The Finale Fiasco

Ah, the Game of Thrones finale! A whirlwind of feelings, right? With a series that soared to epic heights, it’s hard to believe that the ending was met with so much eye-rolling. From bizarre pacing to characters meeting their doom in ways that left us all scratching our heads, it was a mixed bag, to say the least. Anticipated plotlines went up in smoke, usual foes turned into paper tigers, and those shocking twists? They felt a bit like hosting a surprise party where the guest of honor never showed up.

Sansa Stark’s Sweet Victory

But let’s take a moment to appreciate the one glimmer of brilliance that sparkled amidst the chaos: Sansa Stark! This girl went through the wringer—manipulated, abused, and imprisoned by folks who saw her as nothing more than a pawn in their games. She even had a front-row seat to her dad’s tragic exit! Yet, through it all, our girl did not crumble. By the end, she emerges as the majestic Queen in the North, ready to care for her people instead of ruling through fear. Talk about a glow-up!

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Sansa’s ending isn’t just a feel-good moment; it’s like a big, warm hug of narrative pay-off. A Stark is back on the family throne in Winterfell! The North is free again! And finally, one of the show’s most beleaguered characters gets some well-deserved recognition. It’s practically the closest we get to a fairy tale in Westeros, am I right?

Not Martin’s Master Plan

Now, here’s the kicker: this glorious Sansa redemption arc wasn’t even concocted by the master mind behind it all, George R.R. Martin. In a recent tête-à-tête with The Hollywood Reporter, Martin illuminated us on how his conclusion differs vastly from what HBO dished out. Apparently, while his literary saga takes a differenct fork in the road, he hinted at potentially batting around some drastic changes. Sansa, at least in his earlier drafts, might not have made it out alive!

A Change of Heart

The author laid it on the line, saying how the TV show made things brighter than intended. He was all set to unleash some serious chaos with more character casualties. Could you imagine? “I mean, sure, they spun some happy endings out of the chaos, but let’s face it, the tragedy of Tyrion? That was always supposed to be a bummer. And Sansa? Well, she charmed everyone, so maybe I’ll spare her after all.” Who knew a little charm could earn one’s survival?

A Shoutout to the Showrunners

So, here we are, wrestling with mixed feelings about Martin’s future works and their elusive timelines. Despite some serious plot misfires (oh, Daenerys, we hardly knew ye), we’ve got to tip our hats to showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Sure, they fumbled with some arcs, but Sansa’s poetic finale? That’s a win for the ages! A standing ovation might just be in order—we owe them that much!