Game of Thrones' final season left a sour taste in the mouths of some to the point that people even petitioned for a remake of the final season (which did eventually turn into something positive). Others were content to say it could've been better, and there are others still who have hope George R.R. Martin's book ending will be an improvement on the series' final leg.
For those that were hoping George R.R. Martin saw the response to the ending of Game of Thrones and made some changes to his books that may make for a more palatable ending for disgruntled fans, we have some bad news. Martin revealed he has no plans to alter his final books to appease the internet fandom, and also explained a problem regarding the opinions of fans on the web.
There were early hints about [who Snow’s parents were] in the books, but only one reader in 100 put it together. And before the internet that was fine — for 99 readers out of 100 when Jon Snow’s parentage gets revealed it would be, ‘Oh, that’s a great twist!’ But in the age of the internet, even if only one person in 100 figures it out then that one person posts it online and the other 99 people read it and go, ‘Oh, that makes sense.’ Suddenly the twist you’re building towards is out there. And there is a temptation to then change it [in the upcoming books] — ‘Oh my god, it’s screwed up, I have to come up with something different.’ But that’s wrong. Because you’ve been planning for a certain ending and if you suddenly change direction just because somebody figured it out, or because they don’t like it, then it screws up the whole structure. So no, I don’t read the fan sites. I want to write the book I’ve always intended to write all along. And when it comes out they can like it or they can not like it.
It seems if George R.R. Martin planned the same ending for A Song Of Ice And Fire that Game of Thrones played out in Season 8, that's what audiences are going to see. Martin's reasoning to EW is sound enough, as he's had a long-term plan for how he wanted things to play out for a while. Writing an ending fans have already hinted they won't like isn't great, but neither is shifting course and writing two books that may feel disconnected from prior books.
With that being said, there's a solid chance that while George R.R. Martin's final books will have some of the major beats of what happened in Game of Thrones, but will still be very different. There's quite a few major characters and plots that were nixed from the series in its back half, some of which may add some length and action to what may have felt like a pretty bare bones and rushed adventure on television.
George R.R. Martin's latest comments on internet fandom came a couple weeks after he spoke out about how toxic some fans (even Martin) can be online. His latest take on online culture is a commentary on group think, and how one person's theory can spoil an author's twist once it gets exposed to the masses. With Game of Thrones' prequel on the way, one has to wonder if Martin's comments on the internet and its fans will continue.
Meanwhile, book lovers may be wondering when George R.R. Martin is going to stop talking about his books and finally release one. Many have been waiting on the series' next installment Winds of Winter for a hot minute, and have been consistently been let down by delays several times now. If there is any upside for those disappointed by this recent news, at least we can be sure further delays won't come from Martin re-working the plot!
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Game of Thrones' showrunners and the cast will be at San Diego Comic Con, so be prepared for more news on the series and the upcoming prequel to follow. In short, continue to stick with CinemaBlend for updates on what's happening in television and movies.
