The perfect ending to Game of Thrones would be the end of the Iron Throne itself. Don't just stop the wheel. Break the wheel. The Iron Throne is the wheel that keeps the Westeros game turning. The first poster for Game of Thrones showed Hand of the King Ned Stark sitting on the Iron Throne. Season 8 is the final season, and the official poster focuses back on the Iron Throne but adds dragon eyes. Some may think that suggests a Targaryen on the throne -- Daenerys or Jon/Aegon -- but my wishful thinking is for that to foreshadow the destruction of the throne itself, perhaps by Drogon:
The Iron Throne was forged from 1,000 swords surrendered to Aegon the Conqueror. His dragon Balerion melted down the swords and they were subsequently hammered together into the spiky, jagged, purposely uncomfortable throne. It would be great symmetry for another dragon to mark the end of the throne.
Daenerys Targaryen is the one who told Tyrion Lannister she didn't want to stop the wheel of House This being on top, then House That. She planned to break the wheel. She may not have meant it this way -- to literally break the throne itself -- but that may be what happens.
Back in Game of Thrones Season 2, Dany had a vision at the House of the Undying. With snow falling all around her in a crumbled and burnt Great Hall -- and with snow covering the empty Iron Throne -- Dany put out her hand ... but never touched the Iron Throne. That could be foreshadowing that Dany never quite gets to sit on the Iron Throne herself. It also foreshadowed the snow that is falling everywhere as of the winter of Season 8.
Some fans may think the snow foreshadows Jon Snow on the throne, although he's about to find out he's not quite Jon Snow, he's Aegon Targaryen, son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. He has Targaryen blood in him, and even if Emilia Clarke's alarming tease about Daenerys Targaryen's final scene means Dany doesn't quite make it to The End, Jon could get there with one of the two remaining dragons.
But I'm hoping there won't be a throne left for anyone to sit in. Jon is the King in the North, but has never shown any interest in ruling, especially the whole kingdom. He was stabbed to death by the first group of people he led, and then the folks in the North decided he'd make a good king anyway.
Kit Harington's recent Variety interview included a note that Jon Snow was basically there filming the whole time for Season 8, while others came and went. Maisie Williams was also one of the final people to stop filming. Since Jon and Arya aren't exactly eager to rule the world, finding another way would make sense.
It seems a more fitting end to this particular story to show the end of the throne itself. This TV series is based on George R.R. Martin's ongoing book series A Song of Ice and Fire -- the ice coming down from the north through the White Walkers, and the fire that can defeat them through dragons and dragonglass.
A few years ago, Joffrey actor Jack Gleeson floated the fan theory he heard about the Iron Throne being melted down for use as a weapon against the dead:
You know, someone's going to melt down the Iron Throne because it has the Valyrian steel that will overcome the White Walkers or whatever. So, I think that's kind of a cool idea, that the monarchy is literally dissolved.
It's very cool to think of the monarchy literally being dissolved, but was the Iron Throne made from Valyrian steel? There's nothing to confirm that part of it. As far as we know, the Valyrian steel out there has been accounted for. We do need more dragonglass/obsidian, which can kill White Walkers and wights.
HBO previously teased Game of Thrones Season 8 with character posters, showing many of the major players -- minus the Night King -- sitting on the Iron Throne. HBO is also promoting the final season through the hashtag #FortheThrone. It's possible that's misleading, getting fans wondering who'll "win" in the end when there will be no one "winner" shown on the Iron Throne in the end. That doesn't mean Game of Thrones would stop short of showing us what happens to the Iron Throne, it might just show us a world post-Iron Throne, then exit the story.
There are any number of ways for Game of Thrones to end, and the stars and showrunners know the chosen ending won't please everyone. If your theory doesn't come to pass, will you be disappointed? And what do you think about the Iron Throne -- will it survive the series or meet its own version of the Red Wedding? Vote in our poll below, and get ready to see what The Powers That Be chose to do when Season 8 premieres Sunday, April 14 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.
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