"Game of Thrones" is arguably the biggest series in HBO's history. Among its hallmarks are plotting, scheming, palace intrigue and a willingness to kill off even its biggest characters. It also gained a reputation for at times being uncomfortably graphic and its somewhat shocking use of incest.
The series has now come to an end. Answers have been given and fans are left to decide how they feel about them. There are so many characters that it's difficult to go through them all. But some are particularly notable. Major spoilers below.
House Stark ultimately reigns
In the end, the Starks can be considered victorious. Though, after all, they've been through, it's likely something of a hollow victory. The long-asked question of who would sit on the Iron Throne is ultimately moot, as the throne is destroyed. But the answer would've been Bran Stark. The boy who was thrown from a tower in the pilot. Left paralyzed, he later went on something of a mystical journey. His noble nature, his moving story and his distaste for ruling led him to be chosen.
His eldest sister Sansa overcomes the various horrors she has experienced to become the queen of the north. Though a Stark now rules Westeros, it's decided that the North will remain an independent kingdom.
Another sister Arya opts to explore the previously uncharted western region beyond the mountains.
Things are a bit different for their cousin and adopted brother. At first, known as Jon Snow, his real name is Aegon Targaryen. He is sent back to Castle Black, where he is reunited with Tormund and Ghost. His exile serves as penance for killing the woman he loved.
That woman was Daenerys Targaryen, who at first unbeknownst to them, was also his aunt. As Harper's Bazaar touches on, the concluding chapters of Daenerys' story have been highly controversial among fans.
Daenerys has been an icon, admittedly one with a dark side. She battled through several heartbreaks, including losing her husband and son.
Along the way, she raised three dragons and free mass amounts of slaves. Though she did leave a high body count in her wake. But in the end, she lost a battle with her sanity, with devastating consequences. Jon realizes how devastating her reign could be to the world at large. In an emotionally-charged scene, he tells her with honesty that she'll always be his queen. And as they embrace, he gently mortally wounds her and holds her as she dies.
Her last-surviving dragon heart-wrenchingly tried to wake her up. And his grief at losing her leads to the destruction of the Iron Throne. He carries Daenerys' body away as he flies off. Last the audience knows, he's flying somewhere east.
Also controversial was the handling of Jaime Lannister.
Jaime was half of the villainous and, disturbingly, incestuous twin Lannister siblings. Over the years, he grew as a character. Eventually, he seemed to leave the toxic relationship behind and become a hero. Shortly after embarking on a relationship with Brienne, he abruptly opts to return to his sister, Cersei. Both Jamie and Cersei die soon after his return. As Vanity Fair points out, Brienne takes on Jaime's former role in the finale, leading the Kingsguard. One of her first acts is writing about Jaime's tenure in the Book of Brothers. The book documents the actions of Kingsguard members. While Jaime worried his entry would be light, Brienne ensures that it's not, despite the pain he caused her.
Jaime and Cersei's brother, Tyrion, is named as "hand of the king". It's never made clear if he and Sansa get back together. The two had previously been married, and it looked as if things could be headed that way again.
The legacy of the series is to continue
The impact of "Game of Thrones" is likely impossible to measure fully. Many references regarding the series have made their way into the pop culture lexicon. It has won more Emmy Awards than any other scripted series in history. Among them are three for Outstanding Drama Series and three for actor Peter Dinklage.
Additionally, the franchise is not gone. The original book series, "A Song of Ice and Fire," is still technically ongoing. There are also multiple other TV series set in the same universe in development.
