6 Years Later, Game of Thrones’ Biggest House Stark Mistake Still Makes Zero Sense

It’s rare for a TV show to be both as popular and as controversial as this one. When it first aired in 2011, the HBO drama redefined quality television and maintained that standard for several seasons. However, the show began to falter as it neared its end, culminating in a series finale that left most fans disappointed. Storylines, like the sudden change in Daenerys Targaryen’s character, felt unearned, and the choice of Bran Stark as the ultimate ruler was baffling to many viewers.

Bran’s ending wasn’t the only problem with the final season of *Game of Thrones*; the entire Stark family suffered from a poorly written conclusion. Throughout the series, the Starks were separated and faced constant hardship, struggling to return to Winterfell. When they finally reunited, their actions felt inconsistent with their established personalities. The ultimate fates of characters like Jon Snow and Sansa Stark didn’t make sense given their earlier storylines, and the show’s handling of the Northern lords was deeply flawed. Ultimately, House Stark’s conclusion felt ruined and unsatisfying.

Jon Snow’s Return to the Night’s Watch Was Nonsensical

Viewers realized Jon Snow was actually Aegon Targaryen – the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark – relatively early in the show. He spent years with the Night’s Watch, battling White Walkers and learning about the wildlings, with the hope of one day becoming king. However, Arya’s defeat of the Night King made all that preparation pointless, as the White Walkers were destroyed. Jon didn’t become king – he killed Daenerys Targaryen, preventing that – and he wasn’t allowed to rule the North either. Ultimately, he returned to the Night’s Watch at the end of the series.

With the wildlings no longer a threat and the Wall fully repaired, the Night’s Watch had lost its reason to exist. Jon Snow’s role became unclear, and he ultimately appeared to abandon his post to side with the wildlings. This was a surprising turn for a character previously defined by his strong sense of duty and honor – a character who once deeply regretted straying from that path. As a result, his choices felt inconsequential.

While a spin-off focusing on Jon Snow could have helped, *Game of Thrones* ultimately needed to resolve his storyline properly within the original series. Leaving Jon’s fate unresolved was particularly disappointing given his significant role and development over eight seasons.

Arya Leaving Her Family Went Against Stark Family Values

Young Arya Stark was a fan favorite in *Game of Thrones* – she was a spirited, independent girl who didn’t conform to traditional expectations. After the traumatic experience of witnessing her father’s execution and the downfall of her family, she embarked on a difficult journey to survive and reinvent herself. Initially innocent, she became driven by a desire for revenge, training as an assassin to avenge the wrongful deaths of her courageous and honorable family members.

Arya’s training with the Faceless Men showed her she could have chosen a different life, but she couldn’t simply leave her Stark identity behind. Family meant everything to her, and after years of being away, she was finally able to return to Winterfell and reunite with those who remained.

Arya’s decision to give up training with the Faceless Men showed she valued her family and her Stark identity. That’s what made her quick departure from Winterfell so surprising. While she always had a thirst for exploration, leaving her family after everything they’d been through felt out of character. She had the skills to protect Sansa, but instead, she unexpectedly set sail for unknown lands without a clear plan for the future.

She had a heroic moment defeating the Night King – a scene still talked about today – but then chose to leave her old life behind, despite having been estranged from her family for years. It felt like a missed opportunity, as there was much more potential for her character instead of simply sending her off to wander.

Sansa’s Ascent to the Throne Was Empowering but Arbitrary

Many viewers found Sansa’s journey in *Game of Thrones* the most rewarding. She started as a naive young girl dreaming of being a princess, but quickly faced harsh realities after her father’s death. For a long time, she was manipulated by powerful men like Littlefinger, Ramsay Bolton, and Joffrey Baratheon. Therefore, it felt fitting that she ultimately took control and became Queen of the North.

The way Sansa became queen was a little strange. While she successfully gained independence and took the throne, it didn’t make much sense that the Northern lords didn’t raise any concerns or objections.

In the past, a power shift like this would have involved a lot of bargaining and political games. Each Great House would have demanded something in return for accepting the new ruler. However, things happened too quickly this time, and while it was great to see Sansa take charge, her unchallenged rise to power felt a bit incomplete. Edmure Tully briefly tried to claim the throne himself, but Sansa quickly shut down that attempt with a single, decisive statement.

Sansa Stark had grown strong and learned a lot about politics from difficult experiences, so she was capable of handling more responsibility. However, the way things played out felt unbelievable. She also lacked strong support in her court without her sister to rely on.

Bran Sitting on the Iron Throne Has Been Criticized Enough

The final season of *Game of Thrones* took some surprising turns, but Bran Stark’s journey was perhaps the most shocking. After a fall that left him disabled, young Bran discovered he had unique abilities, including seeing the future and controlling animals with his mind. He sought out the Three-Eyed Raven to learn more about these powers and what they meant for his destiny.

He eventually began training to become the next Three-Eyed Raven, a process that caused him to lose his individual personality and emotions as he gained immense knowledge. This change happened mostly behind the scenes, making it feel sudden to viewers. Consequently, when he was ultimately chosen as King of the Seven Kingdoms, it came as a genuine surprise to everyone.

While Bran possessed all-knowing awareness, that didn’t automatically qualify him to be a ruler. He lacked any experience in governing or demonstrated leadership skills throughout his story. In fact, it was largely Tyrion’s convincing speech that persuaded the other lords and ladies he was capable of leading. Like Sansa’s rise to power, the decision was surprisingly smooth – there were no arguments, compromises, or secret deals. Considering these characters had always been fiercely independent and power-hungry, their sudden and complete agreement felt illogical – even more so than Bran becoming king in the first place.

The Starks were among the strongest characters in *Game of Thrones*, and the show’s creators could have developed their storylines much further in the final season. The ultimate fates of the Stark children felt unsatisfying, with Sansa’s outcome being the most positive, though even that wasn’t perfect.

Read More

2025-10-18 01:42