9 Things We Learned From the ‘Game of Thrones’ Finale Script (PHOTOS)
“Her Satanic Majesty’s Request”
In the scene that fans will remember as the one where Daenerys momentarily had wings, the image is described as anything but pure. “Drogon’s unfolding wings spread behind her back, an unsettling image. Her Satanic Majesty’s Request,” reads the portion where this occurs in the finale. At this point most viewers knew the Mother of Dragons was no longer fighting for the greater good, but it’s clear the writers wanted to drive home the evilness that has spread through the Targaryen. Some fans have also pointed out that the line could refer to the Rolling Stones’ 1967 album, “Her Majesties Satanic Request.”
“Dumb Bystander”
By now most fans have learned that the Iron Throne didn’t make it through the series “alive” after Daenerys’ only surviving dragon, Drogon, took out his fury on the metal chair. But a line that reads, “We look over Jon’s shoulder as the fire sweeps toward the throne — not the target of Drogon’s wrath, just a dumb bystander caught up in the conflagration,” we learn that the action wasn’t as symbolic as it appears onscreen. Apparently the Iron Throne was just in the fire’s way… oops.
Toughest of the Tough
In case fans needed any reminding, Arya Stark is the baddest in Westeros, even badder than the swashbuckling Yara Greyjoy apparently. In a section of script from the council meeting, we learn that Yara backed off from the idea of killing Jon because she was scared of Arya? “Say another word about killing my brother and I’ll cut your throat,” says Arya.” The direction in the script then goes on to say, “Yara opens her mouth to respond but sees the look on Arya’s face. Yara is as tough as they come, but Arya — Arya’s different.”
A Group Has No Name
The council meeting at the end was filled with Lords and Ladies of Westeros, but while the Starks, Brienne, Davos, Gendry, Yara, Samwell, Edmure, Robin Arryn and Lord Royce were all named in the script, the rest of the council were made up of the “New Prince of Dorne” and “ND Lords” with the “ND” meaning no dialogue.
Strange Declarations
If Bran’s line in the finale, “Why do you think I came all this way?” perplexed you, you aren’t the only one. It wasn’t lost on any of the other characters — particularly Tyrion — that there’s something odd about the youngest living Stark. “A strange response but Tyrion has come to expect strange answers from Bran,” the following line of the script reads after Bran’s remark.
Brienne Still Loved Jaime
Despite abandoning Brienne for King’s Landing and Cersei in the fourth episode of the season, Jaime was still loved by the Knight. But for the fans who were upset by the way her character was treated by Jaime, there is some solace in a piece of the script from the book writing scene (above), Brienne also hated him. “Brienne takes a moment to think about a man she both hated and loved, often at the same time.”
West of Westeros
It would appear that Jon and Sansa aren’t very bright according to the script where the Starks part ways. “What’s west of Westeros?” Arya asks her siblings. The next line points out just how clueless her brother and sister are when it says, “Jon and Sansa look at each other. They both failed geography.”
Baffled Tyrion
Fans weren’t the only ones were baffled by Thrones‘ ending. Tyrion appears to have been on the same page in a segment of the script which says, “He sits in the Hand’s chair. How the f**k did this happen? How the f**k did he end up here, alive, with power he no longer wants or believes he deserves?” Same Tyrion, same.
Bran the Weird
After a full season of meme-worthy actions and quotes, Westeros’ new king can officially be called weird because the script even does so. In his first council meeting as King, Bran tells his advisers to go about their business as he attempts to find Drogon — presumably with his warging abilities. “Perhaps I can find him. Do carry on with the rest,” he says in the script’s diaologue. It’s the line that comes after that declares Bran the Broken as something other than normal. “That’s weird. But so is the new king.”
Game of Thrones was nomintated for a record 32 awards at this year’s Emmys, including nods for the finale episode, “The Iron Throne,” in Outstanding Writing and Directing categories.
Upon the nomination announcements, the Television Academy released PDF’s of the nominated scripts (which are no longer accessible without a login) in both drama and comedy genres, allowing fans to get a hold of them. The availability of the scripts gave fans a chance to learn the meaning behind certain characters’ actions and discover the descriptions used by the writers when it came to certain imagery and symbolism.
In the gallery above, we’re taking a look at some of the surprising, hilarious and concerning things we learned by checking out the script. Click through the images above for a chance to learn something new about the divisive episode.
Game of Thrones, Seasons 1-8, Available now, HBO GO, HBO Now and On Demand
Emmys, Sunday, September 22, 8/7c, Fox
