Game of Thrones Finale: D&D Betrayed the Women of Westeros

May 19, 2019 marked the end of an era. Since 2011, the world has witnessed atrocities, perversion, grief, confusion, and dark magic. A cultural phenomenon named Game of Thrones began On April 17, 2011 pulling society into a new era. The first episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones aired with a brutal introduction to the land of Westeros where incest is a widely practiced thing and dragons are mounted like ponies. 8 years, 1 month and 2 days later the show has ended. This chapter has closed and we can all “move on.”

We are not ready to move on at all. At Least, I’m not. Game of Thrones is not just a show about a land where zombie ice monsters exist and gore is commonplace; it is a reflection the society we live in today. Especially with the way it’s women character were mistreated and misrepresented. As a Black Feminist, I enjoyed Game of Thrones with glee. At end of Season 6, the only viable candidates for the Iron Throne were women, I rejoiced. I saw the story of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) as a possibility for feminism. As the two concluding seasons came along, it became very clear that it is more of a reality.

Game of Thrones Season 6 brought many empowering sites: Cersei was crowned Queen of Westerors after murdering her enemies by wild fire, Sansa finally took revenge on Ramsey Bolton and became Lady of Winterfell, Lady Olenna (Tyrell) formed an alliance with Ellaria of Doorne, Arya got her vision back and massacred The House of Frey, and Danaerys had taken slavers bay, and Yara was crowned Queen of the Iron Islands.

Arya Stark, first of her name, a girl who has no name, slayer of Waif, assassin, slayer of the Night King takes a ship owned by her family to discover the North American Continent.

Sansa Stark, Queen of the North, most marriages before 28, bastion of Wisdom. Sansa became a fan favorite by the end of season 7. I cannot help but question the use of rape and abuse as a vehicle to make her stronger. When the hound mention that he could have saved her from everything she went through, Sansa is written to state that she would not be where she is if she had not experienced those things.

By the end of Season 8, all but two of these characters are reduced to small and uneventful deaths. Theses women were over-capable, smart, and strong but were somehow brought to a fate seen as acceptable in a patraiachal.society. Although the character arc of these charactwrs are nice, the use of typical violence again at women as a way to progress their stories is cheap.

Death is inevitable on Game of Thrones but the pathetic character arcs taken ade pitiful.

Cersei Lannister, first of her name, Protector of the Realm, Lady Paramount, Queen of the first men and the Andals, Death by CONSTRUCTION. After the most iconic vengeance in history, unforgivingly upholding the name of her house, paying her debts, outsmarting all of the men who sought to destroy her, Cersei Lannister was killed under rubble. If she were on planet Earth, Cersei's knack for evil, clever, and planning very far ahead, she would have the throne.

Daenary Targarean, the First of Her Name, The Unburnt, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Protector of the Realm, Lady Regent of the Seven Kingdoms, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons. Death by lover-nephew.

Lyanna Mormont, Lady of Bear Island, head of the House Mormont, the most Badass of Her Name, Feller of Giant. Death in the palm of a zombie-Giant. Lyanna Mormont may have been the feircest and youngest leader of a house but she took down giants with the bravey of 1000 unsullied.