The last episode of Game of Thrones has aired and reactions are coming in to what has proven a divisive final episode for many.
Earlier in the evening, cast members were bidding farewell to the show on social media whilst fans around the world spent the hours leading up to the final anticipating what would happen.
The result, for many viewers, proved an unexpected surprise and continued the mixed reactions to the final episodes of the long-running show which has so far seen over 1 million people sign a protest for HBO to rewrite the final season.
Here then are some of the reactions to the episode’s most shocking moments – warning: major spoilers ahead.
Tyrion discovered the bodies of Jaime and Cersi
The opening scenes of the final episode were among the shows most emotive to date, with Tyrion walking around a cindered King’s Landing as he looks on the burned bodies of infants all around. Entering the Red Keep, Tyrion later discovers the bodies of his siblings and weeps at the side of them. Whilst there may have been little love lost between Tyrion and Cersi, Jaime and Tyrion’s relationship was a different matter entirely, with Jaime being the only Lannister to truly love and respect Tyrion, something he’d never forgotten. The moment proved heartbreaking for many viewers:
are they… really going to have Tyrion go find his brother and sister's bodies…??#GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/H8tEX8ssIu
— Jenna Amatulli (@ohheyjenna) May 20, 2019
I really don't need to fucking see this. #GameofThrones @GameOfThrones
— Tom & Lorenzo (@tomandlorenzo) May 20, 2019
Tyrion finding Jaime's hand in the rubble then finding him and Cersei, poor Tyrion he really loved his brother.#GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/myRaaAKehE
— Ryan The Lion™ (@HerculesHandy) May 20, 2019
Tyrion crying next to Jaime and Cersei's dead bodies is the thing that finally made me cry this season.
— dilara elbir (@elbirdilara) May 20, 2019
Heartbreaking to watch Tyrion mourn the only guy who ever truly accepted him. #GameOfThronesFinale
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) May 20, 2019
Jon Snow killed Daenerys
After throwing his Hand of the Queen badge away in disgust at Daenerys’ actions in King’s Landing, Tyrion was thrown into prison. With Dany also knowing that Tyrion had freed Jaime, his fate was all but sealed until a visit from Jon Snow changed the course of Westeros’ history. Whilst Jon initially chose to defend “his queen”, it was left to Tyrion to spell it out to Jon’s ‘still confused’ face that what Dany had done was in fact evil and that it had been building for some time. Moments earlier, Dany delivered a terrifying speech to her army implying that her “liberation” had only just begun and that more wars were imminent.
For fans critical of the speed at which Dany’s descent into seeming madness occurred, Tyrion’s summation of her actions here served as a timely reminder that her power had been out of control for some time, as did Arya’s cutting comment to Jon: “I know a killer when I see one.” One of the most powerful moments of the episode came via Tyrion’s speech to Jon about love at a time when he was still questioning Dany’s actions: “love is more powerful than reason”, he began. “Love is the death of duty”, Jon replied, realising what he must do with echoes of his Night’s Watch days. Dany had a brief moment aside the throne before she was eventually killed by Jon in a shocking scene that split viewers:
Mother. Of. Dragons.
What a shot. #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/rbD81MuR9i
— Binge Mode (@binge_mode) May 20, 2019
Jon Snow. Near the Iron Throne. With a dagger. #GOT #DemThrones pic.twitter.com/dKd9Y4fKL5
— shauna (@goldengateblond) May 20, 2019
alexa play rains of castamere pic.twitter.com/KhuxvonCsF
— sarah (@cIarkesbells) May 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/PhotosGoT/status/1130320436875735041
To be 100% completely honest, I was more upset with Dany dying the way she did than Cersei. My opinion. #GameOfThrones #TheFinalEpisode
— Daniel Figueroa (@DFigTheTruth) May 20, 2019
I wish dany died quickly, but she felt the betrayal and the look in her eyes when she realized she was dying KILLED ME. Fuck you jon. I'm pic.twitter.com/joOmFYYsPw
— HIND | FIRST OF MY NAME. (@HindoxL) May 20, 2019
Wish Dany sat on the iron throne for a minute before dying. #GameOfThonesFinale
— Prashant (@hucarezz) May 20, 2019
Anyways Dany dying by Jon was the best death they could've given her, if she had to go I wouldn't have had it any other way.
— December ✨ (@infinityxj) May 20, 2019
Dany dying was the only satisfying part of the final episode. She needed to go for the series to have closure and everything else was just dumb.
— mere ☃️ (@mereduth) May 20, 2019
The thing is, the writers foreshadowed what would happen for years. Drogon’s shadow over Kings Landing, Dany walking towards the Iron Throne in a destroyed throne room while it “snows” (actually ash) but dying before she reaches it, Jon Snow being a Targaryen
— z (@zaneta423) May 20, 2019
Drogon melted the Iron Throne
As metaphors go, this wasn’t exactly a subtle comment on power and destruction but visually, it made for one of the episode’s most stunning moments. More emotive still was when Drogon, Dany’s last remaining dragon, tried to wake her after her death before eventually flying off with her body. Before he did, Drogon melted the throne to liquid with fire, leaving nobody in doubt about the show’s message on power and authority – it was the throne and power that killed Dany and the others before her. As Drogon prepares to fly Dany off, cue all the tears:
#GOT. Drogon knew ultimately it was the Iron Throne, not Jon Snow, that killed his mother. https://t.co/UpFO9Of192
— Jared (@jjcottn) May 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/anyabermeo/status/1130319982720479232
Have to confess I'm a little surprised Drogon can understand a complicated sociological metaphor but not a simple who-dun-it.
— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) May 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/emiliacIarked/status/1130318768901623809
My heart aches for Drogon. How can he live without his mother? Without any one of his kind. He will forever live alone. #GameOfThrones #GameOfThronesFinale pic.twitter.com/CJXjvYrkKa
— Señortita (@Patolalalala) May 20, 2019
Drogon received best character development in this finale—exercising judgement when experiencing blinding anger and grief, destroying the symbol of power and the very source of evil, and choosing to mourn in solitude, now brotherless and motherless. #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/gIZ1a2101c
— Zake (@Zakeb2) May 20, 2019
They made Bran king
Yes, you read that correctly. Bran “I didn’t do anything at the battle of the Long Night episode” Stark was made king in a move that proved to be the season’s biggest and most divisive shock. At a hastily assembled gathering of lords and ladies with Sansa, Sam, Tyrion, Yara, Sir Davos, Greyworm, Briene, Arya and more, Bran was named King of Westeros unanimously. The most insightful comment came from Sam, who seemed to invent democracy in Westeros by suggesting that the people vote for their next king or queen – only for him to be laughed at by all (cue a thinly veiled Brexit dig).
“There’s nothing more powerful in the world than a good story” Tyrion says, before declaring “Bran the Broken” king. “He is our memory, the keeper of all our stories…who better to lead us into the future.” Naming Tyrion his hand, Bran accepts – at which point the internet melted:
So Bran gets to be king, despite the fact that he just put his name on the group project and didn’t do any work. #DemThrones
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 20, 2019
Bran: I can never be lord of anything. I’m the Three-Eyed Raven. #GameOfThrones #GameOfThronesFinale pic.twitter.com/dt9U9vOyKm
— Ryan Cosse (@Ryan_Cosse92) May 20, 2019
I’m no longer Bran, I’m the Three Eyed Raven. Unless you want me to be King and then I can totes be Bran again. #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/4DdWTdV0Df
— Lorrie Gilchrist (@logilchrist) May 20, 2019
*Cersei, Dany, #JonSnow and everyone else fighting for the Iron Throne*
Bran: Ama just let em finish #GOTFinale #TheFinalEpisode #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/dMQIfAVCqI
— Jèfé Juan José (@Jefe_says) May 20, 2019
Bran is like who didn't do anything but still get all the credit. #BranStark#GOT pic.twitter.com/7pePB2roJ0
— shantanu bharti (@Ishantanubharti) May 20, 2019
All hail Bran the Broken, First of his Name, King of the Six Kingdoms. #GameofThrones #ThronesYall pic.twitter.com/2WhlHXRwM9
— Black Girl Nerds (@BlackGirlNerds) May 20, 2019
BRAN HAS BEEN TROLLING US ALL! #GameofThrones #ThronesYall #DemThrones pic.twitter.com/pzl48632X9
— theblerdgurl™️ needs a nap (@theblerdgurl) May 20, 2019
Sansa just out here dropping bombs tonight. #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/NoanECiqGZ
— Binge Mode (@binge_mode) May 20, 2019
Bran should just stand up, drop the mic and then the show should fade to black. @GameOfThrones #demthrones #ThronesYall
— jacque reid (@jacquereid) May 20, 2019
Arya appears to be going on a gap year
“What’s west of Westeros?” Arya asks as she lets Jon, Sansa and Bran know that she plans to travel on her very own gap year experience – and after what she’s been though, who can blame her? After reaching the heady heights of killing The Night King, Arya’s ending came as a bit of an anti-climax for some – others were thrilled she was free and following her own path:
Sign me up for "What's West of Westeros – The Adventures of Arya Stark!" #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/rLKmm7tt5D
— Nirmal Sebastian (@njsebastian) May 20, 2019
Gendry going after Arya rn #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/bYHE0Suq7M
— Syd ☀️ (@SydReviews) May 20, 2019
arya is gonna have so much fun on her gap year !!!!
— miel (@miel) May 20, 2019
Like if you’d watch an Arya spin-off with this premise! #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/ZCv13QLIcI
— Launchers Inc (@LaunchersInc) May 20, 2019
A girl will always be Arya Stark of Winterfell #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/tqSaND4S2b
— Borny (@monodelarctic) May 20, 2019
Arya: West Of Westeros.
And we thought Christopher Columbus was a dude.
— Sainte (Tay Jardine) (@saintesays) May 20, 2019
You think what Dany did to King’s Landing was bad, wait until Arya and her shipmates “discover” what’s west of Westeros. ???
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) May 20, 2019
Will watch Arya the Explorya.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) May 20, 2019
Jon and Ghost were reunited
“The world always has a home for bastards and broken men” Tyrion tells Jon, as he lets him know he must head back to the wall and to the Night’s Watch. To appease the unsullied for killing Dany and sparing his life, Jon had no option but to return to the place he started. However, with most of the other Stark’s now in high positions of power – Sansa as Queen of the now independent north – and Bran in King’s Landing, this nevertheless felt like an unsettling move. Sansa’s earnest “I wish I could have done more” rang a little hollow.
The most heartwarming scene came, however, when Jon was reunited with Ghost – a moment that was closely followed by his tender goodbye to Arya. After Jon and Ghost’s lukewarm parting in episode 4, many viewers were left upset as Jon’s coldness towards Ghost who had saved Jon’s life several times over. Here, those wrongs felt corrected and a sense of enjoyable finality came as Jon rode out with Ghost and his old mate Tormund at the end.
More importantly, Jon finally gave Ghost the love he deserved. #GameOfThrones ?? pic.twitter.com/9Uq1PiEdSr
— angelik (@angelikelswick) May 20, 2019
This how Ghost should’ve welcomed Jon back#GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/nT26BVMAV1
— wisē (@Wise809) May 20, 2019
All of it was worth it for this. Ghost ???? #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/zOyh9OHTpH
— Imanol (@Imalesor) May 20, 2019
This is heart melting❤
Finally Jon snow & Ghost#GOT#theFinalepisode pic.twitter.com/zHi93CYdR2— ~anonymous (@temi_theTaurus) May 20, 2019
Jon snow pets ghost. #GameOfThrones #TheFinalEpisode pic.twitter.com/QP9tV8jHLW
— Clayton Baker ?? (@IGIF_) May 20, 2019
Other notable highlights came via Sansa being named Queen in the North, Podrick being knighted and Bron being in charge of the Iron Bank. You can read more reactions to the show’s end here.