When Game of Thrones came to a dramatic and controversial close in 2019, it left behind a legacy of brilliance — and bitterness. What began as one of the most groundbreaking series in television history ended in a final season that left fans and critics divided, confused, and in many cases, disappointed. But what if it didn’t have to end this way? What if the man behind the entire saga — George R.R. Martin himself — had offered advice that could’ve changed the outcome? As it turns out, he did. And HBO didn’t listen.
The Source: George R.R. Martin’s Vision
George R.R. Martin isn’t just the author of A Song of Ice and Fire — the sprawling book series that Game of Thrones is based on — he’s also one of the most detail-oriented world-builders of our time. His intricate plots, morally grey characters, and long-game storytelling are what made the books (and the show, at least in its earlier seasons) so captivating.
Martin was deeply involved in the early seasons of the show, consulting closely with showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. But as the series outpaced the books, Martin’s involvement diminished — not because he wasn’t willing to share his insight, but because, reportedly, HBO and the showrunners were ready to move ahead on their own terms.
The Warning: A Longer Path to the End
Martin has said, on multiple occasions, that he envisioned Game of Thrones as a much longer series — potentially ten seasons or more. He believed that the story needed time to breathe, to allow arcs to fully unfold, and to give characters space to develop organically. His advice? Don’t rush it.
But HBO opted to condense the story, wrapping everything up in eight seasons — with the final two seasons dramatically shortening the pace and the episode count. This decision, whether driven by creative fatigue, contracts, or external pressures, meant that pivotal character transformations and story payoffs felt abrupt or unearned.
What Was Lost in the Rush
The most frequently cited issues with Season 8 — Daenerys’ sudden turn to madness, the anticlimactic defeat of the Night King, the sidelining of key characters like Jaime Lannister and Bran Stark’s controversial crowning — all stem from one root cause: lack of time.
These plot points weren’t necessarily bad ideas. Many of them may have been in Martin’s own endgame plan. But without the necessary buildup, they didn’t resonate. They felt like bullet points being checked off, rather than the culmination of a rich, emotional journey.
By ignoring Martin’s recommendation to extend the show and let it unfold at a natural pace, HBO sacrificed the nuance that made the series special.
A Missed Opportunity
It’s easy to understand the pressures HBO faced — the need to wrap up a massive production, shifting viewer attention spans, and a desire to stick the landing. But in retrospect, giving the series more room to grow could have preserved its integrity.
Martin had offered a roadmap. Not a script, not an exact outline — but a sense of pacing, a feeling for how long this story needed to reach a satisfying conclusion. And if the final seasons had followed that advice, perhaps Game of Thrones would have ended not just as a cultural phenomenon, but as a universally praised storytelling triumph.
Final Thoughts
HBO gave us a once-in-a-generation show, but in the end, it may have stumbled by rushing past the very wisdom that helped build its success. George R.R. Martin knew the story’s heart. And if his advice had been heeded, there’s a chance the finale of Game of Thrones might have been remembered not as a disappointment — but as a masterstroke.
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