Best And Worst Moments From The Final Season of Game of Thrones
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VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu
WRITTEN BY: Garrett Alden
Its over. The final season of Game of Thrones is over and done with, and we are counting down the best and worst moments, scenes, and plot points from this grand finale. What was you favorite and least favorite moment of Game of Thrones Season 8? Let us know in the comments!
Best and Worst Moments From the Final Season of Game of Thrones
They say every time a new episode airs, the gods toss a coin… Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be discussing best and worst moments from the final season of “Game of Thrones.”
For this list, we’ll be going over some of the good and bad storylines and individual moments from “Game of Thrones”’ divisive final season. Also, there will naturally be spoilers.
Worst – Rhaegal’s Death/Euron’s Ambush
“The Last of the Starks”
Death hasn’t been an exclusive to the human characters on “Game of Thrones”. One of the most jarring deaths occurs when Daenerys’ forces return south after defeating the White Walkers at Winterfell. While traveling by ocean to Dragonstone, Daenerys’ dragon Rhaegal is abruptly pierced with a large bolt and then several more in quick succession. Granted, we knew as soon as Cersei and Qyburn came up with the Scorpions that a dragon would die from one, but many of us feel the death could have been better executed. As it turns out, Euron Greyjoy’s fleet has somehow managed to surprise Daenerys own ships. Although we’ll grant that the action scene is fairly harrowing, many viewers have criticized the scene for its lack of sense – for example, we’re expected to believe that Daenerys either didn’t send scouts ahead to check for the fleet she knew was there and that Euron managed to hide his large amount of ships from Daenerys herself, who’s in the air?! The show’s writers claimed that Daenerys simply forgot about Euron’s fleet…even though it was literally brought up earlier in that same episode.
Best – Brienne is Knighted
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”
Don’t get us wrong, we loved seeing Brienne hook up with Jaime at last…even if it ended in heartbreak (we’d go into that on a worst entry, but lets admit there’s far worse). However, before either of those moments, we got what is easily the highpoint of their relationship together. While waiting for the Army of the Dead to arrive, Brienne and Jaime, along with several other characters, wait around a fire and pass the time. When Tormund questions why Brienne isn’t a knight if she’s a warrior, Brienne explains somewhat bitterly that women can’t be knights because of tradition. Although Tormund claims he’d knight her if he were a king (real smooth man), Jaime explains that knights can make other knights; offering to do the same for Brienne. Despite longing to be a knight and upholding their ideals better than most knights in Westeros, Brienne initially scoffs; still unwilling to believe her dream can come true. But she relents and becomes Ser Brienne, a knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Happy tears are a rare commodity when watching “Game of Thrones,” so we definitely relish the chance to shed some.
Worst – Missandei’s Death
“The Last of the Starks”
Although a lovely character, Daenerys’ translator and advisor Missandei is a relatively minor player in “Game of Thrones.” Yet her death has caused quite an outcry and for good reason. The Naath native is taken captive by Euron Greyjoy after the Targaryen forces are attacked at sea and taken to Cersei. With battle at hand, a cursory attempt to negotiate ends with Cersei having the Mountain execute Missandei in front of both Daenerys and Grey Worm, who both take her death…well, hard would be the understatement of the eon! Missandei dying in this manner has been criticized as an example of “fridging,” where a minor female character in a story is killed in a shocking way to give motivation to another, usually male, character. The fact that Missandei was one of the final few characters of color on the show didn’t help either…
Best - Lyanna Mormont vs. Giant Wight
“The Long Night”
If there’s one opinion that seems to unite contentious “Game of Thrones” fans it’s this: Lyanna Mormont is a little badass! The not-even teenage Lady of Bear Island is whip smart and willing to fight to defend the living, which she does during the Battle of Winterfell. Sadly, her first opponent happens to be an undead giant that bursts through the gates, sending her flying. Undeterred, a bloodied Lyanna charges the massive creature with a dragonglass axe, but she’s caught and slowly crushed. However, Lyanna manages to use her dying breath to stab the giant in the eye, destroying it. Awesome to the bitter end! Don’t get us wrong – we’d rather she were still alive and sassing everyone within earshot. But if she had to go, we’re glad that she got one of the most badass deaths this season.
Worst – Daenerys’ Mad Queen Storyline
Various Episodes
TENTATIVE
Best – The Night King is Defeated
“The Long Night”
One of the biggest highlights of “Game of Thrones” final season was episode 3, that finally saw winter arrive at Winterfell in the form of the army of the dead, led by the sinister Night King. The desperate and disparate defenders do their utmost, but end up being overrun. One of the most ardent fighters is Arya Stark, whose long journey to become a warrior has spanned several continents, and faces. But even she struggles against the undead. The Night King himself proves a formidable foe during the battle, surviving even dragon fire. Yet, when all hope seems lost and the icy villain is poised to eliminate Bran Stark after killing Theon Greyjoy, Arya manages to get the drop on him and, despite being caught in the act, pulls a fast one with her blade drop trick to end the Night King for good! The culmination of years of build up both for Arya’s character and the White Walker storyline may not have been what we all wanted, but it was a great way to close this epic battle
They say every time a new episode airs, the gods toss a coin… Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be discussing best and worst moments from the final season of “Game of Thrones.”
For this list, we’ll be going over some of the good and bad storylines and individual moments from “Game of Thrones”’ divisive final season. Also, there will naturally be spoilers.
Worst – Rhaegal’s Death/Euron’s Ambush
“The Last of the Starks”
Death hasn’t been an exclusive to the human characters on “Game of Thrones”. One of the most jarring deaths occurs when Daenerys’ forces return south after defeating the White Walkers at Winterfell. While traveling by ocean to Dragonstone, Daenerys’ dragon Rhaegal is abruptly pierced with a large bolt and then several more in quick succession. Granted, we knew as soon as Cersei and Qyburn came up with the Scorpions that a dragon would die from one, but many of us feel the death could have been better executed. As it turns out, Euron Greyjoy’s fleet has somehow managed to surprise Daenerys own ships. Although we’ll grant that the action scene is fairly harrowing, many viewers have criticized the scene for its lack of sense – for example, we’re expected to believe that Daenerys either didn’t send scouts ahead to check for the fleet she knew was there and that Euron managed to hide his large amount of ships from Daenerys herself, who’s in the air?! The show’s writers claimed that Daenerys simply forgot about Euron’s fleet…even though it was literally brought up earlier in that same episode.
Best – Brienne is Knighted
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”
Don’t get us wrong, we loved seeing Brienne hook up with Jaime at last…even if it ended in heartbreak (we’d go into that on a worst entry, but lets admit there’s far worse). However, before either of those moments, we got what is easily the highpoint of their relationship together. While waiting for the Army of the Dead to arrive, Brienne and Jaime, along with several other characters, wait around a fire and pass the time. When Tormund questions why Brienne isn’t a knight if she’s a warrior, Brienne explains somewhat bitterly that women can’t be knights because of tradition. Although Tormund claims he’d knight her if he were a king (real smooth man), Jaime explains that knights can make other knights; offering to do the same for Brienne. Despite longing to be a knight and upholding their ideals better than most knights in Westeros, Brienne initially scoffs; still unwilling to believe her dream can come true. But she relents and becomes Ser Brienne, a knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Happy tears are a rare commodity when watching “Game of Thrones,” so we definitely relish the chance to shed some.
Worst – Missandei’s Death
“The Last of the Starks”
Although a lovely character, Daenerys’ translator and advisor Missandei is a relatively minor player in “Game of Thrones.” Yet her death has caused quite an outcry and for good reason. The Naath native is taken captive by Euron Greyjoy after the Targaryen forces are attacked at sea and taken to Cersei. With battle at hand, a cursory attempt to negotiate ends with Cersei having the Mountain execute Missandei in front of both Daenerys and Grey Worm, who both take her death…well, hard would be the understatement of the eon! Missandei dying in this manner has been criticized as an example of “fridging,” where a minor female character in a story is killed in a shocking way to give motivation to another, usually male, character. The fact that Missandei was one of the final few characters of color on the show didn’t help either…
Best - Lyanna Mormont vs. Giant Wight
“The Long Night”
If there’s one opinion that seems to unite contentious “Game of Thrones” fans it’s this: Lyanna Mormont is a little badass! The not-even teenage Lady of Bear Island is whip smart and willing to fight to defend the living, which she does during the Battle of Winterfell. Sadly, her first opponent happens to be an undead giant that bursts through the gates, sending her flying. Undeterred, a bloodied Lyanna charges the massive creature with a dragonglass axe, but she’s caught and slowly crushed. However, Lyanna manages to use her dying breath to stab the giant in the eye, destroying it. Awesome to the bitter end! Don’t get us wrong – we’d rather she were still alive and sassing everyone within earshot. But if she had to go, we’re glad that she got one of the most badass deaths this season.
Worst – Daenerys’ Mad Queen Storyline
Various Episodes
TENTATIVE
Best – The Night King is Defeated
“The Long Night”
One of the biggest highlights of “Game of Thrones” final season was episode 3, that finally saw winter arrive at Winterfell in the form of the army of the dead, led by the sinister Night King. The desperate and disparate defenders do their utmost, but end up being overrun. One of the most ardent fighters is Arya Stark, whose long journey to become a warrior has spanned several continents, and faces. But even she struggles against the undead. The Night King himself proves a formidable foe during the battle, surviving even dragon fire. Yet, when all hope seems lost and the icy villain is poised to eliminate Bran Stark after killing Theon Greyjoy, Arya manages to get the drop on him and, despite being caught in the act, pulls a fast one with her blade drop trick to end the Night King for good! The culmination of years of build up both for Arya’s character and the White Walker storyline may not have been what we all wanted, but it was a great way to close this epic battle
