to win until the last moment. While their ending is unfortunate for Jaime's character arc, it is the perfect ending for a woman who always believed in herself above all others.
Daenerys's speech in the ruins of King's Landing
You can hate the Mad Queen arc or think it was too rushed. I won't judge you. But there is no one who can tell me that Daenerys's speech in the ruins of King's Landing isn't chilling. From Drogon's wings appearing from behind Dany to the smoldering city and ashen debris, the Breaker of Chains is now a fascist dictator, ruling a dead city. Getting her to that point may not have been executed well, but boy does she look the part.
The speech itself is also very well written. It references plenty of lines and plot points from earlier seasons, making a good argument that Daenerys was always heading down this path. She refers to her armies as liberators and claims they have "freed" the citizens of Westeros, all while the corpses of the smallfolk still burn. Even with all of that, the audience and Jon might be able to accept it... until she announces that they will bring this same liberation to the rest of the world, sealing the threat that Daenerys poses to everyone. What came before and after had its weaknesses, but this scene is easily one of the best in the season, if not the show as a whole.
Tyrion's arguments to Jon against Daenerys
When Jon visits Tyrion after his imprisonment, the two have a conversation reminiscent of the early seasons, full of the morals and lessons both characters have learned along the way. Tyrion lines up all of Daenerys's darkest actions, bringing back the question of whether a child is destined to become their parent. When Jon pushes back, we get taken back to the conflict Maester Aemon identified between love and duty. Jon still chooses Daenerys, so Tyrion reminds him that she will eventually turn on him, as her greatest threat... and he still doesn't care.
As much as Jon's repeated "I don't want it" and "She's my Queen"s got annoying, this scene pits Jon against every major argument in the series. Power, duty, and even self-preservation don't phase him.
So Tyrion does as Varys did to Ned, asking if he would risk Arya and Sansa's lives for his beliefs. This argument gets through to him, proving that a child does not have to become their biological parent, but can instead choose to emulate a man who he respected and loved. The conversation is rich with the kind of moral questions that fans fell in love with Game of Thrones for, respecting the show's history and the fans' devotion by empowering Jon to make a terrible choice after a full season of passivity.
Sansa becoming Queen of an independent North
For a series with so many important characters rising and falling, it is shocking that the Starks would stay as important as they are from the beginning to the ending. They lost a lot, but four Starks are still standing by the end, and their fates are some of the most significant. But while Bran becoming king and Arya running off to the other side of the world feel out of left field, Sansa's fate is the most important culmination of the North's story.
The North remembers. Sansa is a child of Ned Stark, sibling of both Kings in the North, and the one who never stopped fighting for them, even when it meant pushing back against Daenerys. On a more personal note, she suffered under multiple powerful players, but she learned from them along the way. It would have felt unsatisfying if the series ended with a subservient North; it would have felt unsatisfying for Sansa's journey to be meaningless.
By becoming the Queen in the North, Sansa truly reaches her highest character potential and honors the will of the most personified kingdom in Westeros. Jon getting to return to a world he feels comfortable in is not a bad ending, but Sansa's ending is one of the few that felt like it truly recognized the entire trajectory of her story, from start to finish.