Score: 3/10
Yeah, I didn’t like it.
This episode, which should have been the crowning jewel of the season, feels more like mid-season filler. After a two-year wait, the payoff is far from satisfactory. It’s not just that the finale is subpar; it’s that it represents a broader issue with the entire season – a failure to deliver on its promises.
It’s as if the showrunners are unsure of the story they want to tell. They seem reluctant to fully embrace the moral ambiguity that made the original series so compelling, instead trying to soften the edges of characters like Rhaenyra and Alicent. This approach undermines the very essence of George R.R. Martin’s world, where there are no true heroes, only varying shades of grey.
The writing in this episode is on par with what we saw in The Acolyte … and that’s not a compliment. The comedy, which the showrunner admitted was meant to add levity, was straight-up not funny. It was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It reminds me of that time in Game of Thrones when they randomly threw Ed Sheeran in there.
If this were a filler episode in the middle of a long season, it would have been a decently good episode. But for a season finale? Come on. How is it possible that after 8 new episodes, we’re leaving off in the same place as Season 1? It leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and now we’ve got to wait two more years for the action that was promised for this season.
This is a below-average season finale, so it deserves a below-average score – 3/10.
Episode Breakdown
Alright, let’s dive into this episode, shall we? The episode kicks off not in Westeros, but in the Free Cities. We’ve got Tyland Lannister, showing off some of that sharp Lannister wit (because, apparently, that’s genetic). He’s negotiating with the Triarchy, and by “negotiating,” I mean he’s practically begging these pirates to help him out. It’s about as dignified as watching a lion beg for scraps.
But wait, it gets better. Enter Admiral Lohar, who won’t sail unless Tyland beats her in … I kid you not … a mud wrestling match. I wish I was making this up. I half expected John Cena to show up and start narrating. It’s like the writers watched too much WWE and thought, “You know what this political fantasy drama needs? Mud wrestling!” No disrespect intended to WWE – I love what they are cooking up over there.
Also, does Admiral Lohar only sail with people who have bested her? So you’re saying that the hundreds of men around her who she sails with have beaten her? And she’s still the admiral? The logic isn’t logic-ing.
Meanwhile, back in King’s Landing, Aegon’s still nursing his wounds when Larys shows up with news that Rhaenyra’s got more dragon riders, and Aemond’s gone full Daenerys Targaryenon on Sharp Point. Larys suggests they bail to Braavos with the gold he’s stashed away. In a stunning display of kingly duty, Aegon agrees to abandon his people, his family, and probably his half-eaten lunch.
Not to be outdone in the “Worst Targaryen” competition, Aemond decides to turn King’s Landing into a medieval police state. He’s not content with just starving the populace; he’s got to make sure they’re miserable too. The cherry on top? He tries to force his sister Helaena to ride into battle. Because nothing says “family bonding” like forcing your traumatized sister onto a dragon.
Helaena, bless her heart, drops some prophecies on Aemond. Apparently, Aegon will rule again on a wooden throne (IKEA’s new “Königseat” line, perhaps?), and Aemond’s destined for a permanent swimming lesson in the God’s Eye.
Over in Team Black, we’ve got Jace having an identity crisis about being a bastard, Ulf being a complete ass to everyone, and Rhaenyra, finally realizing that having seven dragons isn’t enough to make the Greens surrender, decides it’s time for war. Cynical as I may be, I will admit that one of the best moments in this episode is when Corlys renames his ship “The Queen that Never Was” to honor Rhaenys. That pulled at my heartstrings.
Daemon, still chilling at Luigi’s mansion, gets a vision that’s basically a highlight reel of Game of Thrones. We’re talking Three-Eyed Ravens, Night Kings, dragon eggs, and even Daenerys herself. Dude saw the ending of Season 8 and was like, “You know what? I should join Rhaneyra to try to keep that from happening.”
Speaking of Rhaenyra, she finally shows up at Harrenhal after Sir Simon Strong sends for her. Daemon then goes full Stark on her, talking about winter and darkness. He kneels and proclaims her the true queen – just like at the end of Season 1.
See what I mean?
The episode wraps up with a midnight session between Rhaenyra and Alicent. Alicent admits she screwed up with the whole “putting Aegon on the throne” thing and offers to help Rhaenyra take King’s Landing. All she wants is to peace out with her daughter and granddaughter. Rhaneyra will only agree on one condition – that she must kill Aegon, citing it as “a son for a son.” To my surprise, Alicent agrees!
Little do they know that this is all in vain. Armies have mobilized and alliances forged – the blight of war is inevitable.
Final Thoughts
While there were moments of potential throughout the season, they were never fully realized. The spectacle we were promised – the grand conflicts, the political machinations – all feel watered down or poorly executed. It’s not that nothing happened; rather, what did happen was presented in a manner that failed to engage or excite.
The pacing was off, the character development was non-existent, and the attempts at humor fell flatter than Viserys after his final tumble. It’s like they took everything that made the first season compelling and decided, “Nah, let’s do the opposite.”
The showrunners seem to have forgotten what made Game of Thrones great in the first place. It wasn’t the dragons or the battles (though those helped). It was the complex characters, the political intrigue, and the sense that no one was safe.
The worst part? This finale has left me with zero excitement for Season 3. It’s doing all the stupid stuff from the later seasons of Game of Thrones – Did they learn nothing from the backlash? Every character this season felt like a watered-down version of their Season 1 selves.
In the end, this finale, and indeed this entire season, feels like a wasted opportunity. The expectations set for this season were far from being met, leaving us with what feels like a high-budget fan fiction rather than a worthy continuation of the Game of Thrones legacy.
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