Game of Thrones Plot Holes

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In 2011, the television series Game of Thrones introduced a deeply layered narrative that revolutionized TV storytelling. However, by its conclusion, it became apparent that the plot was marred with inconsistencies. It’s unfortunate because these issues could have been addressed through additional episodes or adhering more closely to the source material from George R.R. Martin’s book series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Some of the most perplexing plot holes still puzzle fans today. Here are three of the most mystifying gaps in the story, along with the most compelling theories that could potentially resolve them – possibly when Martin finally publishes his final two novels.

Initially, the television show Game of Thrones closely followed the first three books in A Song of Ice and Fire, but even at that point, it introduced some drastic alterations that were difficult to comprehend. While some adjustments were beneficial, overall they were tolerated until the narrative began crumbling like a collapsed house. Looking back now, it’s evident that departures from the books played a significant role in creating plot inconsistencies within the Game of Thrones series, ranging from omitted characters and subplots to fabricated storylines such as Jaime Lannister and Bronn’s journey to Dorne.

As a devoted movie connoisseur, I must admit that the ongoing debate about deviations from the source material in “Game of Thrones” often ranks among the most frequently voiced criticisms – particularly concerning its abbreviated runtime. George R.R. Martin himself has hinted at his and HBO’s mutual desire for the series to continue beyond Season 8, but showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss were steadfast in their decision to bring the story to a close with that very season. The question remains as to whether they were also responsible for trimming down the episode count during the final two seasons, yet the collective online commentary seems to lay the blame squarely at their feet.

In many instances, plot inconsistencies often found online might have been resolved through extended scenes, as the show was rushed to reach its conclusion without enough time for explanations. However, not all plot holes in Game of Thrones can be fully accounted for with these reasons alone. Here are three such instances, presented in order of their occurrence.

What Does Lord Varys Want?

Lord Varys, known as the Master of Whisperers, is presented as one of the most skilled players in the game of thrones from the start. However, it’s his ambiguous allegiances and purposes that truly captivate. He aids Ned Stark in Season 1, deceives and misleads the Lannisters on occasion, yet forms an unexpected friendship with Tyrion when he becomes Hand of the King. Intriguingly, at this juncture, Varys shares his past – he rose from slavery to spymaster as a means of retaliation against the one who disfigured him in childhood. This act of cruelty also instilled in him an enduring loathing for all things magical and those who attempt to wield it.

As the series progresses, Varys’ disdain towards magic becomes less prominent, while his principled political beliefs take center stage. He delivers some poignant speeches about power dynamics and the qualities of a good ruler, firmly convinced that leaders hold a responsibility towards their subjects. Varys also maintains that it is justified for figures like himself to manipulate events in order to place a ‘good’ leader on the throne, no matter the cost – be it the execution of individuals like Ned Stark or the exploitation of underprivileged children as informants.

Eventually, Varys’s sudden change to opposing Daenerys seems unexpectedly out-of-place and is considered one of the most unconvincing plot devices in the final season. However, inconsistencies in Varys’s character start appearing long before that point. Interestingly, this master spy initially supports Dany, despite the fact that much of her political and military power stems from her dragons, which are undeniably magical. Many viewers question how much control Dany has over her dragons, yet Varys is rarely among those questioning this.

Instead, Varys decides to switch sides against Daenerys, believing Jon Snow would make a superior ruler due to fewer obstacles related to gender. Varys is unphased by Jon’s mysterious connections, as he has already been brought back to life and may be considered undead in some aspects. By then, Jon is also a dragon-rider, warg, and widely revered as near-divine, making him almost like a religious icon. There are numerous complications, such as Jon’s initial rejection of the throne, their romantic relationship, and Varys’ failure to manipulate or spy effectively on Daenerys, which eventually led to his discovery and unjust execution by her.

Increased screen time might have fleshed out Varys’ character more effectively, but it seems there were significant gaps due to his storyline being less developed in the books compared to the series. The most recent novel, “A Dance with Dragons,” introduces a character named Aegon VI Targaryen, who was not featured in the show at all. Varys claims that he saved Rhaegar’s son Aegon from the Lannisters as an infant and smuggled him across the Narrow Sea to influential allies for secretive upbringing. These allies provided him with a well-rounded education to prepare him for his potential claim on the Iron Throne, giving him a Renaissance man’s knowledge.

This new path seems wiser for Varys, as it provides him a claimant bearing the Targaryen line’s legitimate title, but without the mystical complications associated with Daenerys or Jon. Moreover, he obtains someone he has nurtured and tailored for this role, albeit at the price of numerous lives and through intricate deceit.

The Wight-Kidnapping Fiasco

A notable plot inconsistency in Game of Thrones Season 7 involves the adventure beyond The Wall, where Jon Snow, Tormund, Jorah Mormont, and the remnants of the Brotherhood without Banners join forces to capture a wight. Their goal is to bring it south to convince others about the existence of the White Walkers and unite against them. However, this plan seems weak, as many viewers share this opinion, and unfortunately, the characters attempted something similar back in Season 1 when Alliser Thorne was sent to King’s Landing with a wight’s hand in a box. By the time he arrived, it had stopped moving, suggesting that the enchantments on The Wall likely prevent wights from surviving in the south.

In “Beyond the Wall,” the trouble begins with the flawed plan itself and escalates when it’s executed. The group successfully captures a wight, but in doing so, they also attract more of its kind and the White Walkers themselves. They find themselves trapped on a frozen lake and send Gendry back to The Wall for help since he’s the quickest. In response, Gendry sends a raven to Daenerys at Dragonstone. She then arrives with all three of her dragons, burns the wight army, saves Jon’s party, and this entire sequence takes place within about 36 hours, as suggested by the lighting.

Currently, the matter of swift transportation, or “fast travel,” is quite conspicuous in the world of Game of Thrones. The time characters take to traverse Westeros seems inconsistent, often tailored to fit the demands of the storyline. For instance, dragons and ravens should theoretically move the quickest, but even they exhibit questionable speed, which might be one of the most apparent instances of “fast travel” throughout the series. Additionally, it’s a bit strange that Daenerys’s dragons can bypass The Wall without any issue, despite being told that Queen Alysanne Targaryen, an ancestor of Daenerys, was unable to order her dragon to fly north of The Wall no matter what.

Among all things, what’s most disheartening is that this strategy offers no aid to humankind and instead empowers the White Walkers. The Night King, in a move many viewers find questionable, manages to reclaim Dany’s dragon Viserion (a point some fans consider a plot hole due to the presence of chains) and resurrect it as a wight. On the other hand, the Night’s Watch succeed in transporting their captive wight to King’s Landing this time around, but they fail to persuade Cersei to join their fight.

It appears quite plausible that this mission, which didn’t go as planned, was an impromptu interpretation of notes Martin provided to the showrunners for his forthcoming books. Jon might be embarking on a dangerous expedition into the frigid north, mirroring the legend of the Last Hero and his 12 comrades. The peculiar lineup of Jon’s exploration team might vary in the books, but the presence of the Brotherhood Without Banners suggests it will involve the rising cult of R’hllor followers in the Riverlands.

In the books, Beric Dondarrion is no longer alive, but instead, his spirit has been transferred to Catelyn Stark, who resurrects as “Lady Stoneheart.” Given their past and the recent disclosure of Jon’s true parentage, it could be a significant encounter for an undead Jon. Lady Stoneheart may also help Jon gain recognition as a leader since Robb appointed him his heir in his last will.

Fans speculate that a journey north similar to this one might serve a purpose other than kidnapping a wight. After Jon’s resurrection, it is thought that he may have developed enough psychic abilities to locate Bran and understand his actions. He could embark on a quest to retrieve Bran, seek aid from the Children of the Forest, or both. It’s also anticipated that the power of resurrection will impact Jon significantly more in the books. As an additional point, it is believed that either Jon or someone else in the group might be able to transform into a raven for communication purposes, instead of risking Gendry on a dangerous long-distance run. This could be done by skinchanging a raven to deliver the message southward.

What Is the Point of the Night’s Watch Now?

In my humble opinion, the last episode of “Game of Thrones” takes Jon Stark on an unimaginable journey. He confronts Daenerys, a choice that leads to her demise and his own imprisonment. The verdict? A lifetime serving on the Night’s Watch. Yet, fate has other plans for our hero. After a brief stint at Castle Black, now inhabited predominantly by Wildlings, Jon walks through The Wall, not to guard it, but to venture northward. With the White Walkers vanquished, there seems to be newfound warmth in the land beyond, welcoming to mankind once more.

After the final episode, viewers have pondered why the Night’s Watch persists when it seems the White Walkers have been permanently vanquished. This question perplexes even Jon Snow himself, and Tyrion Lannister offers an explanation: “The world will always provide a sanctuary for outcasts and misfits.” This remark harks back to one of his earliest lines from Season 1, yet it also hints that Dany’s remaining faithful view the Night’s Watch as a fitting penance for Jon.

In conclusion, it remains unclear if the Night’s Watch still exists, given that Jon rides north with the Wildlings instead of returning to Castle Black. It’s disappointing that neither Jon nor any other character clarifies whether the White Walkers have been permanently vanquished. Many significant finale moments could have benefited from a deeper exploration of the magical elements, and readers anticipate the books to delve further into these aspects.

Martin suggests that characters who return from the dead undergo a deep transformation, and this is evident in the book versions of Beric and Lady Stoneheart. Consequently, when Jon returns, we might expect him to appear quite unsettling and lifeless, with an intense fixation on whatever he was concentrating on before his death. His psychic abilities are likely to be more pronounced than ever, and he may even have the ability to exert some control over other people’s minds through his warg powers.

It appears quite plausible that Jon won’t be exiled merely for practical reasons, but due to his inherent characteristics. He might find it difficult to adapt and endure in the south, whereas the harshness of the north could sustain him, similar to how it did for the Others. A widely discussed hypothesis is that the recently crowned all-knowing King Bran, using the last fragments of his human empathy, may send Jon beyond The Wall and instruct him to guard against further White Walker attacks. Over an extended period, there’s a risk that Jon could transform into the legendary menace in the north himself.

Although the television series Game of Thrones left several mysteries unsolved, it’s intriguing that it opened up numerous opportunities for fans to ponder, as we eagerly await the upcoming novels. Currently, Game of Thrones can be streamed on Max, and later this year, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will debut, followed by House of the Dragon Season 3 sometime in the next year. George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series is already available in print, digital, and audiobook formats. The author has made progress on his upcoming book, The Winds of Winter, but there is no confirmed release date for it as of now.

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2025-03-28 19:41