After years of theories and debate,Game of Thrones' series finale delivered one of the show’s most shocking twists: Bran Stark became Westeros' new king. It had always been anticipated thatGame of Thrones' endingwould see a new ruler in place - with or without the Iron Throne - but few would’ve guessed it’d be Bran. Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen were the obvious candidates, but even behind them, dark-horses such as Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister seemed more plausible.
In the end, it was the story of “Bran the Broken” that proved to be enough to make him the new ruler of what had been theSeven Kingdoms of Westeros. It was and remains a controversial choice, and one of several factors as to whyGame of Thronesseason 8faced such a backlash. And yet, it’s also a decision that came fromA Song of Ice and Fireauthor George R.R. Martin, and one that, at least with hindsight, there were some signs of from the very beginning.
Jon Snow’s Ending Made More Sense Than Him Being King
While the plot mechanics found a way to prevent Jon becomingWesteros' new king inGame of Thrones- killing the current queen, whom he had bent the knee to, certainly hindered his prospects - the general direction of his story had made it a little less likely anyway. That’s not just because he was too obvious, and would’ve been too much a copy ofLord of the Rings' Aragorn (the secret heir emerges and takes the throne after winning the great battle), though those are factors.
The Kings & Queens Who Sat On The Iron Throne In Game Of Thrones
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Queen Cersei I Lannister
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There are issues with Bran becoming king and how the show handled his character, but I do thinkJon’s ending was better for him not assuming control of Westeros. It’s a subversion of a common fantasy trope, but not done just for the sake of avoiding expectations. Instead, it’s more powerful this way: a bittersweet fate as he goes back to a place he’d felt he always belonged, but carrying a huge amount of guilt and trauma, with scars both literal and figurative. To carry on with theLOTRcomparisons, he was, in fact, Frodo - having borne great weight, he now gets to find peace.
Jon had already, reluctantly, been made a king once (in the North), lessening the narrative and thematic value of him doing so again.
Jon not wanting the Iron Throne is often used to highlight why he’d be a good fit for it, as those who seek to rule are often ill-equipped to do so. But Jon had already, reluctantly, been made a king once (in the North), lessening the narrative and thematic value of him doing so again. And, for all he’d have been a good king,he would simply be a continuation of 300 years of history: a Targaryen on the Iron Throne, who could have a son who succeeds him.
Bran is similar to Jon in some ways: he absolutely fits with Martin’s love of"cripples, bastards, and broken things.“He has no desire to rule, but accepts the duty, and may even be positioned to be a better leader, thanks to beingthe Three-Eyed Raven. If knowledge is power, then Bran is unmatched.
Game Of Thrones' Pilot Set Up Jon Or Bran Becoming King
In a sense, this choice between Jon Snow and Bran Stark, while not one overtly made in the show’s finale, had been set up by its very first episode. When Ned Stark is executing Will, the deserter from the Night’s Watch,the camera quite notably pans to Bran and Jon watching on as Ned says the words"King of the Andals and the First Men.”
Because Jon grew to become the main character, and there was a large degree of expectation he’d end up on the Iron Throne, the focus was generally upon him in this scene. Looking back at it now, though, it at least works in hindsight as a tease that it would be one of these two. It’s unclear whether this was intentional: as perVanity Fair, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss had a meeting with Martin in 2013 to discuss the broad strokes of where his story would end, due to fears of overtaking the books (which were proved right).
Similarly, Bran is the first main character we see on screen, after the cold open.
The pilot obviously pre-dates that, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they weren’t aware it would be one of the two. Even if not intentional, though, it’s a detail that adds to the story on rewatch and works as a kind of bait-and-switch. Jon himself is obvious because of the tropes that exist and the very fact he’s notsupposedto be obvious at all, since he’s ostensibly a bastard. But since everyone looks at Jon with that expectation, it works to hide Bran next to him. Even Jon’s words, telling him to not look away, are preparing him for the hard choices of ruling.
Bran Stark Becoming King Instead Of Jon Snow Secretly Repeated House Targaryen’s Game Of Thrones History
Game of Thrones' ending saw Jon Snow go to the Wall and Bran Stark become King of Westeros, which oddly fits with part of Targaryen history.
Similarly,Bran is the first main character we see on screen, after the cold open. This mirrors Martin’sA Game of Throneswhere, after the Prologue, he is the first POV character we follow. It doesn’t scream he’ll be king, but it does plainly tell us he will beveryimportant.
Jon Snow Did Still Become King, In A Way
His Ending Still Makes Him A Leader
Bran Stark is the newKing of the Andals and the First Men, but while Jon Snow does not officially hold any titles, he could be seen in a similar light. As Jon goes back North of the Wall inGame of Thrones' finale, it’s clear he will - at least alongside Tormund - be a leader of the free folk. The wildlings have the blood of the First Men in them as much as anybody in Westeros (and more than most), and so Jon is still technically fulfilling that part of the title, at least (similar could also be said for Sansa becoming Queen in the North).
Game Of Thrones: Everyone Who Knew Jon Snow Was A Targaryen Before Him
Jon Snow learning he was a Targaryen became a key point in his character arc, but he was one of the last to learn who his real parents were.
Ultimately, Jon’s ending feels more fitting, and more in-keeping with the show’s story. Indeed, him becoming king almost feels too neat a conclusion. Bran should’ve had more character development before becoming king, for sure, both in season 8 and before it. But he does make sense as a final ruler inGame of Thrones, as a means of upending the endless cycle of violence and power that had accompanied the Iron Throne, with “Bran the Broken” being the one to break the wheel.
