Shout out to all you big babies who didn’t like the way Game of Thrones ended, and a smack on the back of the head to anyone who actually signed that infamous petition asking that the entire last season be remade to suit your liking, whatever that may be. SHAME *rings bell* SHAME  *rings bell* SHAME *rings bell*.

 

First of all, a creative effort is not a publicly owned property that can be shaped or determined by vote. Secondly, as members of the hardworking cast said, any attempt to do so is juvenile, and disrespectful to the people who put their love, sweat and tears into making the show. Finally, and most importantly, as Ramsey Bolton said, if you were hoping for a happy ending, you weren’t paying attention.

 

Game of Thrones never intended to marry the princess off to her prince, and have them rule together forever on the Iron Throne. Like any good fantasy literature, including the oh-so-Grimm Fairy Tales that influenced it, Game of Thrones was meant for adults. In its original telling, Red Riding Hood was eaten by the wolf. Sleeping Beauty was sexually assaulted. Don’t even ask about the Goose Girl. It took Walt Disney to come along with his birds and mice to help Cinderella get to the ball. In the original story, they pecked out the eyes of her evil stepsisters.

 

But back to the final episode of Game of Thrones. The point of the entire show – the whole damn series – was made in Tyrion’s final speech, which he ostensibly made to the lords and ladies of Westoros, but was truly meant for us: “What unites people? Army? Gold? Flags? Stories. There’s nothing in the world more powerful than a good story. Nothing can stop it. No enemy can defeat it.”

 

Game of Thrones was a good story, no matter what you think of the ending. Fifty million people tuned in to the finale, many believing that the resolution was the most important part of the tale, when of course it was not. It doesn’t matter that so and so died, and that so and so didn’t get to rule over the Seven (now Six) Kingdoms. What matters is that we got to ride dragons, and defeat zombies, and drink and know things, and that we did it together.

 

Speaking of knowing things, for the record, I won my Game of Thrones deadpool, but by one point only. I paid attention, and knew better than to hope for a happy ending. It’s a bittersweet victory, although I get to pocket $100 (thanks Daenerys!) I’m sad because for eight years this show brought us together: not just my family, but all of us who love a good story. Some came to the table later than others, but in the end, we were like an audience of yore, united and spellbound, waiting and wanting to be dazzled. Thank you, Game of Thrones. Thank you for the incredible spectacle, the unmatched dialogue, and, of course, the unforgettable characters. It was a hell of a (dragon) ride.