Why Does the Final Season of Game of Thrones Ruin the Entire Show?

As someone who has never watched Game of Thrones but has heard others talk about it, I was curious to understand why people claim the final season ruins the entire show. In this article, I explore the reasons behind these sentiments and discuss the challenges faced by the showrunners and the adaptation process from books to screen.

Books vs. TV Adaptation

Common belief suggests that books are always better, but the final season of Game of Thrones challenges this notion. The show, based on A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin, faced significant changes in the adaptation process. The move to shorter seasons with longer episodes was a significant shift in the viewing experience, leading to dissatisfaction among viewers.

For example, the transition from six seasons of 10 episodes to seven seasons, including season 7 with only seven episodes, created a sense of disunity in the show's pacing and narrative consistency. Episodes that were originally about 45 minutes to an hour each were condensed to fit the shorter episodes, leading to a rushed and overall ill-thought-out feel to the final season.

Showrunners' Challenges and Time Pressure

The final seasons of Game of Thrones were heavily influenced by the time pressure the showrunners were under. Given that the show had consumed years of their lives, and the cast were likely tired, decisions were made hastily to move on to other projects. As a result, characters and narrative threads were arbitrarily determined, leading to rushed and unthought out plots.

This issue is not unique to Game of Thrones. For instance, the TV series Lost also encountered similar problems, as evidenced by how certain storylines were artificially created to fit the limited time available.

Mismatch Between Books and Show

The adaptation challenges were further compounded by the mismatch between the original source material and the show. Game of Thrones is a massive epic with two books still unadapted. Hence, to fit the show within the available time, characters had to be left out or combined, leading to a significant departure from the source material.

I, like many, became disillusioned with the show midway through season 4. By the end of season 4, I had accepted it as fan fiction, reflecting the uncompleted journey between book and television. The adaptation had overrun the original source material, and the showrunners had to fill in the gaps with their imagination, leading to subpar storytelling.

Final Season Criticism and Plot Troubles

One of the most criticized elements of the final season is the rushed narrative and the protection of the main protagonists with excessive plot armor. For instance, Arya's decision to have sex with Gendry seemed out of place, making me feel like I was witnessing a family member's actions.

The character of Daenerys Stormborn underwent a significant change in the final season, culminating in her burning of King's Landing. This sudden and shocking turn was partly due to the showrunners trying to wrap up the story and partly because they seemed to lose interest in the series. The death of Robert Arryn was unjustified, as was the unexplained death of Tyrion Lannister.

Review and Reflection

As an avid reader with eclectic taste, I have experienced the disappointment of posthumous books before. Observations from George R.R. Martin's books, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, and other extensive book series have similar disappointments. However, my first encounter with Game of Thrones was through its adaptation, and the impact of missing the original novel's depth cannot be ignored.

While Game of Thrones is an icon in the television world and I am a lifelong fan, the final season's issues cannot be overlooked. The final battle scenes, while grand, were still marred by unrealistic elements, such as protagonists surviving realistic injuries with 21st-century medicine. This emphasizes the importance of narrative consistency and character depth in storytelling.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the challenges faced by the showrunners of Game of Thrones in adapting a vast, complex book series to a limited television format, combined with the time pressure and character fatigue, led to some significant problems in the final season. While the show remains a monumental achievement, the issues with the final season are valid and deserve discussion.

Reflecting on my journey as a fan, I believe that the best interpretation of A Song of Ice and Fire still lies with George R.R. Martin's books, providing a nuanced and complete narrative that cannot be fully captured in a TV series. Nevertheless, I remain a fan of the show, albeit with a revised opinion of the final season.