Game of Thrones was one of the biggest shows on the air in the past decade. Based on A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, the popularity of the show was so great that it became the biggest phenomenon of this century.
Adapted by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the show’s run came to an end in 2019. Unfortunately, the majority of the fans did not find the ending satisfactory, and the showrunners faced extreme backlash for some of their choices. However, Benioff’s run-in with Homeland Security at LAX was a sign that not everyone shared the majority’s opinion on the finale.
The Game of Thrones finale was divisive but it was received well by a few
Based on George R. R. Martin‘s series, Game of Thrones premiered in 2011. The show boasted a fantasy world with dragons and supernatural beings and a healthy dose of gore and political intrigue. It quickly caught the fancy of the masses, and its popularity soared with each new season from David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
The showrunners were able to recreate Martin’s vision remarkably well for the small screen. From acting to music to the main story arc, each aspect of the show came together to create a beautiful world never before seen on television.
As the seasons progressed, the stakes grew higher, as many of the beloved characters started to fall like chess pieces. Unfortunately, as the finale came around, it failed to stick the landing. The backlash was extreme, and it still inspires anger in fans.
Benioff and Weiss recently appeared on Joshua Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast. The duo was at the heart of the controversy that surrounded the ending of the beloved HBO show. They spoke extensively on a variety of subjects before the finale was brought up.
Both acknowledged the blowback they received since the finale aired five years ago. They added that while they expected a bit of controversy, neither realized just how much hate they would receive. Previously, the duo confessed that they would change one thing about the show but it was too late. However, Benioff shared a positive anecdote from a run-in he had with Homeland Security at LAX.
“The only positive moment I’ve ever had with Homeland Security was going through LAX a few months ago. The guy saw my driver’s license and he said, he’s like, ‘Are you Dave and Dan?’ I was like ‘I’m one of Dave and Dan.’ ‘I love the final season, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!” he said, recalling the exchange.
Even though the show has ended, the final season often comes up, particularly the finale. Regardless, the series remains one of the highest-rated shows of all time.
Why was the last season of the show so divisive?
The various plotlines of the show slowly converged in the last season. The heroes of the show gathered in Winterfell first to stop the Night King and his army of dead from taking over Westeros.
The previous seasons had built up a fight between the Night King and Jon Snow. Many expected a final showdown between them but felt they were robbed when Arya killed him.
As the action then moved to King’s Landing, Daenerys Targaryen’s arc felt botched up. She had been built as the heroine who would save the Seven Kingdoms. Unfortunately, she ended up burning the city that her ancestors had built.
After Daenerys gave in fully to her Targaryen madness, Jon Snow put a dagger through her heart as her beloved dragon, Drogon, melted the Iron Throne. The biggest controversy, however, was naming Brandon Stark as the King. Given the events of the finale, it became the lowest-rated episode of all time.
To make matters worse, fans started a petition to remake the finale. The campaign received over a million signatures, although it did not make a difference in the end.
Game of Thrones was a phenomenon. While it started off strong, once the showrunners ran out of Martin’s source material, it went downhill, culminating in a final season that was a major disappointment.
