5 Things That Ruined Game of Thrones Season 8 (That the Sequels Can Fix)

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It’s been fourteen years since the premiere of Season 8, and many fans are still upset by how disappointing it was. Once considered the greatest show on television, Game of Thrones experienced a noticeable decline, culminating in a widely criticized final season. Now, it seems HBO is trying to make things right.

Following the divisive final season of Game of Thrones, several sequels are offering fans a chance to address the issues with Season 8. Many viewers felt the ending—including the unexpected choice of Bran Stark as king and the sudden turn of Daenerys Targaryen—contained significant errors. Upcoming shows like House of the Dragon, which has been renewed for a third season, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, scheduled to premiere in 2026, offer opportunities to improve the franchise and satisfy disappointed fans.

The final season of Game of Thrones, which many fans had eagerly awaited, ended up being disappointing. Viewers were surprised and frustrated by how easily some of the heroic characters seemed to give up. While the show was known for its complex and flawed characters, fans expected certain individuals, like Jon Snow, to ultimately do the right thing. Instead, Jon Snow acted cowardly by killing Daenerys Targaryen when she was defenseless.

Daenerys, once celebrated for freeing the oppressed and speaking for those without a voice, shockingly destroyed thousands of innocent lives without justification. Even her trusted advisor, Tyrion Lannister, lost hope in her and began to think Jon Snow would be a better ruler. The show, set in a medieval world, surprisingly lacked heroic figures; many characters acted out of fear rather than courage, even those who had previously demonstrated bravery.

Many fans are excited about a new, less dramatic story set in the world of Westeros. It follows the adventures of Dunk, a wandering knight, and his young apprentice, Egg. This spin-off promises a more realistic portrayal of everyday life in the Seven Kingdoms. Because Dunk isn’t loyal to any of the great Houses, his choices and journey will be unique compared to characters in the original Game of Thrones. Some fans were unhappy with the lack of strong decisions made by characters like Jon, Tyrion, Daenerys, and Jaime in the final season, and there’s hope that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will deliver the courage they were missing.

Season 8 of Game of Thrones was widely criticized for a number of reasons, but the main issue was that the show had moved beyond the existing books. Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss didn’t have source material to guide them when finishing the story. George R.R. Martin still plans to publish the final two books, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, which will reveal the true ending to the battle for the Iron Throne.

In the beginning, the show closely followed the books for its storylines, though with some changes. The creators took liberties with George R.R. Martin’s stories, sometimes diverging from them, but they always had a strong foundation to build upon. Unfortunately, during Season 8, the show lost its source material and the writers struggled to create a satisfying conclusion for such a popular series.

As a critic, I’ve been watching House of the Dragon with a keen eye, and it’s really impressed me. While it’s based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood – which reads more like a historical document than a novel – showrunner Ryan Condal, alongside Martin himself, has crafted a genuinely compelling story from it. And the good news doesn’t stop there! The upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms also draws from Martin’s extensive writings, meaning we shouldn’t be worried about this spin-off running out of material anytime soon. Hopefully, this wealth of source material will lead to even more consistently strong storytelling in the future.

Daenerys Targaryen came from a family of rulers with a history of mental instability, but many viewers felt this didn’t fully explain her actions. Throughout the series, she’d demonstrated a strong sense of justice by freeing slaves in cities like Astapor and Meereen, and by saving people like Jon, Jorah, and Missandei. Because of this, her sudden turn to violence and cruelty was shocking to fans.

Despite the celebratory bells ringing from the Red Keep, Daenerys shockingly chose to burn it down and kill innocent people who hadn’t wronged her. This felt sudden because the season didn’t prepare us for such a drastic turn. Thankfully, House of the Dragon has learned from this. While Rhaenyra doesn’t descend into madness like Daenerys, she does change over time and gradually accepts the harsh realities and violence of war.

Initially, she resisted changing her beliefs, but circumstances forced a gradual shift in her perspective. This was especially noticeable in Season 2, when she deliberately allowed Dragonseeds to be hunted by dragons, all to find potential riders for her side. This act revealed a subtle but disturbing change in how she saw herself – almost as a savior, even while sentencing others to death. Unlike Daenerys’ later descent into madness, which felt like a poorly planned plot device, this transformation felt more calculated and unsettling.

The final season of Game of Thrones was widely criticized, and it unfortunately reversed the positive growth many characters had shown. A prime example is Jaime Lannister, who had begun to change, demonstrating maturity and compassion after distancing himself from his sister and forming a connection with Brienne of Tarth. However, he ultimately abandoned this progress, returning to Cersei at the Red Keep, where both characters perished.

The Night King was presented as a massive, seemingly unbeatable threat for years, but his actual defeat felt surprisingly anticlimactic. He was defeated quickly and easily by Arya Stark with just one stab, which didn’t feel earned. Following this, Arya’s sudden decision to travel the world also felt strange, considering how long she’d been away from home and focused on Winterfell. The final season of Game of Thrones especially struggled with the storylines of the Stark family.

However, the later seasons of the show have focused more on developing its characters. For example, the second season was entirely dedicated to exploring the backgrounds and motivations of Daemon, Alicent, and Rhaenyra. While this pacing choice slowed things down, it ultimately strengthened the overall story.

Daemon’s story arc has been surprisingly complex and satisfying, especially considering he first left Rhaenyra’s side. His time at Harrenhal wasn’t filled with battles like he expected, but instead involved unsettling visions. House of the Dragon carefully explored his reasoning, inner thoughts, and ultimate decision to return to Rhaenyra, making his motivations crystal clear to viewers.

Shows like Game of Thrones depend on keeping viewers engaged, and using prophecies was a key part of its success. Ancient predictions, like those about Azhor Ahai, were central to the story, and fans were thrilled when they began to unfold. The revelation of Jon Snow’s true family seemed to promise everything would make sense – but ultimately, it didn’t.

The storylines surrounding Jon and Daenerys didn’t resolve as many fans expected. The important predictions and prophecies from earlier seasons ultimately felt meaningless, making much of the show’s build-up seem like a waste of time. Had Game of Thrones honored those prophecies, the final season could have been much more satisfying. Now, House of the Dragon appears to be revisiting those same prophecies, treating them with the seriousness they deserved, even if it doesn’t guarantee they’ll come true.

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2025-11-24 18:39