# Game of Thrones 8.06 "The Iron Throne" 5/19/2019 Show Discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204 "2019-05-19T21:21:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/61 "2019-05-20T02:45:53Z")
the final book is going to be called a Dream of Spring (if it is written) which makes you think the ending should be in spring. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/62 "2019-05-20T02:46:06Z")
Well, that wasn’t awful. But very flat and sort of… perfunctory? I liked the shot of Dany walking out to speak to her troops and Drogon spreads his wings, and it looks for all like Dany had sprouted not just wings, but the black bat-shaped wings they used for the Devil in all sorts of old paintings. Jon being the one to kill Dany was okay, but again, very low key. That seems to be the theme for a lot of this season. Things that had been built up over years, with the expectations t hat they would be major events, seemed to be shut down with barely a whimper. The Night King was an existential threat – no, actually, it took a few hours of battle and a single dagger thrust. Cersei was a huge baddie to overcome – no, she basically stood there with a smirk, watching out her window, until it was time to run down into the basement and get crushed to death. And not even badly crushed, a beautiful corpse still in the arms of her still beautiful brother. A way, way too nice death, considering her crimes. Then we had the overwhelming power of Dany, oh, no, how will we ever deal with that? Her dragon, her armies? Oh, right, the dragon will let Jon just walk by, the Unsullied will let him just walk by, the Dothraki – well, hell, were they even around? And then Dany lets Jon walk right up to her and embrace her…and, again, the whole threat vanquished with a single dagger thrust. I’ll say again, it could have been lots worse. But it just didn’t feel like a satisfactory conclusion to a saga that took eight years, you know? P.S. Really, what’s happening with the Dothraki? They showed us the Unsullied sailing off. Are we supposed to assume the Dothraki will just leave, too? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/63 "2019-05-20T02:46:16Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Did winter come? It’s unclear. There are hints that the Night King brought the winter, to a degree, and then it snowed in King’s landing, so we could have the visual of the snowy throne room from the prophecy, but then a few weeks later it looks warm again. No indication that we’re in for a big continent-wide superwinter, and if we are, it’s pretty dickish to force the wildlings back up north of the wall. Ash, not snow. ---
**Author:** ![Hellestal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@Hellestal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hellestal)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/64 "2019-05-20T02:46:28Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Bastards and third sons. I thought it was “bastards and broken ones”. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/65 "2019-05-20T02:46:42Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > My theory is that Martin realized a few years ago that publishing the books before the series ended would be equivalent to what Jon did to Dany. No possible force could keep the resolution a secret. The Battle of the Spoilers would decimate entire continents. He had no choice but to delay the books until after the last episode and then use them to fill in all the context and nuance that the show lacked. He now can work on them, publishing the finale to acclaim and another few million dollars. Keep the dream. He’s better off not writing the books. The books are only going to disappoint. He doesn’t know how to end his story. But… if he never finishes the books, he still has legions of fans that will say “the books will be so much better than the show! some day!” By not writing the books, people will assume they’re great. He can probably just ride that wave for the rest of his life. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/66 "2019-05-20T02:47:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I don’t agree. I liked the ending quite a bit. I particularly liked the first shot of Dany approaching to address her troops, with the dragon right behind her, so the wings appeared to be hers. And I liked the Tolkien-esque ending with the book being presented. That was an awesome shot! I liked the ending, too, though the episode was too slow until after Daenerys was killed. Drogon burning down the Iron Throne was kind of weird because, well, he’s a dragon and what did he know about it. But I liked that Drogon took her away and let Jon be. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/67 "2019-05-20T02:47:20Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > My theory is that Martin realized a few years ago that publishing the books before the series ended would be equivalent to what Jon did to Dany. No possible force could keep the resolution a secret. The Battle of the Spoilers would decimate entire continents. He had no choice but to delay the books until after the last episode and then use them to fill in all the context and nuance that the show lacked. He now can work on them, publishing the finale to acclaim and another few million dollars. I dunno, plenty of people were still surprised by Ned, the Red Wedding, Joffrey, and Oberyn. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/68 "2019-05-20T02:47:23Z")
There’s a massive gap in the wall. Unless Bran knows how to fix it, the best they can do is put up some fortifications and spend the rest of however long they feel like it trying to defend the weak point. That said, with that much open space and no existential threat, why would the Free Folk bother coming to slightly further south? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/69 "2019-05-20T02:47:46Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > unsullied went to Naath which is where Missandei is from , I guess to bury her There was a conversation earlier this season that the people of Naath are total pacificists and have no way of protecting themselves, and that’s part of the reason they’re prime slaving targets. Grey Worm told Missandei that (some of?) the Unsullied would go to settle Naath one day and be their protectors. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/70 "2019-05-20T02:48:20Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > 1. Did Jon really join the Night Watch, or did he and Tormund go further North with the wildings and that is the ending? My thought wad that Jon was guiding the Freefolk back to repopulate the far North, as part of his NW duties ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/71 "2019-05-20T02:48:31Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > When Jon asks what about how will other people feel about her knowing the right way, and Dany says they will not get a choice, I knew it was then or never. > > . I had a “Last Jedi” moment where I thought “Holy crap are they really gonna team-up”??? I’d have been down with that twist, Jon and Dany both alive, her still doing her Purge…him at her side. WHATTATWEEST ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/72 "2019-05-20T02:48:35Z")
Martin is working on the prequel series now so that takes away from his book writing time ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/73 "2019-05-20T02:50:03Z")
> [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > With the White Walkers dead and peace made with the Wildlings, what exactly is the Night’s Watch watching for? 😕 Basically, aren’t they the Federal Prison for the worst criminals in the kingdom? In which case, they watch each other to make sure none of them go back down south. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/74 "2019-05-20T02:50:45Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Martin is working on the prequel series now so that takes away from his book writing time He is? Link? ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/75 "2019-05-20T02:50:47Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I don’t think the Unsullied would have captured Jon, they would just have stabbed him repeatedly when they found out he killed Dany. I agree. I didn’t think he would make it to the end alive. I think it might have been better if he went out with her. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/76 "2019-05-20T02:50:59Z")
Not the ending I would have thought but was happy that it was not Battlestar Galactica level stupid. I like to think that Jon has no intention of reforming the nights watch, but becomes the new mance rayder. I would say that Bronn is the true winner in the whole series, getting a castle and a position that he had no business even thinking about. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/77 "2019-05-20T02:51:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And can someone list everyone who sat at the meeting in which they selected Bran as king? Seconded. I identified all but three. The (unnamed?) Prince of Dorne was obvious from his clothing. The guy next to Yara, the guy next to Robyn and Royce, the man on Gendry’s left (where Davos is on the right). Though I suppose we could wank this as Ironborn Guy, Vale Guy, and… some other guy who hangs out with Gendry and Davos and Brienne. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/78 "2019-05-20T02:53:40Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > There’s a massive gap in the wall. Unless Bran knows how to fix it, the best they can do is put up some fortifications and spend the rest of however long they feel like it trying to defend the weak point. That said, with that much open space and no existential threat, why would the Free Folk bother coming to slightly further south? It’s not a problem that there’s a gap in the wall, since there’s no danger north of there. And Drogon didn’t even try to torch Jon, even though he knew that she was dead. Was that meant to imply that he recognized what Jon did was right? Or did he not torch Jon as he’s a Targaryen? ---
**Author:** ![Hellestal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@Hellestal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hellestal)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/79 "2019-05-20T02:54:19Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > He is? Link? Targaryan history, [Fire and Blood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_%26_Blood_(book)) is the first volume. I guess it wasn’t originally intended as a “series” but this is George Martin we’re talking about here. EDIT: I think I might’ve misread that comment, which seems like it was referring to a TV series. As far as I know, he isn’t working directly on any of the prequel TV shows. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204/80 "2019-05-20T02:54:42Z")
I know they wanted to leave Arya on a mysterious ending, but… surely there are explorers in this world, and they’ve tried to see what’s west of Westeros, right? And if they can’t, it’s probably because their ship or navigation technology is insufficient, or there’s nothing there. It hardly seems like they’re going to be able to solve that issue now that Arya wants to give it a go. So, what, she just tacks on to the next wannabe Christopher Columbus? I know, probably shouldn’t think much about it, but seems like a weird end for her. The North seceding and maintaining independence, which was always a significant plot point, was literally like a 10 second decision. The Doth’raki are apparently free to do as they wish. Some say they’re still out there raping and pillaging to this day. Other than Jon killing Dany, not much else that went down felt very right. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-8-06-the-iron-throne-5-19-2019-show-discussion/834204.md?page=5)